I’m a girl who likes a list. I think that makes me either a) terribly organised and efficient or b) a procrastinator who makes a list instead of just getting on with it….personally, I think it’s a bit of both.

I write a list because I have been that person that turned up in another country in the middle of nowhere without my phone charger and that’s because I’m always that person that leaves packing until the last minute and then has a head full of so much of everything else that something’s bound to get missed. Lists help me to focus for five minutes and think visually through the event or task I’m planning for logically to ensure I’ve got all bases covered. The second benefit of a list is when I wake up at 3am the night before I leave for the airport I don’t need to unpack my whole case, I just leave my list neatly beside my bed for a quick check and then back to sleep.

So, whilst you may think I’m crazy – I would definitely recommend making a few lists before your big move, and to help you out I’ve made a few of my own in my time (I moved house 5 times in 4 years!) which I’m happy to share with you. After all, moving is one of the most stressful times so your head is bound to be pretty full, especially if it’s a big move and you’ve got a family and/or pets involved too.

Good lists to make:

• A moving checklist – what I should be doing 6 weeks before the move, 4 weeks, 2 weeks, 1 week, 1 day etc…. note all your major milestones and tick them off so you can be all proud of how efficient you are (oh, and make sure you’ve done everything you need to)!
• A people to notify list (can be a subcategory of above, by key date, if you are that way inclined…) who do I need to tell, how’s the quickest way to tell them (do they have a notifications section on the website) and when do I need to do this by (does anyone have notice periods?) as well as if it’s a cancellation or change of details.
• An items not to be moved list (and then the day before the movers come in either mark these up or separate out, those guys work quick!) this should include anything that’s staying at the house (especially if you rent! Don’t want to lost that deposit…) or anything you want to carry yourself i.e. in a suitcase if it’s not a single day move or valuable items you’d like to keep on you.
• A list of questions for the moving company – got a surveyor coming round? Don’t want to forget to ask the important questions, make a list and make sure you go through it, nothing worse than suddenly remembering something as soon as they pull away (ok, you can ask this on the phone later, but its always good face to face!)
• A Christmas list….well, you know how hard it is to think on the spot, and you don’t want a novelty apron again do you? Oh wait….wrong article…..

I think that’s all the lists I made last time I moved, although working for a moving company I didn’t make the list of questions for the moving company, it would be weird (although not unheard of!) for me to hold that conversation with myself.

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