Preparing for a move as a whole and the removal process in particular seems like a massive job before you begin. Whether you choose to hire a specialist or rely strictly on your own abilities and some help from friends, packing up an entire house or flat is a complicated process made up of many big and small decisions. This means that you will have to plan in advance, divide and delegate tasks and be prepared for surprises and deviations from the plan. Nevertheless, if you plan in advance to avoid a last-minute panic, use your time wisely and supervise every step of the move, everything can be done as quickly and with as little stress as possible.

1.    Figure out if you will be hiring a van or enlisting the services of a removals company. If you settle on the latter, figure out how much you're willing to spend. This will help you decide which parts of the move to handle yourself and which to pay for. Be wise when selecting a removals company. Check their reputation; try to get some testimonials from people, who've already used the company's services. Additionally, ask about the prices of various services and contrast them against other offers. Be aware that the price will very depending on  the size and complexity of the removals you require.

2.    Get offers from a few removals companies - the more, the better. Do not commit to a contract before getting several estimates. Also contrast these against the cost of moving yourself (both financial and physical) as well as the cost of simply hiring a van for the move. Once you've decided on an offer, call the company to arrange the details. This should be dome as early as possible, so as to avoid any scheduling conflicts.

3.    Once you've made your moving arrangements, it is time to begin putting things in order, so that everything can be easily packed up and moved. Even if the moving company is helping with the removal of furniture, appliances and the like, you will still have to take care of packing any small and personal belonging, so it's best to prepare as early as possible. You may begin throwing away, reselling or recycling your old and unused items as early as a month before the day of the move.

4.    After you're left with only the things you absolutely cannot leave behind, it's time to start packing. Make sure to do this room by room to avoid any chaos and confusion. If you have people helping you, you may choose to have the whole team pack up one room after another, or alternatively, assign one or two people to each room. This is usually the better option, as too many people doing one job can be counterproductive. Depending on the size of the property, the packing up process might take two to three days, so it's good to start a week in advance and have plenty of time, should the unexpected happen. Remember to leave behind some things that you will be needing up until the last moment, such as bedding, grooming products, some kitchen essentials, etc. While packing, mark the boxes with the room they belong in, as well as writing "fragile" on anything that needs to be handled with care. Be sure to also explain to the movers any specific requirements you have for your belongings. Always be respectful and courteous while doing this.