Book removals after the date is secure
For a normal purchase in England and Wales, avoid a non-refundable booking until exchange confirms completion. Ask the removal company what happens if the chain changes, how waiting time is charged and what their liability covers.
Give an honest description of access, stairs, parking and volume. Mention large or fragile items. If permits or bay suspensions are needed, apply through the council in enough time and tell neighbours courteously where access may be tight.
Label boxes by destination room and contents that matter, not simply “miscellaneous”. Photograph cable connections before disconnecting equipment. Keep fixings from dismantled furniture in labelled bags carried with the relevant item instead of loose in a large tool box.
Keep one bag outside the removal system
Carry medicines, identity documents, phones, chargers, keys, basic toiletries and paperwork yourself. Add drinks, simple food, cleaning materials, toilet paper and bedding for the first night. Items needed by a baby, pet or disabled household member should never disappear into an unlabelled box.
Keep valuables and irreplaceable documents with you. Check whether your contents policy covers goods in transit and whether professional packing is required for fragile items.
Leave the old home properly recorded
Photograph meter readings and the condition of rooms after loading. Check cupboards, lofts, sheds and garages. Leave keys, alarm information and appliance instructions in the arrangement agreed through the conveyancers or agent.
Do not cancel insurance or utilities merely because the van has left. Your legal responsibility may continue until completion. If you are selling and buying on the same day, wait for each conveyancer's confirmation.
Protect floors and corners at both addresses, particularly in wet weather. Ask the remover what they supply. Damage caused during a move may involve the removal contract, contents insurance or neither, so prevention is easier than untangling responsibility afterwards.
Expect a wait before keys are released
Completion funds move between solicitors, and a chain can delay the final confirmation. Keep the removal team updated and avoid promising an early delivery slot to a tradesperson. The estate agent should release keys only when authorised by the seller's conveyancer.
Have a plan for where people and pets can wait safely. Keep telephone numbers for the conveyancer, agent and removal company accessible rather than packed in a box.
Make the first checks before unpacking
Walk through the property and photograph the meters. Check the fixtures list, obvious damage and whether anything substantial has been left. Find the stopcock, consumer unit, boiler controls and smoke alarms before filling rooms with boxes.
If the property is unexpectedly insecure or water is escaping, deal with safety and contact the relevant professional. For a contractual problem, call the conveyancer promptly and preserve evidence.
Do not try to complete every administrative change on the same evening. Secure the home, record readings and make sleeping arrangements first. A written address list can be handled over the following days without relying on memory when everyone is tired.
Update cover and essential services
Confirm the completed move with the insurer and correct occupancy, security or building-work details. Register with energy and water suppliers using your readings. Arrange council tax and redirect post from the former address.
Change outside-door locks when practical because old keys may still exist. Work through address changes steadily rather than using an unknown website that promises to notify everyone. Banks, licences and official records should be updated through their genuine services.
Keep one clear corner free from boxes if possible. Having somewhere to sit, take medication, feed a child or make a telephone call is a small piece of planning that makes a long day easier.
Before leaving the old property, photograph the empty rooms and any agreed items that remain. Keep the meter photographs clear enough to show both the reading and which meter was recorded.