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Original poster

Would I be mad to try and pack up our house myself?

90 replies

plipplops · 10/02/2023 17:03

We're moving in 2 weeks (just exchanged contracts), completing on a Thursday. Previously we've always had the removal people pack everything up for us and it's pretty effortless.

For complicated reasons, the removal co will now need to pack up our stuff maybe on the Monday/Tuesday into boxes, then we'll move on the Thursday.

If it's going to be a 3/4 days of disruption, rather than them sweep in Wednesday and pack us up to move Thursday, should I just take a couple of days (Tue/Wed) and do it myself? Would save maybe £550 which we can afford but money is a bit tight.

4 bed semi, 2 teenagers, reasonable amount of stuff but not bonkers? Autistic DD who is going to struggle with the move in any case, so I'm half wondering whether us doing it rather than having strangers in the house might be better.

Would really appreciate any thoughts....Thanks!

OP posts:
UsernameNotPresent · 10/02/2023 17:46

We are moving in 2 weeks too. 4 bed semi, a toddler and I am pregnant with #2. I am throwing money at the problem and getting packers. I am also hiring a skip beforehand for a massive declutter.

Previously I've done it before packing everything myself, but I didn't have a tornado toddler and wasn't pregnant and it was a slog. Agree with pp, you need to be very methodical and pack quickly (and label everything). It's doable, but will require a lot of effort. If you can spare £550, get the packers.

UserNameSameGame · 10/02/2023 17:47

ahem personal items

😂

I am definitely getting packers! I didn’t even know the service existed!

Is there by any chance a cleaning service that movers offer too? I love the idea of just being able to walk away from the chaos.

Ballcactus · 10/02/2023 17:48

ive moved way too many times and never had packers. If you can afford it, pay the packers and avoid the stress

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westcountryfaithful · 10/02/2023 17:50

We packed ourselves last time. But we did it over three weeks a room at a time. If you have limited time I’d definitely get someone in.

I would also definitely have someone disassemble and reassemble furniture. And tidy your old house for the new owners. Those are the jobs I really don’t want to do any longer…

lobeliasb · 10/02/2023 17:51

I've only ever done it myself/with my partner, it's really not that difficult if you have a pair or two of extra hands to help. I certainly wouldn't spend a lot of money on it.

DesertRose64 · 10/02/2023 17:54

I was a forces wife and could pack up a house single-handedly in very short time but as the mother of a now adult DS who’s autistic I would get packers in to do it and concentrate on keeping him as calm as can be on the day all things considered. Your child really will need you on packing and moving day.

WhoNeedsSleepNotISaidMyBody · 10/02/2023 18:01

I prefer to pack myself, but I'd have decluttered before the house went on the market & id have started packing when it sold.

But in your situation I'd pay the packers, hopefully better ones than my friends, the packers put onions in with kids toys & all kinds of random things in together. Fuck knows how why as onions in kitchen (obviously) and kids toys in their conservatory (through lounge, through dining room). They put wet dishcloth in with wooden chopping boards & fruit. Mad bastards.

Artemisty · 10/02/2023 18:02

Pack that things that you'll need for a few days and ABSOLUTELY get packers
It isn't the norm but once you feel the utter relaxation of just letting someone else deal with it I cannot see why you would do that to yourself this time.

boboshmobo · 10/02/2023 18:03

I've done it 3 x .. it's easily doable

quietnightmare · 10/02/2023 18:05

Pack yourself and gives you a chance to bin/donate/leave/decides to sell the stuff you don't want or need

cardboard33 · 10/02/2023 18:06

If you've had packers previously then I wouldn't go back to doing it yourself as you will seriously under estimate how much time you need, particularly if you've got family with additional needs who need you to be calm and methodical in the run up to a big life change rather than flapping about, in a crazy mess wondering why you didn't just pay the money and get someone to do it for you. Just pack a suitcase for each person with the essentials for the period in between the packing happening and moving day, in addition to things like paperwork/passports/personal items then focus on your family for a couple of days.

We first had packers when we were moving with my husband's company and they literally packed up EVERYTHING including bubble wrapping tins of baked beans in the cupboard (which we'd not expected them to do, so didn't tell them not to!) then we did it ourselves the next time as we weren't moving far so could spend a lot of time walking with suitcases to our new place as we had a two week overlap and no kids, but when we left that house we got packers for the move and honestly, it'd have taken us weeks to achieve what they did in a day and a half.... Then they assembled all of our furniture up at the other end too, and a newly pregnant me could not have been more grateful for having spent money on and when priced into the £££s to move house including stamp duty (SW London) is well worth it.

BHRK · 10/02/2023 18:07

I always pack myself. It’s a good opportunity to chuck stuff!

SueD1 · 10/02/2023 18:10

I packed up our 2 bed house (1 dh & 2 ds) and was fine; did it over two weeks and put stuff in storage for 3 weeks - on the day we only had to move a few last minute boxes and mattresses. Meant we could move in and unpack over a week as we emptied the unit. Was grand, think most people do themselves tbh. Best of luck with new house!

Chiasmi · 10/02/2023 18:18

@UsernameNotPresent the skip's a great idea too

Julen7 · 10/02/2023 18:25

My friend and I packed my 3 bed semi up (me & two children) - we really cracked on with it working 2/3 days a week and it still took 3 weeks. Realistically not sure you’re going to have enough time.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 10/02/2023 18:31

I would pack a bag for everyone as though you're going away for the weekend, clothes, toiletries, medicines etc. Also pack a kitchen box to keep, kettle, toaster, fresh food. Then let the packers pack up everything else. It's a lot of man hours and I think you'll knacker yourself and still not get it done in time.

magicthree · 10/02/2023 18:32

I would rather pack myself - it's a good opportunity to have a de-clutter at the same time. The last time I moved, every time I went to the Salvation Army store for weeks afterwards I felt like I was at home, there was so much of my stuff there! I possibly would like packers to do it all, but it seems like a waste of money when I know I can do it myself.

2bazookas · 10/02/2023 18:34

DIY packing? You'll be sorry :-( You;ll also be exhausted and stressed out. Moving is tough enough without that.

Better to take the family to a B+B for a couple of good nights sleep and easy fun dinners in a pizza place.

LindorDoubleChoc · 10/02/2023 18:35

I would always pay the professional packers. They do it so quickly and it takes all the stress out of it. We would literally be packing for weeks and there would be no time to do anything else!

WordtoYoMumma · 10/02/2023 18:37

Doesn't everyone pack their own house? I mean obviously I'm taking from this thread that you can pay the removal company to pack your stuff into boxes for you but I didn't even know that was a thing! People just come into the house and pack EVERYTHING for you??

We packed ourselves when we moved with 3 kids (7-14yrs) and it was fine. Ok by fine I mean a complete nightmare but that's just moving house in general right 😂

emmathedilemma · 10/02/2023 18:38

In such a short timescale I’d say it will be worth every penny to pay to have it done. They have all the right materials, know how best to fill boxes, know how to pack things to minimise breakages and will go through your house at the speed of lightning! Even if you start packing now you’ve got to have somewhere to store boxes while still being able to move around your house.

2bazookas · 10/02/2023 18:38

magicthree · 10/02/2023 18:32

I would rather pack myself - it's a good opportunity to have a de-clutter at the same time. The last time I moved, every time I went to the Salvation Army store for weeks afterwards I felt like I was at home, there was so much of my stuff there! I possibly would like packers to do it all, but it seems like a waste of money when I know I can do it myself.

Decluttering and packing are two unrelated tasks. Long before (anybody) attempts to pack up the household, the decluttering and junk-removal should be all done and dusted.

Riverlee · 10/02/2023 18:40

Yes, you can do it yourself. Maybe rope in a friend to help.

Do one room a day, and leave two days to do last minute minute stuff and cleaning.

StarbucksSmarterSister · 10/02/2023 18:45

I live alone in a 2 bed and would never pack myself unless I literally had no money. I just pack important documents and a few other bits. If you can afford it why spend all that time and effort when someone can do it for you for a few hundred quid extra?

Original poster
plipplops · 10/02/2023 18:58

Thanks so much for all the replies - it's a real mixed bag! They've come back to say they think they can pack us up on the Wednesday so it will just be that day packing, then move Thursday so if that's the case we'll pay them to do it. Pretty worried about DD coping with the move, so if someone can make that smoother then it's worth every penny I think?

We've never packed ourselves (only moved twice, into and our of a 6th floor flat and the second time was with a week old baby), and I don't think I want to start now if possible? Have tried to declutter and will focus more on that over the next week.

If they can't do it the day before then I might still push through and do it ourselves as DD will almost certainly find having other people here more stressful (I can leave her room till last to have that sanctuary as long as possible).

As ever, super helpful thanks all!! xx

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