Moving home checklist

The short answer

A Scottish move has a fixed rhythm: an offer, a Home Report, missives that fix the price and date of entry, then a run to completion. Most households work backwards from the date of entry, booking a solicitor first, then a removal firm, then utilities, post redirection and address changes in the final fortnight. Missing steps rarely stop a move but they add stress on the day itself.

Understand the Scottish timeline

Unlike England, an offer accepted in Scotland is not binding until missives are concluded — a formal exchange of letters between solicitors that fixes the price, date of entry and any conditions. Once concluded, both sides are legally committed, so most of the practical planning should wait until this point, even though early research does no harm.

The date of entry is agreed between the parties rather than fixed by convention, so it can fall on a weekday with several weeks' notice, which is more workable for booking removal firms and time off work than a last-minute completion.

Twelve to four weeks before entry

This is the window for the larger bookings: a removal firm, storage if there is a gap between properties, and any house clearance. It is also worth requesting parking suspensions from the local council early, since some areas have several weeks' notice required.

• Get two or three removal quotes and confirm a provisional date
• Arrange a parking suspension or permit for the removal van if needed
• Start sorting belongings and book a skip or clearance firm if downsizing
• Notify your child's school or nursery if the move affects catchment

Final two weeks and moving week

Once the date of entry is firm, the final fortnight is about administration: redirecting post, transferring or setting up utilities and broadband, and updating your address with banks, the DVLA and your GP practice. Keep a folder of paperwork — Home Report, missives correspondence, meter readings — so nothing has to be chased later.

What it usually costs

Indicative ranges only, to help you judge a quote. They are not an estimate for your property — only the business doing the work can give you that.

• Removal firms for a typical Edinburgh flat: roughly £350–£900 depending on volume, access and distance
• Parking suspension fees from City of Edinburgh Council: typically £40–£80 per bay per day
• House clearance for unwanted furniture: roughly £150–£500 depending on volume
• Professional cleaning at the end of a tenancy or before handover: roughly £100–£250

What to do, in order

1. 1Confirm the date of entry once missives are concluded
2. 2Book a removal firm and, if needed, short-term storage
3. 3Arrange any parking suspension or permit with the local council
4. 4Redirect post and notify utility and broadband providers
5. 5Update your address with banks, DVLA, GP and other services
6. 6Take meter readings on the day you leave and the day you arrive
7. 7Do a final walk-through of the old property before handing over keys

Local detail for the Lothians

• New Town and Old Town flats often have narrow stairs and no lift, so removal firms may quote a higher access charge or bring extra crew
• City of Edinburgh Council requires advance notice for parking bay suspensions on moving day, particularly in controlled parking zones
• Tram works and city-centre road closures can affect access times for removal vans, so it is worth checking the route in advance
• In commuter towns such as Musselburgh or Dalkeith, driveway or off-street parking usually makes removals more straightforward than in central Edinburgh

When you need a professional

A solicitor handles the legal timetable and confirms the date of entry; Lothian Property can help you find one if you have not already instructed a firm.

Common questions

When should I book a removal firm?

As soon as the date of entry is agreed in missives, ideally four to six weeks ahead, since good firms in Edinburgh get booked up quickly in summer.

What if my old and new dates of entry don't align?

A gap between selling and buying can mean short-term storage and temporary accommodation; your solicitor can advise on bridging arrangements.

Related pages

• Removal companies

  What removal firms typically charge, what affects the price, and questions worth asking before booking.

• Date of entry and keys

  How the Scottish date of entry works, and what happens on the day keys are handed over.

• Moving day timeline

  What a typical moving day looks like, hour by hour, from the removal van's arrival to the last box.