Top tips for moving house

It's all fun, games and Pinterest boards titled "New Bedroom", "Patio" and "Ideas for Kitchen" when, after months of searching, you've found your dream home and the deal is signed.

At the time the move seems months away, and then suddenly it is upon you and it all turns to utter chaos...

"Moving house is a big deal. In fact, it is often rated among the most stressful things one can undertake," says Kim Hogben, Principal at Leapfrog Durban Central. It's a case of packing up all your earthly possessions, 'abandoning' a place you have called home for a period of time and starting over in new and different surroundings - of course it is stressful!".

But rather than allow the stress of moving overshadow the joy of moving to a new home, make sure you approach the move strategically by planning for it as thoroughly as possible, is Hogben's advice.

Fail to plan or plan to fail

Unfortunately moving isn't quite as simple as organising a truck, shoving everything inside, sending it on its way and waiting for it to arrive on the other side. "Start by assessing what will be moving with you and what not. Next, think about how to best pack things and start collecting boxes and protective wrap," Hogben says. The question around the size of the moving vehicle is a crucial one too. Will a friend's bakkie with a rented trailer suffice if you take a couple of trips - and assuming the move isn't too far from your current residence - or do you need to rent space in a large truck to travel a vast distance. If this is the case, make sure to shop around, compare quotes and book in advance.

Start in good time

"Whatever you do, don't leave the organising and packing of your possessions to the last week," Hogben warns. Her advice is to start as soon as the move is official, with areas and things you don't use everyday. "Moving is actually a wonderful opportunity to sort through things, donate what you no longer want or need, allowing you to start "fresh" with only the things that are of use or value to you," Hogben believes. The trick, the most organised among us will have you know, is to be ruthless in your approach to what you move to a new place with you.

There's no getting away from admin

Adulthood, one may reasonably be able to argue, equals admin! Moving in particular is a process that is shrouded in paperwork, above and beyond the sales transaction and all that is associated with it. "It is pertinent to ensure you take care of things like notifying your security company and garden services that you'll be moving. Similarly, everybody from your cellphone provider to your employer, to your children's school must be notified of your address change.

D-day

The better you plan for how you need the actual day, or weekend, of moving to run, the smoother it is likely to go. "Too often people forget to do things like make arrangements for how the pets will be transported, or who will look after their young children (take my word on this, you don't want toddlers around on moving day), or think about what they are going to eat when their entire kitchen has been packed up," Hogben shares. These are small things, but on a stressful moving days, not having to worry about the smaller details can help to streamline the whole process.

"Also never hesitate to get in touch with a trusted property advisor who will gladly offer tips, advice and more on how to manage your move in the most efficient way," Hogben encourages.