Moving has a lot of moving parts, and the stress comes from leaving things late. This timeline lays out what to do when, from offer accepted to keys in hand.
Moving house has a lot of moving parts, and the stress usually comes from things being left too late. This timeline lays out what happens when, from offer accepted to keys in hand, so nothing important slips through the cracks.
As soon as your offer is accepted
Instruct a conveyancer. Choose your solicitor or licensed conveyancer straight away — the legal process can’t start until you do, and it’s the part most likely to cause delays.
Get your mortgage moving. Turn your agreement in principle into a full application and book the lender’s valuation.
Book your own survey. Separate from the lender’s valuation — this is the one that protects you.
8+ weeks before moving day
Get removal quotes. Book early for the best choice of dates — month-ends, Fridays and summer fill up fast.
Decide pack-yourself or full service. A packing service costs more but saves days and reduces breakages.
Start decluttering. The less you move, the cheaper and faster it is. Charity shops, selling apps, the tip.
4 weeks before
Confirm your moving date once contracts are close to exchange, and lock in the removal firm.
Order packing materials — boxes, tape, bubble wrap, marker pens — or have your remover supply them.
Book time off work for moving day and ideally the day after.
Tell your landlord if you’re renting, so notice lines up with completion.
2 weeks before
Notify everyone of your change of address: bank, employer, GP and dentist, DVLA, council, insurers, pension, subscriptions, and the electoral roll.
Set up Royal Mail redirection to catch anything you forget — it’s cheap and runs for months.
Arrange utilities at the new place and tell your current suppliers your move date.
Start packing rooms you barely use — lofts, spare rooms, books.
Moving week
Pack room by room, labelling every box with its destination room and a note of the contents.
Pack an essentials box you keep with you: kettle, mugs, tea/coffee, phone chargers, loo roll, medication, basic tools, a change of clothes, and anything for children or pets.
Run down the freezer and plan the last few meals around what’s left.
Confirm completion arrangements with your conveyancer — keys are usually released once the money has transferred, often early afternoon.
Moving day
Take meter readings — gas, electricity and water — at both the old and new properties, with photos.
Do a final sweep of the old place: nothing left in lofts, sheds, or the back of cupboards.
Keep important documents and valuables with you, not on the van.
Check the new home as you arrive — locate the stopcock, fuse board and boiler, and check the heating works.
Tip First night sorted beats fully unpacked. Make the beds, get the kettle and bathroom working, and leave the rest for the morning.
Before you even get this far
All of this assumes you’re moving to the right place. The time to find out what an area is really like — the road, the schools, the crime picture, the environmental risks and a fair price — is before you offer, not after you’ve booked the removal van. That’s exactly what a MoveWizard report is for.
Before you offer, check the property
MoveWizard assesses any UK address — road, amenities, schools, safety, environment and a fair offer range — so you buy with your eyes open.
From offer accepted to completion is typically 8–12 weeks, driven mostly by the legal process and the chain. The physical move itself is usually planned in the final 6–8 weeks of that.
When should I book a removal company?
Get quotes as soon as your offer is accepted and book firmly once you are close to exchanging contracts. Popular dates — Fridays, month-ends and summer — go quickly.
What should go in my essentials box?
Kettle, mugs, tea or coffee, phone chargers, loo roll, medication, basic tools, a change of clothes, and anything for children or pets. Keep it with you, not on the van.