Moving house can be an incredibly stressful experience; more often than not people haphazardly throw random items into boxes, and after the move has been completed, end up with lost, broken, or misplaced belongings, and spend days amid a sea of opened boxes, trying to figure out what goes where. In addition to leading to frazzled nerves, all this only adds to the difficulties of trying to settle into a new place. However, the key to pulling off a successful move seamlessly is proper planning, well in advance.

When planning a move, you need to start by clearing out your house – chances are that you have managed to accumulate a lot of unnecessary items over the years, so give your house a thorough cleaning, and sift through all your belongings. This is not the time to be sentimental – if an item is of no use to you, throw it out (or arrange a quick yard sale to get rid of all the things you do not need).

While clearing out all the junk, maintain an inventory of everything that you have decided to keep. Having a list of all your belongings to refer to throughout the packing and moving process can be extremely useful, and will help you a great deal in planning your move.

Once you have decided on the things you will be keeping, it is time to figure out how to transport them from their current location to your new house – i.e. how to orchestrate the move. The easiest and more popular way to go about it is by hiring the services of a professional removal company. Go with a well-known, highly recommended company of professional movers; make sure you compare a number of options before deciding on the one that best suits your needs and budget. You should also check whether the company offers insurance, and what this covers.

Make sure there are no ambiguities in your dealings with the moving company – show them the inventory, and let them know exactly how many items will need to be moved. Inquire about their timings, and since most companies charge by the hour, it is a good idea to exchange keys with them, so they can immediately get to work upon arriving at a location, and do not need to waste their time and your money by waiting.

You can also organise and execute the move yourself, if there aren’t too many items that need to be moved. Get large, sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, duct tape, and any other equipment you will need to pack your belongings securely. However, you will need to hire a moving van for the purpose. Keep in mind that if you pack yourself, and ask professional movers to move the boxes, the removal company will not take responsibility for any damage to your belongings.

Finally, make sure you keep a plan of your new house/apartment with you, so you can coordinate your packing process with the way you will be organising the items in your new house. Decide what needs to go where beforehand, pack accordingly, and colour code boxes, so unpacking can be a swift, organized process.

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