Location, Location, Location's Phil Spencer shares his tricks to make moving house less stressful

Phil Spencer, frontman of some of the UK's top property shows like Location, Location, Location, has shared some top tips for moving day. It can be a pretty stressful and emotional day with a million different things to sort out, pack and unpack in such a short space of time but Phil has attempted to put people's minds more at ease with his 20 years of experience in property.

For starters, you've got to decide whether you want to hire a professional removals team or DIY the job with some elbow grease and a few mates, Phil said on his new column in the Telegraph. Once you've made that decision you have to plan accordingly in order to make what is ultimately a very exciting new step in life.

Phil said: "That doesn’t mean it won’t be stressful and emotional. That’s the nature of these things. But getting on the front foot can really make a difference."

READ MORE: BBC Escape to the Country house hunter shares sad confession for wanting to move out of the city

Professional removals checklist

If you go via the professional removals route, you'll want to get in as early as possible - book in a moving day with the company as the good ones go fast and are particularly busy on Fridays, according to Phil. You can also decide whether you get the removals team to help pack and unpack your various belongings or just to have them load and unload from their vans. The packing option is a luxury which Phil admits he buys into.

When you think about packing you've got to have a game plan in mind, Phil advises. Rooms that you use the most should be packed last. If you've got bigger items of furniture, make sure you know how you're going to get them out of your house - do they need to be taken apart?

The same logic needs to be applied to your new home, Phil said - can things fit where you want them? You should measure out the new place and plan where things go accordingly. If you don't have at least some idea you can be stuck with furniture in the wrong place in your new home which just adds and prolongs the stress of it all.

Phil said: "A couple I know have been stuck with a small bedroom for the past 20 years because their daughter – who was only seven when they moved house – was first up the stairs quicker on moving day and politely directed the movers to put the boxes of her things in the biggest room. They never had the energy to switch."

A basic but important reminder would be to label your boxes, Phil said. You should also pack personal and sentimental items yourself before the removal people come in. "Do you really want one of the moving team going through your underwear drawer?" Phil said, "I can tell you from experience that you probably don't."

Another one Phil said to keep in mind is to ensure parking is available at both properties, particularly if the previous owners are moving out the same day. You don't want the removal company to be delayed and have to go off to another job halfway through the job.

DIY removals checklist

If you opt to take the task on yourself it comes with a little more flexibility on the day, Phil said. But you've also got to be more on the ball and start packing as early as possible in the least used rooms while you declutter the place.

Phil said: "Pack room by room – the danger if you don’t is that you go round the house like a headless chicken and nothing gets done."

Make sure not to overpack boxes as well, Phil suggests - the last thing you want is packing up a whole room into boxes but discovering you then can't lift them out. More lighter boxes are better than fewer heavy ones.

One tip that Phil says is often missed is taking a photo of your TV cables. For a lot of people, there is a jungle of wires behind your TV and it proves a nightmare when you're setting it back up again. Copying off a photo solves this often overlooked problem, Phil said.

It's important to remember that life still goes on while you move so you can't pack up everything. Phil advises keeping a spare change of clothes free, along with toiletries, cleaning products, tea-making paraphernalia and of course, the obligatory bottle of Champagne to celebrate the move. "Trust me, you will want a cup of tea at the end of the day, or something stronger," Phil said.

Clean bedding is another important one. Make sure you are sorted but Phil said there is an easy fix for the kids: "I have found you can usually get away with putting the kids in sleeping bags and selling the experience as an 'adventure' for a night".

Kids and pets can often get in the way and cause more stress than necessary Phil said. To negate this pack the kid's stuff last so they're preoccupied with unpacking their rooms first while you get on with the heavy lifting. Pets should be left with some friends while you can't give them the proper attention they need, Phil said.

Other considerations

There are several other considerations which need to be thought of whether you're doing the DIY route or the professional one. A big one is making sure the money lands if there is a chain. If the money is transferred late then it can ruin all the day's moving plans and keys can't be handed over. Similarly, ensure your lawyers are informed of the moving dates, Phil recommends.

Once you're in, set about redirecting any post and update your addresses wherever needed. Finally, you can change the locks if you like to give you that much more peace of mind, you never know who might have a key, Phil warns.

"And then, relax… until the decorating starts," Phil said.

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