Moving house - what did I forget???

[Labrakadabra]

Hello there.

What is the thing that you forgot to do before moving day? Tell me anything, from the wildest to the most deeply dull.

I am moving in seven days and basically carrying this chronic worry around that I have 'forgotten something.'

I would like to therefore try to make a list for myself of commonly forgettable things. I am coming here for this because if such a task is fun and interactive I will most likely retain the information inside 'interested, social brain.; This generally seems to have more room in it than 'practical admin boring stuff brain.' It is a bit like that difference between meal stomach and pudding stomach. And, yes, lol, ADHD.

Thank you!

Packing a picnic for the day because after we had all packed up we were waiting for the keys that then had to be collected from a totally different town! It's was hours

Well when we arrived at our new house, the owner had only just remembered he had to empty the loft.

Love this one! I have in fact remembered to carve out time to clear my loft, tho tbg I have the really expensive movers that will pack it all up. Thing is, I dont want to be carting around old crates of nappies forever right?

Pictures hanging on walls are easy to forget. We very nearly let some behind when we moved, and at the new house the seller had accidentally left some of theirs behind

Meter readings at the last minute.

Redirect mail.

I remembered to read the meters, but didn't realise that because they were Smart meters there was nothing on the meter to read. I had never bothered using the internal reader thing so that was uncharged so I ended up having to just call Octopus and they were able to do the meter reading from their end (because it was Smart meters) - so my tip, charge your internal thing if you have Smart meters!

I then totally forgot to read the meters in the new house!

ooo, there's lots of things!

pack a kettle/mugs etc so you can get a quick cuppa at the other side.
put your bedding into those big laundry bags, so you can just pop straight onto beds in new house (keep the duvet in its cover, and pillows).
make sure your phone is fully charged, and have battery pack
label all the boxes!
biscuits for the removal men
number for a pizza delivery as you will not want to cook that night!
meter readings at your old house, and meter readings at your new house.
redirect your mail, cancel/move your landline if you have one
sort out internet moving house with you

good luck with your move!

Remember to lock the cat in the night before. Ours vanished on the day and had to be retrieved that evening when she marched in on the new owners.

If you are moving to somewhere in a residents' parking zone, set up your permit to start the day you arrive.

Redirect your mail for at least 6 months in case you've forgotten to tell anyone your new address

Ooh, I've got one: change the address on your amazon (and similar) accounts, so you don't accidentally order time-sensitive things like birthday presents to be delivered to the wrong address.

Forgot to remove a statue from the garden that we had not said we were leaving behind.

We redirected mail for a year after forgetting to tell insurers the new address after one move. And dont forget DVLA - it's an offence not to have the right address on your drivers license.

If you plan to take anything off the walls it's not just pictures - favourite mirror or heirloom clock? They may have sentimental value for you but be junk to the new owners.

If the new owners have been good purchasers leave them a house warming gift. This could be a bottle of wine, milk and biscuits and/or a list of useful contacts and where the stopcock is.

Great tip!

Very good one!

Done! Phew

I’m not sure they were good purchasers! But I’m a good seller so I’m hoping to leave the house as I would expect to find it. Have almost written out the instructions- takes as much time as I could have spent complaining about these buyers! I also have sellers who are removing a fitted dishwasher after offering to sell it to me for £300 but without disclosing make, model, age or condition. We asked for clarification numerous times. But do as you would be done by etc.

Noted. Cats also need to be kept in new house for two weeks, per my vet. New place doesn’t have cat flap yet anyway. Yay for yowling and litter trays again. But everything is temporary and we are very fond of the cat

Thank you! That bedding tip is gold. Totally hadn’t thought of it.

Make up your beds as soon as possible. Then when you are knackered you can fall straight into bed

I told the removal men "all the stuff sitting in the bath is for me to move" ie overnight bag, hoover.
Then I forgot it...

I've moved 3 times in 4 years and each time I've had a box of essentials to see us through for a couple of days, I've packed a case with bed linen, towels and several outfits, toiletries, my work bag with important things and all these all go in the car with me. I also without fail as soon as the beds are put together, make the beds so we can fall into them when we are shattered.

We’re hopefully moving imminently and these are such good tips!

Pack yourself and any kids a bag in the same way you would do if you were going away for the weekend so you have some clean clothes, wash bags, favourite toys, phone chargers all to hand in one place rather than having to unpack boxes

Milk! Also pack a suitcase to keep you going for a few days clothes etc. have a box of quick to get cleaning supplies just in case you need it. Loo roll!!!