Sold our house! Tell me your top moving tips

[lachy]

The Lachy's are very excited. We've had a busy few days, put in an offer that was accepted and accepted an offer on our house.

DH and I are celebrating tonight with a curry and a beer, and wondering where to begin.

What are your top moving tips? What made your house move less stressful?

Tape the remote to the back of the telly.

Pay for packing/unpacking service. Best money ever spent.
Both take the day off work.
One of you stays and help removed staff.
One of you takes kid out for the day (if not in school/childcare).

When decluttering, take out (from cupboards, shelves etc) what you want to keep, NOT what you want to get rid of. You'll get rid of loads more stuff this way than the way we usually do it, taking out what we want rid of.

Don’t be tempted to do the move yoursel. Pay whatever it takes to get the removal company to do the packing as well.

We're definitely getting a removal firm in. There's no way we could do it ourselves, and let's be honest, removal firms do this for a living - they are the experts.

We'd already started on the loft, and hopefully we'll have that sorted by next weekend.

I hope it will be a short chain. The sellers are relocating, our buyer is a first time buyer and everyone wants to be moved by Christmas. (it's not going to happen is it...)

Piece of advice I was given - when you get to new house do two things first. Put on a new loo seat and make the beds. That way you can just fall into it when you need to.

Fantastic news, I hope it goes smoothly for you.

We have just put our house on the market, DH has done many a tip run.

We have our first viewing next week. So wanting too move. But concerned as to whether we will find somewhere will like, so well done for doing both OP.

Yes packing service sounds a brilliant idea, I think that’s worth paying for.

Yes I totally agree on both points @Merlotmum85. When you are tired out the last thing you want to do is make your bed before you can get in it.

Good luck to everyone with their moves.

Dp does removals, his advice is always to go for the packing service and if not then finish the main packing before the removal company turn up

Lots of good tips here. In addition, though this is rare, it did happen to me - be prepared for not completing on the day. I had a chain and the money did not go through in time due to Barclays online system being down.
Have enough in your overnight bag for three nights and plans for somewhere to stay if needed - family, friends or hotel. I also needed to pay the removal company a second full amount on the Saturday so needed a decent sum spare before completion money coming through. Check on how late your removal company will work in case of late funds and also if they will charge double as mine did. (I did get a refund from Barclays and for other expenses.)

Always get the packing service and get the removal men to dismantle and rebuild furniture.

Do not give notice on nurseries / schools etc before you exchange - learnt this the hard way.

Get an online food delivery to the new house the day after you move and run down all other food supplies before you move.

Have a new toy apparently waiting for DC at new house - run it in as soon as you get there and sort the DC rooms first so they are settled.

Good luck!

Thank you for all your tips, I'm making notes!

Adding my voice to the choir who say pay for the packing service! It's amazing.

Definitely pay for a professional deep clean of the house you’re moving into if possible so you know it’s fresh and clean and you can move everything straight in.

Pack a suitcase for first week with essentials, clothes, toiletries etc so you don’t have to rummage around for things and can take your time to unpack everything else.

Clear out lofts)sheds/garages first.
Arrange to put pets in kennels for a couple of days.
Pack away books/ out of season clothing and bedding.
Start to use up stuff in your freezer/larder.

On moving day.
Pack the hoover and cleaning kit into the car. Plan to arrive at the new house before the removal company. Gives you a chance to hoover and dust before furniture fills the rooms.
Change the locks. You don't know if nosy Nora from next door has been given a key.
Change the pin number on the burglar alarm.
As you empty boxes flatten them and put them in the boot of your car otherwise you'll be tripping over them.

I've just mentioned these ideas to DH, he's off to the garage to sort it out.

He mentioned that we might need to have some strange concoctions for dinner, and some odd cocktails to use up the open bottles of booze. I'm not sure where we got a bottle of cherry brandy from but I'm not sure I fancy it