Travel & moving
Moving house checklist from two months out to settled in
Every step of a home move on its own date, from booking movers eight weeks before to address changes and unpacking in the two weeks after.
What’s inside
Moving house· 16 items
Set the moving budget
60 days before the moving day
- Movers or van hire
- Deposits and fees
- Overlap in rent or bills
Get quotes and book movers
56 days before the moving day
Give notice on your current place
50 days before the moving day
Check your rental agreement for the notice period. It may need to be earlier.
Sort and declutter, one room a week
42 days before the moving day
- Keep, sell, donate or bin
- Large items booked for collection
Arrange school or childcare changes
35 days before the moving day
Book utilities and internet for the new place
28 days before the moving day
- Electricity and gas
- Water
- Internet installation date
Collect boxes and packing supplies
21 days before the moving day
Start packing the rooms you use least
14 days before the moving day
Set up mail forwarding
10 days before the moving day
Confirm the moving day plan
7 days before the moving day
- Movers' time and both addresses confirmed
- Parking or lift booked
- Keys handover arranged
Pack a first-night box
2 days before the moving day
- Medication, chargers and documents
- Bedding and towels
- Kettle, mugs and snacks
- Basic tools
Final meter readings and photos
1 days before the moving day
Moving day
On the moving day
- Old place checked room by room
- Meter readings at the new place
- Beds put together first
Change your address
2 days after the moving day
- Bank and card providers
- Employer and payroll
- Doctor and dentist
- Insurance policies
- Government and tax records
- Subscriptions and delivery accounts
Register with local services
7 days after the moving day
Unpack the last boxes
14 days after the moving day
Why it starts two months out
The jobs that cause the most stress in a move are the ones with long lead times: movers booked up, a notice period you missed, an internet installation that takes three weeks. This template puts those first. The physical work of sorting and packing starts later and runs one room at a time, so no single weekend has to carry it.
Why address changes come after
It’s tempting to change everything before you move, but many providers want the change once you actually live there. Two days after moving day, you have the energy back and the new address is real. Listing every type of provider in one checklist means you don’t have to remember them one by one.
How to adapt it
- Short notice move? Use it anyway; items with dates already passed show as carried over, and you can work through them in order.
- Moving abroad? Add visa, shipping and bank account items at
-60and pair it with the trip prep template. - No children? Delete the school item; the rest still holds.
An honest tip
Label boxes by room and by “open first”. On the first night you will want the kettle and the bedding, not the books. This checklist is a planning aid; check your rental or purchase agreement for the actual dates that apply to you.