Moving tips....esp practical and settling toddler and cats

[dietcokeisgreat]

We are hoping to exchange contracts either today or monday!!! At last. We will probably be moving within the next 4 weeks. It is a local move about a mile away, upsizing to an (unexciting but practical) 4 bed 30s semi. We bought our current property whilst in rented and owned only a small van of stuff. We are 2 adults (1 pregnant), 1 toddler and 2 rather dim but sweet cats. Cats/ toddler onl ever lived in current property.

Tips for smooth move greatly appreciated. I have already:

• got quotes for removals ( inc packing) and will see which of two local companies who quoted the same amount are available on th day
  
• made a list of 103 people/places to inform of change of move once confirmed
  
• sorted some cupboards etc. problem is finding anything to get rid of.
  
• started mobilising money
  
• DS will be able o be at nursery all day on move day ( phew)
  
• worked out what new ikea wardrobes to get for us and DS ( leaving nasty built in cupboards in current property) and will order to arrive soon after move.
  

Anyone with lots of moving experience got tips for us? Esp as will likely move then be back at work the next day ( unless Friday) as my boss is being not too flexible re time off around the move!!

We are talking aboutthe move to ds ( exciting, bigger room, new playroom etc) but not sure what else to do.
Bit worried about cats - should we put them in a cattery for a couple of days til the chaos is over?

Thanks for any advice!!

[JassyRadlett]

We moved when DS was 18 months and were a bit worried as he was a real homebody.

Picked him up from nursery, took him home to the new place and he just ran up and down the hall giggling at all the space.

We had bought him a fabulous New House Present which he bothered to notice about half an hour later...

I think having his cot reassembled and made up with his toys in it before he got home really helped, though. Will your movers reassemble your furniture?

[wowfudge]

Yes to putting the cats in a cattery or with a friend or relative. When you get them back you will need to keep them indoors to get used to their new surroundings for a while.

[LittleBearPad]

Marking place as doing the same in the next few weeks. hopefully

[bonzo77]

My cat is going to a Cattery from the day the packers start until we are mostly unpacked. Probably around a week. She's very nervous.

[Namechanged101]

Butter on cat's feet don't know why this is a thing but it ?!

[MrsSparkles]

Don't know about cats but we took DD to see the new house as many times as we could, and made sure her room was the first we unpacked and tries to make it look as familiar as possible. She was fine and as happy as Larry!

And yy to packers!

[Loveleopardprint]

Pack a bag as if you were going away for a long weekend. Pack clothes, pj's, toiletries, hairbrush/dryer, your child's favourite books and a couple of toys. It means you are not sorting through boxes trying to find deodorant. Don't for get to put it in the car!

Also get your child's room unpacked as soon as possible.

[DurhamDurham]

We moved homes several times as our girls were growing up. We talked about the move so that it wouldn't come as a shock. We packed their favourite things in their own little suitcases to be unpacked as soon as we arrived.
We always sorted out their rooms first. One time we moved hundreds of miles across the country. As soon as we pulled up on the drive our youngest said " Will you have my new desk built soon because I need to colour in ?" The desk was put together in her new bedroom where she stayed for the afternoon while we unpacked so it worked out well.
I think children are very adaptable, they soon settle in to their new home once they have their things around them.

No experience with cats, only a hamster and he never seemed to mind where we lived

[dietcokeisgreat]

Brilliant tips, thanks.

Will definately book cattery and prioritise small person's 'new big boy room' upon arrival!!

[ooerrmissus]

Echo taking your little one to see the new house if you can. It doesn't come as too much of a shock then.

Have your mail redirected. You will always find someone who hasn't got the change of address.

Make sure you know where stopcock/ gas meter/ electric meter are.

Pack a box with mugs, kettle, coffee tea and milk for the day of the move.

Eat your way through your fridge and freezer before the move!

[Abzs]

We just moved this week. Ds (20 months) and CatB taking it well. CatB not impressed with house arrest though - we've moved 35 miles.

Made sure to have DS's room sorted before bedtime, so he had his bed and things. But he was so over excited he'd refused to nap and fell asleep over his dinner. Loving his new house. We went out to our new playgroup this morning for a break for both of us from me telling him to get off/out of half unpacked boxes.

[dietcokeisgreat]

Will attempt to get DS' bed sorted asap upon arrival. Hoping my parents will be available to assist with bed reconstruction! He wo't have much furniture immediately ( ikea delivery will hopefully be day or two affter arrival) but we can move his toys, books, beanbag etc in.

Doing well on eating through the freezer. Now at the stage of a slightly eclectic mix of stuff in there!

Will try and arrange to take ds round beforehand. We have looked at the house from the outside a few times, and the fact the house is across te road from his fav park is proving an exciting prospect.

Thanks for all the tips which i have made a list of!!