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Moving house is one of life’s big milestones. A fresh start, a new area to explore, neighbours to meet, and a chance to finally declutter the stuff you’ve been holding onto for too long. But whether you’re a seasoned pro at moving or you’re packing boxes for the first time, it can be a stressful experience, even for the most organised among us.
It can also be pricey. According to HomeOwners Alliance, buying and selling an average-priced UK home in 2026 can rack up moving costs of around £13,000, including everything from legal and estate agent fees to removals.
There are plenty of ways to keep costs down, though. This guide covers everything you need to prepare for moving day, so you can get organised, save where it counts and actually enjoy the moment you get the keys.
Contrary to popular belief, you can never start too early. If you love a good list, the process of preparing will be right up your street. There’s a lot to get your head around, and while you won’t be ticking things off just yet, laying the groundwork now will make for a smoother (and cheaper) move down the line.
Possibly one of the most satisfying parts of the whole moving process – rediscovering a pair of boots you forgot about and stumbling across school photos you haven’t seen in years. But seriously, this is the opportunity to finally tackle that loft space and rid yourself of the mammoth amount of stuff you’ve accrued over the years.
It’s also a great way to cut removal costs. The less you move, the less you’ll pay. Be ruthless now, or you can risk unpacking boxes in your new place wondering why you brought half of it with you.
If you’re not ready to part with everything just yet, storage is a good middle ground. It can take the pressure off making a decision before moving day and gives you a chance to see what space you’re working with in the new house.
To make that part a little easier, have a look at Blue Light Card discounts at Big Yellow Self Storage.
Tot up the rough costs of removals, conveyancing fees, stamp duty, storage, cleaning and surveys. Whilst you’re at it, have a think about any repairs or upgrades you might want to make to the old or new property. An online cost of moving calculator can help you get started, while an AI tool can help you think through the less obvious expenses and pull everything together into a working budget.
Start researching removal companies early, even if you don’t have a firm moving date in place. Get around three quotes and find out what happens if your date changes. When you’re part of a chain, you may not be able to confirm the booking until relatively late in the process, so pay attention to cancellation and rescheduling terms.
For that extra peace of mind, some removal companies offer a cancellation waiver for an additional fee, which could protect you from losing a large chunk of your removal costs if your moving date changes at short notice.
And don't forget to check for Blue Light Card offers when you’re comparing removal quotes. Members can currently save on a home removal with AnyVan, where moving teams are available across the UK seven days a week (useful if you work shifts or irregular hours).
There are some things you simply can’t control when moving house – which for some of us, might be a difficult thing to accept. Remember, though, you’re not doing this alone. Estate agents, conveyancers and whoever you’re moving with all have their part to play. Focus on the things only you can do and put your trust in others to get on with their roles.
This is when things start ramping up – getting your hands on those keys is within touching distance. By now, you’ll hopefully have laid the groundwork, and now it’s time to start ticking off all those practical tasks.
You have two main options here: move your existing broadband service to your new address or use the move as a useful opportunity to switch providers. This can all depend on what’s available at your new address, the speeds you can get and whether you’re still tied into your current contract.
The best place to start is by checking what your existing provider can offer at the new property and whether there are any charges for moving location. If you’re thinking about switching, check whether you’d have to pay an early termination fee before getting your hopes up by a cheaper deal elsewhere.
If you’re already out of contract, then moving home offers the perfect excuse to shop around. Use Blue Light Card’s Broadband Genie comparison service to browse deals from providers including Sky, BT, Vodafone, Virgin Media and EE, helping you find a package that suits both your new home and your budget. Members can also get their hands on additional rewards when switching through the service. Or alternatively, browse various broadband discounts so you can stay connected for less.
Moving house is also a good opportunity to consider what you’re paying for gas and electricity. Similar to broadband, it’s best to start by checking your existing tariffs and finding out if there are any exit fees. If you’re tied into a fixed deal, look at its end date and put a reminder in your phone to start comparing options before then. Most of the time, if you have 49 days or less left on a fixed tariff, you can switch without paying an exit fee.
When you first arrive at your new home, you’ll automatically be supplied by whichever energy company already serves the property. Once you’ve taken a meter reading, contacted the existing supplier and set up your account, you’re free to compare their tariffs or switch to another supplier.
And of course, don’t stick with a supplier just for loyalty’s sake. Compare what’s out there, find the lowest price and check Blue Light Card for the latest energy offers.
As part of your long-term budgeting, moving house is a great time to consider how energy efficient your home is. If the boiler is on its last legs, for instance, and replacing it makes financial sense, check to see if you could help bring down the upfront cost with any Blue Light Card discounts on new boilers.
Likewise, if you have some money left in your budget, you might want to explore whether solar panels could help you in the long term. Blue Light Card members can access offers on solar installations, so have a look at what’s available before going ahead.
Getting buildings insurance in place is a vital part of the moving process. If you’re in England or Wales, you’re required to have cover in place from the point you exchange contracts, so ask your conveyancer when your cover needs to start.
Meanwhile, make sure that the property you’re leaving stays insured right up to completion. If your existing policy is due to end around the same time, check the cancellation terms before renewing – you’ll want any unused cover refunded. And don’t assume paying monthly means you can cancel anytime. Always check the small print!
Your new address is a good opportunity to shop around for buildings and contents insurance rather than automatically sticking with your existing provider. Compare both price and cover, and use the Blue Light Card comparison service, in partnership with MoneySuperMarket, to see whether you could save.
If you’re buying a property in England or Northern Ireland and have Stamp Duty Land Tax to pay, make sure the money is ready to go. Your conveyancer will usually calculate the amount, file the return and make the payment to HMRC on your behalf, often taking the money from you as part of the completion process.
Ultimately, though, it’s your responsibility to ensure the tax is paid, so check with your conveyancer that everything is in hand. The deadline for filing the return and paying any Stamp Duty is 14 days after completion.
If you haven’t already started packing with two weeks to go, you’d better get cracking. Hopefully, you’ve already had a bit of a wardrobe audit, so a lot of the hard work has already been done. If not, spreading packing across several sessions rather than leaving it all to one weekend is a lot more manageable when you work nights or long shifts.
Start with the non-essentials. We’re talking ornaments, books, toys and anything else you can comfortably live without for a fortnight. Then move on to clothes and kitchenware. Leave out the things you’ll need right until the last minute: cleaning products, dishwasher tablets, washing detergent, the hoover and a mop. And your tea and coffee are best to stay put until the bitter end. Even if you don’t drink either, whoever’s helping you move will probably appreciate a cup.
Keep aside a box with enough clothes and toiletries to see you through the first night or two. In fact, you might as well make that a week’s worth. Once you’re in the new house, it could be a while before everything gets unpacked, and the box containing your underpants will probably be buried under a mountain of other boxes. You’ll be thankful you’ve got some clean undies when it’s time to crack on with unboxing.
Other essentials to keep within easy reach include:
The big day has finally arrived. You’re now about to take all your worldly possessions from one house and tip them into another. If things start to get stressful, just remember all that initial prep will make your life slightly easier.
This is easy to overlook, especially in the age of smart meters. Take final gas and electricity meter readings before you leave and snap a photo of each, so you have a record if there are any queries about your final bill. And if you have a smart meter, remember to leave the in-home display behind for the new owners or tenants.
Likewise, photograph the meter reading at your new place when you arrive.
When you arrive at your new place, make sure everything’s in good working order. Do the toilets flush? Does the heating come on? Where’s the stopcock, fuse box and thermostat? It’s worth getting to grips with these things now, rather than panicking if something goes wrong.
The hard work is done. Now comes the exciting part – settling into your new home! Don’t feel like you have to rush things. Get a feel for the place and decide slowly what additional items you might need to buy.
Let’s face it, even on a budget you may still need to replace some of your old stuff. Perhaps the white goods that came with the house aren’t in the best nick, your sofa won’t fit through the door, or the television looks titchy in your new living room.
Before paying full price for anything new, check your Blue Light Card. Members can access offers on furniture, kitchen appliances and homeware, so whether you need a new mattress, washing machine, TV or hoover, it’s worth seeing what you could save before buying.
Have you got more space out back? Or is the new house’s garden a lot greener than the old one? Gardening tools might suddenly become a necessity, so make sure you get what you need now before things get too overgrown, and you don’t know where to start. For items like tools, sheds, plants, lawnmowers and garden furniture, Blue Light Card members can save on a range of brands.
With everything else going on, it’s surprisingly easy to forget just how many people and organisations need to know you’ve moved. Some are more important than others, so work through the list below and tick them off as you go.
It’s also worth setting up a Royal Mail redirection for anything that slips through the net. Keep it running for a while after the move and use anything that arrives at your old address as a reminder to update your details with the sender.
Honestly, the earlier the better. Even before you have a confirmed moving date, you can start decluttering, working out your budget, researching removal companies and gathering packing materials. Leave bookings that depend on a firm date until you know where you stand and always check cancellation and rescheduling terms.
Start by decluttering so you're not paying to move things you no longer want, then compare quotes for removals and other services rather than taking the first price you're offered. A move is also a good opportunity to review regular household costs such as broadband, energy and home insurance, and shop around where it makes sense.
Start researching removal companies and getting quotes as early as possible. If you’re in a property chain, however, you might not have a confirmed moving date until relatively late in the process. Ask prospective removal companies about availability, deposits and what happens if your date changes before committing.
You'll need to update everyone from the DVLA, HMRC and your local council to banks, insurers, utility companies, your employer and healthcare providers. Remember that changing the address on your driving licence doesn't automatically update your vehicle logbook (V5C), so these need to be dealt with separately.
Take final gas and electricity meter readings when you leave your old property and photograph them for your records. Do the same when you arrive at your new home. You’ll initially be supplied by the energy company already serving the new property, after which you can review your tariff and compare other options.
