Moving house involves an almost comical number of things to organise simultaneously. Most people manage it, but most people also forget something, overlook something, or find themselves standing in an empty house at 6pm realising the broadband is not being transferred until next week.
This checklist is not exhaustive but it covers the things that genuinely matter and the ones that catch people out most often when moving in and around Crawley.
Eight weeks before you move
Early planning
- Get at least three removal quotes so you know what a fair price looks like for your specific move
- Book your removal company as soon as you have a completion date — good companies in Crawley fill up fast, especially on Fridays
- Start decluttering room by room — anything you are not taking with you should go now, not on the day
- Contact your mortgage lender, solicitor, and estate agent to confirm timelines
- Notify your buildings and contents insurer about the move date and new address
- Check whether your current home needs any repairs before you hand it back
Four to six weeks before
Getting organised
- Start collecting boxes — removal companies, supermarkets, and local Facebook groups are all good sources
- Pack non-essential items first — books, seasonal clothes, items in the loft
- Label every box with its destination room and a brief contents note, not just a room name
- Arrange redirect of your post through Royal Mail — it takes a few days to process
- Notify your employer, bank, HMRC, and DVLA of your change of address
- Transfer or cancel any local services — gym memberships, council tax, water, energy
- Book a parking suspension outside your new address if needed — Crawley town centre and some residential streets require notice to the council
Two weeks before
Final preparations
- Confirm all details with your removal company including arrival time and access arrangements
- Pack most of your belongings, leaving out only what you need for daily life
- Take photos of the current state of your home for your records
- Arrange for someone to look after children or pets on move day if needed
- Transfer or set up broadband at your new address — lead times can be longer than you expect
- Contact utility companies to give meter readings on both properties on move day
- Confirm with your solicitor that everything is on track for completion
The day before
Last minute
- Finish packing everything except what you need for the morning
- Prepare an essentials box to go in your car rather than the van — kettle, mugs, phone charger, important documents, a change of clothes, medication, toilet paper
- Defrost the freezer and run the washing machine empty
- Charge your phone fully and make sure you have the removal company and solicitor's numbers saved
- Confirm your new address key collection arrangements
Move day
The big day
- Be up and ready before the removal crew arrives — do not let them wait
- Do a final walk-through of every room, cupboard, loft, shed, and garage before the van leaves
- Take meter readings at both properties and photograph them
- Hand over your keys once the van is loaded and you have done your walk-through
- At the new property, direct the crew to the right rooms using the labels on the boxes
- Check for any damage once everything is unloaded before the crew leaves
- Locate the fuse box, stopcock, and boiler at your new home on day one
First week in your new home
Settling in
- Register with a local GP and dentist in Crawley or your new area
- Update your driving licence and vehicle registration with your new address
- Set up council tax at your new address
- Check that your post redirect is working and follow up on anything that has not arrived
- Introduce yourself to your new neighbours
- Check the smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your new home
The essentials box is the single most useful thing most people never think to prepare until they are standing in an empty kitchen at 8pm wondering where the kettle is. Pack it the night before and put it in your car, not the van.
One thing most people leave too late
Booking the removal company. It sounds obvious but in Crawley and across West Sussex, the companies with the best reputations are often booked up three to four weeks in advance during busy periods. Once you have a completion date from your solicitor, getting quotes and securing a company should be your first practical move.
Fill in our short form and local Crawley removal companies will be in touch within 24 hours so you can get that sorted early and cross one of the biggest items off your list.