Practical guide
Renovating before moving in: which jobs should I do first?
Before moving in, plan connected work together: sockets, walls, floors and doors. Separate what needs finishing before you can live there from what could wait. The key handover date, products to order and access arrangements need to be understood before the schedule is confirmed.
Send your message directly from this page. We will reply by email.
Xhoni Lux BatPublished on
Before you start
- Decide which rooms must be ready when you move in.
- Discuss related jobs before walls are painted or floors are finished.
- Ask what the completion date depends on before booking your move.
What needs to be finished before I move in?
For each room, write down what you want to keep, replace or repair. Be specific: paint the walls and ceiling, replace the floor, change a door, or move a socket closer to the desk. Separate what you need for moving day from changes you would simply like to make.
If everything cannot be done before the move, decide which rooms matter most. Tell us where you need to sleep, cook and wash. Ask what could be left until later and whether doing it later would disturb rooms that were already finished.
Which jobs should be planned together?
The table shows decisions to discuss together. It is not a fixed work schedule: deliveries, drying times, the products being used and the condition of the home all affect the order and timing.
| You are considering… | Coordinate with… | Prepare this decision |
|---|---|---|
| Moving sockets or lighting | Wall preparation and painting | Furniture positions and how rooms will be used |
| Replacing flooring | Doors, thresholds and skirting | Finished height and transitions |
| Changing doors | Flooring and repairs around frames | Opening direction and finishes |
| Updating several rooms | Access, storage and other trades | Agreed jobs and priority rooms |
Services related to these decisions
Explore the work we can discuss with you, according to your needs.
What do I need to decide before ordering?
Bring the product details you have for floors, doors and lights, along with any paint colours you like. Ask which choices are needed before measuring or ordering and which can wait. You do not need to make every decision at the first meeting.
Show where the bed, desk and appliances will go when discussing sockets and lighting. Say whether you want ceilings and woodwork painted as well as walls. For new flooring, point out where it will meet rooms that are staying as they are.
How should we arrange access, furniture and cleaning?
Give the date you receive the keys and explain the stairs, lift, parking and any building rules. Agree who will let workers in, where deliveries can be stored and how shared stairs or lifts will be protected. Ask who takes the waste away.
If you already live there, say which rooms and routes you need to keep using. Agree who moves the furniture and where it will go. Before booking a removal company, ask what could affect the proposed finish date and how you would be told about a delay.
How can I tell whether my moving date is realistic?
The quote should list what will happen in each room, from removing old fittings to the final decoration and agreed cleaning. Check who supplies each item and which jobs are priced as extras. Ask what may only become clear once old coverings are removed.
With several trades involved, ask who arranges their visits and answers your questions. If you only need painting or flooring, say that: there is no need to describe it as a complete renovation. A short message listing the rooms and jobs is a useful starting point.
Your checklist before the property visit
- Town, country and property type
- Rooms and items to retain
- Priority work and optional improvements
- Overview photographs and any available plan
- Choices already made and missing product details
- Key handover, access and preferred timing
Let’s talk about your home
Let’s plan the work before you move in
Tell us when you receive the keys, when you hope to move and which rooms need work. We can discuss the priorities and what needs checking before agreeing a schedule.
Add a little more detail to my message (optional)
Complete renovation · You can write to us now.