So, you're thinking of moving house to get a good school?

• Moving house? We've hooked up with a seriously good property agent, Homes and Herts, who'll do all the hard work for you. Director Seanne Ryder gives her insider tips for finding the best homes in Herts - just click here. And you should also read her super seller's guide to a stress-free house sale.

• If schools are your top priority, as they are for many parents, don't lose sight of that when you visit properties with features that you fall in love with. Yes, you might have always wanted a walk-in pantry, but will you get into the school you've set your heart on?

• No matter how close the school is, don't assume you'll get a place without checking the facts first. If it's a school in Hertfordshire, you can use our handy Admission Calculator, so you can see whether you'd have got a place in previous years. If you can see that you wouldn't have got a place for five years running, don't think: this could be our lucky year, then. You're only kidding yourselves.

• If you don't live in Hertfordshire, let us know, and we'll try and cover your area as soon as possible.

• If you fancy your chances, talk to the school before investing any cash, to make sure they’re not planning to change the rules, or slash the admission number, or do anything else that could act against you.

• Ever thought about renting? If you see a property that might not be ideal, but would get you into the school you want, how about it? There's nothing illegal about renting to get into the school you want... but you do have to actually live in the property and intend to stay there. We asked Herts CC about what's permitted, and what's not, and the response was as follows: "The address you use on your application form should be your child's current permanent address. 'Permanent' means lasting for a long time, or not expected to change. If you were to rent a property, but maintain your current residence with the intention of moving back to it, then the rented property would clearly not be a 'permanent' address. If we believe an applicant has given incorrect information on their application we will investigate accordingly. All such cases are looked at on an individual basis but, where we believe a school place has been obtained fraudulently, we may withdraw the offer and allocate the child a place at another school, which could be some distance from their home". Some headteachers are also turning detective to ensure that the rules are followed.

• Most people assume if they get one kid in, they'll get them all in. Uh-uh. Although this is nearly always the case, at least in Hertfordshire, there have been exceptions. We know of parents who have got their oldest children into Catholic schools, despite not being Catholic. Oh goody, they thought, that's the end of it. However, not all faith schools prioritise siblings in their rules, so younger brothers and sisters can find themselves out in the cold. Lesson to learn if you're not a church-goer: always check the rules, and see where siblings are ranked. If you're worried, check with SchoolGuru and talk to the head, before applying.

• Make sure you’ve moved by the application deadline, or are about to exchange contracts or can produce a six-month minimum rental agreement. If you’re classed as a late application, forget it. You’ll be left with the scraps. See your Moving On or Starting School booklets for more information. You can download booklets from Hertfordshire County Council's website.

That's all for now. Good luck with the move – and don't forget to invite us to the house-warming.