How to prepare for a house move

A little preparation makes moving day faster, cheaper and far less stressful. Here's what we'd do.

A week or two before

• Book your removalist early, especially for weekends and the end of the month.
• Declutter. Anything you don't need to take is something you don't pay to move.
• Start packing rooms you rarely use. Label every box with the room it belongs in.
• Tell your removalist about stairs, tight access, parking and any very heavy items so the quote is accurate.

The night before

• Empty and defrost the fridge and freezer, and leave the doors propped open so they dry out.
• Disassemble beds and anything that needs it, and keep screws in a labelled bag taped to the furniture.
• Pack a bag with essentials: phone charger, medication, toiletries, a change of clothes and important documents.

On the day

• Clear pathways and make sure the truck has somewhere to park close to the door.
• Keep valuables and documents with you rather than on the truck.
• Do a last walk-through of every room, cupboard and the garage before the truck leaves.