Moving house involves far more than packing boxes. Between booking removalists, notifying service providers, cleaning, and sorting years' worth of accumulated items, the workload adds up quickly. A clear checklist, organised by timeframe, keeps everything manageable and prevents the last-minute scramble most movers experience.

The key things to do when moving house span four phases: one month before, one week before, the day before, and moving day itself.

1. One Month Before Moving: Plan, Book, and Declutter Early

The first thing to do when moving is to book your removalist. Weekend and public holiday slots fill weeks in advance, so confirming this at least four weeks out is the safest approach.

From there, work through the rest of your to-do list:

Plan transport: Arrange special transport for pets or oversized items
Sort your documents: Organise expense-related documents and important paperwork
Arrange temporary storage: Book secure storage if your new home is not ready immediately
Set up internet transfer: Contact your internet provider to arrange transfer and installation dates

Declutter Before You Pack

Old appliances, broken furniture, worn-out goods, and unused household items should be cleared before packing a single box. Moving clutter to a new address simply relocates the problem.

Earth Recycling Services provides junk removal services for homeowners preparing to move, with a focus on responsible sorting, donation, and recycling. Whether you need help with household furniture disposal or disposing of an old mattress, we handle everything from collection to proper disposal, so you don’t have to manage it yourself.

Create an Inventory and Start Packing

Once the decluttering is done, create a detailed inventory of fragile, heavy, and high-value items. Start packing non-essentials first. Label each box with the room and contents, and wrap breakables carefully to prevent damage during transport.

2. One Week Before Moving: Confirm Services and Prepare Essentials

Work through your house moving checklist for final confirmations:

Complete final inspection: Conduct a final property inspection if purchasing
Inform utility providers: Notify electricity, gas, and water providers of your move date
Set up mail redirection: Arrange mail redirection through SingPost
Verify all the bookings: Confirm removalist and storage bookings
Plan furniture layout: Sketch a rough floor plan to guide furniture placement at the new property
Prepare a moving day essentials kit: Pack an essentials box containing toiletries, chargers, basic kitchen items, medication, and important documents. Keep it with you throughout the move rather than on the removal truck.

Finalise Cleaning Arrangements

Plan for cleaning your current property during this window. Book a professional cleaner or set aside time yourself. Leaving it to moving day creates unnecessary delays, particularly if keys need to be handed over on a schedule.

3. One Day Before Moving: Handle Last-Minute Tasks and Pet Arrangements

The day before is for tying up loose ends.

Pack any remaining items, run a final check against your inventory, and confirm all service bookings, including pet transport arrangements, to avoid last-minute surprises.

4. Moving Day: Coordinate, Supervise, and Secure

Moving day is all about staying organised and keeping things on track from start to finish.

Brief the Movers: Walk the removalists through your home, highlighting key areas, access points, and any specific instructions.
Flag Fragile Items: Point out delicate or high-priority items that require extra care during handling.
Track Inventory: Check off items as they are loaded onto the truck to ensure nothing is missed.
Carry Valuables Personally: Keep jewellery, laptops, important documents, and other essentials with you rather than leaving them in the truck.
Inspect Before Leaving: Do a final walkthrough to check all rooms, cabinets, and storage areas before locking up.
Return Keys and Passes: Hand over keys, access cards, or permits as required.
Supervise at Delivery: Be present at the new property to guide furniture placement and verify all items upon arrival.

Settling Into Your New Home: Prioritise Setup

After moving into a new house, the first thing to do is assemble the beds and confirm that gas, water, electricity, and internet are all operational. These are the basics that make the first night comfortable.

Check every delivered item against your inventory on the same day; raising damage claims later becomes considerably harder. Decorating and unpacking non-essentials can wait until the essentials are running.

Make Your Move Stress-Free with Responsible Disposal by Earth Recycling Services

A well-planned move comes down to staged preparation: one month for service bookings and decluttering, one week for confirmations, the day before for final checks, and moving day for coordinated execution. Each stage builds on the one before it.

One of the most important things to remember when moving house is to avoid transporting unwanted items to your new home.

Contact Earth Recycling Services before your move date to responsibly dispose of bulky items, household junk and old furniture. Your new home deserves a clean start.

Things to Do When Moving House: A Step-by-Step Checklist