Moving home has been ranked among the top three most stressful life events for over three decades. Every stress point is well documented and each one has a straightforward professional fix. Below is the honest list, distilled from thousands of British moves.
Hassle 1: "I've left everything too late"
Fix: Book the removals company at exchange, not after. Order a free Apex packing kit the same week. Start with the loft and spare rooms.
Hassle 2: "I can't get a straight quote from anyone"
Fix: Insist on a single fixed written total. Any firm quoting only hourly rates has a variable meter running the moment they arrive. Cheap headlines almost always end in expensive final invoices.
Hassle 3: "Something will get broken"
Fix: Choose a company with £50k goods-in-transit insurance minimum, DBS-checked directly-employed crews, and full furniture blankets on every job. Apex includes all three as standard.
Hassle 4: "The completion will run late"
Fix: Book your solicitor to complete before 12:00 wherever possible. Ask your removals firm what happens if keys aren't released by 15:00. A fair firm absorbs the first two hours of waiting.
Hassle 5: "The kids and pets will be miserable"
Fix: Send them elsewhere for the day. Grandparents, friends, dog daycare. Genuinely the single biggest stress reducer on move day.
Hassle 6: "I have no idea where anything is when we arrive"
Fix: Colour-coded tape by destination room, plus destination-room labelling on two sides and the top of every box. Crew unloads straight into the correct room without asking. Unpacking takes half the time.
Hassle 7: "The utility bills will go wrong"
Fix: Photograph meter readings at both properties on move day. Submit within 24 hours. Set up new utilities at least 3 weeks before completion.
Hassle 8: "The dining table won't fit through the door"
Fix: A proper survey or video walk-through catches this weeks in advance. Apex disassembles and reassembles furniture as part of every fixed-price quote.
Hassle 9: "I've forgotten the address changes"
Fix: Royal Mail redirection (£39.99 for 3 months) buys time. Set aside 90 minutes one evening to change bank, DVLA, doctor, dentist, and subscriptions.
Hassle 10: "I hate this"
Fix: Book a professional. Take the day off. Order pizza in the evening. Sleep in your new bed. Every stress point has a fix — the biggest one is not doing it alone.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is moving home so stressful?
- The stress comes from combining a legal completion process, tight deadlines, physical labour, financial exposure, and disrupted routine on a single day. Every stress point has a straightforward professional fix.
- How do I reduce moving stress?
- Book removals at exchange, use a fixed-price company, colour-code every box, send children and pets elsewhere for the day, and photograph meter readings at both addresses.
- Are professional movers worth the cost?
- For any move above a studio flat, yes. Professional crews complete a home move 3–4× faster than DIY, with proper insurance, no hire-van deposit risk, and no muscle injuries to worry about the following week.
Planning a move? Get a fixed price today.
Twenty years of British families trusted. One honest number, in writing, before we lift a box.