First-Time Buyer Moving Guide (UK): Everything You Need to Know Before Moving Into Your First Home
Buying your first home is exciting, but knowing what happens between having your offer accepted and moving day isn't always straightforward. From planning your move and setting up utilities to packing and settling into your new home, this guide covers the practical steps that can help make your first move a little easier.
1. Understanding the Home Buying Process
If you're buying your first home, you've probably come across terms like offer accepted, survey, exchange of contracts and completion day. If you're wondering what they actually mean, don't worry you're definitely not the only one. The UK home buying process can feel confusing at first, especially if you've never done it before. Here's a simple breakdown of what happens before you finally get the keys to your new home.
Offer Accepted- This is the exciting part your offer has been accepted by the seller! However, it's important to remember that this doesn't mean the house is officially yours yet. At this stage, the sale isn't legally binding, so both the buyer and seller can still withdraw from the purchase.
Survey- Next comes the property survey- A survey is carried out to check the condition of the property and identify any issues you might not have noticed during viewings, such as damp, structural problems or repairs that may be needed. Depending on the results, some buyers decide to renegotiate the price or ask the seller to resolve certain issues before moving forward.
Mortgage- If you're buying with a mortgage, your lender will carry out the necessary checks before issuing your formal mortgage offer. Once everything has been approved, you'll know exactly how much they're willing to lend and can move on to the next stage.
Exchange of Contracts- This is one of the biggest milestones in the home buying process. Once contracts have been exchanged, the purchase becomes legally binding. Both you and the seller are committed to completing the sale, making this the point where you can finally start feeling confident that your move is really happening.
Completion Day- This is the day you've been waiting for. On completion day, the money is transferred, ownership of the property officially changes hands and you'll receive the keys to your first home. For most people, this is also moving day the moment all those weeks of planning, paperwork and packing finally pay off.
Top Tip: Don't wait until completion day to start preparing for your move. You can begin decluttering, collecting packing supplies and planning your moving checklist weeks in advance.
2. Start planning earlier than you think
One thing many first-time buyers don't realise is waiting until completion day to start thinking about the move.
We get it. It doesn't feel "real" until you've exchanged contracts, and you probably don't want to jinx anything. But the truth is, there are plenty of things you can do long before moving day that will make the whole process so much easier.
Start with decluttering. If you haven't used something in years, ask yourself whether it's really worth paying to move it to your new home. Moving can be a good opportunity to let go of things you no longer need, whether that's clothes that no longer fit, old kitchen gadgets hiding at the back of a cupboard or decorations you've completely forgotten about.
Once you've had a clear-out, you can start packing the things you know you won't need for a while. Seasonal clothes, Christmas decorations, books you've already read or spare bedding are all great places to start. Packing little by little is far less stressful than trying to fit your entire home into boxes over one weekend.
While you're planning ahead, it's also worth ordering your packing supplies early. Boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap and labels always seem to disappear from the shops when you need them most. If you're trying to keep costs down, don't be afraid to ask your local supermarket or nearby shops if they have any spare boxes they're happy to give away. Many do, and it can save you a surprising amount of money.
Another thing people often leave until the last minute is broadband. Few things are more frustrating than moving into your new home only to discover you'll be waiting another two weeks for an internet connection. Take some time to compare providers, check the broadband speeds available at your new address and arrange your installation in advance wherever possible.
If there's one piece of advice we'd give every first-time buyer, it's this: don't wait for moving day to get organised. Even ticking off one small task each week will make the whole move feel far more manageable.
3. Create a Moving Budget
Buying your first home is probably one of the biggest financial commitments you'll ever make. By the time you've paid your deposit, solicitor's fees and all the other costs that come with buying a property, it's easy to feel like the expensive part is over. The reality? Moving house comes with its own set of costs, and some of them catch first-time buyers completely by surprise.
That's why creating a simple moving budget before you start packing is one of the most helpful things you can do. It doesn't have to be complicated a rough estimate is often enough to help you avoid unnecessary stress and unexpected expenses. Start by deciding how much you'd ideally like to spend on your move, then make a list of everything you'll need to pay for. If the total is higher than you expected, don't panic. It simply gives you time to look for cheaper alternatives, spread some purchases over the following months or decide what can wait until after you've settled in.
Some of the most commonly forgotten moving costs include:
Removal company or van hire
Packing boxes and moving supplies
Professional cleaning
Broadband installation or activation fees
Utility deposits or connection charges
Council Tax
New furniture
Food and drinks on moving day
Emergency purchases for your first night
One thing we've learned is that it's never the big expenses that cause the most frustration - it's the little ones. A trip to buy extra extension leads, a shower curtain you forgot, a kettle because yours is buried in a box... those small purchases quickly add up. If your budget allows, setting aside a small emergency fund can help cover unexpected moving costs. After all, the goal isn't to have the cheapest move possible. It's to start life in your new home feeling excited, not worried about your bank balance.
4. Don't Forget the Paperwork
Let's be honest- this is probably nobody's favourite part of moving house. After all the excitement of buying your first home, dealing with paperwork isn't exactly how most people imagine spending their time. But sorting everything out before or shortly after moving day will save you a lot of stress later. One of the most important tasks is updating your address. It sounds simple, but it's surprisingly easy to forget just how many companies and organisations need to know where you've moved.
As a starting point, consider updating:
Your bank and credit card providers
Your employer
GP surgery and dentist
DVLA (driving licence and vehicle log book)
HMRC
Your insurance providers
Your mobile phone provider
Any subscriptions or online shopping accounts you use regularly
Another thing that's well worth doing is setting up a Royal Mail Mail Redirection. Even if you're convinced you've updated everyone, there's almost always something that gets missed. Having your post redirected for a few months gives you extra peace of mind and helps make sure you don't miss anything important. One thing we wish we'd done sooner during one of our moves was create a simple checklist and tick things off as we updated them. It sounds obvious, but once you're juggling packing, paperwork and everything else, it's surprisingly easy to forget who you've already contacted. Our advice? Don't try to update everything in one evening. Tackle a few organisations each day, and before you know it, it'll all be done.
5. Set Up Utilities Before Moving Day
There's nothing worse than finally moving into your new home only to realise the Wi-Fi isn't working, the electricity account hasn't been set up or you're not even sure who supplies your gas. It can catch first-time buyers by surprise. The good news is that most of this can be sorted before you even collect your keys. As soon as you know your completion date, start looking into your utility providers. Some services, like broadband, can take a couple of weeks to install, so leaving it until moving day could mean spending your first week hot spotting from your phone. Before moving day, it's worth checking that you've arranged:
Electricity
Gas
Water
Broadband
Council Tax
If you're moving from another property, don't forget to let your current providers know you're moving too. That way, they can close your existing accounts, send your final bill and make sure you're not paying for a home you've already left. Broadband is one of the biggest things people underestimate. You're surrounded by boxes, you've got a hundred things to organise and all you want to do in the evening is sit down, order a takeaway and put Netflix on... only to discover your internet won't be connected for another ten days. One of the easiest ways to save both time and money is to compare providers before you move. Prices, availability, speeds and contract terms can vary depending on your postcode, so it's worth checking which providers and packages are available at your new address before choosing a new deal.
💙 Good to know: With Movly, you can compare and switch energy and broadband providers for your new home, helping you get everything set up before moving day.
6. Take Meter Readings on Moving Day
It might not be the most exciting part of moving day, but taking meter readings is one of those small jobs that can save you a lot of hassle later. Before you leave your old home, take clear photos of your gas, electricity and water meters (if your property has one). Then, once you've arrived at your new home, do the same there before you start unpacking. Having a photo with the date and meter reading gives you a record of exactly what the readings were when you moved. If there's ever a question about your final bill or the opening reading for your new account, you'll have everything you need. While you're taking photos, it's also worth snapping a few pictures of your old property once it's empty. This can be helpful if there are any questions later about the condition of the property, particularly if you're moving out of rented accommodation.
💙 Good to know: Most utility providers will ask for your opening meter readings shortly after you move in. Having them ready means your bills are based on your actual usage rather than estimated readings.
7. Protect Your New Home From Day One
Moving into your first home is exciting, but it's also the start of a whole new set of responsibilities. There are a few practical things that are worth thinking about once you've got your completion date or collected the keys. They don't all need to happen immediately, but planning them early can make settling into your new home much smoother.
Home insurance
If you're buying a property with a mortgage, most mortgage lenders will usually require you to have buildings insurance in place from the point of exchange of contracts, as you'll become legally responsible for the property before moving in. You may also want to consider contents insurance, which helps protect the belongings inside your home. Whether it's right for you will depend on your individual circumstances and the level of cover you're looking for.
Changing the locks
Although it's not essential, many homeowners choose to change the locks shortly after moving in for extra peace of mind. You never know how many spare keys may have been given to previous owners, family members or contractors over the years, so it's something worth considering- particularly if you're moving into an older property.
If you're buying a new-build home
New-build homes are often sold with a snagging period, giving you the opportunity to report cosmetic issues or minor defects once you've moved in. If you've bought a new-build property, it's worth taking your time to inspect each room carefully during your first few weeks and reporting any issues in line with your developer's guidance.
💙 Good to know: Every move is different. Depending on the type of property you're buying and your personal circumstances, some of these tasks may be more relevant than others.
8. Pack an Essentials Box
If there's one thing I wish someone had told me before my first move, it would be this: pack an essentials box. I actually call mine the "magic box", because during my first few moves I had no idea something like this even existed. Instead, I spent hours opening box after box looking for things I needed straight away. Whether you've spent the day carrying boxes, waiting for the removal company or cleaning your old home, by the evening you'll probably just want a shower, a cup of tea and your bed. The last thing you need is to be searching through fifteen different boxes trying to find your toothbrush or a phone charger. That's exactly why an essentials box can make those first few hours in your new home feel so much easier.
Everyone's box will look slightly different, but you may want to include things like:
Towels
Toiletries
Toilet roll
Pyjamas and a change of clothes
Phone chargers
Kettle
Tea and coffee
Mugs
Basic cleaning products
Medication
Pet supplies, if you have pets
A few snacks for moving day
If you're moving with children, it's also worth packing a few of their favourite toys, books or comfort items. Having something familiar close by can help make the first evening feel a little more settled while everything else is still packed away. Looking back, my "magic box" completely changed the way I move house. It's such a simple idea, but it's one of those things you don't realise you need until you've gone through a move without one.
💙 Good to know: If you're using Movly Smart Box, you can create an inventory for each box as you pack. So if your favourite mug somehow ends up in the wrong box, you won't have to guess where it is- you'll be able to find it in seconds.
9. Don't Expect Everything to Be Perfect
It's easy to put a lot of pressure on yourself when you're moving into your first home. After all, you've probably spent months saving for a deposit, searching for the right property and imagining what your new home will look like. So it's completely understandable if you want everything to be perfect from day one. But here's the truth... It probably won't be. And that's absolutely okay. Your home doesn't need to look like something from Instagram by the end of your first weekend. There will still be boxes in the hallway, pictures waiting to be hung and a few cupboards that somehow stay unpacked for weeks. That's all part of the process. One thing we've learned is that moving isn't a race. You don't have to unpack every single box in one day. You don't have to decorate every room straight away. And you definitely don't have to feel guilty for ordering a takeaway instead of cooking your first meal. Take your time. Celebrate the small wins, whether that's unpacking one room, putting your favourite photos on a shelf or finally finding where you packed the kettle. Those little moments are what start turning a house into a home. If there's one thing we'd love every first-time buyer to remember, it's this: Create memories, not pressure.
Your new home isn't judged by how quickly you unpack it. It's built through quiet mornings with a cup of tea, movie nights surrounded by boxes and all the little moments that happen in between. If you'd like to read more about what happens after the boxes are unpacked, you might also enjoy our article "What Nobody Tells You About Life After Moving House", where we talk about the emotional side of settling into a new home.
💙 Good to know: Many people find that unpacking one room at a time feels much more manageable than trying to unpack the entire house at once. There's no right timeline- go at a pace that works for you
10. Get to Know Your New Area
It's easy to fall in love with a house.
A beautiful kitchen, a big garden or a spacious living room can make you picture yourself living there almost instantly. But remember, you're not just buying a property- you're choosing the area you'll call home for the next few years.
That's why it's worth spending a little time getting to know the neighbourhood before you move.
After all, a lovely house can feel very different if your daily commute is much longer than expected, your nearest supermarket is miles away or the local park isn't quite what you imagined.
Every buyer will have different priorities, but here are a few things that many people like to check before making a final decision:
School catchment areas and Ofsted ratings
GP surgeries and nearby healthcare services
Pharmacies
Supermarkets and local shops
Parks and green spaces
Public transport links
Average property pricesa
Publicly available crime statistics
Council Tax bands
Broadband availability and speeds
None of these things will tell you whether an area is "good" or "bad". They're simply pieces of information that can help you decide whether a neighbourhood is the right fit for your lifestyle.
For example, a family with young children might place more importance on schools and parks, while someone commuting into the city every day may care more about transport links and broadband speeds.
Taking a little extra time to research the area now can help you feel more confident about your decision later.
If you're using Movly Local Insights, you can explore all of this information in one place and even compare different areas side by side, making it easier to see which location suits your needs best.
💙 Good to know: No neighbourhood is perfect, and that's completely normal. The goal isn't to find the "best" area- it's to find the one that feels right for you and your lifestyle.
11. Moving Day Tips
Moving day is finally here. After weeks or maybe even months of planning, packing and paperwork, it's time to collect the keys and start the next chapter. As exciting as it is, moving day can also feel a little overwhelming. Things don't always go exactly to plan, and that's completely normal. The removal company might be running late, the weather might not cooperate or you may find yourself waiting longer than expected for the keys. One of the best things you can do is stay flexible and focus on one task at a time.
Here are a few simple things that can make moving day a little easier:
Keep your important documents somewhere easy to reach.
Carry valuables, passports, medication and chargers with you rather than packing them in the removal van.
Keep a bottle of water and a few snacks nearby- you'll be surprised how easy it is to forget to eat.
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, especially if you'll be lifting boxes.
If you're moving with children or pets, think about how you'll keep them safe and entertained during the busiest parts of the day.
Once you've arrived at your new home, take a few minutes before the unpacking begins. Open a window, have a look around and enjoy the moment. After everything you've done to get here, this is officially your new home. The boxes can wait another ten minutes.
💙 Good to know: Moving day rarely goes exactly to plan, and that's okay. A few unexpected delays don't mean anything has gone wrong- they're simply part of the moving process.
12. Your First Week
Congratulations - you've made it!
The boxes are in your new home, you've survived moving day and now comes the part many people look forward to the most: making your new house feel like home. It's tempting to jump straight into unpacking everything as quickly as possible, but remember, you don't have to do it all in one weekend. Start with the essentials. Getting your bedroom, bathroom and kitchen organised first will make everyday life much easier, even if there are still unopened boxes in the spare room.
During your first week, you may also want to:
Finish unpacking the essentials.
Register with a local GP if you haven't already.
Introduce yourself to your neighbours when the opportunity feels natural.
Check your local council's bin collection days and recycling rules.
Explore your new neighbourhood, whether that's finding your nearest supermarket, discovering a local café or taking a walk to the closest park.
Don't feel like you have to tick everything off immediately.
One of the nicest things about moving is getting to know a new area little by little. You'll probably find your favourite coffee shop, your quickest route to work and the park you'll end up visiting far more often than you expected.
Those small discoveries are all part of making a place feel like home.
💙 Good to know: Settling into a new home takes time, and everyone's experience is different. Some people feel at home within a few days, while for others it can take a little longer. Both are completely normal.
Final Thoughts
Buying your first home is a huge milestone, and it's completely normal if everything doesn't go perfectly from day one. Some boxes will stay unpacked for a while, you'll probably misplace something important, and your first meal might even be a takeaway eaten on the floor. That's all part of the experience. A home isn't built in a weekend. It's built through the everyday moments that slowly make a place feel like yours. So don't aim for a perfect move. Aim for one that works for you. Congratulations on your first home- we're wishing you every happiness in this exciting new chapter. And if you'd like a little extra help along the way, Movly App is here to help you stay organised from planning your move to settling into your new home.
FAQ- Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start preparing to move after my offer is accepted?
Many people choose to wait until exchange of contracts before making major commitments, but there are plenty of things you can start doing earlier. Decluttering, collecting packing supplies, researching broadband providers and creating a moving checklist are all good ways to prepare while you wait.
What is the difference between exchange of contracts and completion?
Exchange of contracts is the stage where the purchase becomes legally binding. Completion is the day ownership officially transfers to you and you receive the keys to your new home.
What should I pack in an essentials box?
An essentials box usually contains the things you'll need during your first 24 hours in your new home. This might include toiletries, towels, phone chargers, medication, toilet roll, tea and coffee, snacks, a kettle and a change of clothes.
When should I set up my utilities?
If possible, it's worth arranging your utilities before moving day. Some services, particularly broadband, may require advance booking depending on availability in your area.
Should I change the locks after moving into my new home?
Many homeowners choose to change the locks for extra peace of mind, particularly when moving into an existing property. Whether you decide to do so will depend on your own circumstances and preferences.
Do I need home insurance before moving in?
If you're buying with a mortgage, your lender will usually require buildings insurance to be in place from exchange of contracts. Requirements can vary, so it's always worth checking with your lender or solicitor.
What should I do on moving day?
Keeping important documents, medication, chargers and valuables with you, taking meter readings, staying hydrated and having an essentials box ready can all help make moving day feel more organised.
How long does it take to feel settled after moving?
There's no set timeline. Some people feel at home within a few days, while for others it can take several weeks or even months. Both are completely normal.
How can I compare different areas before buying a house?
Looking at information such as school ratings, transport links, Council Tax bands, local amenities, broadband availability and publicly available crime statistics can help you build a clearer picture of an area. Comparing several locations side by side can also make the decision easier.
Is there an easier way to keep track of everything during a move?
Many people find that using a moving checklist helps them stay organised. If you'd like to keep your timeline, packing lists, utilities and local area information together, Movly App brings everything into one place to help make moving a little less stressful.
References:
GOV.UK – Buying and selling your home
The Law Society – Buying and selling a home
Royal Mail – Redirection Service
Ofsted – Find an inspection report