Pre-planning moving - Listmakers and control freaks needed please!!

[Crumplet]

So we have bought a house(hurrah!), but cannot move in until 22nd December (boo!). We are only moving down the road. DDs 1 and 2 are already quite unsettled, and obviously its Christmas and I have 8 adults to cater for with 4 staying over. Gulp. Please tell me what I can do in advance to help get settled in ASAP and make this as low stress as possible. We are getting the packing service and I have already done an online supermarket order to arrive 23rd December. All visitors bringing own sheets. But I need top tips from those with a mind for military level organisation and pre planning... Help!!!!

[DettaJnr]

I have moved several times, only once with children. The only advice I can give you is on the day of the move make sure that your kettle/tea/coffee/milk etc. are to hand as soon as you arrive. There's nothing worse that trying all the kitchen boxes to find the necessities. Pack bags for your LO's as if you are going on holiday so that you have enough clothes etc for a week. HTH

[ilovemyoboe]

I've moved house lots of times, but never with children. However, I would think that having the children out of the way would be best. Can you arrange for them to be at a friends house all day? A sleepover at a friends would be even better so that you don't have to worry about getting their rooms or the bathroom sorted for that night.

Not used a packing service before - I presume they unpack for you? If not, it might be an idea to mark out priority boxes that HAVE to be unpacked on arrival e.g. favourite toys, stuff for nappy changing, spare bedding, essential clothes.

You could pack up a suitcase for each child with above essential items perhaps? Then at least you'll know where the basics are.

If the children aren't at a friends, invite your entire family to somewhere for dinner, or head out for a pizza or similar. If the children aren't around, you could have a take-away, but from experience, it's really nice to escape from the chaos for just an hour, so taking youself + spouse/partner somewhere else for dinner is a good idea.

Nominate one room (or an area in more than one room if you don't have a spare room) for piling stuff that you don't have time to deal with straight away e.g. books and pictures, ornaments and so on.

Maybe to get the children involved, you could ask them what one thing is important to them to have sorted out quickly in the new house, e.g. by Christmas day, or by the time the guests arrive. It might be something really simple that would help them feel settled.

As far as lists are concerned, I would make two lists - one 'priority' list and one 'can wait' list so that you have clear in your mind what you need to focus on. Otherwise it's easy to get lost in the chaos.

Plan activities out of the house for the few days before Christmas for the children too, so that they are occupied and you have time to focus on the house.

Hard to add much else without knowing what the packing service entails, but hope this helps, and good luck!

[CuppaTeaJanice]

As well as the usual essentials, make sure you know where all the stuff you'll need for Christmas is...decorations, roasting tin, crackers, stockings, sherry etc.

[Crumplet]

Oh you lovely people! Thank you for top tips! Am doing as instructed. If you are free, would gladly pay to have Keep-me-calm-ers on hand all day...?!