Experts, what are ways to make moving apartments/houses less stressful?

I know most of the tips will sound like clichés, and they are such for a reason.

In my experience over the years, I can attest that the same things are efficient for any move, be it a large one or a small one.

Start early and be organised.

• Plan everything that is related to your moving.
• Change of address, council tax, utilities, inform people at work, friends and family.
• Spare a week or two to decide where to get the packaging materials and boxes from. If you will be using a professional removals company, most of them can deliver everything needed for packing and even do the packing.
• Collect or buy boxes and packing materials early.

De-clutter

Yes, another cliché, but does anyone ever use everything in their home?

No.

So, relocating to another home is the perfect time to get rid of some stuff that you haven’t use in over a year and will not use in the next year.

You will not only be de-cluttering your life from all the unnecessary things you’ve accumulated over the years, but you will also have more space in your new home for new things. And if you get rid of the things before packing, you will have fewer things to pack, which means cutting the costs on packing materials and boxes and the moving expenses.

Pack early

You probably don’t use 80% of the things in your home, notes relocation professional Ryan Banks. You can pack most of them early. After you’ve de-cluttered and decided what you’ll be taking with you, you can pack the things that you won’t be using until you move.

Decorations, books, extra pillows, towels, your winter clothes, etc. These boxes can be packed and ready weeks before you move.

And if your future home is empty and waiting for you, you can even move some of the boxes in advance.

Have kids or pets?

For the moving day, it would be easier if you find someone to look after them during the packing, loading and unloading of the moving van.

If your children are older, you can engage them in the process so they have something to do and don’t get bored.

Move valuable items yourself.

Family heirlooms or other valuables should NOT be packed in the moving van!

You will spend a lot of time worrying if they will survive the move at the back of the van.

Pack them well, with enough padding, and transport them with your own car.

If one does all of these basic rules when moving house or an apartment, they’ll surely reduce most of the stress of the moving day.

Bonus advice:

Write down everything that needs to be done for the entire relocation process and mark the things you’ve done. This way you won’t panic if you suddenly forget whether you’re missing something.