Start with three things: when you must leave, when you can move in, and what needs moving. Then collect quotes using the same information, agree your booking in writing and work through the packing and address changes below.
Use eight weeks as a planning framework, rather than a deadline every household must meet. If you have less time, begin with the tasks that depend on someone else: the removal booking, access arrangements and service changes. If your date is uncertain, say so whenever you ask for a quote.
The 8-week moving house timeline at a glance
| When | What to do | Who to speak to |
|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks before | Record likely dates, check paperwork and start an inventory | Your landlord, agent or conveyancer, as applicable |
| 6 weeks before | Decide what is moving and request comparable quotes | Removal companies |
| 4 weeks before | Confirm availability and booking terms when your date is ready | Your chosen mover |
| 2 weeks before | Arrange address and service changes; pack less-used items | Relevant providers and organisations |
| Moving week | Finish packing and confirm access and key arrangements | Your mover and whoever handles the handover |
| First week after | Unpack essentials and check remaining tasks | Providers or your mover where needed |
These are prompts to help you organise the work. Bring any booking task forward if your own circumstances require it; do not wait for a heading on this checklist.
8 weeks before: dates, paperwork and the first sort-out
Make one place for the details: a notebook, document or folder you can find on your phone. Record both addresses, the likely moving date and the people who can confirm it. Keep a separate note of what is agreed and what remains provisional.
Check your own tenancy or sale arrangements with the appropriate person before committing to dates. This checklist cannot tell you when your notice should start or when your keys will be available.
Walk through each room and list the furniture and belongings you intend to take. Include the loft, shed and cupboards. Mark anything you might sell, donate or leave behind, but keep it in the moving list until you have decided.
Look at access too. Write down stairs, lifts, narrow doorways and the distance from a realistic parking place to each entrance. Take measurements or photos where they would help a mover understand an awkward item. Ask what information the firm needs before arranging a survey.
6 weeks before: decluttering and collecting quotes
Give every company the same starting information: addresses, date or date range, inventory, access and the services you want. Specify packing, furniture dismantling or storage rather than assuming they are included.
Create a short comparison sheet. For each quote, record what is included, what is excluded, payment terms and what happens if the date changes. Put unanswered questions beside the quote, rather than trying to remember them later.
A useful question is: “What information could change this price?” If you have not finished sorting your belongings, explain what is uncertain and ask when the mover needs the final inventory.
Decide what you can reasonably pack yourself. Set aside anything you want the company to assess before handling. Do not dismantle an awkward piece of furniture simply because you think every mover expects it; ask your chosen firm what it wants you to do.
4 weeks before: booking the removal company
Check availability as soon as your date is workable. This stage is a reminder to confirm the booking, not advice to wait until four weeks before contacting movers.
For more detail, read our guide to booking a removal company.
Ask the company to confirm the date, collection and delivery addresses, agreed services and booking status in writing. Keep its payment, cancellation and rescheduling terms with that confirmation. Ask what it needs from you if the date or contents change.
Agree who will arrange parking or building access. If you are moving into a flat, ask the building contact about lift bookings, entry arrangements and any restrictions that need to be passed to the mover. Confirm these with the people responsible rather than assuming the arrangements at both homes are alike.
2 weeks before: utilities, addresses and early packing
Make a list of organisations that use your address. Work through the providers relevant to you: energy, water, broadband, banks, insurers, employer and local council. Check each organisation's process and timing directly.
Consider mail redirection alongside updating senders. Keep a record of the changes you have requested and any that need a confirmed moving date before they can be completed.
Pack the things you will not need before moving day. Label each box by destination room and give it a short contents description. Keep a separate list if you would rather not put details on the outside. Leave everyday belongings accessible until you are ready to pack them.
Moving week: the day-by-day run-through
At the start of the week, confirm the practical details with your mover: contact number, arrival arrangements, access and any updates to the inventory. Tell it promptly about changes rather than leaving them for the crew to discover.
Before collection, check cupboards and storage spaces against your list. Keep documents, keys and the belongings you will carry yourself separate from the boxes being loaded. Agree how you will contact each other if key collection or delivery access is delayed.
On the day, record utility meter readings where applicable and keep them with your moving paperwork. Before leaving, do a final walk-through and check the handover arrangements with the relevant person.
Packing an essentials box
Set aside what you want before the rest of the boxes are unpacked: chargers, toiletries, towels, bedding, a change of clothes and basic food and drink supplies. Add what your household needs for children or pets. Keep this box somewhere you can reach it, and tell the crew it should remain accessible.
The first week in the new place
Start with the rooms you need to use immediately. Check your inventory as you unpack and record any issue clearly before contacting the mover through its stated process. Keep packaging and photographs where they may help explain the problem.
Finish the address changes that needed your actual move date. Check that service arrangements have taken effect and keep any final bills with your records. Keep one short list of remaining jobs so moving paperwork does not get buried in the unpacking.
Put your move details in one place, then return to your draft when it suits you. This is a survey, not a quote or a booking.