How do you actually move house?

[pastarses]

AIBU to ask you, in your infinite wisdom to explain something to me?

We have just bought our first house after years of renting (hurray) but will have an overlap of two weeks where we will not have to vacate our rented house (long story) but will have completed on the new house.

So how do we move? Should we keep the new house mostly empty in those two weeks and clean/ paint the new house (it doesn't need much done to it). Should we buy the new appliance and furniture (we don't have much in our current place as it is part furnished) and get it "ready" while living in the rented place? Should we just move everything all at once into the new house and get it into shape while living there and forget about the rented place for two weeks? I have been so stressed out and caught up with the contractual process of buying the bloody house, I can no longer think straight.

Can anyone give me some advice? How would you do it?

[HereIAm20]

Yes - I would do exactly that. Live in the rental and do the bits of decorating before you move in. Order any new things etc to arrive in those couple of weeks and perhaps even get any TV aerials/boxes and broadband set up from day 1 too so that you are not trying to sort that all out.

Try not to stress. In future moves you'll be moving out and in on the same day so you will have the luxury of being able to take your time. You'll even be able to take a few bits and pieces over before the main move. I suggest getting a second kettle!

Then I would do the main move a couple of days before the end of the tenancy so that you can go back and clean up the rented place at leisure too.

[5Foot5]

You do know how lucky you are to have this two week overlap, right? Most people moving don't have the luxury of taking two weeks over it.

If it were me I would take advantage of this unique opportunity to do as much cleaning and decorating as possible while it is empty.

[pastarses]

Thanks HereIam that makes sense. I'm not sure how people actually do both in one day that seems bonkers?! Although having two houses for a fortnight also seems bonkers and is making my head spin. I have no reserves of common sense left!

[acasualobserver]

Yes, get the new place ready while you carry on living in the rented place - it's a luxury most people don't have.

[lapsedorienteerer]

Sheer luxury

[pastarses]

5foot5 I haven't really got a similar move to compare it to but yes, I realise its lucky in one way to have an overlap but am also confused about how best to use it. I hate the thought of having half our stuff in both and complete chaos.

[ZigZagIntoTheBlue]

I would do everything that needs doing in the new place while still living in old flat and take your time moving the bits and pieces. Congratulations on your new place, very exciting!

[pastarses]

Its also a luxury we didn't want. The completion date is two weeks before our tenancy finishes, for reasons outside of our control so we are paying rent for a house we don't actually need for two weeks.

[pastarses]

Thank you Zigzag I haven't managed to feel excited yet!

[Usernameinvalid16]

Sort out the new house whilst living in the old one. Take your time, get measurements for curtains, blinds etc.. Also order new furniture now incase it takes a while to come (our sofa took nearly 8 weeks)

[Myredrose]

We were in a similar situation, it was good to have the overlap. I got the new house deep cleaned, locks changed etc and then had a couple of days to get the rental cleaned.
Our removers did it over three days as was local, essentials first.

[Myredrose]

Oh yes, I ordered new sofas, wardrobes and other things that would take time.

[PrunesforElla]

We were fortunate to be in this position too. We lived in the old house and did the new one up without all our junk in the way. It is immeasurably easier to get it painted etc while empty! Our main moving day was actually a 3 day weekend but we are a large family who all like to hoard so there was a lot to move. We moved near the end of the overlap, leaving a day or two to clean as per rental requirements.

Having two places helped to pack too - the 'definitely need but can be packed away' boxes were transferred to the new house early on which gave more space to clear out the old house.

This is our forever house and I'm pleased - can't imagine how stressful it would be to do all moving on one day in a chain.

[junebirthdaygirl]

After doing some painting pack up one room at a time. Literally move it over and unpack at the other end. Don't let boxes mount up. About three days to go l would sleep in the new house as the other one will be dismantled. By the end of the two weeks ye will be nicely settled.
Be absolutely ruthless about what ye bring. Dump dump and dump again. Your new house will be lovely and organised.

[pastarses]

Ooh thanks for all of this advice. Myredrose did you get cleaners in to deep clean or do it yourself? I like the thought of it being really clean to start with.

[BrioLover]

Definitely a luxury! But also daunting if it's your first proper move.

I would spend the first few days painting, ordering the furniture/appliances you need and generally cleaning and sorting. Spend the weekend in between packing and then move a few days before the end of the two weeks. Spend the last two-three days unpacking, settling in and cleaning the rental.

[Myredrose]

I got cleaners in for both houses, best money I ever spent during the whole debacle. They get booked up quite well in advance in some areas.

[glueandstick]

It may seem a lot of money now to have two houses for two weeks but my goodness it'll pay for itself in less stress. It's a good move.

You have time to do everything properly, have a good clear out and only take what you want with you and start fresh in the new house.

Enjoy it.

[Myredrose]

Also agree with being really, really ruthless with getting rid of stuff. I thought I had been before the move and I still did about ten trips to the tip afterwards.

I got packers and bed assembly too.

[VanellopeVonSchweetz99]

Congratulations!
It's an ideal set-up really.
Deep clean (outsource if you can!) and lick of paint where needed in the new house.
If you can afford it I strongly recommend a firm that will come in the day before the move and pack the whole house up for you while you have a nice day out with kids or on your own, or work (you just leave the bedding + essential food & toiletries on your bed) and do the whole move for you the next day. It was about £800 when we did it three years ago, and we moved literally across a road, but it was the best money I ever, ever spent.

[VanellopeVonSchweetz99]

Or even get new carpets in the new place/sand wooden floor ... such a luxurious feeling and made all the difference to us, also cheaper than expected. And really hard to do with furniture in place!

[BrieAndChilli]

We had a week overlap and it was great.
Day 1 - we went in and cleaned the house - it had been cleaned and repainted already but little things like under the edges of the worksurfaces in the kitchen etc were missed.
Day 2 - put up curtain rails and curtains etc, got new fridge etc
Day 3 - started moving non essentials like books, kids toys, some kitchen stuff etc
Day 4 - main move day, lots of helpers and 2 vans.
Luckily we still had the old place as the main electric fuse went at the new place so DH took the kids to his dads for the night and me and DHs Aunt went back to the old place and started cleaning through the night!!
Day 5 - got beds etc set up and main bits unpacked
Day 6 - made right any holes etc at old place and repainted. It's that needed it.

[Zeeandra]

Ok here is what we did in similar circumstances:

Deep clean new house including carpets (hire a man or a rug doctor)
Do any decorating that needs doing (especially gloss otherwise you will decide it's fine and not touch it for the next 4 years if you are anything like me)
Order any new furniture/white goods you need for new house
Do fiddly bits of stuff that are easier without stuff in the way like putting curtain rails up
Move over main furniture
Move over other furniture/boxes
Set up beds/appliances and unpack essentials
Deep clean old house/sort out holes in walls etc
Hand in keys for old house so it's done and dusted
Unpack rest of stuff in new house
Enjoy

[TheSnorkMaidenReturns]

Enjoy your new home .
I think a two week overlap sounds fantastic!
Great advice upthread.
I agree about getting a cleaner for new house. And absolutely move one room at a time, and unpack it before you do another one.
Don't rush to buy all the furniture though - I certainly stop caring about detail if I have to do too much at once! Do you have your own bed? I would spend as much as you can afford on your bed and then wait for other stuff, for example if you have kids (not babies/toddlers) they can camp happily for weeks. Personally I shop at the shrine of ikea for my kids' rooms. But I need time to work out how to plan each room.