Forward planning takes the stress out of moving house

Moving house can be a stressful and difficult exercise. With so much to consider and so much to be done, it pays to forward plan.

Think about hiring a removalist

One option to alleviate stress is to look into hiring a removalist. Professional movers take pride in their work and care with their client's possessions.

Work out a floor plan for your new home so the movers can place beds, tables and other heavy items where you want them and label the boxes to be placed in particular rooms.

Accidents can happen, so it's a good idea to make sure you're covered. There are a range of insurance policies to cover moving. One type would be full value protection, which costs more but is worth it if you are moving fragile goods over a long distance. If you're just moving between suburbs, then a restricted policy limited to say, glassware and the TV might be all you need.

Plan carefully if completing the move yourself

If you decide on moving things yourself, plan carefully. You'll need help from friends and family and you'll need to be firm and clear in your instructions.

Before you hire a truck or trailer work out what you need to move, where it's going to go and which items require special attention.

Allow plenty of time for the move and map out an order for the items to be loaded and unloaded so you make the best use of the van, your time and the space.

Take a breather before unpacking

Moving can be tiring so don't rush to unpack.

A good idea is to prepare a small overnight bag as if staying in a motel. This can be a handy relief at the end of a long day when you don't need to rummage through boxes for your toothbrush or the teabags.