Moving house does not have to be the most stressful thing you ever do, in fact it’s possible to actually enjoy the process if you follow some simple rules. Here are our pick of the best tips to keep you sane when the moving van arrives...
Plan ahead
Set aside plenty of time to complete each task, and don’t underestimate just how much time things like folding clothes and labelling boxes can take. If you’re not sure, start with the room that you spend the least amount of time in and pack up all the contents of that room into boxes – time yourself and apply the same timescales to the rest of the rooms in your house, allowing more time for the kitchen, living room and main bedrooms.
Take a break
Take regular breaks on the actual move day, as well as throughout the days or evenings that you’ve set aside packing. Make sure you drink plenty of water and eat healthy foods too – this will give you the energy you need to make the most of the time you have. Offer the same to anybody you have roped in to help; the better they are treated, the longer they are likely to stick around!
Do it all in one go
Renting a professional removal company or at least a decent-sized van is a sure fire way to reduce the stress of moving house. It may be tempting to try to cut costs and hire a small van, but making lots of trips will inevitably take much longer and be a lot more hassle than doing it all in one trip.
Organisation, organisation, organisation!
Get plenty of boxes and a good marker pen before you start to do anything. These can usually be picked up for free from clothes retailers, supermarkets and friends’ houses. Write a quick list on the outside of each of your boxes to make things a bit easier when it comes to unpacking at the other end too. It's also a good idea to write a complete 'to do' list before you start packing up, listing everything you need to do, from remembering to book the removal men to defrosting the freezer!
Get the children involved
If you’ve got children, make sure they are involved in packing up their own things. This will not only help you get everything done quicker, but should get them a bit more excited about the process and possibly help to prevent tears and tantrums on moving day!
Always have the basics to hand
These include a pair of scissors, rolls of parcel tape, a marker pen, food and water. With these things handy you can conquer the world of house moving!