Advice and tips on planning your move to Spain.

Even moving locally or across your home country can be a traumatic experience but to go further afield can be doubly traumatic.  An international move requires much more thought and forward planning.  The cost of removals to Spain can quite easily spiral out of control if you are not careful, so it is worth planning properly and shopping around.

If you have pets or children and are planning to move to Spain you will need the organisational precision of a military manoeuvre.  With lots of thought and lengthy preplanning it is possible to pull such a move off with minimal stress and no hitches.

It is essential to get yourself a check list, here are some ideas of what to include;

When you move it is the perfect opportunity to sort through your belonging and give away any items you really don’t want anymore.  So many people move everything as they don’t find the time to sort through their belongings, this can result in people needing storage London is full of storage facilities but this can work out expensive. 

A long time before you move it may be worth investing in plastic crates from your local DIY store, you can also start collecting cardboard boxes from your nearest supermarket.  Alternatively you can purchase strong boxes from the removals firm you are using or a local storage facility.  I know from personal experience when hiring a London man and van  I had to beg borrow and steal all the boxes I could, (not really a good plan) I ended up seeing which items would fit into which boxes. (Nightmare!)

Make sure you write a detailed inventory of what is packed in which box and assign the box a number and room to be placed in the other end of the journey.  Make sure you pack anything that may be hazardous separately such as bleach and paint and make sure they are kept away from the rest of your belongings.

Remember to keep all your important documents with you in something safe, you will need your may need your certificates with you while travelling.

Trying to pack and tie up all the loose ends can be difficult if you have young children around.  They may get a little upset at the whole disruption, so I would recommend that you ask a family member to take them for the day so that you can get on quickly without them getting distressed.  For the journey ensure you have enough snacks and drinks for all of you and that the children have activities to keep them amused.  Here are some ideas for activities for children; colouring or reading books, etch a sketch,  game-boy, mp3 player and mini travel games such as draughts and snakes and ladders.

Once you have all your possession packed into your removals van you will be able to relax and look forward to your new home in sunny Spain.  Good luck.