It's an understatement to say moving house is a stressful time. There's so much needed to be done. So use your common sense and these savvy tips to make the move as cost effective and easy as possible.

Coordinate your move
Give your friends or a removalist service plenty of notice. This ensures you lock in the date to move as soon as possible. You may even get a cheaper early-bird rate for booking in advance or for booking on midweek day. Don't forget to notify occupancy dates at your new home to avoid delays and storage costs. 

Do your research
Just like window shopping for clothes or groceries, it's amazing how much you can save if you shop around and do your research. Compare furniture removalist services online, as well as your utility bills, communication providers and car insurance to secure the most competitive deals.

Notify utility companies
Contact your telephone, gas, electricity and water companies in advance and notify them of your move. You'll save money by discontinuing your service on a specific date and requesting a final meter reading.

Cancel extra services
Request to end or relocate any extra services you pay for at your current residency; such as a weekly newspaper delivery, cable television or lawn-mower service.  

Organise a mail redirect
Visit your local post office or go online to arrange for mail to be redirected to your new address. The last thing you want is to never receive an outstanding surprise bill or credit card statement that has racked up hefty interest.

Have a garage sale
The more items you move, the more your move will cost. So ignore your "I might need it syndrome" and get rid of your junk. Your trash becoming somebody else's treasure can be very profitable. Items of high value could fetch more than you expect on eBay. If you don't think somebody would buy an item, toss it in a skip bin.

Collect outstanding deposits
If you're renting, arrange to transfer your tenancy bond money into your bank account immediately. This ensures that you don't lose interest. It's also a lot easier to get your deposit back when you speak to your landlord face to face, as opposed to long distance.

Transfer all insurance
Whether it's your homeowners insurance or car insurance, transfer it to your new address. You may be surprised to learn that car and home insurance rates can vary from suburb to suburb, so you may be entitled to a better price if your moving to a safer area.