I move house in two days time / should I have finished packing by now?

[CokeZeroHero]

We move in two days. Eek! I've honestly no idea if I'm ahead of my packing, behind with it or bang on schedule.

When do you clear out your food cupboards and fridge? When do you clear every single drawer? Pack every bit of clothing? Where the hell do you then put it all when it's in boxes and bags? And you still have to live in the house

Any moving hints and tips and tales appreciated

Pack a suitcase for a few days - pjs clothes toiletries etc

Pack a box of useful items tape scissors screwdrivers cups kettle tea biscuits takeaway menus phone cables important paperwork pen paper for gas electric readings phone number etc

Rest you don’t need.

Plan a take out the night before and clear the cupboards apart from breakfast

I got to the stage that I was chucking stuff in boxes. Novelty wore off after the 100th box of shit I probably won't use again.

Kept basic cutlery, bought paper plates and cups. Fridge cleared day before move and food cupboards empty. Stuck it in the boot of my car.

Ah the car! I'll make use of that tomorrow I think and load it up. Good tip.

You'd better get cracking with the packing.

do you have a room you can just use for packed boxes? I packed most clothes and kitchen stuff by now. Except fridge stuff etc.

We've never yet finished packing more than half an hour before the vans arrive. Maybe not the most practical suggestion but wine plus all night packing on the day before the move tends to be our approach.

@Whatsnewpussyhat good idea putting it all in one room.

Dunno what to do about washing clothes either. I'm as up to date as I can be but I can't have them all washed - not stuff we wore day before. Just take in the linen basket I suppose

Yeah just leave in washing basket. I had a few of those big blue ikea bags. Put the dirty washing in one and put in the car as I didnt want the removal men to take it.

Keep a box so you can chuck in your toiletries/toothbushes/loo roll etc once you are up and dressed on day with a couple of towels and take it in car so you have it all together at the other end.

I had a couple of big bags ready so that when we got up I just put all the bedding straight in.

Meal plan and pack all the cupboard stuff you won't be needing.

Ensure there's ice blocks and cool bags for any frozen or fridged items you're taking.

With clothes... You can leave in drawers. Take the drawers out, move unit on to van, put drawers back in.
Timescale... On Friday we had two professional packers, who managed three rooms. Team of three on Monday did the attic, other bedroom and most of living room. Yesterday a team of eight arrived to finish off. However only 3 of them were packing, most were transporting the stuff 100m to the nearest road to await the container (which they then loaded in about an hour!). This was an international move where they had to wrap everything. They even have special sofa bags. And do customs forms.

When I moved house I left clothes in chest of drawers and I put the rest in bin liners and placed dresses etc in the back of my car. The stuff in freezer can be put in freezer bags and food from cupboards into boxes or carrier bags.

That’s a very good tip about leaving clothes in drawers.

Keep bedding in the car; if it takes longer than anticipated and you run out of time/energy you can make up your bed and go to sleep. And coffee/tea handy for the first morning,

How far are you moving? And where are you off to Aroundtheworld? Love hearing about people’s destinations!

Just keep out kettle couple of mugs plates. Etc gir take aways/bowl of cereal etc. Pack overnight bag for last night day on old housr and first night day on new house. Keep vacuum and few cleaning buts handy.
Everything else packed in boxes etc.
Fridge freezer defrosted at least 24 hours before better 48 hours before so it dries out. Kitchen cupboards packed away. You can now live without mist things until you move I to new place.

Throughthethick this move we have the ultra glamorous location of... Lincolnshire. But after 4 years of foreign postings we are ready for a bit of UK time. This is our sixth move in 9 years and only one of them wasn't international.

Don’t know Lincolnshire at all Around but I have visions of loveliness. Hope you settle in quickly, but as you are pros at moving no doubt you will. Have fun!

God I love moving.

Keep each bed's bedding together in a black bag, that way you can just up each bed very quickly - if you have children and they have a special cuddly toy put it in there too. Keep a box open for stuff you will use til last minute- kettle and tea making stuff really.
I keep all valuable documents with me in my handbag - passports, marriage cert etc
Empty freezer at the last minute but ideally dont take too much - we try to empty ours as much as possible so it's only really big cuts of meat that come with us.

Good luck!

Also we started with a dedicated room for the boxes - has to be the least used room, but will probably fill it up so then start keeping them in other rooms. Dont waste hours moving boxed around.

Also - label each box with where it will be in your new house not where it is at the moment and either give the movers a floor plan or label the less obvious rooms (e.g. 'bedroom 4'). Be as precise as you can, it will save you unpacking time.

Some great tips, thanks.

I've packed so much yet just feel like I've not done a thing!

Try to finish it in blocks, so do all the clothes/books/kitchen stuff and completely finish them, rather than switching from one to the other and feeling overwhelmed.