Moving house can be one of the most stressful occasions in our lives. One of the most time-consuming tasks to coordinate is packing up your old home in preparation for the move.

Many people are tempted to throw everything into boxes and sort it at the other end, but they’re missing a big opportunity. Decluttering before you move is quicker, easier, and it makes greater financial sense – you’ll save money if the removers have less to move, plus you’ll achieve a higher value for your old house if it’s clutter-free when the buyers are viewing.

1. Declutter and Sort

The idea of decluttering and sorting your belongings can be overwhelming – the key is tackling it methodically.

Go through your house room by room and sort your belongings into items which can be packed and stored, those that can be given to a charity shop or sold, and items you want to keep but need to leave out until the last minute. And keep a bin bag to hand for everything else. The trick here is to be ruthless – if you haven’t used it in the last year, do you really need it?

Plan to get rid of your good condition but unwanted items before you move. You can sell items on eBay or Gumtree, advertise them as ‘free to a good home’ on websites such as Freecycle, and donate items to your local charity shop.

2. Hire a Skip

If you have a lot of rubbish, consider hiring a skip. A quick search on Google will result in a list of local skip companies, or ask the local council for a recommendation. Make sure the company is an approved skip company – if they fly-tip your waste, the responsibility and fines are yours – and look for a company with good recycling credentials.

Skips come in a range of sizes and are classified according to the amount of waste they hold. It’s important to choose the correct size as the company can refuse to remove it if it’s overfull. The average size for a household skip is 6 or 8 cubic metres, although they can be as small as 2 cubic metres and increase in size to a 40 cubic metre skip, which is generally for industrial waste.

3. Be Organised

The final tip is to be organised. Make an inventory of items as you pack them, and label the boxes clearly so you know which rooms you want them in at the other end.

As you’re sorting, pay careful attention to your paperwork – moving house is an excellent opportunity to sort and dispose of old paperwork that no longer has a use. Keep all essential paperwork, such as passports, birth certificates and bank account information together and easily accessible.

Most paper rubbish can be recycled, but take great care with any confidential or sensitive documents with personal data on. This all needs to be shredded.

Finally, consider hiring a professional removal company to help with the move. These guys are experts and will save you time, stress and hard work.

By following these simple tips, you can save yourself a lot of the stress of moving house and will have more time to plan your fantastic new home.