Two to four weeks from moving day

Change of address notifications. Once you are certain about your moving day and the move is booked, you will need to notify your change of address to many people and organisations. It's useful to get some change-of-address cards printed, particularly for notifying friends and neighbours. But a lot of organisations include change-of-address forms in their literature or as part of their regular statements to you.

Here are some of the organisations who need to know about your change of address:

• Banks, building societies, and any other organisations where you have investments.
• Schools and colleges
• Insurance companies and brokers you regularly deal with
• Credit cards (including store cards)
• Stores with which you have ongoing HP agreements
• Stockbroker
• Solicitors (even the ones dealing with your sale/purchase)
• Organisations with whom you have standing orders.
• Telephone companies (landline and mobiles)
• Government and local government agencies, such as the Inland Revenue, DVLC (for both driving licences and motor vehicle licences), the Bonds and Stocks office (for premium bonds), the DSS/Benefits Agency, TV Licensing, and the local authority to which you are currently paying rates, as well as the new local authority (if applicable)
• Organisations you have subscriptions with (charities, clubs, periodicals, book clubs, etc).

Post Office. You will need to arrange for redirection of your mail by completing the appropriate form, obtainable at your local PO.

Landlord. Will probably need at least four weeks notice of your intention to leave. Check your rental agreement ASAP!

Medical. Notify doctors, dentists, opticians—and any other medical practitioners from whom you are receiving regular treatment—that you will be leaving their registers as from the moving date. Register with new ones in the area you will be moving to, so that case notes etc can be transferred.

Hotel. If you will need hotel accommodation during or immediately following the move, book it well in advance.

Pets. If you want to avoid extra complications on moving day, consider booking pets into kennels, catteries, etc; or arrange with friends to look after them during the move

Food. Start to "run down" the contents of your freezer, aiming to have it empty at least a day before moving.

Lofts, cellars, outbuildings, etc. If you have items stored in the loft etc, decide what you want to take with you to the new home, and what you want to do with the rest. Remember that the loft will probably have to be cleared by the time you leave the property; also that for insurance reasons the removal crew cannot clear items from lofts and attics; this is your responsibility.

Wine. Red wine, in particular, can cause a lot of damage by staining if bottles are accidentally spilled or broken during a house move. Consider running down your stocks during the weeks leading up to the move!

New furniture, carpets, curtains, etc for new home. If you are ordering any of these, be sure to do so in good time, so that the items can be delivered as soon as possible after your arrival date.

One week from moving day

Utility Companies. Notify your existing suppliers of electricity, gas, and water of your intention to move and arrange disconnection (if applicable) on the moving day. Contact the equivalent suppliers that you want to use at your new address to arrange for reconnection/commencement of supply on the moving day.

Things you've borrowed. Take back any library books you have out on loan. Remember to return anything you've borrowed from neighbours, too!

Things that are to stay. Clearly label or mark any movable items that will be staying in your old home, so they are not packed and moved by accident.

Local shops and businesses. Settle any outstanding bills for groceries, milk, papers, etc.

Clear the fridge of everything except essentials. Aim to completely empty it the day before moving day.

Two to three days from moving day

• Make arrangements for handing over the keys of your current home on moving day. Check that keys will be available for your new home when you arrive.
• Pack "survival bags" for moving day (and perhaps the following day) at your new address. These should include a change of clothes, toiletries, and towels. You will also need items to help you cope with unexpected situations. Such things as matches, torches, kitchen towels, toilet rolls, candles, light bulbs, and a tool kit could be very useful.
• Note down important phone numbers relating to your old home and your new one, and ensure the list will be accessible on moving day.
• Pack personal valuables and documents.
• Do your final round of laundry at your old home. Get this done at least a day before moving day.
• Clear the fridge and freezer. Clean them, and leave them with doors ajar until moving day. Note: This does not apply if we have agreed to move your freezer complete with contents, which is sometimes feasible for short moves.

The day before moving day

Arrange food for the big day. If you won't be able to cook on moving day, sandwiches or pasties made the night before may be a good bet. Also biscuits, fruit, cheese, fruit juice or cordial, and whatever you will need for tea and coffee making. If the electricity or gas is going to be off, you may want to make up thermos flasks the night before. To save trouble, consider using paper plates and disposable cups, glasses, and cutlery on the day.

Moving day

• There shouldn't be much left to do! The moving crew should be with you soon. If you can still heat up water, they will appreciate having, or being able to make, the occasional cup of tea or coffee, and some biscuits. Loading a removals van is thirsty work!
• As soon as possible after getting up, strip the beds and pack the bed-linen in boxes or bags that will travel with you, so that they are quickly available at your new home.
• The moving crew will be uniformed and will arrive in a Bradbeers van. Show the crew leader round the property.
• The crew will then start packing or, if you have done your own packing, they will start loading the van.
• Once the van is loaded, walk round the property with the leader again to ensure that everything that is to go has been cleared. Don't forget to check garages and any outbuildings.
• At the other end, the crew will unload your goods from the van into specified rooms and do any unpacking that has been previously agreed. Then the crew leader will ask you to sign his work sheet . If you have any comments you can make them at this stage, or on a follow-up form that we will be mailing to you within a few days.
• Now it's time to start exploring and enjoying your new home!