Moving house at any time of the year can be stressful; from packing and wrapping, to transporting the belongings and looking after the little ones. It can be a complete nightmare, if not organised properly.

The top 5 causes of house moving strain include:

• Finding a house that meets individual requirements.
• Packing up.
• Waiting to hear if an offer is accepted.
• Waiting for an offer.
• Saving for a deposit.

So image the amount of worry and pressure it can trigger, when moving property at Christmas time. ‘Tis the season to be jolly; not ripping your hair out wishing for the New Year to be done and dusted.

But as thousands of Britons flock across the country at this time of year to see their loved ones for the holiday, motorists can expect increased journey times and traffic jams.

Over the next couple of weeks, UK roads will experience a travel surge which can cause mayhem for families moving house. The key is to avoid traffic hotpots like the M1, M25 and M6; and to be prepared.

How can you have a stress-free house move? Read on.

• Get the kids to help

The children will most likely be finishing school for the Christmas holidays soon. Instead of worrying how you will look after them and pack, employ the little monsters to help.

Give them some jobs to do, like pack away all their own toys, to make them feel important. Turn it into a game; it will relive you of some of the work.

• Hire a removal company

Do you really want to get yourself worked up when you can hire professional services to do all the heavy lifting for you? Instead, hire a removal company and concentrate your efforts on decorating the home with Christmas trimmings as well as shopping for all the presents.

• Check the weather forecast

A white Christmas in a child’s mind is fantastic for sledge tobogganing and snowball fights, but in reality, the weather can be treacherous for removal vans.

Make sure you check the week’s weather forecast beforehand and if temperatures do plummet, put salt down on the pathway, driveway and pavement to reduce the risk of falling.

Don’t forget to leave thick jumpers and coats out when packing, as well as hats, scarfs and gloves. You can plan the moving day around the weather to make it as easy as possible however, bear in mind that removal staff numbers will be reduced at this time of year.

• Stock the cupboards

Many shops close earlier than usual over Christmas, so bear in mind that your new house won’t have any food. Stock up the cupboards in advance, or check out the area beforehand to find some good local takeaways.

• Get into the Christmas spirit

Often or not we can get overwhelmed with everything going on around us that we forget to stop and just have fun. The season is all about spending time with family and enjoying each other’s company. Celebrate the holiday and don’t let anything get in the way of family traditions.

With all the hustle and bustle of commotions, small details can slip your thoughts. This checklist will definitely come in handy!

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