Separate what you need now from what only comes back in your new home. For the in-between period you usually manage with clothing, a basic kitchen, your paperwork and your laptop. The rest — furniture, books, seasonal items — can go safely into storage until you can move on. That saves hauling, space and stress at your temporary address.

Where you spend the in-between period depends on how long it lasts: staying with family or parents, or renting something small temporarily. The fewer belongings you take to that temporary place, the easier it is — which is exactly why storing the rest separately helps so much.

Put your furniture and boxes in dry, climate-controlled and secure storage. Label by room or by type so you find everything easily later, and disassemble large pieces to save space. That keeps your household in good condition, however long the in-between period lasts.

Once your new home is ready, the rest of your belongings come back — in one go, at the moment that suits you. With storage that comes to you, there's no driving on your part: you schedule the return and everything is at your door on the right day.

Report your address change to the council — both your current and your new municipality. You can do this from about four weeks ahead to at most five days after your move. Via the Personal Records Database (BRP) many authorities are informed automatically, saving you separate notifications.

Not everything runs through the council. Banks, insurers, your employer and subscriptions need your new (or temporary) address from you directly. A mail-forwarding service catches what you forget and redirects your post — handy precisely when you're living somewhere temporarily.

Arrange your energy contract and internet in time and note the meter readings when leaving your old home and arriving at the new one. Bear in mind that energy costs can temporarily run double if both homes are still in your name and switched on — for instance while you renovate.

Arrange your buildings and contents insurance in time, and don't cancel your contents insurance too early — otherwise you're uncovered in between. An empty home is also more prone to break-ins. Check too how your items are insured during storage: at Inbox, only items packed according to our packing instructions are covered by the basic insurance.