You've been given the keys to your new home and you can't wait to move in! Shifting into a new house is a very exciting experience, but it can also be stressful and pricey too. If you're feeling anxious, then just relax. We have some great tips on what you should do before you start moving and how to go about hiring the best movers.

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• Be organised. Write down all the items that you intend to move to your new place on a notepad and keep it somewhere you can find it.
• Organise a garage sale so that you can start selling off items that you do not want anymore. This is also a good way to make extra income!
• Don't procrastinate. Start packing the items that you don't have to use so that you save time for other tasks closer to the moving date.
• Make sure you have got enough packing supplies. Collect lots of boxes and use a strong tape to seal the boxes so that the contents don't fall out when transporting. It is also advisable to use bubble wrap to pack breakable items such as cups and plates.
• On that note, take good care of valuable possessions such as your fine china, paintings, silverware, sculptures and antiques because these objects are irreplaceable. Gently pack them with newspaper and bubble wrap so that they do not get damaged during the move.
• Safely pack important documents such as birth certificates, school records, bank records, address books, etc in a marked box so that you don't risk misplacing them.
• Each family member should have their own box to place their personal belongings inside. Examples of items they can put inside include bed sheets, towels, toys and stationery. Ask them to label the boxes clearly so that they can retrieve it easily.
• To be safe, don't pack soaps, detergents and insect repellents into the same box as your medications or food. There could be spillage.
• As an act of courtesy, it is a good idea to clean each room after it has been cleared because there will be people moving in and it's not fair if they have to clean-up after you! Make sure you also vacuum or mop the floors after the furniture has been moved out.

Packing your belongings and cleaning your place are not the only things to consider when moving. You also need to make sure you get good movers who are professional and responsible because they will be handling your personal belongings. Here are some tips you can use to help you hire good movers.

• Ask family and friends for recommendations of good movers.
• Check the yellow pages for moving companies. Call them up and set a time and day for them to come to you home for an on-sight inspection. This is to help them quote a price.
• Don't just hire the first mover who has given you a quote. Call a few more companies so that you can compare prices and services.
• A good moving company should own a truck. Don't waste your time dealing with movers who don't have trucks.
• Be wary of moving companies who ask you for large deposits upfront before they have actually started work.
• A good mover will take care of your personal belongings and will help pack and unpack electrical items such as computers, televisions and light fixtures.