Once you have exchanged contracts, you should be looking to set a moving date, which will usually be your completion date. When you have a moving date you can then start the process of booking a removal company. Try and avoid Fridays, weekends and Bank Holidays as these are the days when the roads are busier and removal firms are in higher demand. Booking a mid-week move may mean you have more options with your choice of removal companay, and it may even be cheaper than a peak booking.

When looking for a removal company always turn to the professionals. The British Association of Removers (BAR) or the National Guild of Removers and Storers (NGRS) will be able to supply names of approved members in your area. They operate within the terms of a code of practice and offer an independent conciliation and arbitration service in case of complaint. You may find cheaper options but the service may not be to the same standard and you may not have any way to complain or receive any refunds in the event of the move not going as planned.

As well as looking for professional removal companies, look for firms that can be recommended by friends or relatives. A company may look and sound good, but ultimately you need to judge them on the actual service that they provide.

Once you have decided on a removal company, make sure that your possessions are covered by insurance during the move. Some removal companies may offer this, it may cost extra, but otherwise you will need to make arrangements yourself. This may seem like an extra cost and although the removal company will be as careful as possible, accidents do happen and items can get broken or damaged. When you have found insurance, or if it is offered by the removal company, check what is covered and what is not so that you can make any additional arrangements.

Before you move into your new home, either visit it in advance and give it a good clean or arrange for it to be cleaned professionally, before your possessions arrive. Your removal company may able to arrange this, or provide details of companies that offer this service. This means that when you move into your new home it will be thoroughly clean and you can concentrate on unpacking rather than cleaning up.

Start packing your belongings well in advance and get rid of any old clutter that you no longer need. If you forgot you had it or never use it then chances are you don't need it. Getting rid of clutter gives you more room in your boxes for things you really want and stops your new home from being full of clutter as soon as you move in.

If you have children or pets then try and arrange for someone else to look after them on the day of the move so that you can concentrate on the move itself and not be distracted or worried by where they are or what they are doing. With pets, get new address tags made up in advance so that if they go missing or get lost they can easily be traced to their new home.

If someone else is moving into your old home then think about creating a file of things they may need to know about their new home and the local community. Leave things like instructions manuals for any appliances you are leaving and for the boiler etc. Also leave a note of important details such as when the bins or any recycling is collected, plus if milk can be delivered and anything else you think would be helpful.

You should make up a plan of your new home and give it to your removal company so that they know where things should be going at the other end of the move. Mark all boxes too with where they should be going to make the process a whole lot smoother and easier for all involved. Also make an inventory of everything that is going to be moved so that you can easily identify any items that may go missing during the move.

Give plenty of notice to cancel any deliveries such as newspapers and milk, and arrange for your post to be redirected to your new home.

Finally, collect up all the keys for your old home from your family, friends and relatives ready to hand them over to the estate agent or landlord for the new occupiers to collect.