Tips for moving day

[nomorespaghetti]

We complete on Wednesday! It’s our first big move, we previously bought from rented and did the move over a week or so. We’ve got packers and movers, so hopefully that will take a lot of the stress away. I’ve booked the cat into a cattery, kids will be at school, and I’ve tried to get the house as tidy and decluttered as possible.

Any tips for the big day would be really appreciated. Like, how do you know when you’ll get the keys?! Our buyers are FTB, and the place we’re buying is going in to rented, so very short chain. Thank you!

Keep a separate box with kettle, mugs, tea, coffee etc, and take it in the car with you. Also a cleaning kit.

Stay out of the removal team’s way, except when making them tea.

Give each room a quick clean as they empty it. (Wipe out cupboards the night before, after the packers have packed).

Have an overnight bag with your toiletries, clean pants etc, in the car with you.

Make sure you have taken final meter readings etc.

Once ready, by the stipulated time, drop your keys at the EA. Have lunch (cafe, or packed lunch in the car, close to your new home/ vendors EA) and await the phone call from your solicitor or EA to say the ££has gone through and you can collect your new keys.

Clearly label each box which room it is for. Stick a map on the front door with where each room is and what is it (empty room aren't always obvious if lounge or dining for instance) the movers will appreciate the clarity and will be able to go quickly.

When you arrive take all the meter readings and call the energy company/ies (your own if you're staying with your current supplier at the new address) with 'this is my day one and this is the meter reading' info, if you aren't taking over their account give your energy company the I.D of the meter (think it's called an MPAN but its on the front of the meter, she should be able to ask for it)

new neighbours will introduce themselves. Write their names and house number down! They will remember your name and you will forget theirs!!!

mine was a really short chain - but I didn’t get the keys until 4pm!!

as well as kettles etc keep phone chargers, a small tool kit, torch and rubbish bags to hand.

have cash to tip the removal men.

change the locks on day one. Easy to slide a new barrel in.

Thank you all. This is great! I stupidly just googled “what can go wrong on completion date” and freaked myself out…

Have a small first aid kit handy.
I learned this from experience when I moved, bashed my hand on something and couldn't find the sticking plasters. I improvised with kitchen roll and sellotape, but it wasn't the same.

The vacating people might not leave it very clean so have a basic cleaning kit to hand in case you just want to sort something out before it gets buried in your stuff.

Prior to moving day. Empty sheds, loft and garage.
Take down lampshades.

Take your vacuum with you and give the new place a quick hoover (ask removal men to take their lunch) before the furniture comes in.

Do people really leave emptying the loft, shed and garage to moving day!!!

the loft took me two full days to empty and pack. And the shed took a week😂😂😂. I must be extraordinarily messy

I second the first aid kit, I forgot mine and had an accident on moving day.

Good luck!

Clearly label a box with your bedding - make your beds up as soon as they're in the house. That way whatever else doesn't get done you can get into a proper bed and get some well earned sleep, you'll be too tired of you leave it til bedtime x

Make sure you tell the removals not to pack the "important" boxes you packed to have a smooth first night...or you'll have nothing to hand like I did a few weeks back 🙈🙈

In hindsight, I should have put them in the car before rhe removal guys arrived!!