Before you move

When moving yourself you need to spend sometime thinking about the preparations required for your move. You need to make a compromise between filling the vehicle sensibly, protecting your goods and not over-filling or under-filling the vehicle.

• Use the move as an opportunity to have a clean-out. Have a garage sale anything you don't need/want. Or give your local charity shop a call
• Give friends and family plenty of advance notice prior to moving day. Plan for twice as many helpers as you think you will need because normally only half turn up.
• Organize your move ahead of time and have everything packed and ready to load before helpers arrive. 
  Keep your moving crew happy with snacks and refreshments.
• Make shore you have packing tape on hand. It's great for strengthening boxes, won't let them open in transit and can be easily opened when you want to with a knife
• Hire a trolley to help you move stuff in bulk. It'll speed up the move and help make sure you don't injure yourself! If you have a piano think about how it's going to get out of the house - you may need special equipment
• Think about the space in your new home/flat before you move and start to imagine the best way to arrange your furniture in it. You can even make sketches if you like. This will make moving in much easier and help you feel at home.
• Plan where you can park to load and unload - the further you have to walk the longer it'll take.
• If you unplug your TV a day before your move it'll settle down to room temperature. Unplug it just before you move and it'll retain heat - this can actually cause internal damage.
• Don't use any special cleaning/maintenance products such as wax or oils on antique furniture for a couple of weeks before your move. They can make the wood softer for a few weeks and leave it more likely to get damaged.
• Write down instructions for any systems in your home such as central heating and air conditioning etc., and make sure the people moving in know any alarm codes. If you have brochures, guarantees or any paperwork relating to systems or appliances you're leaving behind make sure to leave them somewhere obvious. This will make their move much easier for them.
• If your new home has an alarm system ask for the code before you move!
• Teach your kids your new address and phone number as soon as you have it.
• Try to get a good night's sleep before your moving day. Leaving things to the last minute so you're up all night will just wear you out for the next day.