Moving house in Ireland is rarely as bad as people make out — but it goes much smoother with a plan. After hundreds of house moves across Kilkenny, Carlow, Waterford and the South-East, here's the seven-day checklist I'd give my own brother.
No filler. No 30-day plans you'll ignore. Just what actually needs to happen, in the order it needs to happen, with a few money-saving tips along the way.
Day 7 — Declutter, book the van, get boxes
The single biggest thing you can do to make moving easier is move less stuff. A week before move day, walk through each room and pull out anything you wouldn't pay to transport. Charity shops in Kilkenny and Carlow take clothes, books and small electricals. Anything broken or unwanted goes on the next-day junk-removal run.
Once you've a rough idea of what's leaving the house, book your man with a van. The earlier you call, the more flexibility you'll get on the time slot. Mention if you've stairs, a small carpark, or anything heavy like a piano — it helps us bring the right kit.
- ●Free moving boxes: Aldi, Lidl and SuperValu staff often save banana boxes if you ask the day before
- ●Estate-agent supply chains and the local Facebook free-cycle pages always have boxes someone's trying to get rid of
- ●If you'd rather not source them, ask us — we can bring a starter bundle
- ●Buy a roll of cling-wrap and a thick marker. Worth their weight in gold
Day 6 — Utilities & the change-of-address admin
This is the most-skipped step and the one that comes back to bite you. Sit down for an hour and run through every account that needs your new address. In Ireland that's typically:
- ●Electricity (Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis, SSE Airtricity, etc.) — give them your move date and a final meter reading
- ●Gas (if applicable)
- ●Broadband & TV — Eir, Sky, Virgin, Vodafone — and book the new install for the day after your move
- ●An Post — set up a redirect (around €70 for 12 months, worth it)
- ●Bank, credit union and Revolut
- ●Insurance — car, home and life
- ●Revenue, RSI / MyGovID and driving licence — update via the NDLS portal
- ●Doctor, dentist, optician and pharmacy
- ●Kids' school and the local GAA / soccer club
If you're renting and have a deposit on the line, take dated photos of every room before you start packing. Seriously — wide shots, then close-ups of any existing damage. It saves arguments later.
Day 5 — Pack what you don't need this week
Start with the easy wins: books, decorations, out-of-season clothes, the spare room. Label every box on the side (not the top — you'll stack them) with the room it's going to in the new place. Not the room it came from. That one tip alone saves a full hour on move day.
- ●Plates and bowls: stack them on edge like records, not flat. They survive bumps much better that way
- ●Glassware: wrap in tea towels — kills two birds, no bubble wrap needed
- ●Books: small boxes only. A big box of books will break itself or your back
- ●Cables: photograph the back of the TV before unplugging
- ●Screws and small fittings: clear sandwich bags taped to the underside of the relevant furniture
Day 4 — Pack the rest, room by room
Work top-to-bottom — attic, then bedrooms, then living areas. Leave the kitchen and bathroom for last. Keep the kettle, two mugs, teabags, milk, the toilet roll and your phone charger out of every box you pack. They go in the “Essentials” box on day 1.
Day 3 — The fridge, the freezer and the final clean
Run down the fridge and freezer. Two days of imaginative cooking beats throwing food away. Defrost the freezer the night before so it's not a swimming pool on move day.
Give the place a once-over. Hoover, mop, wipe surfaces. It's much easier with most of your stuff already boxed up than trying to clean around it on move day.
Day 2 — Confirm everything
Text or ring us to confirm the time, the addresses and the parking situation. If there's any change — extra items, a different end address, gate codes for the apartment block — now is the time to tell us, not on the morning.
Charge your phone and a power bank. Withdraw a bit of cash if that's how you're paying. Pack the essentials box and put it somewhere you won't accidentally load it into the van.
Day 1 — Move day
Get up earlier than you think you need to. Have a proper breakfast. We'll arrive at the time agreed, run through the rooms with you, load the van methodically (big furniture first, fragile items last), and drive to the new place. At the other end, we carry everything in, place it where you want it and double-check we've left nothing behind.
- ●Keep kids and pets at a granny's or a friend's place if you can — it's safer and twice as fast
- ●Have the essentials box come in your own car, not in the van
- ●Walk through the old house one last time, including under stairs and inside built-in wardrobes
- ●Get a final meter reading at both ends if utilities transfer with you
Day After — Settle in
Unpack the essentials box, make the bed, put the kettle on. The rest can wait. Most people are fully unpacked within a fortnight; if you push to do it all in 24 hours you'll burn yourself out.
Walk to the local shop, introduce yourself to the neighbours, find the closest takeaway. Officially home.
Frequently asked
How long does it take to move a 3-bed house in Ireland?
With a man with a van and a planned-out move, a tidy 3-bed typically takes 4–6 hours door-to-door within the same county. Longer if you're moving Dublin to Kilkenny or similar, or if either end has stairs and limited parking.
How much should I budget for moving house?
For a man-with-a-van service within Kilkenny or a neighbouring county, budget €200–€350 for a 2–3 bed depending on number of items and distance. Add €70 if you're using An Post's address-redirect service. Most people forget to factor in a takeaway on move-night — set €30 aside for that.
Do I need to be there on move day?
Yes, ideally. We need someone to direct what goes where, sign for anything, and let us in. If you absolutely can't be at one end, a family member or trusted friend with keys is fine — just tell us in advance.
What's the best day of the week to move house?
Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Weekends are busier and slower (traffic, other moves, kids around). Mid-week you'll usually get a tighter time-slot and a calmer move.