After months of planning and organising, it’s finally here! The big moving day is this week, and you’re scrambling around, performing last-minute checks. Hopefully, you’ll have given yourself plenty of time to sort non-essentials during the weeks and months prior. However, even with the best-laid plans, some things slip through the cracks.
As qualified Master Removers, we have helped thousands of people through the process of moving home, and we understand precisely how daunting the big day can feel. Here’s our handy checklist to ensure that your moving day runs as smoothly as possible. We’ll also be available at every stage of your relocation, including for assistance with planning.
Contents
- Leaving Your Old Home and Relocation Preparations
- Rise, Shine, and Pack Up: Final Moving Day Tips
- Run Through the Moving Plan with Your Moving Company
- Keep It Clean: The Benefits of Thorough Cleaning
- Keep in Contact: Create a Contact List
- Take Meter Readings and Final Checks
Leaving Your Old Home and Relocation Preparations
Moving out isn’t just about packing boxes — there are final checks that make the process smoother. Covering these details avoids last-minute stress and ensures a proper handover. In this blog, we’ll cover the best practices for preparing for your relocation.
Double-Check Packed Rooms
Walk through every room to ensure nothing has been missed – it’s surprisingly easy to forget a few items with the chaos of the final moving week. Pay special attention to cupboards, lofts, garages, and sheds, and look behind doors and under stairs for overlooked items.
Secure Doors and Windows
Confirm all doors and windows are locked before leaving by physically pushing the handles. This keeps the property safe until the new occupants arrive. Take a quick final walk-around outside the property as a safeguard from any uninvited guests after you leave.
Utilities Switched Off
Ensure gas, electricity, and water are turned off where possible. Take note of stopcocks and fuse boxes to advise the new occupants, preferably with a list of instructions. This helps avoid accidents or unnecessary utility usage after you’ve left.
Remove Personal Waste
You can leave any waste or recycling behind, so factor this in when putting your bins out for the final time. Clear bins and remove any remaining rubbish to prevent bad odours or pests developing in an empty home. Arrange an extra collection or recycling trip if necessary, especially if your collection schedule falls after the move. We’ll discuss the cleaning side of the process later.
Check Outdoor Areas
Inspect gardens, sheds, and balconies for forgotten belongings, especially behind fixtures and appliances. Collect garden tools, plant pots, or children’s toys, and secure garden gates or storage units before leaving.
Leave Instructions for New Owners
It always helps to write down the basics, such as bin collection days, Wi-Fi provider, or alarm codes. Highlight meter and stopcock locations for quick reference, and place the information in an envelope with the keys.
Return All Keys
Gather front door, back door, garage, shed, and window keys, including any spares. Don’t forget any additional spare sets you may have given to family or neighbours. Label them clearly and place them in a safe, visible location. We’ll discuss more details about the final walkthrough in a later section.
Rise, Shine, and Pack Up: Final Moving Day Tips
One of the last things you should do is pack your bedding, as you’ll likely be sleeping in your beds the night before moving. It’s time to strip the beds and pack up all your bedding and curtains, or leave your bed linen folded on top of the bed if you’re having your packing done for you, ready for transit to your new home.
Set Aside Special Items
Set aside any items that will be travelling in the car with you, such as special valuables and important documents. Many people opt to take smaller valuables, essential documents, and other delicate items with them in the car to avoid any potential collisions during the move.
Pack Your Moving Day Essentials Kit
This box contains all the essential items that will help you throughout the moving day, and should also include enough provisions for several days. This enables you to settle in without having to haul boxes open to unpack straight away.
Your moving day kit should include:
- Kettle and mugs
- Tea, coffee, milk and sugar
- Biscuits and snacks
- Plates and cutlery
- Mobile phone and charger
- Pen and paper
- A torch with batteries
- Light bulbs
- Basic tools (including screwdrivers, spanners and scissors)
- soap and toilet paper
- Sponge and cleaning fluid
- Towels and bedding for your first night in your new home
- A first aid kit and any essential medication
- Emergency snacks and water
- Toys and colouring kits
- Food supplies and bowls for any pets
- Last but not least, a celebratory bottle (plus bottle opener!).
Run Through the Moving Plan with Your Moving Company
Communication with your removals team on moving day is vital. A clear plan avoids delays and ensures belongings are loaded in the correct order. That’s why we always create a moving strategy before the day arrives, but not all movers do this, so it’s worth knowing how the process works in general.
Confirm Timetable and Access
Review the day’s timings with the team leader before the move begins. You should already have start and completion times, but it’s worth checking them as well the day before. Discuss parking arrangements and permits to avoid potential issues, and note any restricted access points, such as narrow staircases or other areas with limited clearance.
Prioritise Rooms for Loading
This is one that depends on who you book your relocation with, as we’ll already perform these tasks. However, you’ll need to decide which rooms to empty first, as this helps streamline the loading process and prevents blocking pathways. Kitchens and bedrooms are often good starting points, as they tend to be the first rooms you encounter in your new home.
Identify Fragile or Special-Handling Items
Point out boxes labelled ‘fragile’ or ‘high-value,’ preferably placing them in a separate area away from bulkier objects. Ensure movers are aware of which items require extra padding or careful handling, and confirm whether these items will be transported separately in your vehicle.
Clarify Order of Loading
Heavy, bulky items should be loaded into the van first, which is the standard practice for all reputable moving companies. However, if your movers divert from this, ask them what their reasons are. Boxes and lighter items can then be stacked on top; this ensures the safe distribution of weight and efficient use of space.
Agree on Unloading Plan at New Property
Discuss where you plan to place furniture in your new home, and, wherever possible, have a plan in place before you arrive. You can ask the seller to provide photos of the layout to help with this. Doing this saves time and avoids the need to rearrange heavy items later—Mark doors with labels for easy identification.
Allocate Point of Contact
Assign one family member as the primary point of contact with the team, who will likely be you. Prevents conflicting instructions and maintains clear communication, and ensures that this person has a copy of the moving checklist.
Keep Essentials Accessible
Flag up boxes you’ll need first at the new property – some people opt to take these with them in their personal car. Load them last so they’re easy to find on arrival, including bedding, toiletries, and kettle supplies. You can refer back to our original list for ease of reference.
Discuss Safety Precautions
Ask the removers to secure floors if it’s wet or muddy outside, and keep pathways clear of children and pets. This helps prevent accidents during the busiest stage, but this is something we’d expect all moving companies to have in place.
Keep It Clean: The Benefits of Thorough Cleaning
A final clean makes your old home more welcoming for the next occupants. If you’re renting, it can also be the deciding factor in getting your full deposit back. Similarly, your mortgage agreement will likely include a clause regarding the property’s cleanliness.
Decide Between DIY or Professional Cleaning
Assess whether you have the time and energy to clean yourself, including the necessary tools and products. Professional cleaners can save stress and often guarantee deposit-safe results. Specialist end-of-tenancy services usually include carpets and ovens.
Focus on High-Use Areas
Kitchens and bathrooms show dirt most clearly and often have long-term grime issues to solve, especially when you start moving the fridge and oven. Give sinks, taps, and worktops a thorough wipe-down. Clean appliances such as fridges, hobs, and microwaves if they’re staying.
Vacuum and Mop Floors
Hoover carpets and rugs carefully, especially in corners, taking care to protect the fabrics. Mop wooden, tiled, or laminate flooring, and spot-clean stains to improve the overall finish. You may need to hire a floor buffer or steam cleaner to tackle stubborn stains.
Don’t Forget Windows and Mirrors
This is one that many people overlook when cleaning—clean glass surfaces to remove smudges and fingerprints. Open blinds or curtains to let light through spotless windows. This adds brightness and freshness to empty rooms.
Wipe Doors, Handles, and Switches
Use a damp cloth or antibacterial wipes to clean every fixture, remembering to maintain hygiene and separate clothes for bathroom and general use. Handles, switches, and bannisters are often overlooked, but it’s essential to leave surfaces hygienic and ready for the next occupants.
Tackle Dust and Cobwebs
Check corners, ceiling edges, and above cupboards for accumulated dust and cobwebs. Dust shelving, skirting boards, and window sills, using a feather duster or vacuum attachment, to speed up the process.
Clean Outdoor Areas Too
Sweep porches, balconies, or garden paths before and after the movers have entered and left. Empty outdoor bins and remove clutter, keeping in mind our previous point about bin and recycling collections.
Leave the Property Smelling Fresh
Packing and moving boxes, furniture, and appliances generates secondary dust, so it’s essential to air out rooms by opening the windows. Consider using neutral air fresheners to remove odours, and avoid overpowering scents that may feel artificial.
Check for Landlord Requirements
If you’re a tenant, remember to review your tenancy agreement for specific cleaning clauses. Some contracts state carpets or ovens must be cleaned professionally. Keep receipts to show proof of cleaning services if needed.
Keep in Contact: Create a Contact List
Moving day can be hectic, so keeping essential contacts to hand makes life easier. A simple list ensures you can quickly reach the right people in the event of an emergency. You should also create a list of professionals and service providers to ensure they have your updated details.
Have Your Removals Team’s Number Handy
Keep the driver’s mobile number saved in your phone and vice versa. A quick call avoids delays if parking or directions become an issue. Also, ask for a backup landline number for extra peace of mind.
Stay in Touch with Your Solicitor
Progress on contracts and key releases may require confirmation; the last thing you need is a communication lapse to cause a move-in delay. Having a direct number saves the hassle of chasing emails, and it’s essential if there are any last-minute legal questions.
Contact Your Estate Agent
Your estate agent typically handles the exchange of keys and can resolve any access issues with the new property. They may also pass on local service information after going through the final handover process.
Share Information with Childcare Providers
If children are with a minder or nursery (which is recommended), keep them updated. Notify them if you’ll be later than expected collecting your child, and share an alternative contact in case you’re unavailable.
Update Pet Care Arrangements
If pets are with a sitter, in a kennel, or at a cattery, confirm the collection times in advance. Keep emergency numbers close in case of delays because a calm handover helps reduce stress for pets (and you!).
Keep Utility Providers Close to Hand
We recommend transferring your utility accounts to your new address whenever possible. You must submit your readings before vacating your old property, and also when you arrive at your new home. Providers may need confirmation of move-out dates, and it saves time if you need to update billing details quickly.
Prepare a List of Local Emergency Numbers
Create a list of nearby GP surgeries, dentists, or hospital details for peace of mind. Emergency plumbers or locksmiths can be invaluable on day one, which keeps you covered for the unexpected.
Share Key Numbers with Family Members
Partners or older children can assist with handling calls, so get everyone involved to give you a hand. Splitting responsibilities reduces the pressure on a single person and ensures that no one is left waiting for important updates.
Take Meter Readings and Final Checks
As mentioned in the last section, you must record meter readings for your water, electricity, and gas supplies. It’s worth taking a snapshot on your smartphone as extra backup in case there’s a dispute later. You’ll find your meters in places like the kitchen or the understairs cupboard, so start by locating them.
Remember that you’re responsible for your services until you inform them that you’ve left your current home. If you go and forget to update them, you may receive an unwelcome bill to pay.
Final Walk-Through Before Exit
- Take one last look through each room, checking every nook and cranny.
- Switch off lights, close internal doors, and check for any noticeable issues.
- Keeps things orderly for the handover, including arranging a final clean once you’ve left.
Conduct a final check to ensure that all your belongings are accounted for. Remember to look in cupboards, garages, and lofts – and don’t forget wall clocks and pictures. Ensure that all windows and doors are securely closed and that all utilities are switched off.
That’s it – Time to Go: Your New Home Awaits
Once your possessions are safely loaded onto our vehicles, the team will drive them to their new location, keeping in touch with you all the way. Our experienced teams are well-equipped to handle a wide range of challenges and will guide you through your relocation with minimal disruption.
Master Removers Group – Helping You Navigate the Final Moving Week with Ease
Thanks for reading this blog about all things final moving week. We discussed all our best tips for moving day preparation to help you feel more confident about your final action points. Although most relocations involve some level of stress, we’re here to ensure you feel at ease throughout the process.
The Master Removers Group is an elite network of the best movers in each region. We band together to form a strategic group of high-quality removals and storage providers. Customer service is the foundation of everything our members do. All our member companies have five-star Google ratings, BAR affiliation, and quality protocols in place to maintain and continually improve our standards.
Click here to begin an assessment. We’ll match you with the closest Master Remover in your area, and they’ll send you a free, no-obligation quote. You can read more free tips about moving and using storage on our dedicated blog.