| Moving house is one of the most stressful life events. | | | | between rooms later. |
| When I first came to London I had about twenty | | | | 5. Leave behind what you don't need. |
| addresses in three years. After the first few moves I | | | | If you've always hated the sofa, leave it behind. Some |
| got pretty good at it. I had to! Here's what I did: | | | | people have a curious pack-rat mentality; they love to |
| 1. Pack well in advance | | | | hoard. If what you're hoarding is not gold or jewels, but |
| It used to drive me wild how some people in our house | | | | jam-jars and newspapers, leave them behind. |
| left it until the last minute. The result was they'd still be | | | | 6. Hire a big van with a big man. |
| going back and forth from the old place, to the new, | | | | This should really be the number one tip. The idea of a |
| days later, for the last pot plant or bit of cutlery. | | | | big van is that you'll make fewer trips, ideally only one. |
| Make up your mind that you are quitting this house for | | | | Some people try to save money by using their cars, or |
| good, then don't stay a minute longer than you have to. | | | | a friend with a mini van. The result: umpteen trips |
| Otherwise you'll be wasting time that could be more | | | | stretching over days. You get cheesed-off, and so |
| profitably spent doing something else. | | | | does your friend. Instead of decorating your new place, |
| 2. Put small things into a large container. | | | | you're still half-in the old one. |
| This saves multiple trips. Sturdy medium-size boxes | | | | Moving house is very stressful. Get it done as quick as |
| are a life saver, as they can be stacked easily. | | | | you can. Hire the biggest van you can find. |
| 3. Containers should be light enough for one person to | | | | 7. Many hands make light work. |
| lift. | | | | After you've hired the big van, get as many friends as |
| Some people try to fill up a big box with books, for | | | | you can involved in the move. If you're really organised, |
| example. The result: no one can lift it, or worse, it's just | | | | you can move house in half a day. I did this once, to |
| light enough for someone to try lifting it, and put their | | | | the great surprise and gratitude of the van driver we |
| back out. | | | | used. He'd been expecting a day-long slog. |
| 4. First to go in, last out. | | | | 8. Mark parking space for your van. |
| You'll be putting the carpets down first, presumably, so | | | | Cordon off enough parking space for your van driver, |
| they should be last into the van. If you're super | | | | so he can park next to the house. |
| organised you can decorate the new house 'on the fly'. | | | | 9. Cancel the utilities. |
| Otherwise, put all your stuff in the smallest room in the | | | | Bit of an obvious one, really. You don't want strangers |
| new place, and then move it about from there, when | | | | running up bills in your name. Let the utilities know the |
| it's all moved in. This stops the need to move stuff | | | | date you're due to move out. |