Moving on Friday! What should I expect from moving company? Any tips?

[schroedingersdodo]

That will be our 4th house in London, but until now we were childless and moved to furnished flats.

This time we have furniture AND children, so it is a new level for us! I feel like a complete newbie...

We've hired a company to pack everything, but I have no idea what exactly to expect from them. Will they put my clothes (including underwear) in boxes? Will they sort through my kitchen stuff?

What do I need to do on the day? (they'll arrive at 8am)

DC are 3y and 5 months. Should I just get out of the way with them and leave DH to take care of the men? (I don't know what to do by myself for an entire day with two little boys... DS1 is a bit of a handful, and I don't like the idea of a whole day running after him having the little one on the baby carrier!)

Any tips to make the whole thing less scary? I'm planning on packing a suitcase with clothes for a couple of days, toiletries, bedlinen and towels. I have a lot of ready meals in the fridge so I don't have to cook for the next few days (and I have wine!). We will put our valuables (meaning electronics and documents, as we don't have jewels or anything like that) in this suitcase as well.

DH will keep the kettle and a couple of mugs unpacked and then take these things with him. Is there anything else we can do? We live in NW and we're moving to a flat in SE.

The DC have no routines, so I don't have to worry about disruptions, at least.

I think I should be panicking by now, but I'm not. Maybe I'm in denial? :)

Thanks in advance!

[schroedingersdodo]

BTW, both flats are rented, if it makes any difference, and both contract have a 10 day overlap.

[MsDeerheart]

They won't take that long to pack -maybe a couple of hours - they will pack everything - I would go out for most of the day - perhaps soft play and then a friend, could anyone take the kids for a few hours later in the day as then you and DH could get a bit organised - both time we have moved with DCs we have set their bedrooms up as quickly as possibly which seems to help them settle

[ohforfoxsake]

They will not sort anything. They will pick it up, wrap it, put it in a box. You might not want to take 20 packs of take-away chopsticks and broken plastic forks from the messy kitchen drawer.

Do you have wardrobes in your new place? Make sure they have plenty of hanging boxes - save unpacking your clothes until you are ready.

Be very specific with them. Make sure they mark everything up and put the boxes in the right room when you get there.

Are they unpacking for you too?

[AnythingNotEverything]

You will be bored when they pack! Go out if you can with the kids, and leave an adult in the house with them.

Keep tea/coffee etc separate as you'll need it immediately at the new house.

They will pack EVERYTHING if you want them to. Pickfords packed whole drawers as they were, and separately wrapped all plates and cups etc. the packing experience was brilliant!

The harder bit is when try start to get the boxes off the van in the new house. Try will have labelled everything with the location from the old house, and will want to know where you want it putting in the new house. This bit was a bit frantic with four men shouting to me about boxes! Maybe a time for one grown up and no children!

Good luck!

[ohforfoxsake]

Check the things they won't take. Mine refused to take a half empty bottle of olive oil, but took the crappy open paint Tina from the shed

[ohforfoxsake]

Tins. I meant tins. There was no Tina in the shed AFAIK.

[schroedingersdodo]

Thanks everyone! Unfortunately we don't have anyone to help us on Friday (family is overseas and most friends are working during weekdays). Think will leave DH to it and go somewhere with the boys.

Then we'll have a looong weekend trying to put things back in places.

(and no, we don't have wardrobes in the new flat! Will probably buy them the following week, so we'll have clothes in boxes for a while...)

[ohforfoxsake]

If no wardrobes then I would definitely speak to them about making sure they bring plenty of wardrobe boxes. So much easier until you get furniture to have everything hanging that flat packed!

[SoggySummer]

I always keep a few spare mugs and the kettle out to keep the packers happy and watered. I usually buy in a bag of donuts or something to hand out too.

If you have a car and are travelling by car (not public transport) to your new home I would suggest you keep the vacum handy so you can wizz it around your new empty place before everything arrives (not many places are spotless when you move it) and also nice to leave the old place half decent. I also have bleach and anti bac wipes for arrival in the new place.

I am probably a bit of a clean freak but I like to clean the loo seat and bath (in the new place) before we use them and cant be bothered to hunt through boxes.

They pack as they see. So if you leave your slippers in the kitchen, they will be packed into a kitchen box and not easy to find at the other end. I try and clear out and sort a bit before we move to avoid this kind of thing happening but something always ends up in a random unexpected box.

Wardobe stuff usually stays on hangers and goes straight into hanging boxes so they can be your makeshift wardrobes until you get sorted.

They pack very quickly and its best to keep out their way but make sure 1 adult is about to answer any questions they have. You may want to call them and check what they require with regard to dismantling of furnitire if you are unsure. We always dismantle our beds our selves and sleep on the mattress on the floor the night before we move.

Good luck.