Ella Andrews, Guest Contributor

The fragile items should be very carefully wrapped and protected. The electronic devices are even more vulnerable in some specific cases, such as moving in a rainy weather or in the wintertime. The distance for handling the removal boxes is important too, and the number of your helpers is not an exception. Take a look at the following important factors to keep in mind and advice to avoid breaking fragile objects during the move.

1) Spend more time for sorting and de-cluttering. This should take place at least a month before the moving day and yet it all depends on the volume and number of your possessions. If you move the biggest and heaviest objects from a three- or four- bedroom house, you will definitely need more time to sort wisely the biggest and heaviest objects from the fragile ones. By doing so, you get a better orientation about the true size and number of the removal boxes that you will need only for the fragile items. When everything is sorted in the one corner of the room - you can easily compile the moving checklist and organize the column with fragile items, as well as decide which protections to use for these fragile items.

2) For flat objects like mirrors, glass, plates, etc. They are easy to pack and they have some specific challenges to overcome. A great tip is to use big flat removal boxes with very sturdy bottoms from a thick cardboard or even from plastic. The glass or the porcelain plates, for example, can save plenty of space if piled one on top of another, but the box will also become very heavy. That's why the key is to choose the right size box, which can fit the right amount of flat glass objects, according to their size. Another great tip is to put a thin layer of something soft between each glass object. This will eliminate the risk from scratches or breaking the object due to the weight and the friction between two or more glass objects.

3) For objects with irregular shapes like porcelain cups, statues, decorative figures, etc. The choice of the right size box is essential, put aside these objects during the sorting of the fragile items. Each cup should be wrapped individually with a layer of bubble wraps or with a couple of layers of old newspaper, or with another soft material. If you hire a professional removal company for your move - they can give you special card boxes with holes and shelves exactly for the storage of cups and other glass objects with irregular shapes. However, if you do the packing by yourself - make sure to protect each item individually and then put them in one main box. Fill the void spaces with the leftovers of old newspapers, Styrofoam sheets, plastic bags and more.

4) For gigantic glass objects like windows and tabletops, porcelain vases and pots, marble counter-tops, flat TV screens, etc. These objects require some special care when packing them individually, as well as after loading them in the moving van. Attach edge protectors to the edges, which will protect the most vulnerable part of these items while handling and lifting throughout the route to the front door of the house. Second, you can en-wrap the flat glass objects with heavy-duty tape, which will strengthen the object against flexibility under tension or in a case of unwanted impacts. Third, en-wrap all electronic devices with plastic bags and seal them with tape, which will protect them from rain and spills. Fourth, handle the big and heavy objects with your helpers by hand, not by the easy way with handling straps.

Most of the time, you are advised to take on a removal company or a man with a van service for your removals, however you may not have big stuff to carry out with you. You may just have your belongings that consist of clothes and shoes as well as other little stuff, for which you do not need a proper removal company. It is helpful to have a car, however if you do not—you don't have to worry. Hiring out a small van that can hold small belongings would definitely help. Carrying out a small removal isn't as complex as you would imagine it to be.

The first thing you need to do, is obtain sturdy boxes or laundry bags. The good thing about laundry bags is the fact that when they are made out of cloth, they make it all that much easier to move house. Boxes have the capacity (especially if they are made of cardboard) to fold and break, due to pressure. You need to use a lot of tape on them and ensure that they are carried from the bottom. With cloth laundry bags, all you need to do is stuff the bag and then use the drawstring (if it is light enough to carry it).
 
One of the key tools is to always make sure that you make piles of your belongings in different spaces. Put your clothes in the bags that you need to take and put your shoes separate. There is nothing worse than having all your belongings mixed up to wonder where everything is when you get to the new place. You can also use the same process for your office or domestic removals, if you did not own any furniture, it will be much simpler.
 
The next part you need to decipher is the load of the stuff you wish to carry. Sometimes you won't always have the correct vehicle to transport everything over. You are able to hire out a car or take the journey to transport your stuff, in a few rounds. Either way, small removals aren't as big of a hassle than someone would imagine them to be. If you haven't got the keys to your place, you can always hire a storage company to help you. Storage companies can safely store all your belongings, without stress.

It can often be a nightmare to think where you can leave your belongings for a few days, not to mention the safety of them. When you use a storage company, you will be able to have access to your belongings at any time of the day and are able to even get storage supplies such as more boxes or crates from the establishment. These types of places are able to even recommend a removal van if you have quite a lot of stuff.
 
Overall, having small removals can be something that you can do by yourself or you can have someone do it for you. It completely depends on the load of the stuff that you choose to move. There can either be quite a lot or there can be a little that you are able to move by yourself. A house move is usually quite stressful; ensure that you have all this worked out before hand! If you need any guidance, a moving company would be able to advise you best on this.

Ella Andrews, Guest Writer

Moving house internationally means that there’s a lot more factors you need to consider before you take the plunge. If it is a country that you are familiar with, then that is great. However, a lot of people make the mistake of not following a couple of solid ground rules that would tremendously help, especially when it is a new country. Moving house to another country, doesn't need to be as daunting when you observe a few things that will help you get there quicker.

1) Ensure that you end up getting a good value for money. A lot of removals companies that work overseas, have the nasty habit of charging you twice the price because you haven't done your due diligence. So always do your research when it comes to a moving company. This isn't a simple man with van situation. You are paying a company to be able to help you shift your stuff; you don't need any additional charges or hassle!
 
2) Find out the things that you are able to take along with you. Some countries are not allowed certain things at the border. Ensure that you read up on any travel procedures, well before you choose to move. The last thing you need is your luggage getting to your destination, and because of some reason—you do not make it.
 
3) Make sure that you look for commercial group-age services for your house moving. The reason for this is that you do not have to wait for a full container to have your stuff shipped out. With this method, you are able to get your goods shipped within a week and don't have any annoying waiting times. Many removal services now offer this fantastic service.
 
4) Find a removal company that is able to offer you a bespoke service. A lot of people do not realize that moving house internationally, is very demanding. When a company is able to offer you this service, the service they provide is often very tailor-made. You may want to reach there before your goods, or vice versa. Either way, these home moving companies have it down to a tee.
 
5) Don't take your entire house along. Part of moving to a new country is leaving your old life behind and beginning afresh. Sell as much as you can on places such as eBay and Amazon as well as donating and recycling. It is bad energy to carry a lot of junk along with you. Travel as light as possible and ensure that you look forward to a new life!
 
6) Start packing a couple of months in advance. It is easy to throw everything in at the last minute when it is a local move, however when it comes to an international relocation—take things like tea chests and pack them properly. This helps because when the removals people come to pick up your stuff, you won't have any issue handing it over, thinking where you packed what!

When you are able to follow the following rules, moving home becomes all that much easier. It is both exciting and nerve-wracking leaving where you live currently to move to an unknown place. Life is all about taking on adventures as best as possible, so the last thing you need is to wonder how the international removals process works. It is similar to a local or national removal, however things like customs—need to be considered before hand.
 
More helpful moving tips find at: http://removalcompaniesbarnes.co.uk/

Ayla Urwin-Toll P.R. Representative with Moving Made Smooth, Inc. 

Before any move it is a good idea to reduce the amount of stuff you have in your home.  This prevents you from paying to move items you rarely use, broken items, and trash.  The need to downsize doesn’t always come from getting rid of items like these though.  Downsizing can also occur for financial reasons, moving in with a significant other, or simply from getting a smaller place in a more desirable part of town.  Whatever the reason, I’m certain that you will find some of these tips for downsizing your home useful.

   7.  Donate or sell any items that are still in good shape, but won’t fit in the new place or you no longer want.  Kids clothes and toys can be donated to orphanages and many items, including furniture, can be donated to organizations like Goodwill.
   8.  Do not take duplicates of any items you will not need!  For example, you do not need table and glassware for a twenty-person dinner party if your new place can’t even fit twenty people.
   9.  There are many items in our homes that hold sentimental value, but I would suggest being choosy with which items you hold on to for these reasons.  If the item has spent a long time in storage already, I would strongly recommend parting with it.  If it is an item you frequently use or is a decoration for your home (as long as it doesn’t take up too much space) you can probably keep it. 
 
It is my hope that the above rules will help you save money and make your move to your new place as easy as it can be.  If you have any further advice or would like to say if any of the above advice has helped you, please leave a comment below.  And as always, have a great move!