Moving house is arguably one of the most stressful yet exciting things you can do in life. It’s a chance for a fresh new start, whether you’re upsizing or downsizing, and it’s a chance to discover a new neighbourhood, village, town or city. For those who are planning to move house in Northern Ireland, we’ve got several essential tips you can use. These will ensure the moving process goes smoothly and you keep stress in check.

This is a contributed article.

Declutter Before You Start Packing

Here’s a tip straight from professional organisers, and that’s to be critical about the things you take with you. Chances are you don’t use or want everything in your home, so why go to the trouble of packing it? Be sure to declutter, being clear on what is to keep, give away or throw away.

Don’t Tackle All the Packing At Once

One of the biggest mistakes homeowners can make when moving house is tackling all the packing at once. Perhaps you plan to set aside a weekend where you will pack up everything. The fact is that this will be entirely exhausting, and you’re bound to feel rushed and stressed and likely not do as good of a job had you planned it better.

Instead, focus on packing one room at a time in an organised manner. This means taking the time to carefully wrap and package items, label all boxes and ensure nothing is left behind. 

Book the Van Hire Well in Advance

Because you won’t be able to fit all your belongings in your car, it’s important to book your moving van hire well in advance. Ideally, you want to make as few trips with the van as possible so choose a size that best accommodates your needs. If you’re mindful of the budget, hire the van mid-week if circumstances allow, as prices will be cheaper than on the weekend. 

Make Sure You’ve Figured Out Home Insurance

Northern Ireland home insurance can vary greatly in terms of cost, so this is something you’ll want to look into before you move house so you can factor it into the budget. You can use a website like CompareNI.com to get comparison quotes from top providers in Northern Ireland. This is a great way to ensure you’re getting the best deal possible and even save money compared to what you may currently be paying. 

don't forget to feed yourselves when moving house

Make Arrangements for Kids and Pets on Moving Day

The final tip is to make your life less hectic on moving days by making arrangements for kids and pets to be out of the house. This will be one less thing for you to worry about, and then they won’t feel the stress and pressure of the day. Perhaps they can stay with a relative or close friend until you are safely situated in the new home.

All of these tips will help your move go smoothly, keep things organised and relieve the stress you would expect to be feeling. If you are planning to move house in Northern Ireland, or anywhere for that matter, accepting help and following these tips for a smooth moving day will help make the day smoother. Good luck!