Moving house is known to be one of life’s most stressful events. Just the thought of packing up the mountain of ‘stuff’ you and your family have accumulated over many years can be so overwhelming you have no idea where to start.

The good news is it doesn’t have to be that way. With a little strategic planning and organisation in advance, you can lighten the load both literally and figuratively.

Start by visualising how you want your new place to look and feel and then imagine how your current things will fit in that space.

Here are 5 tips to get you started:

1. Focus on one area at a time– this could be a room, a cupboard or even just a drawer. It is best to start in an area you use the least. For instance, you may decide to eat all meals in the family room in the lead-up to the move and focus on the dining room to begin with.
2. Clear and sort– as you go through each drawer, cupboard and room (one by one) look for items that you no longer use or like. If you’re like most of us, chances are you have already hidden away items like this. Pull them out and get started. Have two piles – a sort pile and a clear pile for items you will either give away or discard.
3. De-clutter– moving is the ideal opportunity to start afresh. Start deciding what will come with you and what won’t well before the moving date. Remember, you will be paying people to move your things (if you go with a removalist company).
4. Create a keepsake box for each member of the family– these are all those special items, from photo albums to old teddy bears and hand-made cards, which mean something to each family member. If you have kids they can help with this process.
5. Make a trip to your local charity collection point– to drop off any items of clean, quality items of clothing no longer worn. Again, do this before you move. It will lighten the load and make you feel good at the same time.

The above points may seem obvious but it’s amazing how many people leave the ‘dreaded’ packing till the last minute and end up boxing everything they own. A little forward thinking and time spent clearing, sorting and disposing will have you feeling organised and excited for the big day.

A final tip – Make the most of the few weeks between exchange of contracts and settlement to get these jobs done.