Moving home is often rated in the top five most stressful things in your life, but there are things that you can do in advance or avoid ensuring completion day runs much more smoothly.

People tend to move locally which is always less stressful, but there can still be some unexpected surprises that you can plan in advance to avoid.

Declutter, declutter, declutter

Moving home provides a great opportunity to clear out all the things you’ve not used, won’t require and ‘stuff’ that will take up valuable space in your new home. There may be books that you have read ages ago, clothes that you have not worn in months, things in the garage, the garden shed, ‘under the stairs’ and in the loft. If you start this planning stage in good-time then it means you will save costs on removals by only packing what you really need.

Don’t underestimate the number of boxes you will need

Packing boxes can work out to be expensive, so once again start planning in advance – post on your  local social media site, there will be a few people who have probably recently moved into your local area who will be more than pleased to give you their packing boxes – you could also ask your local supermarket too.

Buy marker pens, masking tape and of course bubble wrap – everyone always runs out of bubble wrap!

Label boxes

Always label boxes with the rooms they are to be unpacked in, a couple of items that are inside i.e cutlery, pans, lightshades etc and also maybe add the priority of unpacking – the ones with clothes you need and urgent toiletries could benefit with ‘open now’ added on the outside of the box and ‘open later’ for the things that are not so urgent and you can take your time unpacking.

Think about children and pets in advance

Keep children involved as much as possible as it is an emotional move for them too, but keep them out of harms way. Moving day can be very hectic, so it is always sensible to have the children and pets out of the property – and safer too, especially with large items of furniture, vans moving backwards and forwards at the property, safety gates will have been removed, plus chemicals and household products normally out of reach could now be easily accessible – plus your new home may not yet be child-proof and safe – or pet proof either.

Don’t leave packing to the last minute

Start packing the things you don’t need every day (seasonal clothing, books, things from the attic etc), and start in good time! Removal companies can book up weeks in advance, so don’t leave it too late to organise – also remember to hire the correct removal firm, different firms offer different services – do you need storage, how much have you got to move, how many rooms are there in your new home – don’t forget the loft and outdoor space -  do you need packing boxes, and what things can you pack/move yourself – remember to keep you valuables including documents close by.

Sometimes there can be unexpected charges

39% of people moving in Britain were hit by unexpected charges, and of those 44% were hit by charges of over £500 – so it is definitely worth planning ahead and budgeting carefully. At David Phillip Estate Agents we can recommend removal companies who can match your requirements.

By planning these things well in advance, you can make removal day a lot easier, less stressful and provides a more calming start in your new home.

If you are considering selling your home and would like a free market appraisal, call David Phillip FRICS on 01134 676 400 a:86, Leeds Road, Bramhope, Leeds, LS16 9AN e: info@davidphillip.co.uk w: www.davidphillip.co.uk