Guide to moving essentials

After picking your favourite UK property, going through all the legal paperwork and finalising the sale of your home, there is just one major hurdle to overcome. Moving in day.

Contracts have been exchanged and you are at the point of no return, so preparation is key to make sure that the switch of home goes as smoothly as possible. Failure to prepare could well be preparation to fail and could make the job harder than it really needs to be.

Packing up all your belongings, putting them in a lorry or van and then transporting them to a new address seems like a hectic and stressful thing to do, particularly if you have not done it before, however, with these tips it need not be like this and should instead be an exciting time.

Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents, is an expert in this field and states that too many leave preparation until the last minute and this adds avoidable pressure and expense.

"Making a few simple checks and arrangements in advance should keep problems to a minimum."

Once a moving date is set in stone it is important to get multiple quotes from removal companies, with many offering different levels of service such as just transportation or others which include doing the packaging for you.

Using a member of the British Association of Removers is a good place to start as this attempts to maintain professional standards across the industry.

However, after sealing the deal following a property search it is also important to consider doing the move yourself as this can save money. Think about packaging and protecting items of furniture, while making sure the correct vehicle license is in place from a hire vehicle if one is required.

When packing up the old home heavy furniture should be focused on first as these items take longer to dismantle and move. Store these pieces towards the front of the house so that they can be loaded onto the removal van first.

A basics box could also come in very handy, allowing you to get to a change of clothes, a mobile phone charger, cutlery and even a takeaway menu easily without having to root through a host of unopened packages.

On moving day it is likely that you will be tired and will not have too much energy to make a start on setting up in your new UK property, so think about which items you need to have access to.

In order to make the transition easier, ensure that gas, electricity, phone and broadband are all in place prior to moving in. Contact the energy provider to change the name on the contract and get on the correct tariff, while communication companies often need a few weeks' notice before making the phone line active.

Possibly one of the most important – but also frequently forgotten – steps is to find out when the keys are released. It is pointless having a van full of possessions if you cannot access the property. Also, you need to think about access points on the day; will lorries be able to park, will there be an entrance to have white goods and furniture delivered?

Another little tip is to draw up a plan of the new home and colour coordinate the rooms with boxes to ensure that they are delivered to the right areas of the house, as this will help when it comes to unpacking and building your new dream abode.