What to Do If Your Moving Date Changes

Moving house is a complex process with lots of moving parts (pun intended!). From solicitors to surveys, mortgages to packing, it’s a juggling act. And sometimes, despite the best-laid plans, things don’t go exactly to schedule. One of the most common curveballs? Your moving date changing.

Whether it’s due to delays in the property chain, unexpected personal circumstances, or anything in between, a change of date can feel incredibly stressful. But don’t panic! Knowing your options and acting quickly can make all the difference. Let’s see what you can do if your moving date suddenly shifts.

Life Throws a Curveball: Why Moving Dates Change

It’s easy to feel frustrated when your carefully planned moving date is thrown into disarray. However, it’s important to remember that changes are often outside of your control and are a fairly common occurrence in the world of property transactions. Think about it: property chains are intricate webs, and just one delay further up the chain can have a domino effect, impacting everyone below.

Perhaps the sellers of the house you’re buying haven’t completed on their onward purchase, or maybe there’s been an unexpected hiccup with searches or surveys. Life events too can play a role – illness, family emergencies, or even just the sheer complexity of coordinating everything can sometimes push timelines back. Acknowledging that moving date changes are a normal part of the process can help alleviate some of the stress right from the start.

Communication is Key: Talking to Your Removal Company

The absolute first thing you should do when you realise your moving date might be changing, or has changed, is contact your removal company immediately. Seriously, don’t delay! The sooner you let them know, the more options you’ll have and the smoother the process will be.

Think of it like this: removal companies operate on schedules and availability. Giving them as much notice as possible allows them to adjust their plans and, crucially, try to accommodate your new date without major disruption.

At Happy2Move, we completely understand that moving dates aren’t always set in stone. We know life happens, and property chains can be unpredictable. Communication is absolutely key for us. The quicker you can let us know about a potential date change, the better chance we have of helping you. Early notice gives us the flexibility to rearrange our schedule and see how we can best fit you in.

While there’s always a possibility that a last-minute change might incur a small fee – especially if it’s very close to the original date and we’ve already allocated resources – we always strive to be as helpful and accommodating as possible and avoid additional charges if we can.

Our priority is to get you moved, and we’ll do our utmost to work with you to achieve that, even with a change of plans. In fact, if you suddenly need to move at short notice, we will always do our best to assist and get you moved as quickly as possible.

Your Options When the Date Shifts

Once you’ve contacted your removal company, you’ll need to discuss your options. These will largely depend on how much notice you’ve given and the specific circumstances of the date change. Here are some common scenarios and solutions:

Rescheduling for a New Date: If you have some flexibility and your new moving date is within a reasonable timeframe, the most straightforward option is often to simply reschedule your move. Happy2Move will work with you to find a new date that works for both of us. Providing a few potential dates you’re aiming for can be really helpful.
Storage Solutions: Sometimes, a date change might mean there’s a gap between you moving out of your old property and being able to move into your new one. In these situations, storage might be the answer. Happy2Move can often assist with arranging storage solutions, either through our own network or by recommending trusted local providers. This allows you to move out on your original date and have your belongings safely stored until your new home is ready.
Short-Notice Moves (if needed): Conversely, sometimes a date change can mean you need to move sooner than originally planned. While short-notice moves can be more challenging to arrange, Happy2Move are experienced in these situations and will do everything we can to accommodate you. We’ll pull out all the stops to find a team and a slot to get you moved as quickly and efficiently as possible, even if it’s at very short notice.

Beyond the Removal Van – Your Date Change Checklist

Once you’ve informed your removal company about the date change, your next step is to tackle the other dominoes that might be falling. A change of moving date ripples outwards, affecting a surprising number of services and arrangements. To help you stay organised, here’s a handy checklist of things to address beyond your removal company:

☐ Legal & Financial Matters:

☐ Solicitor/Conveyancer: Inform them immediately about the date change. This is crucial for legal completion and funds transfer.
☐ Mortgage Provider: If the new date significantly alters your mortgage drawdown timeline or offer validity, contact your mortgage provider to check for any implications.

☐ Utilities & Services (Old Property):

☐ Utility Companies (Gas, Electricity, Water): Reschedule final meter readings and account closure for your new move-out date. If you’ve already taken readings for the original date, keep those safe for reconciliation.
☐ Internet/Broadband/TV: Reschedule your disconnection date.
☐ Council Tax: Inform your local council of your new move-out date for your final bill.
☐ Mail Redirection: If the delay is significant, you might need to extend or adjust your mail redirection service with Royal Mail.
☐ Cleaning Services (End of Tenancy): Reschedule or cancel any booked end-of-tenancy cleaning services if necessary.

☐ Utilities & Services (New Property):

☐ Utility Companies (Gas, Electricity, Water): Confirm that connection and start dates at your new property are aligned with your new move-in date.
☐ Internet/Broadband/TV: Confirm your connection date at your new property is still suitable for your new move-in date.
☐ Council Tax: Inform the local council at your new property address of your new move-in date.
☐ Cleaning Services (New Property): Reschedule or cancel any pre-move cleaning services you had booked for your new home if needed.

☐ Other Important Services & Arrangements:

☐ Childcare/Pet Care: Reschedule or cancel any childcare or pet care arrangements you had booked for the original moving day.
☐ Parking Permits: If you need parking permits at either property for moving day, check if the date change affects their validity and reapply if necessary.
☐ Home/Contents Insurance: Ensure your insurance coverage dates are adjusted to reflect the new moving period, particularly if there’s a gap between moving out and in.
☐ Change of Address Notifications: If you’ve already started notifying organisations of your change of address, you might need to re-confirm or adjust the effective date with some of them.
☐ Storage Company (if using): Confirm any new dates or arrangements with your storage provider if your plans have changed.
☐ Friends/Family Helping: Inform anyone who was planning to help you on the original date about the change, so they can adjust their plans too.

☐ Personal Logistics:

☐ Packing/Unpacking Schedule: Adjust your personal packing and unpacking timeline to reflect the new dates.
☐ Travel Arrangements: If you have any travel arrangements (flights, trains etc.) linked to your move, check if these are affected and need to be changed.
☐ Time Off Work: Double-check if your booked time off work still aligns with the new moving date, or if you need to make adjustments.

Ultimately, navigating a moving date change is all about clear communication and working collaboratively with any relevant players. At Happy2Move, we pride ourselves on our flexible and understanding approach. We’re here to help make your move as stress-free as possible, even when things don’t go entirely to plan.