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Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

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Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Property/DIY

Moving day tips

37 replies

Soakingbathtime · 09/02/2018 11:10

We are due to move next week. We are doing all of the packing over the weekend.
Can I have some tips please which worked well for people?
Did you provide snacks and drinks for the removals men?
How did you go about cleaning after everything was removed.
I’ve scrubbed the bathrooms, oven and fridge freezer ready.
Was there time to do skirtings, hoover and mop after everything was taken out?
How do we make the day run more smoothly?
Tips very very welcome!!!

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Soakingbathtime · 09/02/2018 11:11

Also do we tip the removals men? We’ve been told there will be 5 of them. Cash tip or crate of beer? Or neither?!

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Soakingbathtime · 09/02/2018 11:13

Also making good the walls from wall mounted TVs etc. I take it we should fill holes and paint over? So we need to get those down ASAP to give the filler and paint time to dry!

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specialsubject · 09/02/2018 12:15

offer tea and snacks if you can.
A cash tip is good if good service.

big clean as you go; i.e. each cupboard as emptied. Leave bathroom as you would wish to find it. Hoover round if you can but recognise that moving does create muck. I think what is fair is to leave the house so the new owners don't have to clean it as they arrive, but it won't be perfect.

good luck - it will all be a memory soon!

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Soakingbathtime · 09/02/2018 12:22

Ok thanks, will bear all that in mind.
Was going to get a load of donuts and have them tea and coffee ready to go.
Will deffo clean as I go. In fact the bathrooms are empty already so I can probably clean those the night before then no one will need to go in there for packing etc.

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AutumnGlitterBall · 09/02/2018 12:34

Make sure your bed is the first thing to be set up so that when you’ve had enough, you can just fall into it without having to hunt for stuff. We just rolled the pillows and duvet up in the sheet and put it in one of the cars. Same with food. Either have a bag of food with plates, cutlery and pots to one side or be willing to eat out/get takeaway.

I would def make sure the kitchen and toilets are sparkling but elsewhere probably just needs a hoover. Once a room is emptied and hoovered, nobody goes back into it!

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Soakingbathtime · 09/02/2018 12:38

Yep, will make sure kids beds and ours are the first things to get put together.
I guess keeping an outfit, pjs and toiletries set aside might be an idea so at least everyone could get into bed and up the next day without having to unpack everything.

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ThroughThickAndThin01 · 09/02/2018 12:42

How exciting, how far are you moving?

I’d have a box in the car with kettle, mugs, tea etc , or whatever your essential hot drink is.

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Soakingbathtime · 09/02/2018 12:43

We are moving within the town that we are in! So not far. Just stressful trying to visualise logistics!!!
We don’t really drink tea and coffee but will definitely keep them to one side for removals men and any other helpers!

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ThroughThickAndThin01 · 09/02/2018 12:44

...so that you can have s drink in new house, not whilst your in the car! I’d probably have a bottle of screw top wine in there as well to possibly have in the evening.

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SeaToSki · 09/02/2018 12:44

I packed a small overnight bag per person, just so that everyone would have the bare essentials without having to dig. Then a big bag with all the sheets and bed stuff. (Pack these in your car, so they dont get lost) As soon as the beds are set up, make them so you dont have to do it at the end of the day when you are exhausted. Keep a box on your kitchen counter until the last minute, pack tea, mugs kettle and biscuits in it. Then put it in you car boot as you lock the house up. First thing out at the other end.
Make sure you know where the cleaning products are, the new house might still be ‘sticky’.

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ThroughThickAndThin01 · 09/02/2018 12:46

Write a note for your buyers with anything they might appreciate to know. If not, just wishing them a happy time in their new home. We left a bottle of wine plus chocolates too. Might be worth it if you are on the same town and might come across them at all.

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Soakingbathtime · 09/02/2018 13:07

Got them wine and a card already. Will leave them a list of things they need to know, central heating and burglar alarm etc!
Hope there’s nothing else glaringly obvious!

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SilkyDrawers · 09/02/2018 16:36

Having tea, coffee and biscuits (rather than donuts, more portable) for the workers is a very good idea.
Cash tip has always gone down well, I gave the 3 blokes £20 each last time we moved and they were chuffed. Although it's not really an incentive for them to work hard and take care of your stuff, as you give it after the job's done!
The thing the removalists seemed to want most was to be told - with no dithering - exactly where you want them to put everything. Easier said than done but if you can think about where things go in advance it's a great help!

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Soakingbathtime · 09/02/2018 16:43

Great, that’s really helpful re thinking where everything goes, as we are going from a house with rooms to a more open plan house!
Ok will get a big box of biscuits and some cash for tips.
Just thinking now of the annoying little things, like stair gates at top and bottom of stairs will need fitting ASAP to stop the baby climbing them.
Plus cots will need re assembling and will need to keep a stash of nappies, wipes, bottles etc handy!

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SilkyDrawers · 09/02/2018 16:51

Can you get your removalists to reassemble beds and cots? I didn't even think to ask them at the time as I didn't think it was part of their remit... but they offered - and then put them together in 5 seconds flat! Would've taken me hours. Twas brilliant.

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Soakingbathtime · 09/02/2018 16:56

I will definitely ask them. Even if we need to pay extra, that is definitely a price I’m happy to pay!

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AJPTaylor · 09/02/2018 17:55

I would also check if the cots need to be taken apart. When we moved when ours were babies they put them on the lorry and filled them with boxes so they took up no more volume than taken to bits. Might be worth checking

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AJPTaylor · 09/02/2018 17:56

Also
Electric screwdriver. Charge it up, know where it is.

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Soakingbathtime · 09/02/2018 17:59

Our doors are really narrow so we can’t get any of the furniture out without dismantling which is a pain! But I’ve put screwdriver on my list!

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IntelligentYetIndecisive · 09/02/2018 18:02

Label the sides and ends of boxes as well as the tops.

When they're stacked, you won't have to play Tetris to work out what's in each box.

Pack suitcases for essential clothes and toiletries. Enough for a couple of days so you're not tearing through every box and bin liner trying to find your underwear.

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WhereIsBlueRabbit · 09/02/2018 18:34

Use up as much food as possible and book an online delivery for the same evening/next morning of all the fresh/frozen stuff.

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Soakingbathtime · 09/02/2018 18:47

I was debating what to do shop wise! We normally have a delivery for Sunday and we are literally all out of food. But don’t want to lug it to the new house. Mini shop tomorrow I think and then online delivery the day after we move!

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TiggeryBear · 09/02/2018 19:05

I recommend packing overnight bags / one suitcase with pjs, clothes for the next day, chargers, medication, basically anything your might need your 1st night / morning in your new home. Oh & things like passports/cheque books & putting it in your car & ideally leaving it there until you actually need it. So it's not in the way but it's accessible. Plastic box with cleaning supplies in & tell the removers you want it loaded last so any last minute spills etc can be dealt with & it will be 1st off so can get any bits you want to in your new home.

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Soakingbathtime · 09/02/2018 19:08

Love the idea with the cleaning box. Will get one together.
I don’t know what to do with my toilet brushes (I know they’re a sensitive subject on here!) but don’t really want to take a load of shitty water in a removals lorry with the removals men having to carry them around 😷 so I’m thinking keep one for a last minute clean, then chuck it before leaving and buy new for the new house.
But I’ll put loo cleaner etc in the cleaning box which gets loaded last.

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Outlookmainlyfair · 09/02/2018 19:19

Label boxes carefully as you pack.
Ask the sellers to recommend a good take away locally.
Food delivery the day after you move in.
Don’t give yourself too much pressure, even though I am not very domesticated I still expected to wipe down shelves before unpacking. So pack some cleaning products in the car to be on the safe side.
When you get in focus on one room, you can’t do everything overnight.
Note pad in your handbag - write down names of neighbours as you meet them if you can as your brain will be so full you will forget everything,
Good luck x