starting to pack, where do I start !!

[tickleyourpickle]

We're moving in 3 weeks.
We have 2 DCs, 3&5 and I have inconveniently broken my hand

DH works long hours so it's pretty much left to me to pack our house up with 2 DCs and a broken hand

I don't want to disturb the childrens stuff too much and would like to do their rooms last so as not to cause too much change for them but their stuff will probably take the longest to sort!

I have boxes, tape, big labels ect any other handy tips about what I will need?

[Temporaryanonymity]

Get the packers in love.

[tickleyourpickle]

that would be my ideal plan, DH is not as keen and is going down the route of hiring a van and moving ourselves.

[QuiteLikely5]

I would go through each room and get anything you don't want or need and take it to the tip.

Only after this should you think about packing!

[Temporaryanonymity]

I did that last time. It was hell. None us amateur movers had a bloody clue how to get things in and out and up and down stairs efficiently. Plus the kids were in the way.

This time I am paying. It will be worth every last penny.

[tickleyourpickle]

Ok, sod it, I'm going to get some quotes.

Will they literally just come in and pack everything up for me?

[didireallysaythat]

If you do pack yourself get address labels. Stick at least two on each box - one with contents and one with where the box needs to go in the new house. Best to put two on the side as well so that if they get stacked on top of each other you can still tell what's where.

[JeffreySadsacIsUnwell]

Packers would be cheaper than the physio you're going to need if you try to pack it all yourself with a broken hand... Not to mention the cost of the medicinal gin you'll require!

[sn1ce]

Others have got there before me-throw some money at the problem and get the packers in

[Palomb]

We are is the same position and have literally just this minute ordered some packing boxes from Amazon. We need to start the decluttering but that means I need to get off the sofa and get dressed first.

Good luck!!

[tickleyourpickle]

I've since made a start on binning all the shit de-cluttering. I've already filled 3 bin bags.

DH is adamant we don't need to hire packers i've told him if that's the case then he better come home from work and help me.

[CiderwithBuda]

Declutter declutter declutter.

And get packers in. Or tell DH you are going away for a week and leave him to it!

[wowfudge]

We're moving soon and wouldn't attempt our own removals. Last time, I did all the packing and it broke me - I was stressed beyond belief and it was horrible. This time I told DP packers were non-negotiable. It is worth every penny. Do you have a friend, family or child minder who will look after the kids on moving day?

[StandoutMop]

Do NOT attempt to move yourself, unless you have no furniture, only clothes, toys, books etc.

If you do pack yourself agree get rid of as much as possible now. When packing don't put eg all books in one box - might be easy to stack and seem organised, but you will never lift it.

Also, packing and moving (if doing it yourself) will take at least 2x as long as you imagine. So start early, be ruthless as to what you can live without, either permanently or until you have moved, and get childcare for moving day.

But my advice would be pay someone else to do it. Moving is stressful enough without trying to fit everything you own into a van by midday. Good luck.

[SweepTheHalls]

We are about to move. DH wants us to pack. I am getting packers. For a pretty jam packed 3 bed it is £ 400 more than just the movers costs. Bargain.

[tickleyourpickle]

Thanks all, funnily enough the postman delivered not one, but two leaflets from moving companies - it must be a sign

I've filled 6 bin bags of rubbish and had a really good sort out in the kitchen and dining room. It's a start.

The move falls slap bang in the middle of the Easter holidays, Joy! But I'm sure our parents will help with the move / babysitting

We're actually completing on our sale on the 30th March, but can't complete on the purchase until the 8th April, but the LOVELY lady buying our house has said we can stay in it until the 8th ..... she will be receiving a huge bunch of flowers!!! Or we literally would have been homeless for a week !

[AlisonWunderland]

Packers are worth every hundreds of pounds penny.
Doing a pre pack clear out is more than enough for you to do, and makes it easier all round
Remember that you have to unpack the stuff yourself so you'll need your broken hand kept safe

[cudbywestrangers]

It really is worth paying for packing! We moved 6 months ago and no way we could have done it ourselves. They boxed up our overflowing 3 bed house in a morning... get those quotes!

[wowfudge]

Our move is going to take about 3 days in total - having the full packing service was only about £200 extra.

[caroldecker]

Them packing also insures everything.

[SugarPlumTree]

Everyone has said it before me so just to add that the packers pack literally everything so make sure you have a box of essentials stashed away that you take rather than going on the van.

[ExtraHotLatteToGo]

You have a 3yo & a 5yo AND a broken hand and instead of seeing what help you need on a daily basis your DH is saying you need to pack up the house!? I hope you have a spare bedroom at the new house, he's going to need it. Cockwomble.

Shop around because they vary in price from extremely reasonable to WTAF. But also make sure you're comparing apples with apples and ring anyone you know that could either recommend or otherwise a company to go with.

Carry on decluttering, you'll thank yourself at the other end.

[greenfolder]

Last time we moved I vowed we would never move again unless we got a removal firm and full packing service. It is an essential expense of moving house. De clutter, esp whilst kids are out but get packers to do it.

[orangina01]

Get the packers in! I think your DH is being very unreasonable unless you are really tight on funds. It is the best money we spent moving house and it is usually less than you think.

[Ememem84]

Agree. Either get the packers in. Or start packing stuff away now.

We're thinking of moving next year and I'm starting the declutter now...

[DoreenLethal]

I also agree with getting the packers in with a broken hand. It is all very well for him to say no but he is opting out by not being there to pack himself.

Before they come in though - do a sweep of each room and ditch everything you can. The packers will have boxes and the boxes should have all the rooms printed on the sides, and they will mark which room it all needs to go back into in the new house.

I have paid for removals for the last 4 moves. After doing all my previous moves myself [and I have lived in 20 odd different places since leaving home] it is worth its weight in gold. I have always done the packing but if I had a broken hand, I would pay someone to do it for me.

One top tip though - when you take the sheets off the bed on moving day, bung them into the fridge and freezer so that when they defrost, the bedding soaks up any water and then bung the bedding straight into the wash in the new house and wipe down the fridge/freezer and when you turn it on the next day, you are good to go.

Always save the kettle and mugs and spoons and tea/coffee and buy a fresh milk on the way so you can have a cuppa when you get there. And have some cleaning stuff for your last clean as you leave [do each room as it empties] and to wipe down stuff whilst they are shifting all the boxes to the rooms. Otherwise you are fannying about opening boxes trying to get the cleaning/tea stuff and getting in their way.