Moving Checklist: Greater Manchester Edition
Moving house is exciting — new beginnings, fresh walls, and maybe even a better view of the rain clouds over Manchester. But let’s be honest, it’s also stressful, chaotic, and full of “what-on-earth-do-I-do-next?” moments. That’s why we’ve put together the ultimate moving house checklist, designed to make your Manchester move (or anywhere in the North West) as smooth as possible.
Whether you’re moving across the street, across Greater Manchester, or even across the country, this checklist will help you stay on top of everything — from packing to paperwork, and all the little details in between.
1. Plan Your Move Early
Set a moving date: Consider school schedules, work commitments, or even the Manchester weather (spoiler: it can rain a lot).
Book your removals company early: At BEST Removals & Storage, we handle both local and nationwide moves — booking in advance secures your date and gives you peace of mind.
Budget for your move: Include removals, packing materials, cleaning, and any unexpected surprises (because let’s face it, there will be some).
2. Declutter Before You Pack
Sort your belongings: Keep, donate, sell, or recycle items you no longer need.
Special items: Jewellery, important documents, and valuables should be kept separately for safe transport.
Furniture & bulky items: Check if your new place can accommodate everything, or if some items need selling or donating.
3. Packing Essentials
Boxes & packing materials: Gather sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape, and labels. We can provide a full range to pack up for your move.
Label like a pro: Clearly mark boxes with the room they’re going to and a brief description of the contents. If you’re feeling fancy, you can even try colour coding.
Pack room by room: It makes unpacking easier and less stressful.
💡 Pro tip: Don’t pack heavy items like books in large boxes — keep them small to avoid breakage or back pain. We recommend no boxes over 25kg.
4. Notify the Important People
Utilities & services: Gas, electricity, water, broadband, and TV licences.
Local authorities: Council tax, electoral roll, schools and any parking permits.
Financials: Banks, insurance, and any subscriptions.
BONUS: Make a spreadsheet to track notifications — it saves a lot of last-minute panic.
5. Moving Day Prep
Essentials box: Pack a bag with snacks, kettle, chargers, toiletries, a change of clothes, and anything you’ll need immediately.
Protect your floors: Use old sheets or blankets to avoid scratches if moving furniture yourselves. We also provide carpet and floor protectors, as standard on moving day, and even shoe covers too in case of rain/bad weather.
Supervise and coordinate: Make sure our friendly removals team knows which boxes go where.
6. After the Move
Unpack systematically: Start with bedrooms, kitchen, and bathrooms.
Check utilities: Make sure everything works before unpacking everything else.
Introduce yourself to neighbours: A friendly wave never hurt anyone, and it’s very Manchester!
✅ Moving Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful
With careful planning, early booking, and a bit of organisation, moving house can actually be… manageable. And with BEST Removals & Storage by your side, you get a friendly, family-run team who takes the heavy lifting (literally) off your shoulders — whether you’re moving locally in Manchester or long distance, across the UK.
“Moving house is stressful — until you meet the right team.”
Get a Quote Today!
If you’re planning a move in Manchester or the North West, get a no-obligation quote from BEST Removals & Storage today. We’ll handle the heavy lifting, the packing advice, and make sure your move is smooth, stress-free, and maybe even a little fun. We can provide a quote with a free home survey and even offer the option to do your own removals survey via WhatsApp. Don’t worry we will send you full instructions for this.
We look forward to helping with your move – whether in Manchester or somewhere further afield!