House is sold? How to prepare for moving day | Dream house checklist

Welcome to the first blog post of the dream house series and a heartfelt congratulations that your house is sold, sister. I felt called to create a dream house checklist to guide you through how to prepare for moving day.

If you’re in England, perhaps you’ve received a nod from your sales progressor that a date for exchange and completion is near. If so, this blog post will help you to prepare for moving day, not only by compartmentalising the tasks that you will need to complete, but by allowing you to romanticise the move to your dream house.

We’ll begin by discussing the mindset of moving house and letting go of past experiences. Then, we’ll look into the practical actions to consider once your house is sold, using a dream house checklist as a loving guide.

Mindset

Why is moving so stressful?

From experience, stress when moving house can be caused by a lack of preparedness and readiness. But, you can turn stress into excitement by following a checklist and not putting too much pressure on yourself.

Despite it not being long ago, I’ve come a long way since I last moved house. Previously, I agonised over the details, such as building an audit of belongings, polishing the silverware and decluttering to the extreme – I remember throwing away all of my spices and repurchasing half of them because one had exploded, which was extremely wasteful.

This was fuelled by perfectionism and a vision for a changed life when I opened the boxes on the other side. Quite frankly, the vision was never going to be achievable. Changing behaviours and habits started with me, and a new house (or spice rack, it seemed), was never going to transform me into the person that I wanted to become.

So, don’t let perfect be the enemy of perfectly good during the process, and set realistic expectations for your house move. The boxes might not be as aesthetically packed as those of your favourite influencer, but if they’re packed and labelled, the job is complete.

I recognise that feelings of limbo can be present when moving house, too – especially if you’re surrounded by boxes (as I am right now). But, it’s important to remind yourself that you are still living. Continue to do what makes you feel good, such as waking up early for your morning routine, putting some makeup on or going for a walk in nature. While moving house can feel all-consuming, such simple actions can provide you with the space to step back from the packing and think clearly.

Moving house with intentional living

Intentional living is a way of life that is underpinning my moving journey, in many ways. For example, I believe that you should be intentional about what you bring into your new home. In addition, I believe that it’s best to organise your belongings in a fashion, such as by core items or room, to set positive intentions for your new beginning.

Similarly, I don’t believe it’s intentional to throw items away because they don’t fit your vision or grand plans to overhaul your decor. I’ve been told by friends that one of the biggest mistakes they’ve made when moving was buying new furniture before they’d lived in the new house. The furniture either didn’t fit the way they wanted it to, wasn’t right for their flow of living, or they’d simply made a rushed decision.

Decluttering unwanted or unnecessary belongings can be a loving act, but it’s important to be realistic. For example, I will require a chest of drawers to store my clothes in and the set I own isn’t broken. I would be delighted to purchase the set that proudly dominates my mood board for my dream house (see the next section), but for now, I’m planning to upcycle my existing drawers to fit the image.

Meanwhile, I’ve decluttered some clothing from my drawers that I haven’t worn recently, allowing me to be intentional elsewhere about what I’m bringing into my new home. In fact, decluttering items and selling them to new owners has enabled Tom and I to save enough money to pay for our moving van. And, who knows, the upcycled drawers might fit my vision so well that I won’t need to purchase the original set I had my heart set on.

Making mood boards

Of course, the temptation will be there to purchase decorative items and furnishings – I’m guilty of placing an order on Zara Home for hand towels, a cushion cover and a sugar canister. But, before collecting trinkets, it’s helpful to understand where they will live and if they truly fit your vision, which will help to avoid impulse purchasing.

A mood board for each room in your home is an intentional way to understand what you desire before you press the checkout icon. Canva is the perfect resource for building a mood board, allowing you to upload images, create a colour palette using the images and build upon a template. I like to include images from my Pinterest board, a palette of four colours and three words to define the energy of each room. For example, the words for our new living room are bright, floral and cottage, and we’ve bought a cushion cover that fits the vision and added it to the mood board to work from.

Practical actions with the dream house checklist

It’s time for my favourite part of learning how to prepare for moving day – taking action.

So, what do you need to do when moving to a new house? This step-by-step process is what I’m coining the dream house checklist, which can be adjusted according to your requirements and timescales.

Note: the number of weeks out is an estimate and should only be used for indicative purposes

Legal searches in progress | 4 to 6 weeks out

Begin by completing the basics that are not time-sensitive.

Gather boxes, tape, wrapping materials, markers and labels

This initial preparation will signify to your creator that you’re ready to get started. Ask your local supermarket for boxes and collect old newspapers to wrap delicate items.

Organise and file your documents

It’s easy to feel overrun with documents during a house purchase. I recommend filing all of your physical documents for the household early, while it’s quieter, to set the intention that you’re organised and ready to go. I have different folders for different documents – one for the house, one for personal affairs and one for certificates.

Tip: Separate your new house file with your current house file. Then, print this page and add it as the front page of your new house file to stay on track

Look around your current home and sell unwanted items

Write a list of the furniture, furnishings and appliances that you are certain won’t be coming to your new home. Clean them, take photographs and list them on Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, eBay or Gumtree. From experience, it can become overwhelming if you’re selling items up until the date of completion. So, it’s best to lovingly send your unneeded items to new homes early, just in case they take longer to sell.

As I mentioned earlier, think lovingly and carefully about what you will and won’t need to bring with you. For example, we’ve sold our microwave because we have a built-in one in the new house.

Upgrade your existing life insurance policy

If you have a mortgage advisor, like us, they might ask to meet with you to discuss taking out or upgrading your life insurance. Seeking quotes is an action that can be ticked off early.

Confirm the location of important devices and documents at your new home

If your legal professional has presented the searches, it’s the perfect time to confirm the whereabouts of the things you’ll need.
– Water and energy meters
– Fuse box
– Heating thermostat
– Instructions and warranties for appliances being left in the house. For example, the fridge freezer, oven, dishwasher, washing machine and boiler. This information will likely be included in your ‘Fixtures and fittings’ form in your searches pack

Arrange quotes for flooring or essential work at your new home

If you are reliant upon getting flooring installed before moving your furniture in, or if there’s an item that needs fixing imminently, vendors sometimes allow buyers to arrange visits from professionals to retrieve quotes for work.

For example, we are gathering quotes for floorboard renovation. However, I wouldn’t recommend booking the work until the point of exchange. Even then, book a date for the work to be completed after you have the keys to protect yourself from any risk of financial loss if something were to happen (I don’t like the negativity associated with risk, but it’s important to mention it!).

Improving, decluttering and packing | 3-4 weeks out

It might seem too early to start making improvements, decluttering and packing. But, being organised now will benefit you in the long run – especially if your current house is sold, too. Honestly, the speed during the latter part of the process took us by surprise when buying our current home.

Make standard improvements

We’re addressing building waste at the back of our garden (don’t ask). But, making standard improvements could mean replacing a lightbulb or fixing a broken hinge on a cupboard. At this stage, improvements don’t include large-scale projects unless agreed with the buyer. Rather, it’s about addressing the items that a new owner would expect to be fully functioning in their new home out of courtesy.

Declutter and pack each room

This is, by far, the most time-consuming task when preparing to move house.

Begin by making a list of each room in your current home, not forgetting the shed and the loft where treasures are often hiding. Build the boxes for packing, find a reusable bag, such as an IKEA storage bag for donations and sales, and grab a couple of bin liners for rubbish. I also bring in basic cleaning products to remove dust or dirt from items before packing or donating them.

If you’re motivated by the clock like I am, set a timer and start packing, room by room. Pack the items that you want to keep in labelled boxes, donate the items that you no longer love or need, and throw away rubbish, such as out-of-date store cupboard food or broken, unrepairable gadgets.

Schedule your time

Decluttering and packing is a big job. So, my partner and I decided to take a week off work to conquer a chunk of the decluttering and packing together. If you’re not in a position to use annual leave or have a larger home, I would recommend scheduling the job across two to three weeks, if not longer.

To make the best use of your time and assist with motivation, make a schedule with the estimated time it will take to complete each room. We have opted to declutter and pack one area a day – even longer for the bedroom. Ultimately, choose what’s right for your circumstances.

How much to pack

Of course, it’s impossible to pack everything, given that you could remain living in your current home for another few weeks, or even months, until completion. Use your initiative as you declutter and pack, and ask yourself:

– Do I use this item every day or week?
– If not, will there be a situation in which I will need this item?

For example, you might not use a tape measure often, but you’ll likely need it to take measurements before ordering furniture for your new home. So, you’ll keep it out of the packing boxes.

Then, store all of the items that need to remain unpacked in dedicated spaces. For example, your beauty products can be stored in one makeup bag, as opposed to across four drawers. Your kitchen items can be consolidated to one pan, one pot, one dinner set, four mugs, four glasses and essential utensils and cutlery, stored in one cupboard and one drawer. Your clothes can be consolidated into a 20-piece capsule wardrobe, with two pairs of pyjamas and two workout sets. So, when the completion date is finalised, you will know exactly where your items are stored and be able to pack them in the final boxes quickly and easily.

Contracts exchanged | 1-2 weeks out

You’ll likely feel over the moon to not only have the house purchase set in stone, but also to have received a completion date. Now, the activity for the house move will ramp up.

Book annual leave for the moving date

Completion usually takes place on a Friday in England. Tom and I will be taking three days off work for the move, either side of the weekend.

Get quotes for a moving company or van and book

The decision between using a moving company or a van is entirely yours to make. Either way, investigate the options and make an informed decision by gathering three quotes from companies to choose from before booking.

Arrange your broadband

For your existing broadband, there’s often a contract to end and a final balance to settle if you’re planning to change your provider. In our case, the provider doesn’t operate in the postcode of our new home. So, we’ll need to arrange a contract with a new broadband provider.

Complete the Post Office redirection form

The pressure to change your address on a lifetime of accounts would be astronomical without the Post Office redirection service. Schedule the redirection for as long as you can. Then, you will only need to focus on changing your address on crucial accounts (see Moving week) before the move.

Finish the remaining food

Get creative with the pot and pan you left out of the boxes by making recipes using the remaining food in the cupboards, fridge and freezer. Google recipes for leftover store cupboard staples for little waste when it’s time to move. I like to try and finish the sauces in the fridge, too.

Wash duvets, pillows, cushion covers and throws

You might have already washed linen and bedding during the decluttering and packing. But, for the items that remain unpacked, it’s a loving gesture to wash them ahead of the move. Duvets and pillows can be washed in the washing machine, and it gives them a good plump up, too!

Moving week | 1 week out

At this point, you might be feeling the emotions of a manifestation coming to fruition. It’s the perfect time to complete the computer-based admin and time-consuming cleaning tasks, and say goodbye to friends if you’re relocating.

Clean the oven and grill

Truthfully, this is a cleaning task that I don’t enjoy, but it’s kind to leave the oven and grill sparkling for the new owners. Unfortunately, when we moved into our current house, the oven (and house, for that matter) hadn’t been cleaned at all. Despite feeling blessed to be in, we spent the best part of a week scrubbing years’ worth of grime from the kitchen and bathroom during the Christmas period.

Once clean, you might decide to make your final week of meals on the hob. After all, you wouldn’t want to undo your efforts!

Change your address on important accounts

I alluded to this when I discussed arranging the Post Office redirection service. While many accounts can wait, some of them might have implications if you don’t transfer the address in good time. For example, your home insurance and TV licence will need to cover the new house upon moving in (if you plan on watching TV, that is).
– Home insurance
– TV licence
– Bank
– DVLA
– Car insurance
– National insurance
– Employer

Inform your current GP and register with a new surgery

This will only be applicable if you’re relocating. But, it’s always better to be safe and have a GP to call upon in your new area from your arrival date.

Inform utilities and settle the remaining balances

Now, depending on the time of the month or year, you could owe money or receive a refund on existing utilities (the latter is preferred, of course). Regardless, you’ll need to inform your utility providers of your moving date to ensure that you’re not paying for the service when the new owner has moved in.
– Council tax
– Water supplier
– Energy supplier

Donate unsold and unwanted items

After improving, decluttering and packing, you might have built up a bag of items that won’t be coming with you. In addition, some of the items that you listed for sale at the beginning of the process might not have sold.

In England, the British Heart Foundation has a collection service for unwanted furniture, providing that upholstered items contain a fire label. Of course, you can take smaller items to the charity shop or fill up a postal collection bag, if you receive them through the letterbox.

Close to completion | 2 days out

By now, your house will be filled with boxes and the majority of packing and tasks will have been completed. The last couple of days will be focused on packing the remaining items and preparing to disconnect appliances.

Empty the laundry basket

This will be your last opportunity to do the laundry in your current home. If possible, I would attempt to empty the washing basket to ensure that the washing pile isn’t building up while you’re focused on the move.

Tip: Skip ironing and instead, unpack your clothes with the steamer or iron out on the other side. The clothes will get creased in transit, anyway

Pack remaining items and suitcases

This task acts as a reminder of just how time-saving it was to carry out the bulk of the packing early. I discovered a brilliant trick whereby each person in the household packs their remaining toiletries, clothes and essentials in a suitcase as if the family is going on holiday. This way, nobody is ripping boxes open on the first morning in the new house to locate their belongings.

Providing that only essential items were left out following the packing, a couple of boxes should suffice to pack the remaining kitchenware and additional items. However, I recommend packing a box labelled “moving day essentials” and packing toilet rolls, hand soap, hand and tea towels, the kettle, tea, coffee and sugar, a few mugs (additional for your moving helpers), a teaspoon, bin bags, water bottles and tools (do you remember the tape measure I mentioned earlier?). Finally, make sure that you pack cleaning supplies separately – you’ll need them for moving day.

Set aside valuable items and personal documents to transport in the car

I will be transporting the family’s documents and jewellery in the car to ensure a safe journey, separate from the moving boxes.

Dismantle the furniture

Dismantling the furniture early will help to alleviate the pressure on moving day. It’s personal preference, but Tom and I always camp on an air mattress for the final night.

Message friends and family your new address

The last time we moved, friends and family asked for our new address to send us moving cards, which was so kind. With this in mind, it’s best to share your new address ahead of time. Chances are, you won’t have much time to look at your phone on the day of the move!

Defrost, clean and disconnect appliances

Hopefully, you managed to eat the majority of the food in your fridge and freezer. It’s intentional to spend a couple of hours cleaning your appliances ready for their new home, before disconnecting them ready for transit. Alternatively, if you’re leaving them behind for the new owner, it’s a nice gesture to leave them how you would expect to find them.

Create a pack of items for the new owner, label keys and write a card

Write a welcome card for the new owner containing information about the property, such as when the bins are collected. I will also leave a folder containing essential documents and warranties for appliances in the house.

Take pets to stay elsewhere

Moving can be a challenging environment for pets, and potentially even upsetting. While my Persian cat isn’t phased by much, he will certainly be a mischief-maker with all of the packing materials to play with. To have one less thing to think about, he will be staying with Tom’s parents for the duration of the move.

Moving day | 0 days out

Moving day will likely bring up a mixture of feelings, such as nerves and excitement. So, take the time to shower and get ready by putting your favourite face cream on and doing your hair, if you wish. It will be tempting to throw on some slacks and get started, but getting ready is an intentional time to reflect on the new beginning you’re about to embark on and, in my opinion, is worth the time spent.

Strip the bed (or air mattress) and clean the house

By now, everything should be packed apart from your trusty cleaning supplies, so it’s time to clean each room. As you will have cleaned the appliances already, a couple of hours should be enough time for a thorough cleaning, depending on the size of the property.

Tip: If you stack the boxes in one room, it will give you freedom to clean all of the other rooms without furniture blocking the way

Pack the van

Our van will be arriving on the morning of the move. So, Tom and his brother will carry out the loading while I carry out the cleaning. If you’ve enlisted the help of a moving company, it’s a good time to sit on a camping chair and take it all in!

Record meter readings for water and energy

You’ll want to record meter readings for water and energy at your current house on the morning of the move, and at your new house when you arrive.

Drop off the old keys and collect the new ones

Providing that you have the all clear, drop off the keys to your current house at the estate agent’s office. Then, make the journey to collect the keys to the new house.

Unload the van, pop the champagne and have a takeaway

It might be considered controversial, but I am a firm believer that the unpacking can wait until the day after the house move (thanks to the trusty trick of packing suitcases). Instead, thank your helpers with a takeaway from one of your local eateries and celebrate such a momentous occasion with a bottle of your favourite tipple. You’ve done it, sister!

Was the dream house checklist useful? Remember, you can leave a comment or contact me with any questions.

Next in the dream house series, I’ll be showing you how to become intentional with planning your decor for your new home. If you’re dreaming of vintage home decor, you can get a head start by reading my blog post on vintage home decor on a budget.