Your 4-Week Moving Countdown: Avoiding the Last-Minute Rush
If your moving countdown well underway?
If you’re moving house in the next four weeks, you probably feel both excited and slightly overwhelmed.
Without a clear plan, it’s easy to leave everything until the last minute, resulting in stress, mistakes, and additional costs.
Our four-week countdown breaks the moving process down into manageable weekly steps.
Following this guide will help you stay organised, prevent common pitfalls, and ensure your move goes smoothly from start to finish.
Planning your move now?
Get a free removals quote from the expert team at GoodMove, and let us take the stress out of moving day.
Table of Contents
4 Weeks Before: Booking and Organisation
Four weeks before your move is the perfect time to organise key aspects of your relocation.
Tasks to complete include:
Book a Removals Company Early
Quality removal companies, such as GoodMove, can be booked up well in advance, especially in peak periods (such as school holidays or weekends).
Booking four weeks ahead helps secure your preferred dates and times.
Notify Key Providers of Your Move
Inform utility providers, banks, mobile providers, HMRC, DVLA, and your insurance companies about your change of address.
You might also consider Royal Mail’s postal redirection service.
Begin Decluttering Your Home
Sort through items you no longer need, selling, donating, or recycling them.
This reduces removal costs and makes packing quicker and easier.
3 Weeks Before: Start Packing Non-Essentials
At this stage, it’s wise to begin packing items you don’t need daily.
Tasks to complete:
Order Packing Supplies
Obtain sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, packing paper, strong tape, and labels. GoodMove’s packing services include supplying these materials if you prefer professional assistance.
Pack Non-Essential Items
Start packing rarely used items, clearly labelling each box with the destination room, contents, and fragile warnings if applicable.
Create Your Moving Essentials Box
Pack a separate box containing essentials such as toiletries, medications, phone chargers, important documents, cleaning supplies, and basic kitchen items to use immediately after moving.
2 Weeks Before: Admin and Cleaning
With packing underway, shift focus to administrative tasks and cleaning.
Tasks to complete:
Confirm Removals Arrangements
Check dates, times, access, parking arrangements, and communicate any special requirements with your removals team at GoodMove.
Cleaning as You Go
As rooms empty, clean them thoroughly. If you are renting, organise a professional end-of-tenancy clean for the final days.
Notify Employers and Schools
Confirm any time off needed for moving day with your employer, and ensure school records are ready for transfer.
1 Week Before: Final Preparations
During the final week, you’ll tie up loose ends to ensure a stress-free moving day.
Tasks to complete:
Complete Packing
Finish packing your remaining belongings.
Disassemble larger furniture if necessary, making sure to keep fixings clearly labelled and secure.
Defrost Fridge and Freezer
Switch off and defrost these appliances at least 24 hours before moving to avoid leaks and odours. Leave doors open to air.
Finalise Utilities
Take final meter readings and notify your utility providers accordingly.
You should also photograph the meters as a record, this will be handy if any issues arise.
Moving Day: A Stress-Free Transition
On moving day, focus on overseeing rather than participating in heavy lifting.
Tasks to complete:
- Keep your moving essentials box with you.
- Do a final walkthrough of your home to ensure nothing is left behind.
- Be present or ensure someone is available at the new property to direct movers clearly.
- Securely lock all doors and windows before handing in keys.
Avoid These Common Moving Mistakes
In our experience at GoodMove, the following issues frequently cause problems on moving day:
- Not booking removals early enough
- Forgetting to redirect mail
- Not labelling boxes clearly
- Overpacking boxes, risking damage and injury
- Underestimating the amount of packing time needed
Following our four-week countdown helps you avoid these pitfalls.
Why Choose GoodMove?
Moving home is one of life’s most significant changes.
That’s why choosing the right removals company is critical.
At GoodMove, we offer:
- British Association of Removers (BAR) accreditation
- Fully trained, professional moving teams
- Optional packing, unpacking, and storage services
- Transparent pricing with no hidden costs
- A dedicated move coordinator to support you from start to finish
Ready to Book Your Move?
To get started, request your free, no-obligation removals quote today, or contact our friendly team on 01206 807611.
You can also chat with Brad, our removals assistant, in the bottom right corner of this page – ask how he can help start planning your move today!
With GoodMove, your move is in safe, experienced hands.