Q: AFTER all the stress of trying to sell my home which had taken over 18 months I have finally done it.

Two agents later and 43 viewings on, we agreed a sale at a lower price than what I would have hoped for but are now due to move at the end of next month.

Is there any advice you can offer to help reduce the stress for me and the family during the actually moving day!

Mrs K Halliday, Uplands.

A: I know exactly how you feel, apart from getting married, losing a close relative or having children; there has never been a more distressing undertaking than moving house.

It is akin to having an operation: you want to be put to sleep and only wake up when everything is taken care of.

Moving house can be so stressful because of the time involved, because it is not only about waking up on the morning of the move and doing it.

Homeowners have to plan everything meticulously weeks in advance to stand any chance of a smooth change over.

Remember, preparation is everything: If you want to hit the ground running, make sure you have researched the area you are moving to, especially if you have children who will need schooling.

It is also a good idea to have already planned where your items will be stored at your new address, to make the ordeal a little bit more efficient.

Pack non-essential items weeks in advance will benefit you immeasurably, and ensure you are not rushing around at the last moment trying to organize things you could have done before.

Labelling the boxes will also save lots of time when you finally make the move, and will help in prioritising what things you will need to unpack straight away.

Whatever form of transport you are planning to use during the move should be up to standard, because you don’t want to spend the big day fixing broken carburettors or dealing with any other minor faults with the transport.

If you are using a removal company, be sure to book well in advance, because the nearer you get to the date, the more expensive they become.

Making sure your move is insured is also the way to go.

I am sure you are the same as every homeowner and will have some expensive and breakable things in limbo on the big day.

It is essential to get all the packing done well in advance, only leaving the essential items until last.

Remember, you will need vast amounts of packing materials, such as bubble wrap, cardboard boxes and tape.

A handy thing to remember is to de-register with your doctors and dentists and simultaneously register with new ones at the new location.

This may seem insignificant, but it is always best to have all bases covered for any eventuality.

When the big day comes, you know it will be an ordeal, so taking things in your stride is as important as the patience you will need.

One last thing to note: don’t forget the children!

Please continue to send in your property related questions to clive@sawyersestateagents.co.uk