Is there really anything more exciting than moving into a new home? To make life easier for you, we’ve put together a moving house checklist that covers the moving out essentials you’ll need to make sure you can settle into your new home straight away.
Is there really anything more exciting than moving into a new home? From the opportunity to sort through all your belongings (and get rid of the stuff you don’t need), to the actual moving day, to the moment you sit down on your sofa and take a moment to appreciate your new space; moving house can be a truly invigorating experience. However, it can also be stressful, as you’re likely to be juggling many different balls throughout the process.
To make life easier for you, we’ve put together a moving house checklist that covers the moving out essentials you’ll need to make sure you can settle into your new home straight away. As well as what to buy when moving to a new house, we’ve also covered some of the things to do before moving into a new house, so you’ll be ready and prepared to tick off boxes (and pack them!) at every stage of the journey.
We've put together an essential check list to make sure you've covered all your bases as you prepare for your new adventure.
If you’ve got a lot of heavy or fragile things like your favourite Royal Doulton tableware (or if you just don’t fancy the idea of moving furniture yourself) then you’ll need to look for a removals service to help you on moving day. Word of mouth is a great way to find trusted and reliable moving companies in your area, so ask your friends, family and neighbours for their recommendations before making a decision.
You’ll need a supply of durable packing boxes and strong packing tape to be able to safely pack up your belongings from your home. Packing boxes can often be found at storage facilities and purchased from removals companies, or you can ask around at local stores to see if they have any old boxes spare. Just make sure they’re still fully intact and not susceptible to breaking on you. If you’re savvy and sustainable like us and saved the packaging from your latest Royal Doulton order, then you’re one step ahead!
Before you move, it’s a good idea to pay all your outstanding bills to reduce the risk of losing paperwork or forgetting to pay and then accruing late fees. You’ll also need to disconnect (and reconnect) your utilities. It’s important to do this with plenty of time before you move, as utility providers will sometimes need to gain access to your home to disconnect your facilities. These include:
Water
Internet
Electricity
Gas
Finally, it’s important that you take an hour or so to tell important providers about your new address before you move, so that they have time to redirect your notices and general mail. Some important places to update your address at include:
Post office
Voter registration
Tax agencies
Your workplace
Phone and internet provider
Insurance providers
Your bank
Magazine and newspaper subscriptions
Drivers licence
Schools (if you have children)
Vehicle registration
Sporting clubs
Friends and family
The kitchen is one of the first rooms you’ll want to prioritise in getting set up, as it’s no good for the bank balance to be ordering takeaways for days after you arrive! Once the hard work of moving in day is finally over, there’ll be no better feeling than having your kitchen essentials setup so you can enjoy dining in your new home right away. Make sure you know where your Royal Doulton mugs are packed so you can get the kettle on straight away! There’s no doubt you’ll also be wanting to cook and invite guests over to see your new home as soon as possible.
A great way to save money when setting up kitchens is to buy dinner sets instead of each crockery item individually. You can buy purposely-crafted dinner sets for the amount of people in your household (for example this 16-piece dinner set for a household of four), or mix and match, combining individual pieces to create your own personalized dinner set depending on your taste and needs. Either way, it’s always a good idea to stock up on quality tableware and cutlery to make sure you never run out and that you have beautiful pieces to use when serving visiting guests.
A standard five-piece dinner place setting usually includes a dinner plate, cup, saucer, salad plate, and a bread and butter plate or a soup bowl, as well as cutlery. Be sure to purchase all of these items so you’re always prepared for any kind of occasion at your home:
Placemats
Salt and pepper shakers
Mixing bowls
Oven dishes or trays
Spatulas
Food storage (e.g. Tupperware)
Kitchen towels
Oven mitts
Cutting boards
Spice rack
Can opener
Whisk
Kitchen scissors
Colander
Kitchen tool holder
Measuring cups and spoons
Grater
Dish rack and drying mat
Paper towel holder
Your living room is the first place you come to when you enter your home, so make sure you feel comfortable and cosy right from the get-go by purchasing these essentials for your most-used space. Your living room is the perfect place to show off your creativity and personality - choose fun and unique furnishings, decor and cushions to give your living room a unique touch that will make your guests (and you!) feel warm, inspired and relaxed.
Lounge pillows
Slipcovers
Art
Picture frames
Rugs
Lamps
Bookcases
Wall hanging kits
Before your bedroom can become a relaxing oasis of calm and serenity, you need to get the basics. Invest in a quality bed frame, mattress and mattress protector to make sure you stay comfortable and supported (and squeak free) for years to come. Beautiful linen is a dream to sleep in, and choosing the right furniture can make organisation in the bedroom a seamless task.
Mattress
Mattress protector
Bed sets (bottom sheet, top sheet, duvet cover, pillow protectors and pillowcases)
Pillows
Duvets
Blankets, quilts and comforters
Bookcases
Shelving
Lamps
Bedside tables
Wardrobe organiser
Moth balls
The moment you’ve fully set up your new bathroom is when you can really start to ‘live’ in your new home - because who wants to be showering without body wash or brushing their teeth without toothpaste? Make your bathroom a clean and fresh place to be by making sure you have all the necessary essentials.
Shower curtain
Shower hooks and rings
Plunger
Bath rug
Bath and hand towels
Bath mat
Toilet brush and holder
Toothbrush holder
Soap dish and soap
Bathroom bin
Shower caddy for products
Air fresheners
Loofahs and sponges
Body wash
Shampoo
Conditioner
No doubt you’ll want to be keeping your new home spick and span! Set yourself up for success by making sure you have all the necessary cleaning supplies for spraying, scrubbing, scouring, washing and dusting.
Vacuum cleaner
Brush and dustpan
Floor mop and bucket
Cleaning rags
Scouring or pot cleaning brushes
Microfibre cleaning cloths
Dusters
Floor cleaner
Spray surface cleaner
Dishwashing liquid
Laundry detergent
Fabric softener
Lists are a mover’s best friend. It’s easy to let the little (or important) tasks get away from you on moving day, so create a ‘master list’ that you can add to (and cross off) as you go. This might include small tasks like taking out the rubbish, cleaning your shower, emptying the fridge and freezer, clearing the yard or getting cash out to tip your removalists! There are many things to remember other than just packing your boxes, so make sure they’re all written down so you don’t get overwhelmed and forget anything.
Depending on how old your kids are, it may be better (and safer) to send them off to a friends, relatives or neighbours place for moving day. This way, you’ll be certain they’re safe, out of the way and having a good time, rather than having to constantly keep an eye on them when you’ve got a million things to do. The same goes for pets - having a friend take care of your dog or cat for the day could take away another element of stress for you on moving day. Not to mention, it will be less stressful for your pet!
A moving essentials bag could consist of the items you would take with you for a weekend away. It’s the things that you need to have with you to last a few days and that you don’t want to put on the truck. Your moving essentials bag could include things like toiletries, a few changes of clothes, phone chargers, keys, wallet, medications, laptops, laptop chargers and most importantly... your Royal Doulton mugs! Basically anything you’ll need to survive while you’re unpacking boxes!
It’s a good idea to do a final ‘walk-through’ of your old house before you leave to make sure you haven’t left anything behind and to make sure everything is clean. Leave some surface spray, floor cleaner, a mop, kitchen cloths and microfibre dusting cloths out so you can make sure your place is sparkling clean before you leave.
This is a common mistake when it comes to moving house, as people try to pack way too much into their cardboard moving boxes, forgetting that at some point they (or their removalists) will actually have to lift them! Lift your box a few times as you are packing it to make sure it’s a reasonable weight and that you haven’t gone overboard with the fullness.
Another tip for packing (and for the environment) is to use towels, blankets, sheets and other linens in your packing boxes instead of bubble wrap. Similar to the ‘pack your socks in your shoes trick’, this will not only eliminate your need to buy bubble wrap, but will also give your linen and towels a purchase while they’re being moved.
All it takes is a little bit of forethought and planning to limit moving day stresses. Knowing the things to do before moving into a new house and what to buy when moving to a new house will put you in good stead for a successful move.
Planning for a new place to live (whether it’s your first time moving out of home or your seventh time moving house) and thinking about the stunning homewares you’re going to buy to turn your house into a home is a fantastic experience - so enjoy it as much as you can! We hope this moving house checklist of the essentials makes life a little simpler for you.
Shop the latest trending pieces from Royal Doulton along with casual tableware, drinkware, gifts and sale items to treat yourself to a moving-in present (or two)!
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