However, in light of the government’s Climate Change Bill which aims to have a 60% cut in CO2 emissions by 2050, here are our top 10 steps to reduce your carbon footprint:

1. Insulate: More than half of ‘lost’ heat escapes through the walls and roof. Roof and wall insulation is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon emissions AND save money. Cavity wall insulation only takes a couple of hours to install, and could save you up to £160 a year on utility bills!
2. Turn Down That Thermostat! Turning your thermostat down by just 1 degree reduces carbon emission and can save you up to 10% on your fuel bill.
3. Recycle, Recycle, Recycle: Up to two thirds of all household waste can be recycled. There are many ways to recycle - with facilities for everything from your vegetable peelings to your old clothes and bric-a-brac available!
4. Cut Back On Water: Saving water doesn’t have to be a huge sacrifice; shower instead of bath once and a while (a shower only uses one third of the water!); put a brick in your toilet to reduce the water used to flush without reducing efficiency, and stop using hose pipes - consider collecting rain water instead.
5. Use Energy Efficient Products: Most goods from light bulbs to refrigerators and washing machines have ‘Energy Efficient’ models around.
6. Repair, Re-use: buy re-usable items instead of disposables, give items that are still in a good state to charity shops when you are done with them.
7. TURN IT OFF!!! You might not realise it, but leaving appliance on stand-by accounts for 12% of all household energy consumption - turn it off at the wall!
8. Change Suppliers: Have you compared your energy supplier to a greener one? You should consider it.
9. Switch to 30: 30 degrees that is. Modern washing machines will clean your clothes just as well at 30 as they will at 60.
10. Use A Green Paint: Paints and stains contain harmful substances like VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Use a low VOC and low non-petrochemical based option from ecological suppliers.

1. Prepare a box of ‘essentials’ - i.e. coffee, tea, sugar, a few mugs, toilet paper, mobile phone charger, local takeaway menu’s and a bottle of wine - and keep it in the car so it doesn’t get lost amongst your other belongings on the day.
   You will definitely need this for that first evening (and maybe second and third) when you’re unpacking your things, and everything is just generally hectic.
2. Save important ‘on-the-day’ numbers in your phone, don’t just write them down.
   Your removal company’s number is most important, just in case you need to get hold of them. Perhaps you could take down the number of your local storage company, locksmith’s and cleaners too - you never know what could go wrong!
3. Carefully secure your pets and try to keep them calm during the move.
   The last thing you want is a runaway dog, or your removal men being attacked by a stressed out cat.
4. Keep a few toy, books and some food unpacked for your children, and designate them an empty room to play in, or give them a small task to keep them occupied, during the move. Moving day can be very boring or confusing for the little ones, so a little free space goes a long way (and hopefully they will be less upset when they see their things being hauled into a van!).
5. Don’t freak out.
   Stay calm, drink lots of fluids and eat regularly. Moving is hectic and stressful (and it can be upsetting seeing all your memories packed into boxes) but stay calm and remember that in a weeks time when everything is over and unpacked, you will have a lovely new home to fill with new memories.

Good Luck!

Of course some pets will hardly notice the move such as fish, however; most pets will at least be aware of the disruption around them and others may become positively stressed.

Animals that are kept indoors and in cages such as hamsters or rabbits can be moved with reasonable ease. Make sure that their containers are clean and secure before putting them into transportation.

If you are moving a considerable distance a purpose built travelling cage, available from most pet shops is advisable.

Once they have arrived in the new property try to ensure that they have some familiar sights such as their immediate cage decorations and some familiar furniture.

With larger pets such as dogs or cats a period of introduction may be necessary whereby they are not able to leave the property for the first fortnight or so.

A dog can be taken out on a lead to familiarize him with the immediate area. This can sometimes be done prior to moving. If you are moving with dogs ensure that you leave a note for the new owner of your property detailing your dog and your contact number in case they make their way back!

Also make sure that you change their collar tag to reflect your new location.

 
1. Cats and dogs will get very agitated when they see you packing everything into boxes and vans. A few months before you move, move their chosen sleeping place (e.g. a basket or crate) into somewhere which won’t be disturbed when removal men, family and friends are coming in and out and moving things.

2. When you do start packing up, make sure you pack up their sleeping place last of all, and make sure nobody disturbs it when they are moving other furniture and things, so that your pet knows he or she has somewhere safe to retreat to.

3. If you are moving a long way, it might be best to leave a cat carrier open and encourage your cat to sleep there for a few months before you move, so that they will be less frightened on the long journey. If you have a particularly nervous pet who doesn’t like cars, ask your vet if they can prescribe a sedative to help calm your pet for the duration.

4. When you get to the new house, it might be best to shut your pet in a quiet room for the time being with food, water, bedding and a litter tray (or make sure dogs have been to the toilet) as with people coming in and out it is easy for a cat or dog to slip outside unnoticed.

5. You can buy pheremone plug-ins which help to calm a nervous dog or cat, these can be helpful to plug in for the first few days or at least until most things have been moved to their proper place.

6. It is a good idea not to let your dog off the lead for the first few days when you walk him, unless he is very good at coming when he is called.

7. When your cat has settled down after the first week or two, let her out when she is hungry so that she has motivation to return.

8. It is a good idea to get your pet microchipped if it is not already before you move so that if your pet gets lost, it can be returned to you. If your pet is microchipped, make sure the details on file are up to date and add a mobile number if you don’t know the new house phone number.

9. Make sure you have the phone number of a local vet handy if you are moving away from your current one. It will be invaluable in the case of an emergency.

10. No matter how disgusting your pet’s bedding is, don’t wash it until you have been in the new house for at least a few weeks, or your pet seems settled. The smell will be comforting to them and reassure them that they are home.

Try to avoid putting the animals name on the tag as anyone who finds them and wants to keep them will find it easier to bond with your animal. If you are planning to move a long distance away and your dog or cat suffers from travel sickness or severe anxiety in the car, talk to your vet about medication to make the journey less stressful for them.

Cats should always be transported in a safe container. Leave the carrier around for a few days or even weeks before your move, so that the cat becomes used to the sight and smell of it. although i sat with one cat on my knee with a lead on its collar.Leave the cat in the carrier until you have one room set up to accommodate him. This should contain water, food and a litter tray. When the room is ready (all doors and windows shut and fireplaces blocked) let him out of the carrier.

Make sure that you leave him with some familiar bedding and if it is a cold day, a hot water bottle wrapped in a blanket. This should make him feel more secure.

When the removal van has left, the exterior doors are firmly shut and you are ready to collapse in a heap, let your cat out to explore a little. It may be wise to confine this initial exploration to just a couple of rooms so that he is not totally overwhelmed. when i moved our cats we sat outside the back door with the door open and let them explore in there own time, when moving dogs leave packing the dog toys, bedding and other equipment to the last moment so that he/she is comforted by the presence of familiar things.

Do not wash bedding until a couple of weeks after the move, so that they will have something familiar smelling in the new house. we got from a neglected home we took him home and fed him , i had never seen an animal eat so fast we then took him in the park in the dog section and when we let him off his lead, he never left our side side pobably because he had had more affection in 1 hour than he had had in 6 months, if i walked him towards where he used to live he would pull the other way , so in my experience a loved animal will be happy as long as you are close to them.

Be patient with your dog in the new home and make allowances for ‘accidents’ on the carpet if they should happen. Don’t make a fuss, punish your dog or draw his attention to them as this may make the problem worse. Quietly pick up the mess and clean the area with a biological solution, or special cleaner from the vets or pet shop to properly remove the smell. Once your dog has settled in they should stop.

Always praise him when he goes to toilet in the correct place (i.e. outside!) so that he knows where to go. After the move take your dog for a walk straight away. Aid your dog to become well-known with the fresh neighbourhood. Let it smell around and mark its territory.

If your dog is micro chipped, then phone Petlog to get his records changed to your new address

1. Pack the cat, or leave the little vicious creature behind.

2. Wear clean undies, you new house will notice, or you might get hit by the removal van.

3. Give the postman a leaving present (wink wink). Or the milkman, you choose but don’t be over generous

4. Set fire to your neighbours fence, the one you don’t like obviously, claim it’s an accident.

5. Leave a note for the new people, claim the house is haunted and you couldn’t stand it any longer.

6. Remember your stash from under the floorboard in the cupboard. No explanation required.

7. Deliberately over stuff the bin, even though collection isn’t until next week.

8. Remove all the light bulbs; the person in your new house might have done the same.

9. Stand naked in your garden, it might be the last chance you get. Alternatively, put out the wheelie bin with just a kitchen apron on.

10. Infest the garden pond with something that will eat the fist, i.e. a crocodile. If no crocodile available, buy a piranha or a shark from the local pet store. Set up a hidden video camera.

Of course tell your family and friends too.

The telephone company should be told which day you will move so that you can arrange to pay right up to the last day of residence and also you should tell them or the new company at the new address, when you are moving in to that address.

The gas company should be told about the move for the same reason and the electric company. Also tell the water company. All these utilities must be paid up to the last day and the new area companies should be informed if they are different.

Don’t forget the council tax people. Your TV license can be stopped on the day you move and a new one started for the new address. If you have bought a whole year’s license, you can send it back for refund on the remaining months.

Arrange with the local post office to forward your mail that may filter through and make sure to inform the people who are still writing to the old address that you have moved. If you have a TV service or internet connection paid for to the old house, tell the companies so that they can set you up at the new one and you can just hopefully continue where you left off but in a new area. You don’t want to be paying for someone else to have those facilities.

 Some removal companies will move a full fridge or freezer but it isn’t too much bother really just to empty them gradually leading up to the move and defrost them ready. That way they will be fresh and clean when they get to the new building. You can put any remaining cold things in a cool box. Before you go, check the roof space to see that you haven’t left anything in there that you will regret. Once you vacate for the last time, anything remaining becomes the next owner’s property.

Also check sheds and garage. Turn off any taps and switch off all the electrical sockets and the heating and lights. Lock the door and leave the key at the arranged place.

Happy moving day:)

(1) Arrange for redirection of mail in advance, to avoid a delay in receiving important items like bills.

(2) If you have deliveries made to the house such as milk or newspapers, give several weeks notice to cancel them, and rearrange them for your new address.

(3) Arrange to have your meters read in your current address, and pay the final bills.

(4) When packing, try and pack items in boxes according the rooms they are from.

(5) Have a good clear out before you move; give unwanted items to charity shops.

(6) Make sure that your belongings are insured when in transit.

(7) Arrange for telephone, internet and television to be connected in your new address.

(8) Give out your new address to all relevant companies, such as banks and credit card companies, and your family and friends.

(9) Have a cash float available to deal with unexpected expenses.

(10) When you arrive, check for loss or damage immediately.

1. Look at your house from the view of the prospective buyer – detach yourself from possessions and the ‘home’ you have made for yourself and put the spotlight on the property’s best features.
2. Clutter, dirt, neglect = bad. Open spaces, clean surfaces and working appliances = good. Most simple repairs can be done by yourself, although you may need to hire a professional for repairs to plumbing or electrical fixtures.
3. Repaint and re-carpet only where necessary, and be careful about redecorating – garish colours and bad paint jobs can bring the value of your property down whilst costing you money in supplies. Consider taking up old carpets if you have good wooden flooring. A little varnish could do wonders and gives the room a more spacious, airy feel.
4. Make sure the rooms smell fresh (and not pumped full of air-fresheners) for when your viewings start. Fresh flowers are a nice aesthetic touch, and bring a pleasant scent to rooms.
5. Make rooms spacious and comfortable; remove floor rugs, clutter and collections, as well as excess furniture and accessories where possible – remember you are selling the house, not its contents, so keep the floor space as neat and spacious as possible.
6. If you have one, de-clutter your garage as much as possible to make room for at least one car, perhaps consider using a storage space. Clean and de-cobweb any nooks and cranny’s!
7. Try to put away most of your family photo’s and personal items to help the prospective buyers see themselves and their families occupying the space.
8. Most importantly, always try to look through the eyes of the buyer, and remember that you are not making these changes to live with; you are just trying to get the best out of your home!

1. Have a Packing Plan

Even though it may take a little extra time on the front end to organize your moving boxes, you’ll be really glad that you did. By keeping track of what is inside each of your moving boxes, you’ll avoid the stress of digging through ten different boxes to find something you need to locate right away after you move home.

Put a moving box in each room of your home when you start packing, and exert every effort to keep items that will go in the same room at your new house boxed together. The more you can group items together in the same way they will need to be unpacked, the less stressful moving house will be. It’s also a good idea to keep a list that details which items are enclosed in each box. The more details you have about what is in each box, the easier your move will be in the long run.

Make sure that each box is clearly labeled. You can write the room on the outside of the box, or colour coordinate each labels to make life easier for you and the removal company! You may want to use a special colour or marking on boxes that you know you will need to open and unpack right away.

Indicate what room the box came from by either writing the room on the outside of the box or by color coordinating your labels. For example, boxes packed with items from the bedroom get a blue label. For boxes you know you will need to open the first day you arrive, such as boxes containing sheets and towels, also mark them with a red label for easy identification.

2. Don’t Procrastinate

If you wait until the last minute to start packing, you’ll find yourself frantically throwing items into boxes and will be exhausted when the actual removal company turn up. It’s in your best interest to start packing items you are not currently using several weeks before the day you’re actually moving home. Even if you are hiring a removal service to handle the actual packing for you, it’s a good idea to start early getting your belongings grouped together and ready for packing.

3. Get Rid of Things You Don’t Use

Start packing the least organized parts of your house first. If you have a room or closet that is a designated junk area, start with that room. Use a discriminating eye when packing these areas, setting aside things you haven’t used in a while to sell in a pre-moving yard sale or to donate to charity. Continue on with the same mindset as you attack the closets, drawers, and cabinets throughout your home. There is no good reason to pack and move things that no one in your household is likely to ever use again. Keep in mind that you are only wasting time, energy, and likely money if you take things that you aren’t ever going to use to your new home with you. Remember the less the removal company have to move the quicker it will be done and the less they will charge you.