Moving home is an exciting and rewarding experience. However, it is also often known as one of life’s most stressful events. Because of this, it’s important to do all you can to make sure it does not become a daunting task. Without proper organisation, you could let important factors slip through the cracks. That could create problems for you later on down the line.

A recent survey commissioned by Airtasker revealed packing as the most overwhelming task when it comes to moving home. 40% of Brits complaining about its mundane nature. This was followed by unpacking, hiring people to help with the move and cleaning up, among other factors.

It’s no surprise that these are seen as big chores. However, luckily, there are things that can be done to reduce the hassle of moving day. With this in mind, here at Atkinson McLeod, we outline the most stressful moving tasks and how to combat them to achieve a stress-free move.

1/ Packing and unpacking

According to the survey, packing was the main gripe for 40% of respondents. Many people tend to underestimate how long packing can take. Some movers prone to putting it off until the last moment.

You want to avoid being unprepared for the move by packing early. At least a couple months in advance is an ideal world. Once you have the necessary packing essentials (i.e. boxes, tape, labels, bubble wrap, marker pens, etc) you want to start with the smaller rooms. You can round up loose items and stash them in boxes according to room order, making sure to label them efficiently. The sooner you do this, the easier it will be when it comes to the big move.

The research also found that once moved in, a majority of people take 3-4 weeks to completely unpack, while 12% claim to take over 12 months. Fortunately, there’s no deadline for this, but as long as you pack efficiently, unpacking should prove to be a lot easier.

2/ Taking time off work and getting childcare

This may sound obvious, but there are plenty of people who fail to book time off for their move preparation. In fact, some 49% of people who took the survey admitted to looking at houses and making phone calls during working hours.

Taking the day off will give you plenty of time to help with the move and deal with any potential problems as they occur. Even finding a babysitter for the children or clearing your schedule for the weekend could provide a massive help.

Essentially, you want to ensure that you are flexible during the moving process. Getting started on your tasks early can give you some time to re-think how to progress if you hit any obstacles. This can all be achieved by taking some time off and having someone to mind the children or any pets.

3/ Hiring people to help, cleaning and minor repairs

Finding the right people to help with the move came third on the list of overwhelming tasks when moving. It is proving to be a big headache for many respondents. Brits take an average of 1.4 weeks out of their annual leave just for the actual move. So it comes as no surprise that they would rather dish out between £200-£499 on getting help relocating.

Some 54% of people surveyed claimed that they would rather hire a removal company. 55% of people would pick family and friends.

In any case, it’s always good practice to organise a pre-move visit to your new property. So that you’re fully prepared on the day of the move. For example, how many parking spaces there are and how narrow the street is will all help things to go more smoothly on moving day.

Interestingly, 24% of people would outsource every moving task given the choice. 29% said that packing would be the task they would most like to outsource.

4/ Broadband, assembling furniture and change of address

Getting new broadband connected, sending out a change of address and assembling furniture also appeared in the top nine most stressful tasks. Luckily, these are all done after the initial move, so you won’t have to worry about them immediately. But it’s still best to be prepared in advance to avoid any stress at a later date.

With thorough planning and additional help, movers can reduce the chances of these things becoming an obstacle. For example, the Royal Mail’s Postal Redirection Service enables you to receive any mail that you’ve not changed your address on. You can choose to get your post redirected for three, six or 12 months. The service is costing between £30 to £65.

What’s more, one of the most surprising consequences of moving home is how it can affect relationships. The survey went on to reveal that 59% of couples in the UK admitted to arguing during the homebuying process.

A quarter of couples argued about throwing things away. And the cost of moving triggered 25% of arguments among 25-35-year-olds.

About us

While moving can be stressful – especially if you’re also selling a home – taking these factors into consideration could help to make the process more bearable. For more help on buying or selling a home in London, please get in touch with us or contact one of our many branches.

Also, to find out how much your home could be worth in the current market, you can request a free valuation.

Preparing for moving day? Here’s our top tips