Before your home swap

What do I need to do when Home Swapping?

6-8 weeks before your home swap

• Get at least 3 quotes from removal firms for moving your furniture & belongings, and look for a company which is a member of the British Association of Removers .
• If you decide to move yourself get quotes from van rental companies - please remember moving yourself can take longer, and you will probably need help from willing friends and family.
• Collect/Order boxes, bubble wrap and packing materials, start packing items that you will not want until after the move. Label all boxes with contents and which room they are going to.
• Organise a ring binder or folder for all paperwork relating to your home swap, like estimates, letters, telephone numbers this way making things easy to locate in a hurry.
• Decide what possessions you will and won't be taking to your new home, a floor plan of your new home can help you workout where furniture will go saving time on the day.
• Check your home Contents Insurance policy; will it cover your mutual exchange? If not your removal company should be able to provide cover.
• Organise change of address cards/letters for family & friends
• Look at local schools and arrange for your children's records to be transferred if moving to a different area.
• Check through your loft and sort any unwanted items that can go before you home swap, these can be donated to a local charity shop or maybe sold on Ebay, Viva Street or preloved.co.uk

2-4 weeks before your mutual exchange

• Finalise your mutual exchange date
• If you are moving to a new area register with doctors, dentist, opticians and arrange for all medical records etc to be transferred
• Contact telephone supplier and arrange disconnection at current home and connection to your new home. Also notify your mobile phone provider, call them from your phone as they do not charge for this.
• Contact Cable/Satellite Company to inform them of your mutual exchange date to arrange disconnection & reconnection in new home. You may wish to start this service so check to see if they are available in that area, or compare deals and decide if you are happy with existing supplier.
• Arrange for childcare and pet care on the home swap day, you may want to keep them from under your feet during the exchange.
• Safely dispose of any items which cannot be moved (flammable liquids, paint etc)
• Start to run down your freezer and tidy through any out of date tins/jars in the kitchen cupboards
• Obtain forms from the Post Office to notify a change of address for things cars, television license, DVLA forms for Drivers License/Vehicle Registration Certificate (it is an offence not to inform DVLA and you could be fined)
• Organise change of address cards/letters for the following: Bank, Credit Cards, Insurance Providers, Magazine Subscriptions, Inland Revenue/DSS, loyalty cards such as Boots, Tesco etc
• Look into whether new school uniform is required if your children will be moving to a new school.
• Research into groups like scouts / Brownies/ Girls Guides etc in your new area
• Call on family/friends nearby and see if they can store any possessions/boxes you will not immediately need until after the mutual exchange has taken place, this could save some time on the exchange day.
• Shop around to see who offers the best deal on Gas and Electricity at your new home. It may not necessarily be the same as your old provider the postcode & size of your new home will affect bills.
• Notify your local council for both your current and new property. You could be due a refund on council tax as this is calculated on a daily basis.
• Fill out the relevant forms to register your new address so that you are eligible to vote in future elections, you are not automatically registered to vote.
• Renew any prescription medicines to ensure you have sufficient to cover the moving period.
• Cancel newspaper/magazine/milk deliveries; settle any bills you may have outstanding.
• Organise a "Moving Day Kit" this will cover all of the vital essentials you will require on the move day.
• Arrange a Royal Mail redirection Service to have your mail forwarded to your new address.
• Contact your water company to shut down existing account & open a new one.
• Finish packaging as much as possible, and ensure all boxes are properly labelled with contents & which room they need to go in.
• Prepare directions and provide emergency numbers to your removal firm if you have decided to use one.

1 day before your mutual exchange

• Defrost the fridge and freezer, you don't want to be around doing this on the morning of the home swap.
• Disconnect washing machines and Tumble Dryers ready for moving
• Sort out which items you will need to hand and in the car or on the bus/train, eg. "Moving day Kit" and moving folder
• It is advisable to make some sandwiches for lunch the next day, as well as making sure the kettle is handy - moving can be thirsty work!
• If using a removal company check what time they will arrive the next day, or if self drive check collection times of hire van.
• Drop off any pets at their overnight accommodation if applicable.
• Charge your mobile phone and ensure that there is plenty of credit for the next day.
• If you will be travelling to your new home by Bus or Train check that they are running to time so you can always change your plans if needed.

That's it! Good luck with your home swap!