As much as moving house is an exciting time that represents new beginnings, it can also be a stressful time. If you were only moving with your cat, and your cat could talk, you’d no doubt argue (probably about why the cat bed doesn’t have the sunniest spot in the house, you monster).

So it’s no wonder that moving stress can take its toll on a relationship and cause arguments between partners during the process.

If you’d prefer that one of you doesn’t end up on the couch on the first night in your new place, try our moving house advice to keep the peace when you make the move.

Do as much in advance as possible

This is a fair tip for moving house in general – do as much purging and packing well in advance as possible.

You can likely pack up any camping gear, spare bedding, bookshelves, and all other items that you don’t necessarily need in the month leading up to the shift. Plus, you can use this time to sort out what you really want to take with you, and what has overstayed its welcome and can be sold or donated.

This cuts down on stress during the final week and on the day, reducing the amount of stuff left to pack and physically move.

RELATED: Moving Checklist: Here’s how to make sure you get your deposit back

Assign tasks

Dividing labour doesn’t just make sense for efficiency. It can also prevent conflict by creating some areas where your paths won’t cross.

For example, one of you can be in charge of contacting the power and internet companies to make the switch, while the other arranges for a redirect from the post office. One can book in a moving truck hire, while the other arranges food and drinks for your crew of helpers on the day. One is in charge of selling nixed items online, while the other is responsible for taking donations and garbage to their respective new homes.

Accept that you will disagree

Are you even a couple if you agree on everything?

Disagreements will happen. After all, decisions about where the water glasses should live can get pretty heated. That said, even if you haven’t been living together already, it’s probably not your first rodeo, so remember to keep a cool head and agree to make concessions. Perhaps the water glasses can live in that annoying corner cabinet, so long as you get your way with the location of the plates.

After all, relationships are all about compromise and changes can always be made in a couple of weeks once the stress of moving day is over.

Invite friends and family to help

Call in all the favours you’ve done over the past couple of years, and all the family members who can’t escape because they’re blood relatives.

Helpers will cut down on the amount of physical work that needs doing, such as vacuuming, scrubbing the old house, and carrying boxes into the new. But your ulterior motive is to surround yourself with people that you need to behave in front of.

Maybe it sounds ridiculous, but we’re always better behaved in front of others, and you don’t want to be caught yelling at your partner in front of their mother, so a little company can help keep you honest.

If you’re still worried about moving house stress free, consider hiring house packers and movers to take the work off your hands, add ‘be nice to one another’ to your moving house checklist, and focus on the end goal of living in an awesome new abode with your loved one!