These are the biggest stresses you'll face on moving day

(Image credit: Getty)

published 19 July 2019

Moving house is a long and stressful process, but it's often those crucial 24 hours on the day of the move that cause the most headaches.

A poll of 2,000 people by bedroom and furniture retailer Happy Beds revealed that the most common disasters include damaged furniture and walls, furniture that doesn't fit, and tricky items that can't be manoeuvred around the house.

Half the homeowners surveyed said they'd experienced a moving 'fail' on the big day.

In addition, 31 per cent bought a piece of furniture that wouldn't fit through the door, and one in 10 even lost their keys before they arrived at their new home.

These are the top stressors to watch out for on moving day:

Damaged furniture
Scratched walls
Not being able to fit an item through the door
Not being able to manoeuvre furniture up/down the stairs
Not being able to manoeuvre furniture around a corner
Boxes breaking
Previous residents hadn't totally moved out or left things behind
The house wasn't ready
Not having everything packed up in time
Delicate possessions breaking
Removal van showing up late
Lost boxes
Feeling ill
Friends who lent a hand cancelling at the last minute
Losing keys
Car/van breaking down
Problems picking up a rental van
Removal van getting lost
Keys breaking in the door
Getting lost

The stresses of moving day even disrupt homeowners' sleep: half of movers grab less than five hours' kip in preparation.

Joy Richards of Happy Beds said: 'Many Brits will be sleep-deprived and completely stressed out by the time that first box is loaded into the van, so finding ways to take the pressure off and reduce the possibility of catastrophe are vital.

'However, occasionally accidents do happen – so even if a beloved heirloom gets smashed, try not to lose too much sleep over it.'

Mike Fallon, director and conveyancing solicitor at Howells Solicitors, added: 'The secret to minimising stress when moving home is to make the process as simple and straightforward as possible, from beginning to end.

'Having the support of people you can rely on can really make the difference – taking the worry out of this exciting period of your life.

'If you can relax in the knowledge that the exchange and completion is in safe hands and will go through without a hitch, that is one less concern off your plate and you can concentrate on packing and unpacking again.'

Preparing for a house move:

Formerly deputy editor of Real Homes magazine, Ellen has been lucky enough to spend most of her working life speaking to real people and writing about real homes, from extended Victorian terraces to modest apartments. She's recently bought her own home and has a special interest in sustainable living and clever storage.