East Devon Moving Checklist

What To Do One Month, One Week and One Day Before Your Move

The process of moving house often feels like a series of never-ending task lists. Some need to be completed weeks in advance, some can wait until the final few days, and a few can cause real headaches if left until the last-minute.

A clear, structured moving plan, then, is crucial to make the whole process much easier to manage.

If you are moving house in East Devon, careful preparation can take a lot of pressure off the day itself. From arranging access in busy town centres to planning for storage, parking, and narrow roads, a well-timed checklist helps you stay in control from the outset.

One month before your move

About a month before moving day, the main priority is to get the key arrangements in place. If a date is starting to look fixed, now is the time to speak to your removal company and begin firming up the plan. East Devon Removals regularly supports moves across Sidmouth, Honiton, Seaton, Cranbrook, Exeter and the surrounding area, and early contact gives you more flexibility when choosing a date.

Now is a good time to start finalising your packing strategy. If you are packing yourself, begin with anything you do not use regularly, such as books, decorations, spare kitchenware and seasonal items. It’s much easier to do a little each day than to face a mountain of boxes at the end. And, if that feels like too much, a professional packing service can take the entire job off your hands.

A month out is also an opportune time to declutter. Moving unwanted furniture, unused household items and general clutter out of the way can make the rest of the process simpler. 

Storage is a great resource when you are between homes or downsizing. East Devon Removals provides secure storage – including robust 20ft containers at our Sidmouth site with flexible access – which is ideal for bridging gaps between moving dates or moving your belongings gradually.

Two practical East Devon checks to make early

Local moves can come with details that are easy to overlook. In parts of East Devon, access can be tight, especially on narrow residential roads, village lanes, or streets with limited parking. If your current or new property has awkward access, limited nearby parking, or shared entrances, it helps to flag these in advance so the day can be planned properly to avoid logistical hitches.

Broadband and utility timing are also worth checking early in the process. Rural and semi-rural properties can sometimes involve longer lead times for service changes, so it’s a sensible precaution to contact providers sooner rather than later. A relocation has enough moving parts to worry about without arriving to find your internet installation has been delayed.

One week before your move

The final week is about getting organised, confirming details, and tying up loose ends. By now, most of the house should be packed, apart from the things you still need day to day. Keep important documents together in one safe place, including passports, insurance paperwork, National Insurance details, and any paperwork related to the move itself.

Contact details also need to be updated; utility companies, banks, insurers, mobile providers, subscriptions, medical services and the DVLA all need your new address. Mail redirection can be arranged, especially during the first few weeks after your move, when it is easy for important post to go astray.

Households with children or pets often find the last week is the right time to sort out care for moving day. Having someone look after young children, or arranging for a pet to stay elsewhere for a few hours, can give you more space to focus on the move itself.

Larger furniture should also be assessed during this stage. If anything needs to be dismantled, plan it ahead rather than leaving it until the van arrives. East Devon Removals has experience with dismantling and reassembling furniture, but it still helps for everyone to know what is staying whole, what is coming apart, and where it needs to go at the other end.

One day before your move

The day before a move should feel like a final tidy-up rather than a last-minute dash to the finish line. Most packing should already be complete, with only your everyday essentials left out. Keep one clearly marked box or bag aside with toiletries, chargers, food, drinks, medication, important documents and a change of clothes so you are not opening ten different boxes on your first evening.

Take a final look at access and parking arrangements. If space near the property is limited, make sure there is a clear plan for where the removal van can pull up. A short walk from van to front door can quickly slow things down if there are a lot of heavy items to move.

It is also worth doing a final walkthrough of the house before bed. Check cupboards, drawers, loft access areas, sheds and garages, and make sure everything that needs to go is either packed or clearly set aside. Here at East Devon Removals, we also advise customers to bring loft items down in advance, as our team cannot enter loft spaces for insurance reasons.

On moving day

All that good preparation work in the build-up should leave moving day itself feeling much more straightforward. Keep your phone close by, have your keys ready, and be available to answer questions as the team works through the property. Clear labelling helps, but a quick conversation about which room is which in the new house makes unloading much smoother.

Before you leave your old property, take your meter readings, do one last check that nothing has been left behind, and make sure the home is secure. Once you arrive at the new address, have a plan for where boxes and furniture should go so the unloading can be done efficiently from the start.

Make your move easier with the right support

A successful move involves a combination of planning, timing and having the right professional services in place. If you are moving in Sidmouth, Honiton, Seaton, Exeter, Cranbrook or elsewhere in East Devon, East Devon Removals can help with house moves, packing, storage and clear communication from the first quote through to moving day.

To talk through your move or request a free quote, get in touch with East Devon Removals today. 

Talk to us about your house move in East Devon