There’s no doubt about it, moving home is one of the most stressful life events you can go through. As you wade through boxes, try to settle the kids, hunt for the toaster, and pay off all the moving bills, you’ll probably be trying not to scream and lose your cool. 

So, what’s the solution? Can you make a house move less hectic for all those involved? 

We think so. Here’s our ultimate moving checklist. You can thank us later. 

1) Start early 

As soon as you know you’re planning to move, start the process of decluttering. By reducing the amount of stuff early, there’ll be less to lug around in boxes later, so it’s worth having a clear-out prior to the packing process. 

2) Plan how to move 

Whether you’re using a man in a van, hiring a removal company, or doing it yourself, make sure you’ve compared prices and booked in for the big day. 

If you’re not moving big items of furniture, it might be more budget-friendly to hire a van yourself. If you’ve got a lot to move or you’re taking large items such as beds and wardrobes, then a removal company is your best bet. 

3) Questions for sellers

Before moving in, put a list of questions together for the people you’re buying from, so you have all the vital info you need. Questions to ask include: the location of the gas and electric meters and stopcock, utility providers, bin collection day, if they can leave instruction manuals, etc. 

4) Redirect your post 

You can pay a small fee to Royal Mail to have your post redirected for a set time. This is a great way to make your move less stressful as you won’t panic about missing any outstanding bills or important documents. 

5) Smart boxes

Keep your packing organised. Label each box so you know what room it’s destined for and briefly describe what’s in the box. This will make the actual move-in period a lot easier. 

Top tip: Make sure you’ve packed a box of everyday essentials such as a kettle, tea and coffee, biscuits, mugs, a few plates and crockery. This makes your first few meals much less stressful. 

6) Kids and moving

Reduce your children’s anxiety about moving by helping them to create a special moving box containing all their special toys, comforters and so on. Hopefully, when you move, this will reduce any worries or fears about change by keeping things familiar and easy to find. 

If you’re looking to move home, get in touch with Sarah Mains Residential on 0191 487 8855 and start your search with us.