Ten top tips for a successful house move

Having moved house just a couple of weeks ago, I have finally found the time (and an Internet connection) to, ahem, impart my 'wisdom' on the matter in the form of my top ten tips. I would like to credit my lovely friend, Stella, for some of the advice. Here goes...

1. Attempt to have as much of a clear out as possible before the big day. The husband virtually took up residence at our local tip for several weekends before the big move, getting rid of all manner of unwanted gubbins. Having loft space the whole length of a large Victorian house that houses five properties was more than enough room to store all manner of pointless crap, mainly the boxes of seemingly every appliance ever purchased. Despite such ruthless sorting and binning, we still managed to move a large Weetabix box containing a solitary, stale portion. Listen and learn, people.

2. Budget to pay for a company to move you and pack all of your stuff. Our team of three guys from Britannia was just BRILLIANT: jolly, efficient, professional, I actually felt sad when they left us as they'd felt like part of the moving process and had really looked after us. Sadly, we didn't pay for them to unpack our belongings...

3. Assuming you have followed tip 2 above, these guys are fuelled by a constant supply of tea and coffee - and biscuits. Jaffa Cakes were particularly motivational.

4. Again, if you've followed the advice in number 2, get out of their way! Once you've briefly outlined what's what, leave the house. The husband and I enjoyed a sushi lunch and shopping in Brighton.

5. If you have children, arrange childcare. My parents swept in from Manchester a couple of days before the move and we basically didn't see Dexter until we were in the new house. My lovely, generous friend loaned her flat up the road for them to use as their base. He had a lovely time; we didn't get stressed trying to keep things 'normal' for him.

6. Put your work shoes in your own car. I have only just found my favourite grey, ever-so-comfortable, Clarks brogues, and have been wearing my  beaten-up bronze, low heeled Clarks numbers for days.

7. Phone your new district council a number of weeks before you move to arrange for your new bins/recycling crates to be delivered. The kitchen is being taken over by rubbish and we have already had to acquaint ourselves with our new local tip.

8. Always remember that Ikea is never going to be the fun experience you think it will be. Even without a toddler, being in possession of a clear list and the promise of cheap horse, I mean 'hot' dogs, it's a miserable way to spend a day.

9. Accept that you won't be sorted straight away. We still have many many unpacked boxes to contend with and two rooms that are currently unusable, despite it being a brand new house.

10. Buy and move into what will be your 'forever home' and, no matter how straightforward it was, vow to never ever do it again.

Happy home-moving!