May is national "Moving Month," which comes during a busy spring for the Calgary housing market, with record homes sales so far this year.

All those home sales mean lots of people on the move. Unfortunately, there are always epic tales circulating about bad moving experiences, including damaged or missing items, bloated costs and even home furnishings held hostage.

A pandemic might seem like a bad time to move, but for some people it's a necessity.

When you're moving, it can be hard to think outside the boxes – where to get them, what to put in them and where to store them. It adds up to extra stress in an already stressful time, which could explain why storage locker rentals are on the rise.

How to take pieces of your garden with you when you move

If you want to move your entire garden when you sell your home, think again. First, it's illegal, and second, plants ripped out randomly in summer wilt and die unless pampered.

But what if you have a sentimental piece of grandma's peony, a special perennial plant or a friend's perfect poppy? Taking bits and pieces of your garden with you without changing the look of the yard is possible with these tips:

Six tips for a stress-free moving day

As exciting as it is to buy a home, it also brings with it the reality of moving day, and the hassles that come along with that process.

To take the guess work out of the big move, we talked to the experts to get their tips for planning a stress-free move: Barry Byman, sales manager and partner with AMJ Campbell International in Calgary, and Vince Kirton, regional manager with Sentinel Storage.

Planning is crucial to a smooth and successful move

You've found the home of your dreams, made an offer and, eventually, sealed the deal – now it's time for the big move.

While moving day can be a stressful time, some advance planning can make the process run as smoothly as possible, while limiting the likelihood of unpleasant surprises.

First of all, you should know how to deal with a situation where the previous owner has saddled you with a dirty house or left-behind furniture on possession day.

How to make moving easier on your four-legged family members

For Erika Lagyjanszki, a 25-year-old wedding photographer, moving out of her basement apartment was a stressful ordeal for both her and her pets.

Finding a new rental that would allow her two dogs – Bailey, a four-year-old husky border collie cross, and Diesel, a two-year-old shepherd husky cross – while trying to time the logistics of the move added to her exasperation.

And, while Lagyjanszki had moved before and knew what to expect, she wasn't prepared for the affect the experience had on her pets.

Tips for reducing the stress of the big event

Finding a new home can be an emotionally-charged process. But as mentally consuming as it can be, it's often accompanied by feelings of optimism, excitement and even relief – especially when you've finalized your purchase.

Then reality sets in. You've got to move... everything.

You have to pack, discard, arrange and re-arrange belongings, abandon a familiar setting and establish yourself in a new community. It can be profoundly stressful and daunting.

Tips on how to minimize your carbon footprint when moving

Between packing boxes and hauling all of your earthly possessions, moving can be a real drag – especially on the environment.

From fuel emissions to cardboard boxes, the carbon footprint that comes with moving can be tremendous, said Zach Williams, digital marketing manager at Highland Moving & Storage Ltd., which operates Calgary's eco-friendly movers Frogbox.

Luckily, Williams said green moving is a growing market thanks to the public's increased awareness of the issue of climate change.

Setting the Stage: Tips and tricks for making your house inviting for potential buyers or transforming it into the house of your dreams.

Tips for prepping our home to be sale-ready*

When selling a home, first impressions can be the difference between someone making an offer or moving on to the next option.

Home staging is one way of preparing your home for looking its best at sale time. A study by the Real Estate Staging Association found 79 per cent of homes staged prior to listing sold faster than homes being staged post-listing.