15 things people forget to do when moving house

Moving house has a lovely way of turning even the most organised person into someone standing in a room full of boxes, wondering where the kettle went.

There are the big jobs everyone remembers, such as booking removals, packing plates, collecting keys and trying not to lose the solicitor’s number. But it is often the smaller tasks that catch people out. The boring admin. The “I’ll do that later” jobs. The things you only remember when the post goes to the wrong address or your car insurance still thinks you live somewhere else.

A Legal & General study cited by EE found that 57% of Brits think moving house is the most stressful thing you can do, ahead of having a child or breaking up with a partner. Lovely relaxing activity, then.

That is why a good moving house checklist is so useful. Not just for the obvious jobs, but for the small things that make life easier when moving day arrives.

Here are 15 things people often forget when moving house.

1. Update your driving licence

Your driving licence needs to show your current address. It is free to update your address with the DVLA, but it is still one of those jobs people forget because it does not feel urgent when you are surrounded by boxes and bubble wrap.

Do it early, then it is one less admin gremlin following you to the new house.

2. Update your V5C log book

Your driving licence is not the only vehicle document that needs changing. You also need to update your V5C vehicle log book if you own a car.

This is separate from your driving licence, which is why it gets missed so often. Annoying? Slightly. Important? Very.

3. Set up Royal Mail redirection

Even if you tell everyone your new address, some post will still head to the old one. Bank letters, insurance documents, subscriptions, birthday cards from relatives who still use an address book from 2004. It happens.

Royal Mail redirection gives you breathing room while you update your details properly. It is especially useful if you are moving in stages or staying somewhere temporarily between properties.

4. Tell HMRC

HMRC should have your current address for tax records, National Insurance, self assessment and any other government-related paperwork.

It is not the most exciting moving job, admittedly. But neither is trying to untangle missed letters later. Add it to your moving house checklist and tick it off early.

5. Register to vote at your new address

When you move, you need to register to vote at your new address. This is easy to forget because it does not always feel relevant until an election suddenly appears.

It can also help with address history and ID checks, so it is worth sorting once you have moved.

6. Update your car insurance

Your address can affect your car insurance, so you should update your provider before or as soon as you move.

Do not assume it can wait until renewal. Your insurer needs the correct address for where the car is kept, and getting it updated avoids awkwardness if you ever need to make a claim.

7. Tell your GP, dentist and other healthcare providers

If you are moving locally, you may be able to stay with the same GP and dentist. If you are moving further away, you might need to register somewhere new.

Either way, make sure your details are updated. This is especially important if you have regular prescriptions, appointments or ongoing treatment. Future you will appreciate not having to sort it while also searching for the saucepan box.

8. Defrost the fridge freezer

This is one of the most commonly forgotten moving jobs because it has to be done before moving day.

If you are taking your fridge freezer with you, empty it, switch it off and give it time to defrost properly. Put towels down, leave the doors open and avoid creating a surprise indoor pond the night before the move.

Also, try not to do a huge food shop the week before moving. Nobody wants to transport six bags of frozen peas in a panic.

9. Pack an overnight bag

Pack one bag as if you are going away for a night or two. Keep it with you, not in the removals van.

Include:

• Toiletries
• Medication
• Phone chargers
• Pyjamas
• A change of clothes
• Basic kitchen bits
• Important documents
• Snacks
• Tea bags, obviously

This one bag can save a lot of rummaging on your first night. Because no one wants to unpack twelve boxes just to find a toothbrush.

10. Arrange van parking

Moving day can quickly unravel if the removals van cannot park near your home.

Check parking restrictions at both properties. If you need permits, suspensions or permission from neighbours, arrange it ahead of time. This is especially important on narrow roads, flats, busy streets or anywhere with limited access.

A little planning here can save a lot of carrying boxes further than anyone wants to carry boxes.

11. Label boxes properly

“Kitchen” is useful. “Kitchen, mugs, plates and kettle” is better.

Labelling boxes properly makes unpacking much easier. Write on more than one side so the label is visible when boxes are stacked. If a box is fragile, say so clearly. If it needs opening first, mark that too.

This is one of those jobs that feels fussy when packing, then feels like genius when you arrive.

12. Check your contents insurance

Do not assume your belongings are covered during the move. Some policies include moving cover, some do not, and some only cover belongings if they are packed or transported by professional movers.

Check your contents insurance before moving day, especially if you are moving valuable items, storing belongings temporarily or doing the move yourself.

13. Take meter readings

Before you leave your old property, take gas, electricity and water meter readings. Take photos too, so you have a clear record.

Then do the same at your new property when you arrive. It helps make sure you only pay for what you use, rather than accidentally funding someone else’s long showers.

14. Plan for items that will not fit straight away

This is where moving house self storage can be a real lifesaver.

Sometimes the dates do not line up. Sometimes the new house needs work before everything can go in. Sometimes you downsize, renovate or realise the new garage is not quite as generous as the estate agent’s photos suggested.

If you have furniture, boxes, seasonal items or household belongings that cannot move straight into the new place, personal storage gives you a safe and flexible place to keep them while you get sorted.

LOOK has storage units for moving house across Bournemouth, Poole and Ferndown, so you can choose a local option that works around your move. If you are unsure how much space you need, the storage size guide or our handy calculator can help you work it out without paying for space you do not need.

You can also choose the most convenient site for your move, whether that is Bournemouth, Poole or Ferndown.

Self storage is especially useful if your move is delayed by a chain issue. We have also written about how self storage can prevent a broken house chain, which is worth a read if your moving dates are looking a bit wobbly.

15. Tell informal contacts

Most people remember banks, utility companies and insurers. Fewer people remember the informal contacts that still matter.

Think about:

• Friends and family
• Schools and clubs
• Subscription boxes
• Loyalty cards
• Online shopping accounts
• Pet microchip details
• Work contacts
• Cleaners, gardeners or tradespeople
• Charities or memberships

These are the little address updates that stop things going missing later. They do not all need doing on the same day, but they do need doing.

A simple moving house checklist to keep nearby

Here is the quick version to copy, save or stick to the fridge before it disappears behind boxes:

1. Update your driving licence
2. Update your V5C log book
3. Set up Royal Mail redirection
4. Tell HMRC
5. Register to vote at your new address
6. Update your car insurance
7. Tell your GP and dentist
8. Defrost the fridge freezer
9. Pack an overnight bag
10. Arrange van parking
11. Label boxes properly
12. Check your contents insurance
13. Take meter readings
14. Plan storage for anything that will not fit straight away
15. Tell informal contacts and subscriptions

Make moving house feel a little less chaotic

Moving house is always going to involve a bit of chaos. There will be boxes. There will be missing scissors. Someone will almost definitely ask where the kettle is while standing next to the kettle.

But the more you can sort ahead of time, the calmer the move becomes.

A proper moving house checklist helps you stay on top of the small but important jobs. And if your belongings need somewhere safe to go between homes, during renovations or while you figure out what fits where, LOOK can help with flexible personal storage across Bournemouth, Poole and Ferndown.

Because moving is stressful enough without your dining table living in the hallway for six weeks.