Moving house to a small flat and moving from a flat to a larger house are two totally different scenarios. Moving house to a flat will require you to downsize and potentially invest in monthly storage for excess belongings. Moving flat to a larger house will leave you with more space on your hands that will need to be filled with furniture and belongings.

Moving house to a flat: How to downsize

Flat moving is an ideal way to downsize and save money on your mortgage. You may also choose to temporarily move to a flat to save money for a new home or to wait for your home to be built. Living in a flat will save you money on utility bills since it is cheaper to cool and heat a flat than it is a large house.

As you downsize when moving home to a flat, it's a good opportunity throw out any furniture and belongings that you no longer use. Get rid of clothing that no longer fits or that you no longer wear. Also, throw out any items that are broken or are in need of repair.

Consider giving larger pieces of furniture to charity or selling them to consignment shops for profit. If you're downsizing temporarily, consider renting a storage unit for excess belongings instead of throwing out items you no longer need.

When downsizing, you can save money by renting a smaller moving truck if you have thrown out or donated unnecessary items and furniture beforehand. If you're placing a large majority of your items in storage, you will need to rent a larger moving truck for this purpose.

Moving flat to a house: How to prepare

When moving to a house from a flat for the first time, you may be excited and apprehensive about how you are going to fill the space in your new home. The key to moving into a bigger space is to take your time in organising and filling each room.

When moving house to a larger space, begin by tackling one room at a time. Based on the furniture that you already have in your flat, you will likely be able to fill a bedroom, a living area, a bathroom, and a kitchen with your belongings.  If you have purchased a home with multiple bedrooms, a study, and a nursery, then you may have a few empty rooms on your hands.

The two options available in filling and decorating your new home are to save money and purchase new furniture little by little or to purchase discounted furniture at a consignment shop to fill each room. Filling your house slowly with quality furniture will give you time to arrange your space to your liking and invest in furniture that will last for years to come.

When moving to a larger home, you will be able to save money on moving expenses by renting a small moving truck for your belongings. However, you may need to consider a furniture removalist service to transport any new furniture that you buy to your new home.