Lewis Cracknell

1. Outsource the Stress

If you have the financial means, outsource as much of the stress as you can. Shift your mindset from cost to value. Instead of asking, “How much will this cost me?”, ask, “What value will this give me?”

For us, hiring a removal company was one of the best decisions we made. With two young children and busy lives, the ability to avoid packing and lifting was invaluable. The stress we saved was almost unquantifiable.

Now that we’re in and settled, I genuinely can’t imagine doing it any other way—we had two full lorries of stuff!

2. Make the Move Exciting for Kids

One mistake I made was leaving my son’s bedroom a chaotic mess for days after the move. In hindsight, that was a big oversight.

If I could give advice to my future self, it would be this: make your child’s room one of the top priorities. Even just a couple of hours of focused effort—unpacking, arranging familiar toys and books—can transform the space and help your child feel settled and secure.

Kids experience change differently. Creating a sense of comfort and familiarity in their space matters more than I realised.

3. Stress can have a delayed fuse

They say moving house is one of life’s most stressful events—and it’s true. But for me, the stress didn’t hit during the move. It crept in weeks later.

I had been juggling work, the move, and parenting two energetic boys. In the rush to get the house sorted, I stopped doing the things that kept me grounded—exercise, rest, hobbies. Eventually, it all built up. I burned out.

Lesson learned: keep your foundations strong. I was so eager to get the house in order that I had neglected the foundations that keep me sane.

4. Budget and Prioritise Ruthlessly

You can’t do everything at once—and that’s okay.

Our new home had no wardrobes, so rather than letting clothes pile up everywhere, we made that our first priority. That meant shelving the idea of a new stove for the fireplace—something I had originally budgeted for.

It wasn’t glamorous, but it was practical. Moving into a new place demands trade-offs, and clear priorities help make those decisions easier.

5. Accept that ‘finished’ takes time

Linked to budgeting and prioritisng, I had to accept that “finished” takes time. Don’t rush to make every room perfect. After all, does finished exist when it comes to a home? Allow your new home to evolve.