Getting Ready to Move House

But don't despair. Moving house doesn't need to be that stressful. With good preparation and a thorough purge of your belongings, you can have a stress-free move and save some money to boot – after all, the less you have to move, the cheaper it will be. Here are our favourite stress-reducing tips for moving house:

Be Ruthless

Get rid of everything you don't need. Work through your property methodically, and go through all your stuff. Separate it into piles for the charity shop, car boot sale, rubbish dump – and items to be packed, of course. And we mean it when we say be ruthless – if you haven't used it in the past year, do you really need it?

If you have a lot of rubbish, you can hire a skip to make life easier, but check the rules carefully: unless it's entirely on private land you'll need to obtain a licence from your local authority.

Tidy Your Garden

Don't overlook your garden when moving – a well-kept garden is essential to adding value to your property. Simply mowing your lawn, pruning any trees or bushes, and weeding your flowerbeds can make all the difference to your property's appearance.

Look in your garage and shed early in the moving process, because they can easily become a dumping ground, and you'll feel much better if you tackle the disorganised spaces first.

Get Organised

As you work through the rooms in your house, pack all but your most essential items. Make an inventory of everything you pack, and clearly label the boxes so the removers know where to put them in your new home. It's a good idea to clean each room as you sort it, as you'll be far less stressed in those crucial final days before the big move.

Sort Your Paperwork

Locate your important documents and create files to keep them safe and accessible. A moving file is excellent for keeping all your quotes, estimates and contracts together, and you'll need to keep important documents, such as your passports, bank account information, and birth certificates safe too.

You may also come across paperwork that is no longer current. Much of this can be recycled, but ensure you shred any documents that have your personal details on them to prevent identity theft.

Packing Electronic Devices and Appliances

Electronic goods are particularly sensitive to being transported, so prepare them carefully. Appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines and fridges should be emptied, drained and dried, and you should switch off all major appliances the day before the move so they can cool down before being transported.

Ensure you remove any media such as CDs and DVDs from computers and other devices, and if you are technologically challenged, take a picture of your electrical set up before dismantling it.

If you follow the above top tips, you'll eliminate much of the stress from your move – but do plan your time carefully to ensure you can have everything done before the removal guys arrive. Then you can hand over to them and start planning your new life!