Moving is a project with a hard deadline, twenty dependencies and no project manager. Run it off a timeline and it becomes almost boring — the goal.
8 Weeks Out
- Book removals (quotes vary 2× for identical jobs — get three) or rent the van
- Start ruthless decluttering: every box you do not move saves money twice
- Order packing materials; label by room, keep an inventory photo trail for anything valuable
2–4 Weeks Out
- Redirect post (Royal Mail redirection — worth 6 months minimum for fraud protection)
- Notify: bank, employer, DVLA (licence AND log book — legally required), GP/dentist, insurers, HMRC, electoral roll, subscriptions
- Broadband at the new place: lead times of 2–3 weeks; book the engineer now
- Schools, childcare and pet arrangements for moving day itself
Moving Week
- Photograph meters at both properties on the day — your only defence in billing disputes
- Pack a first-night box: kettle, mugs, toilet roll, phone chargers, tools, bedding, takeaway menus
- Defrost the freezer 48 hours ahead
The Ambush Costs
Beyond removals (£400–£1,500): overlap on bills, cleaning at exit (£150–£300 if rented), immediate locksmith (£90 — always change the locks), curtain poles, lightbulbs and the first food shop from an empty fridge. Realistic incidentals: £800–£1,200 on top of everything the calculators already told you.
🧮 Try the calculators: