Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Tips for moving house

27 replies

Patapouf · 20/11/2022 20:40

We are moving for the first time in a decade next month and I'm trying to figure out the best way to approach it.

How far in advance do you start if you haven't got any spare space to stack boxes? Declutter now or when packing?

I'm planning to number boxes and keep a list of vaguely what's in each box, I.e. #1 kids shoes

Keeping an essentials box in the car with us with kettle and stuff we'll need for the first 24 hours.

How do you pack house plants for a move 🤔

OP posts:
AlisonDonut · 20/11/2022 20:46

House plants go in the car

Get rid of everything you aren't taking now.

Start boxing things up and just label room by room. Write the room on the box.

We moved house, well countries last year. My biggest tip is to pack everything leaving cleaning stuff, plants and coffee stuff to take with you. Then clean the new house whilst the movers are moving the stuff to your new house, get the furniture into place asap and try and unpack everything as soon as you can.

We took the Eurostar first thing Monday morning, drove down and stayed in a BnB Monday night, got to the house Tuesday morning, the movers turned up Tuesday night, we put the bed up and unpacked the next day and had all the boxes unpacked by Friday.

Nsky62 · 20/11/2022 20:49

Ditch house plants awful dust collecting things!
I

Original poster
Patapouf · 20/11/2022 20:53

Good tip on the cleaning. I am slightly worried the sellers will leave the place in a bit of a tip so I don't know whether we'll have to spend the first night in a local hotel Confused

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Property
picalopie · 20/11/2022 20:54

Any boxes you pack, brief description of what's in it. Label for the room to go to in the new home.

singleone · 20/11/2022 20:55

Declutter ASAP and be ruthless
Only keep out the essentials and start packing the rest as soon as you can. Not ideal when space is an issue but you can live around boxes for a bit.

cantley · 20/11/2022 21:04

Do an absolutely huge de-clutter, starting today.
Honestly, get rid of 50% of what you own.
Especially kitchen things, linen cupboard, books and DVDs and clothes.
Then when you do come to pack it's not so overwhelming.

Original poster
Patapouf · 20/11/2022 21:10

Excited at the prospect of a massive declutter, I like the idea of only keeping what we really need so thank you for the green light to embrace minimalism MN!

I don't want to be that person that still has boxed that haven't been unpacked in the loft in 3 years time.

OP posts:
Lcb123 · 20/11/2022 21:11

Start declutter now as it will give you time to sell anything you can get money for.

Changingplace · 20/11/2022 21:16

Start the declutter immediately and be ruthless, you won’t miss any of it whatsoever.

Pack overnight suitcases as if you were going away for a couple of days and keep them, with the kettle etc with you.

Have the details of a local takeaway to order from in your new house, or if you have the option to stay in a hotel rather than straight into the new house that sounds like an amazing idea!

Original poster
Patapouf · 20/11/2022 21:25

Lcb123 · 20/11/2022 21:11

Start declutter now as it will give you time to sell anything you can get money for.

Oooh good idea! I wonder if dvds are worth anything 🤣 🤣

OP posts:
Shunkleisshiny · 20/11/2022 21:26

Have your bedding and nightwear close to hand so you can make up your beds even if you spend your first night in a hotel. Believe me after moving house the last thing you will want to do is make your bed before you can go to sleep!!
N.B Towels and toiletries as well.

Glendaruel · 20/11/2022 21:37

Zip lock bags - when you take beds apart, put all the screws in them then tape securely to bed frame.

make mini tool kit for in car of things like Allan keys for putting furniture together.

start decluttering now.

pack what you don't need away early with where you want box in new house.

ask around local shops for strong boxes.

H1Drangea · 20/11/2022 21:47

Declutter

The moving company supplied boxes and packing paper

Buy some of the vacuum packing bags for bedding , towels etc ( huge plastic bags that seal at the top , then you suck the air out with a hoover )

We had some plastic boxes from a green grocer ( I think mushroom boxes ) for the house plants

Label boxes ( my stuff , Bs room , ornaments etc )

Wrap plates and stack them standing up , like this (((((((( in a box

Declutter a bit more , and make about a million trips to the tip

Start now

Aintnosupermum · 20/11/2022 21:51

When you get moving quotes, ask them to include the option of them packing for you. It cost less than I thought and it made life so much easier. Nothing was broken.

Check what furniture fits in the new home. If it doesn’t fit, don’t bring it with you. Offer it first to your buyers for a nominal amount (half what you would realistically get 2nd hand) and if they say no, sell or donate it depending on the time you have available.

Puppypads · 20/11/2022 21:54

Are you getting professional movers? They will pack for you and do a much better job of it! You just need a big declutter before you move and to decide what goes where in your new house. That way you're not dithering when your movers are at the new house asking which room do you want this bed in etc.
I moved in July so it's pretty fresh, it was also a complicated move as H and I were divorcing so stuff was moving to 2 different locations.
If you can afford it I would also recommend professional unpackers. Once the movers have taken the furniture inside and removed the packaging from that, then you're basically on your own with all the kitchen crap, clothes, bed sheets, etc etc all in boxes. Unpackers Will descend upon your house like locusts and you will be unpacked and sitting at your kitchen table with a glass in your hand by tea time.
Good luck with the move!

mynameiscalypso · 20/11/2022 21:55

We're moving in about 3 weeks. I've done a bit of a declutter and there's some stuff I need to take to the tip but we've pretty much outsourced it to our moving company who will do all the packing for us. They're like a swarm of locusts and it's worth every penny to us.

Dreamstosell · 20/11/2022 21:57

I second the idea of getting a quote for packing. Best thing I did! I had two toddlers at the time but would do it again even without young children in the mix. They came the day before and packed up most things. Left the kitchen to moving day. They also dismantled the beds and cot and put them up again in the new house. Well worth doing and as previous poster said cost less than I expected.

Tankgirl1997 · 20/11/2022 22:16

Number each room in your new house. Then write the corresponding number on each of your boxes. Put a post it note on each room door when you get there. Movers can then put correct boxes in correct rooms.
And yes, declutter asap.
Remember to photograph readings on all meters in old and new house.

cantley · 20/11/2022 22:24

Patapouf · 20/11/2022 21:10

Excited at the prospect of a massive declutter, I like the idea of only keeping what we really need so thank you for the green light to embrace minimalism MN!

I don't want to be that person that still has boxed that haven't been unpacked in the loft in 3 years time.

I was really inspired by my daughter and her husband who moved to a slightly smaller flat this year.
They were BRUTAL with their declutter ( even giving away wedding presents - married 5 years - that they'd never used) . Six months later their new flat is absolutely gorgeous - room in the wardrobes and kitchen cupboards, bathroom cupboards half empty etc.
I love it.

L1ttledrummergirl · 20/11/2022 22:31

Pick your least used downstairs room, empty it and clean it. As you pack and label each box (the room you want it to go in), stack it in that room. Work systematically through the house, one room at a time and as that room is emptied of everything except essentials clean it.
Keep the kettle, tea, coffee, biscuits, hoover, cleaning products with you. They need to be the last things out and the first things in.

VeniVidiWeeWee · 20/11/2022 22:40

If you have a goldfish put the bowl in the freezer 24 hours before your move and the water won't slop everywhere.

Copyright Viz comic circa 1980..

AlwaysGinPlease · 20/11/2022 22:44

So grateful for this thread. We are due to move, all going well both ends,early next year, likely February. There are some greats tips and ideas on here! Especially about getting a quote from the removal company for packing as well as for not. Thank you for starting this Op.

familyissues12345 · 20/11/2022 23:37

Similar position here, moving next month (9 days before Christmas - yayConfused) for the first time in over a decade. Thankfully not with a toddler and young child in tow this time. Oh and hopefully no snow.....!

Here for the tips please! We commenced decluttering this weekend

Original poster
Patapouf · 21/11/2022 07:34

Thanks everyone!

Having space in cupboards and wardrobes would be a dream come true 😍 I think I'm getting as excited by decluttering as I am about moving.
Thankfully we are upsizing but our current tiny home is so full to the brim I don't think we'll feel like we have more space unless we bin half of our belongings.

Slimmed down budget due to crazy interest rates means it's a DIY move so no packing or unpacking service 😢

I'm planning on sending the kids to my sisters for a sleepover the day before so they are out of the way at least.

OP posts:
MrsMoastyToasty · 21/11/2022 07:40

De clutter loft, shed and garage first. If you haven't used an item in a year you don't need it.