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Packing up and moving - help and hints

15 replies

sallywinter · 15/06/2021 15:40

Dear wise, organised people of mumsnet,

We have sold our property and are completing on June 28th - due to stamp duty relief every mover is booked.

We have moved plenty of times before from flats when it was just the two of us but now we have much more stuff and a baby in the mix. We’re roping in some friends and will hire a van.

Does anyone have any ideas for how to make this as smooth as possible? What order to pack in/ best way to pack up clothes, books, kitchen equipment etc. Do we just want a load of boxes or is there anything else that comes in handy?

We haven’t completed on our purchase yet so that majority of it will be going into storage for at least a couple of weeks.

Thank you!

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 15/06/2021 15:59

Get the storage unit early, a load of boxes and a tape gun. Then start ferrying everything that you don't need everyday in labelled boxes to the storage unit via car so that you are just left with what you will need where you are staying temporarily (and take that all over the day before if possible) and your furniture.
Get some of the wardrobe boxes that mean your hung up clothes stay on hangers which will mean they are easier to get at if you need anything out of storage

idontlikealdi · 15/06/2021 16:05

Oh god, never ever move yourself! Can you get a 'man with a van' as opposed to official movers?

Moonshine11 · 15/06/2021 16:07

I second a man with a van op!

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MyAnacondaMight · 15/06/2021 16:10
  • Declutter and get rid of as much as humanely possible first.
  • Those giant nylon zip bags (known as market bags or laundry bags) are good for bulky stuff that won’t fit in boxes. Not great for storage, as they don’t stack, but maybe useful for stuff you’re keeping with you, or for keeping framed artwork together (once bubble wrapped). — Watch a YouTube video on the best way to tape and fill a moving box.
  • Get a range of box sizes. Small boxes for books and heavy stuff - big boxes for light weight/bulky items.
  • you’ll need bubble wrap for glass and paper for ceramics. If you use newspaper you’ll have to wash everything again when unpacking. Also elastic bands, parcel tape, fragile tape/stickers, and marker pens. Buy lots of each.
  • Keep searching for removals. Even a generic “man with van” service would be better than DIY.
  • Start now and box up everything you don’t need day to day. It takes forever, especially if you’re sorting while you go.
  • Label boxes with what’s inside, or at least what room they came from, and whether they’re going to storage or with you.
  • Cardboard wardrobes are worth the money. Use elastic bands to group clothes on hangers together in bundles of 10 ish, so they stay together and are easier to manoeuvre.
  • For light weight furniture, consider whether it’s possible to wrap/seal the contents with plastic wrap and move it as a complete unit, rather than empty it. This saves you a job packing and means you pay for less volume of storage.
sallywinter · 15/06/2021 17:07

Eeeep, thank you all! I’ll keep on trying to get some sort of help but we’re late to the party here.

DP thinks it will be fine but I can just envisage all of our belongings thrown into random boxes at the last minute... God!

OP posts:
MythsandSparkles · 15/06/2021 17:15

Like PP said, if you are moving into storage until move as much as is humanly possible before the deadline, it will make it much less stressful.

I wouldn’t even contemplate moving one whole house to another house by yourself in a single day but moving into temp accommodation and storage unit I think would be easier because you can access the storage as often as you want in the lead up.

Also, declutter and then declutter some more, it’s amazing the rubbish you move!

nicknamehelp · 15/06/2021 17:27

I would get storage ASAP then pack and put in storage everything you are not going to need (label boxes on all sides) before moving day.
Sort as you pack and take straight to charity/skip all don't want.
Buy limited food and try to eat through all you have in cupboards.

LawnFever · 15/06/2021 17:32

Agree with everyone who says start packing now and moving stuff into storage ASAP so on your moving day you only have what you absolutely have to take with you.

Do yourself an overnight bag/case like you’re staying overnight at a hotel so you have everything in one place for the following morning.

Have a local takeaway number ready to order food!

sallywinter · 25/06/2021 21:02

An update on this for anyone interested:

We did find a local moving company who agreed to pack and move us. They came today but then half way through asked for an extra £400 because we had more stuff than they thought (they did come and look and quote in person)

They would not budge so we parted ways and are now doing it with the help of family at the weekend Shock

....anyone know how to pack a storage locker really well??!!

OP posts:
BashfulClam · 25/06/2021 21:08

I took out my drawers from each unit and wrapped them in Clingfilm once we got to the new house I just took the cling film off and popped the drawers back in the units.

BashfulClam · 25/06/2021 21:11

Remember to rate meter readings before Packing away the gas meter key…. Fill a box with towels and bedding, first thing to build and make is the beds do when you are shattered it is ready to just crawl into and pass out.

user1471538283 · 25/06/2021 21:18

I would declutter as much as possible and then get another quote. I needed two moving vans for one house and got it down to one from the next one. Even getting rid of unused crockery makes a difference. The value of movers cannot be underestimated and they will put your beds together.

Pack and declutter as you go along. Mark each box. I always pack a suitcase with bed linen, some towels, pyjamas, toiletries and outfits for the next day or so. Add nappies for the baby. Then pack all the important documents in a bag. I always have an essentials box with the kettle, mugs, formula if you need it, tea, coffee and a bottle of wine. I put these in the car with me.

Good luck!

sallywinter · 25/06/2021 22:38

I think there would be a good business in helping people to navigate moving, it’s a minefield!

We are moving in with family so it’s all going into storage but the house will no longer be ours on Monday so it’s all hands on deck until then!

OP posts:
EileenGC · 25/06/2021 22:53

Have plenty of bags for life, plastic bags, bin bags, honestly any kind of bag you can get your hands on, somewhere handy.

I am good at packing boxes but every time I move, without fail, there are lots of random items that either don't belong to any box, or have been left until the end (essentials) but we didn't factor in a box, or any such situations.

Then you start stressing and rushing around trying to fit them in somewhere. Instead of making up another box, just throw stuff in the bag for life, put it in the car and deal with it when you unpack. Maybe this isn't that efficient if you're storing everything, but it might come in handy somehow. Bags for life have saved all my moving out days.

Label/mark absolutely everything.

Have two, or three, of everything (tape, marker, labels, etc). In the chaos of moving day, they will fall behind a radiator or inside a box and you don't want to waste time looking for them. Just pull another marker out of your bag and continue the job.

Don't throw away cupboard food you don't think you need to take with you. If it's non-perishables, spices, sachets, move them over. When you settle in your new kitchen, you'll have your backup cupboard stuff there, just in case.

Bedding, towels, basic nightwear and toiletries and phone chargers handy. List or diagram of where everything is. You might think you remember in which order you stored the boxes, or what's inside each suitcase, but you won't. Photos, if it's easier, and write on them and save to favourites. Good luck!

Cruddles · 25/06/2021 23:04

As someone who is unpacking after moving on Wednesday, keep aside a box that has:

  • small selection of plates, cups, mugs
  • dishwasher and washing machine tablets
  • lots of towels
  • cleaning products
  • clothes for 2-3 days
  • chargers/tablet/tv remote/masks/headphones
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