Moving House

It may feel like there is just too much to remember as the time to your move gets closer - after all life goes on at the same time as your move!

To reduce the stress, you should make a list of absolutely everything that you must do and think about when it all needs to be done by. You may have only just received your mortgage offer and be a long way from moving day, but the sooner you start the better. Do not leave everything until the last minute.

It depends on when you are planning to move, but it could be difficult to book in a date with a reputable firm. Most people plan to move at the same time - such as weekends, bank holidays or school holidays just so they have extra time and less stress. Don't leave it to the last minute and get caught out, book early.

In comparison to all the other decisions you have had to make lately, choosing a removal firm will probably seem relatively simple, but make sure you choose professionals. Your belongings and valuables are at the hands of the company you choose, and the last thing you want is for them to be damaged. It is vitally important that you do your research.

For help in choosing a good firm speak with friends and family who have moved. If you are reliant on internet research, then ensure you check previous customer reviews. Ask the removals firm what their quote includes and if they are willing to carry out a removal valuation for you. This would involve them visiting your property to establish how much stuff you have and how many vans/ people they will need to the job efficiently on the big day.

It really is surprising how much stuff you gather over the years, and as such packing always takes longer than people expect. The sooner you start the better. Start by getting rid of everything you don't need (be brave), and then you should start by packing up the rooms that you use the least. This allows you to pack up those rooms and use them as your storage. As you don't use the rooms much, they will cause the least amount of disruption to your daily life.

Make sure that you label each box but do it properly! It's easy to just write 'kitchen stuff' for example, but when it comes to unpacking that really won't help you with what you need to prioritise. You should label the box with the room, and then underneath a few bullet points of the box contents will help you more than you can imagine!

Another common mistake is overloading your boxes, to try and use as few as possible. It's likely to lead to accidents or injury if you do this, so instead pack heavy items in smaller boxes, and lighter things in big boxes.

Getting rid of any old, unwanted or unnecessary items before you move will not only save you time and money, it will also reduce your stress.

Think about donating to charity or recycling centres if you can. Whatever you can do to cut down on the number of things you need to transport will be a great help to you. It will mean that the removal company need less vans and people. Do not take things with you that you are likely to throw away at the other end!

Things like hazardous materials, plants with soil in, tins of paint or chemicals are likely to be refused removal by the firm you have employed. As we said above, some things can be recycled, so take half empty paint tins to your local centre (unless of course you are planning on using them).

Things that you really need to take with you, you should wrap properly to avoid spillages etc, and load them in your own vehicle if you can.

You should always consider the safety of everyone involved in your move, so think about how heavy boxes are, clearly label dangerous items like gardening tools that have sharp blades, wrap knives up so they can't hurt people, and if you have things like petrol filled gardening equipment make sure you empty them first.

If there is anything that you are unsure of ask your removals company and they will advise you accordingly.