HELP IS AT HAND FOR THE BIG DAY

Evening Standard Homes & Property - Wednesday 21 May 1997

Nicole Swengley meets a woman whose mission is to smooth the way into your new home.

Moving house is acknowledged as being next to divorce and death on the stress barometer. But a new company called Moving Solutions has the answer: opt out altogether.

Sarah Kampe can manage all aspects of a move from gathering removal firms' estimates to arranging and supervising contractors such as plumbers, electricians, curtain-makers and cleaners. If required, she will also arrange (and be on-site) for meter-readers, drains clearers, gardeners, piano tuners, picture hangers and TV repairers.

She is always at the old house to supervising the packing up and at the new house to organise the unpacking, including making the beds and putting CDs in alphabetical order. She'll even arrange to put in a cat-flap and fill the fridge if required.

Sarah started her company "because you never see anyone smiling when they move house". Fees are time-based, with clients choosing from a menu of services.

"They can decide exactly which sections they wish to off-load, from the bits they haven't got time for, or simply can't face, to the full service. This means they are fully in control of the price, which need not be high".

"People use these services if they're away on business at the time of a move or perhaps both partners are working. Some call me in because they just don't know where to start.

"There are so many things people don't think about before a move - emptying the freezer, moving shrubs and taking down curtain tracks. Gas pipes need professional capping if the fire is taken to the new home and big American fridges with ice-making machines require plumbing in."

Moving Solutions: 020 8871 4466

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