Start by creating a budget to help you understand the costs you might face along the way.

Beyond paying for a removal firm, there are other costs to consider such as mortgage fees, legal fees and taxes.

Stamp Duty, for example, can be thousands of pounds. Based on current rates, someone buying a home worth £500,000 would have to pay £12,500 in Stamp Duty fees. And while the tax is currently not paid on the first £250,000 of a property’s value, this will change in April 2025 with the threshold falling to £125,000.¹

It's important to be aware of all these costs straight away, so there are no nasty surprises down the road.

It's common for lenders to give you a 'decision in principle' when you're looking for a property, but if you're already a homeowner, you may want to move with your current mortgage. This is a process known as porting. Porting involves repaying (or ‘redeeming’) your existing mortgage - and then resuming it on your new property. Some benefits of porting could include:

• Quicker decisions by your lender who already knows your personal circumstances
• The opportunity to avoid early repayment charges (which you might have to pay if you were to change your mortgage and hadn't reached the end of your fixed term)
• The opportunity to also avoid other fees such as legal and valuation charges.

It may also make financial sense if your mortgage has a lower interest rate than a new product would.

If you’re moving to a more expensive home, you’ll probably need to borrow more, but your lender might let you apply to top up the funds you need. It’s important to remember, however, that you are likely to be offered a different interest rate on the additional borrowing.

Whichever route you’re taking, talk with your lender or an independent professional advisor about porting to find out if your mortgage can be transferred and what steps you need to take before you move.

Most the mortgages we offer at Coventry Building Society are portable. This means if you have a mortgage with us, you could move with your current mortgage (as long as the term allows). You have a maximum of six months between redeeming your existing mortgage and porting it to your new home.

In some cases, you can also borrow more money if our lending criteria and Loan to Value (LTV) limit on your mortgage allows this. You can find out more about our porting process here.

A simple way to reduce the stress of moving home is to make sure you have all the documents you need at hand, such as payslips and bank statements. These are always required for a mortgage application, and your lender will usually ask for copies of each for the past three months.

Alongside this, other documentation is routinely needed. This can include proof of identification (having two forms such as a passport and driving licence is sensible), and address (think of energy bills or council tax statements). Lenders will also want to know about your income and outgoings, as well as how any deposit is being funded.

Once an offer on your next home has been accepted, you can choose a solicitor to help you through the home-buying process. They can liaise with the seller’s legal team, as well as those representing your buyer if you are selling too, to establish target exchange and completion dates.

Take some time to research and compare removal firms to find the best fit for your needs. Once you've chosen your preferred company, be sure to contact them in good time—especially if you’re likely to be moving during a busy period. You can also make your life easier by using the downtime between Christmas and New Year to declutter your home and reduce the number of boxes you’ll need to move.

One task that can easily slip through the net is contacting people to give them your new address.

Besides your friends and family, you’ll need to update your building society or bank, utility providers, and insurers about your new address before you move. You can also set up a mail redirection service to your new address to make sure that things like subscription boxes don’t get lost during the transition. This way, any post that comes to your new address with your old details still on it will act as a handy reminder to contact the sender with your new details. Make sure to also update your delivery address for all online shopping, including groceries and clothing purchases.

Give yourself some space when the moving process feels like it is becoming unmanageable, even if you take just 10 minutes to sit down with a warm drink.

Talking to friends or family who have gone through a move themselves can also be helpful. They might have valuable tips or simply provide reassurance that you're not alone if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

You can also stay organised by making lists of actions that need to be completed each week. It can be easy to put things off when they’re getting too much, but even the smallest victories can make you feel like you’ve gained positive ground.

If you're unsure of where to start, there are websites that offer helpful checklists and planning tools specifically designed for moving. These resources can provide structure and inspiration, making the process feel less daunting.

By preparing your finances early, sorting the logistics of moving day ahead of time, and considering your mortgage options in advance, moving home will feel far less stressful.

Our Knowledge Centre has lots of great information on how you can get ahead in the homebuying journey, but if you need further support and information around your mortgage options, you can speak to our team of experts too.