Moving House Checklist Moving Packing Tips One Month Out

You can download a handy printable version of this Moving House Checklist at the bottom of the page.

This moving house checklist gets cracking on packing. One month out and living in your new home may still seem far off. But here’s a big moving tip; the groundwork done now will make your timetable flow smoothly and efficiently. Our second in this mini-series of moving checklists includes a DIY packing guide.

With one month to go, moving home is still weeks off … right? Actually now is crunch time. If you used our Moving House Checklist – Two Months to Move Day, you’ll already be thinking in ‘big project’ terms. Remember, it’s not too late to call in Kent Removals for moving with peace of mind. It’s more affordable than you think.

If you’re planning on DIY packing, we have included moving house packing tips below. Or visit our moving checklist library where you can download Packing Tips for Moving House from Kent’s full set of moving house checklists. It’s our way of making moving home simpler, starting with two months to go and guiding you all the way to moving day.

Moving Checklist One Month to Moving Day

With one month to go, use this moving checklist as a guide to help organise and prepare for moving home:

• Most tenants need to provide the landlord or agent with four weeks’ notice. If you’re renting, give written notice and book a final inspection date, so you can get your bond back
• As soon as your moving date (and property settlement day) is set, confirm the actual date of you will be moving house with your removalist
• Ask work about having your moving day off, and maybe even the day before
• If you have young children, organise for them to be looked after on the day of the move, having this organised will allow you to give the move your complete focus to the task at hand
• Precious, special or fragile belongings may need extra care. List any items that may need special handling and let your removalist know. Specific cartons, packing materials or even protective crating may be needed
• Investigate transit insurance for loss or damage to your belongings while moving house. Your current contents insurance is unlikely to provide this peace of mind. Arrange your removals insurance now
• Leave yourself plenty of packing time because this usually takes longer than you think. Begin packing now or save yourself time and trouble by using your removalist’s professional packing service
• Large appliances may have special moving requirements. Check the owner’s manual for instructions (most front loading washers need transit bolts fitted and draining ice makers avoids damage)
• Save time later by compiling a change of address checklist, and start notifying important contacts of your address change. This change of address checklist might include the electoral commission, tax office, roads authority, bank, accountant and so on
• Pets take time to settle after moving house. Now is a good time to change council registration details in case of an escape. It’s also a good idea to check the fences of your new home and see if it is ready for your pet. If not, you may have to organise boarding until you can fix the fencing
• Collect the keys to your current home, not forgetting any spares you may have given friends or family members
• Check places like the BBQ for household gas cylinders and air bottles. These need to be certified empty by an authorised supplier or retailer and valves left open
• Dispose of dangerous materials such as flammable liquids or paints. Download our Moving Do’s and Don’ts for more information.

Best Packing Tips for DIY Packing

• Decide which belongings you’ll pack and which to leave for your removalist
• To keep your possessions safe and for optimal loading, use only industry quality standard size boxes
• Most people run out of moving boxes and packing materials (tape, marker pens, zip lock bags) so always buy more than you think you’ll need to avoid untimely shopping trips
• One of our best packing tips is to use clean, white paper (‘butcher’s paper’) for packing as newspaper will leave stains
• Create a system using different colours to identify each room at your new home. Number and label moving boxes clearly, listing the contents and assigning a destination room colour
• Prepare a separate inventory list detailing box numbers and contents. You can even use Moving Van, which is an iPhone App that allows you to take photos of every item you place in a box and have each item assigned to the box. If you can’t find something, all you have to do is search for the item and the app will tell you which box to look in
• Start by packing the belongings you use least (books, CDs, DVDs, items stored in the roof space or garage)
• Pack lighter items in bigger boxes and heavier items in smaller boxes
• Consolidate smaller objects that could go missing in a larger box
• Save on space by using vacuum seal bags for out-of-season clothing
• Keep belongings securely stacked by packing smaller items inside odd-shaped pieces (baskets, laundry bins, and suitcases). Then place inside a large box
• Dismantle any easily disassembled furniture you don’t need before your move
• Place any removable hardware (screws, bolts) from dismantled furniture and other items in a small clear plastic bag or container. Tape bags to larger pieces or safely secure your container elsewhere.

Our Hottest Moving House Tip with One Month to Go?

Most people run out, so buy more boxes and packing material than you think you’ll need. It’s always possible to return any unused packing materials later. Now that packing is under wraps, you’re ready to move on with the next moving checklist.

Other Kent Moving Checklists

Ready to move on? Read the next moving house checklist in this mini-series – Two Weeks to Moving Day. Or explore the complete collection of Kent moving checklists.