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Original poster

Moving house in one day. Can it be done without professionals?!

39 replies

Firstty · 30/11/2018 20:04

Currently renting a 3 bedroom and have bought a 4 bed. Problem is we have to be out of the rental by midnight on completion day which is mid-week ( so most friends and family are not available to help).

DH thinks that we can move ourselves with the help of his parents and hiring a van. His mum can look after the kids and his dad can help him lift the heavier objects (beds, fridge, washing machine etc). We'll have everything packed and cleaned in advance. Spend the morning packing up the van and our cars and then unload after we get the keys in the afternoon. Possibly could get a couple of friends to help in the evening.

Should I insist we pay for some help? and any tips on making the move smoother ? We are moving a family of 4! Only moving 10 mins drive away.

OP posts:
GlowWine · 30/11/2018 20:22

We did this, moved a 3bed house around the corner in a hire van. Did several trips, clothes just left on hangers taken in the car and hung up at destination which we were able to access the day before, so your time is a lot tighter. Kids were 1 and 4 and my ILs came to help, and I have a vague recollection my Sister came too. Night 1 we slept on mattresses on the floor, baby in travel cot. It's very hard work though, and we didn't have to move any white goods (just an unbelievably heavy sofa bed with a metal frame)

IamPickleRick · 30/11/2018 20:29

DH never pays for anything, if there is a way of scrimping, he will find it. Even he agreed we needed to pay someone. It was amazing, all I had to do was clean as my DM looked after the 3 kids (babies). My BF moved a week later and I got a text at 2am saying “done!” and she only has one child.

It can be done but it will be harder, it’s up to you though as it will save a lot of money.

IceRebel · 30/11/2018 20:51

I'm sure you could do it, but it would be a long miserable day, and likely to end in arguments and carelessness with belongings being broken or misplaced.

I'm all for saving money where possible, but moving house means getting the professionals in. Tell your DH to stop being tight.

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BunnyTeapot · 30/11/2018 20:59

You can manage it. It is possible but you need to make sure everyone is communicating properly. If someone isn't likely to communicate or go off and do something else it won't work. Plan, organise who's having the kids, where they will be located (new house, old house, somewhere out the way) make sure kids stay entertained. Make sure you have easy access to drinks and snacks so you're not all getting irritated with eachother just because you need a refreshment.

With it only being a 10 minute drive it shouldn't be too stressful as long as you're organised.

Good luck.

Singlenotsingle · 30/11/2018 21:02

Weve always done it ourselves, but last time it was so stressful, we promised ourselves that we'd get professionals in to do it.

TeaandCookie · 30/11/2018 21:05

The professionals are worth their weight in gold, they really are.

You never know how much crap you have until you attempt to move house.

DonnaDarko · 30/11/2018 21:07

Don't do it yourselves. The last 3 times we've moved, DP insists on doing it himself with a friend and it had been an absolute nightmare. Next time, I swear, if he doesn't let me hire professionals I'm going to leave him for the two days it usually takes him to do it. DS and I will go on a mini break .

cheapshots · 30/11/2018 21:15

We've done it ourselves. Get the van the day before and start loading it in the evening with the big stuff when you have help. It's a head start. Tbh I think I would pay next time we move as it's an awful job

NotCitrus · 30/11/2018 21:21

If only moving 10 minutes drive away, the cost of movers won't be much more tha than the cost of the van!

A580Hojas · 30/11/2018 21:27

At the very least hire a man with a van! They are often no difference in price to hiring the van only.

But, tbf, I would always say professional moving company is worth every penny on a usually pretty hideous day.

CarrieBlu · 30/11/2018 21:29

Oh I would hire professionals every single time. Yes it’s costly but they are worth every single penny. Especially if you have children.

AJPTaylor · 30/11/2018 21:43

Exactly how young and fit are dp and ddad?
Me and dh did similar in our 30s. It nearly feckin killed me and ended our marriage.

MadeForThis · 30/11/2018 21:48

Are you moving far?

We did it. Had us, mil, 2 x sil, 2x bil. Only moved a couple of miles. Did it all in one day.

Had a transit van and 4 cars.

Make sure you know what room every box/ bag belongs in. Someone to load cars and someone to unload. At least 2-3 people for the heavy lifting. We have an American fridge freezer and a range oven.

I was also pregnant.

You can also hire a Man with a Van quite cheap. They bring a couple of men to lift and move everything.

mineofuselessinformation · 30/11/2018 22:00

You can do it - but have everything packed and big items and furniture broken down in advance (so the night before, everyone sleeps on just their mattress, etc).
Everything can just go straight into the lorry/van on moving day.
Label, label and label again!
If you've done it effectively, everything will go into the room it's intended for and you can put the furniture together again.
Good luck! Smile

ihavecoldfeet · 30/11/2018 22:35

We did it ourselves from a 3 bed house. It was hard but we moved on a Monday so we hired the van for the weekend and packed up over then and cleaned with just last bits going in on the actual day. We moved 100 miles away and were on the road by 9am! It was hard going though and we were fricking knackered at having to unload it all again the other end

VanellopeVonSchweetz99 · 30/11/2018 22:45

I don't say this lightly: Getting professionals to do it was the best money we ever spent. Ever.

IamPickleRick · 30/11/2018 23:46

If you did hire a man with a van or get your own van, you could take down all the big things like beds, sofas and wardrobes etc the night before (sleep on mattresses) and have it ready to do its first drop off early in the morning? Will the kids be at school? Could you have them stay over at a friends who could take them so you don’t have to do drop off and collection that day?

TryItAndDieFatLass · 30/11/2018 23:46

We did it ourselves when we moved 3 and a half hours away in July. Hired a van which broke down on the way. Got it repaired which delayed us by 3 hours and meant I did 3 trips and went without sleep for 36 hours (apart from 30 mins kip in the van on Macdonalds car park). We were quoted £1500 - the van cost us £130 plus about £100 for diesel, we made sure we didnt get ratty or upset, just made fun of the shitty bits. Health permitting, I would d0 it again (but have no plans to move yet!)

IamPickleRick · 30/11/2018 23:48

^ Driving whilst that tired is not safe. Pay the money.

WeeM · 30/11/2018 23:50

We’ve done it ourselves and would never ever do it again. Next time we got the pros in and honestly it was worth every penny-the speed they do it at is something to behold.

Rainshowers · 30/11/2018 23:54

Best money we ever spent paying for a moving service last time we moved! We only had 1 DD but we were both working in the run up so paid for the packing and moving service-it was brilliant! They actually told us to go out for lunch the day before we moved while they packed the kitchen.

Plus on the moving day the weather was awful, it didn’t stop raining all day. They had covers for the stairs etc so they didn’t ruin carpets and were much more efficient than we’d have been.

bumpertobumper · 30/11/2018 23:57

Professional movers were worth every penny in my book.
Of all the expenses of moving house - solicitors, estate agents etc the movers were the thing that was by far the best value.
Arrive in your new house happy rather than totally frazzled.
If you can stretch to getting movers I would strongly recommend it.

Rainbowqueeen · 30/11/2018 23:59

We did it with a man with a van. Totally worth it because they have the experience to know how to move the big items round tricky corners without damaging things. Our guy also had blankets in his van to protect everything.

I would definitely do it that way. If your DH is worried about cost, you can just use him for the big stuff and move the clothes, kitchen stuff etc by car yourself.

PeachCokeZero · 01/12/2018 00:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 01/12/2018 00:03

We’ve moved (within ten minutes drive) three times in the past couple of years.. we did it ourselves twice and once hired movers. Movers are undoubtedly amazing, they pack and unpack and lift and do everything.. but! I preferred moving ourselves. I knew where everything was and it felt less frantic. We did the same, three bed to four bed, one 2 year old and I was 3 months, and then 9 months pregnant! (Bought a house and regretted it!)

I’d move yourselves. I quite enjoy it actually!