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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:

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 01/12/2018 00:06

We did it with a hire van that my dad drove and my mum's car. Went from a 2 bed to a 3 bed across the other side of the city. Admittedly we were brassic and didn't have much furniture, just a sofa, beds and the baby paraphernalia, but we found it manageable.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 01/12/2018 00:09

I did it. I had a 7.5 tonne horsebox at the time and literally chucked everything in the back. My dogs in the living area and away we went.

Moving again next year and getting professionals in. It was stressful. Just me and my other half at the time to carry everything.

safariboot · 01/12/2018 00:48

Unless you're very minimalist, you're not going to fit the contents of a 3-bedroom house in the back of a transit van. I filled a van with just my stuff, not even any furniture, from my student room at the end of my university studies!

And trying to make trip after trip will get exhausting, stressful, and miserable fast.

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WhoTookTheCookie · 01/12/2018 01:20

I've done it twice now.
Once a 10 minute journey and the other a 5 hour journey (with a newborn!)

Honestly, the 10 minute journey was so easy. Get yourselves organised and you can 100% do it, especially with everyone chipping in.
Make sure you take beds/wardrobes/tables.. down in advance and pack things into the car/van by room and necessity order.

The 5 hour journey on the other hand....

WrongSideOfHistory · 01/12/2018 02:01

You can but it's hard work. But I'd only contemplate it if you're not moving far. If you can find the cash I'd get people in

plaidlife · 01/12/2018 02:57

We did it when younger and dh took the bumper off the van in a small accident, paying to sort that meant that it would have been cheaper to get professionals.
It is doable if you really have to but it isn't fun.

NerrSnerr · 01/12/2018 03:15

We've done it ourselves and with movers. Would recommend the movers every single time.

BarbaraofSevillle · 01/12/2018 06:08

If DH and his DF are fit and strong, you don't have stupid amounts of stuff and you hire a tail lift van, it's probably doable. We didn't move a washing machine though as we left the old one in the old house and had a new one delivered to the new house.

But only you know how much stuff you have and if there are any access difficulties with either property.

We moved with DP and 2 mates doing all the lifting and shifting and it was fine. We went for a pub lunch between house 1 and house 2 and bought them a crate of beer each too, but they all help each other out all the time so no obligation to pay anyone properly IYSWIM.

Maybe get costing for movers vs DIY and see what the difference is and how much that amount of money means to you?

thomasthecheekyone · 01/12/2018 06:16

We did it, 3 cars, 1 trailer for larger items. Friends came to help but the biggest issue was that the owners of the house we'd bought took forever to get out. We owned the house by 12, at 3.30 I went round and there was unpacked stuff everywhere. I ended up unloading on the drive as we were running out of daylight. I handed by keys to my buyers at 7!

dinosaurglitterrepublic · 01/12/2018 06:52

It could be possible, but it would be stressful and a killer. Your DH will be exhausted and you will still have everything to unpack and sort out in the new house.

You won’t fit much in a van and cars so will have to make numerous trips. It isn’t far, but don’t forget you can’t guarantee what time you will get the keys. I have heard numerous stories of friends not getting the keys until very late in the day. If everything is in a truck ready to go, fine. Need a bunch of trips in a van before midnight- definitely not.

Save your sanity and hire the professionals.

Lamentations · 01/12/2018 07:01

I had this very argument with DH when we moved. I insisted on movers but he went on about how unnecessary it was and that we could do it ourselves as it was just a couple of miles down the road. I said if he still believed we'd wasted our money after the day I'd save every penny back up and give it to him.

I've never had to.

Movers are cheaper than a divorce.

AwkwardPaws27 · 01/12/2018 18:31

It's possible. It won't be fun.
Are you certain that everything (including the contents of the loft, shed, garage, garden furniture etc) will fit in a van (assuming you don't have a HGV licence to hire something massive).
We filled a Luton with a 1 bed flat (although we do have a couple of bulky items like guitar amps). We had to go back for the bikes and garden furniture (moving from rented). Last time, we got professionals and I just made tea and whipped the hoover round at the end, bliss!
You have to completely empty the property before you get keys to the new place on completion day, so you won't be able to make multiple trips.

trilbydoll · 01/12/2018 18:36

We've just done a similar move. Removal men filled a Luton tail lift plus a big transit and it took 4 of them 2 hours to move us out and about 90 minutes to move us in. Given that they're professionals, and there were 4 of them, I think the idea of your dp and FIL doing it in a morning is ambitious.

lostlondoner · 01/12/2018 18:39

Urgh you can yes. We did it when had toddler and I was pregnant. But it was highly stressful. The next time we paid a removal company and they packed it all as well. It was actually a really fun day. Done in half a day I kid you not. Two kids then. However, obviously costs more!!
I reckon could you get someone to pack all your stuff only? That was the super helpful bit. Then just get friends/family help for the move. Buy some fish and chips.

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