It is vital to be organised when moving house, and not just in terms of the physical move either. This article is intended to help you plan your move.

Close Old Utility Accounts

Closing off your previous property is as key as setting up your new home. Ensure you contact all service providers to the property and inform them of your moving date. You should terminate all contracts from this date. Most Utility Companies will arrange for a final meter reading and then take your name off future bills (marking them for "the occupier"). Failing to terminate Contracts could mean you continue to get charged for services you are no longer receiving (that the new residents may, or may not, be enjoying).

Examples of services to close off are: Electric, Gas, Water, Phone, Broadband Internet, TV Packages e.g. Sky or Cable.

Find New Providers

A new property is a new sheet and is a great time to shop around to get the best providers for your services. Technology services like Phone, Broadband and TV Packages are particularly dynamic, so if you've not searched the market recently, you could be missing out on the best deals.

Change your Locks

You don't know who has copies of your new property's keys. It is therefore highly recommended that you change the locks for all external doors as soon as possible after taking ownership.

You should also ensure any alarm codes are changed.

Copy Keys

Once you've changed the locks, you should ensure you make copies of the new keys. It is recommended that a spare set is given to a trusted third party in-case your master set is lost.