Moving house - packing… where to start?

[ChateauProvence]

I am hopefully moving in the next couple of weeks (am just waiting on exchange). Where do I start with packing? We are packing ourselves but having boxes delivered. Just feel a bit overwhelmed by it all. We have had a massive clear out but feels like there is just so much stuff!! Any packing/ moving tips would be very appreciated ❤️

Pay for packers! If you are having professional removals in then adding on the packing service isn't much extra and is priceless in terms of how much stress it removes.

If you are doing man and van type and do have to pack yourself then just crack on abs do little and often over the next few days. Don't forget to label every box.

Just start packing now if you’re confident you’re moving in less than a month. All you need is enough cutlery/crockery for each household member (you can wash them in between meals), toiletries and a few weeks worth of clothes. Act as if you’re living from a suitcase at a hotel, and put away literally anything that isn’t to be urgently used

I created a spreadsheet with an inventory of what is in each box. I also numbered and colour coded each box, so every blue taped box was due to go in the kitchen, green taped in the living room etc. This allowed us to unpack the more urgent stuff when we moved in. It still took ages and was stressful

Start with packing things that you won't need for the next few weeks, such as summer clothes and infrequently used pieces of cookware.

Also going forward I would hire packers when moving. I have too many valuable items now that I wouldn’t want to risk damaging. TVs to furniture etc.

We did it not long ago - I was too stingy to pay for packing!
I started with clearing out stuff - garage and garden stuff then onto other rooms. Get rid of as much as possible, charity shop it or tip it if you don't need it! Its a great opportunity for a thorough clear out. Be ruthless!

Then I packed all the stuff I knew we wouldn't need, next was the stuff we could get by without and make do without and then just keep going until you've just got the essentials you need for the last week/few days. Label all boxes with the room they will go in and contents inside - helps you to unpack. Also find a room or place you can just stack all the packed boxes out of the way so you don't have sealed boxes sitting around in every room.
Good luck!

Pack things that aren't needed and label them . Leave them in the room they live in . Then work backwards to the things that you need daily .start closing off rooms if you have that luxury and deep clean them while the boxes are stacked in the middle .

I've done it 3 times on my own and probably will again if we move next year .

It's really not that difficult if you are able bodied .

Yes, this is how we did it (moved several times in the last few years). Keep going until you've just got enough to last until you move. Keep an open box with the stuff youll need on the last day - cleaning stuff, bin bags, loo roll, stuff for making a drink etc, and put it by the vacuum cleaner. If there are any rooms you can do without eg a guest bedroom, clear them completely, clean and close the door. Don't go back in.

Get decent packing boxes, not thin flimsy ones. Use cardboard wardrobe boxes with hanging rails and move clothes on hangers, so much easier. Get in plenty of protective wrapping - paper or bubble wrap. Buy a parcel tape dispenser to save time, but don't buy cheap parcel tape - it splits and will drive you mad.

Good luck!

Start by paying packers to do it for you. Absolutely worth the money. Once you go pack you won't go back.

Pack anything you know you really want the other end but don't desperately need on a regular basis now. As I started packing, I realised there were some things we didn't really need to take with us (despite having a clear out) and DH came home early the day before to be told we needed another trip to tip (and he agreed when we saw what I'd put aside) - you might not find that applies, but allow. Helps if you use store cupboard foods up, so you've got less to take. Also, things to make moving day easier, if taking oven, fridge, freezer, pull them forward now and clean behind, also clean skirting boards now. Have a list of essential things to remember on moving day (tel nos. things you need to remember like meter readings and keep meter keys out). I found that helped me focus on a quick clean and what I really needed to remember.

Start running down your freezer and fridge and food cupboards.

Pack all the summer clothes and summer activities gear and all your Christmas stuff. Pack excess linen.
Pack all the kitchen stuff that you rarely use.

Definitely have a system so you know what is in what box

I'm doing this now. I've packed virtually everything we are not using now and I upon exchange I will pack as much of the rest as we can manage without, my work bag with important documents, an essentials box with tea, coffee, wine, cat stuff and a suitcase with enough clothing, bed linen, toiletries and towels to last for a couple of days. I pack what's left of the pantry and freezer the day before.

Get on with it. It will take longer than you think and you’ll need more boxes than you think. Don’t waste time thinking about how to do it - just do it.

Books first: only one layer in a box or the boxes will be too heavy. Fill the rest of the box up with clothes, bedding, towels.

All pictures, mirrors and ornaments: wrap in clothes, bedding, towels, bubble-wrap or newspapers.

Everything out of the kitchen except the bare minimum you need for the next two weeks.

Then just empty all your cupboards.

I’m also in the process of moving, move on Friday, I just built up a load of boxes and started shoving stuff in! Label every box, I haven’t done this on all as my daughter nicked my marker!
Empty draws of thinks you don’t need and have bin liners on the go for charity and rubbish!! Good luck, I’m only on my 5th breakdown of the day! 😂

You don't. Pay for the removal company to pack.

You just pack as you would do to go away for a few days - so some clothes, toiletries etc.

Absolutely NO way I would pack myself after having paid for packers. It's amazing!

Throw out way more than you think you can. Ask - do I want to pack this, transport it, unpack it and find it a new place in the new house?

Thanks everyone it’s starting to feel real now and very exciting! I think I should definitely get on with it!

my list for my essential first day box is clothes, toiletries, toothbrush, kettle, teabags and bottles opener - am I missing anything?

Label boxes. I had packers for kitchen and dining room stuff and had about fifteen boxes they had written G&C (glasses and crockery) on. Took weeks to find everything.

I'd absolutely pay for the packers, done it three times and up there with the best money I have EVER spent

Tip for packing clothes….gather together 6 to 8 items on clothes rail, lower them into a black bin liner…tie clothes hangers together with cable tie & gather open end of bin liner & tie. If this doesn’t make sense there’s loads of YouTube videos explaining it better than me!

Empty the loft first (if you have a loft) it's always full of shit you will have forgotten about and can throw away.

This! Friends eventually got round to unpacking a couple of boxes they had been moving from house to house for three close moves. Turned out they had been paying the removers to move boxes filled with broken down cardboard boxes……….No one owned up !

Laundry bags, laundry bags, laundry bags!
Great for putting bedding in, soft kids toys, curtains, shoes.
Keep nice dresses and smart clothes a on hangers and throw them in your backseat. Any holiday suitcases can be filled. Pack your books first. Pack your kitchen gadgets like food mixer/processor etc now.

Pack valuables and important things like passports separately. If you do get the removal company to pack for you then make it clear what they shouldn't be taking. They are very quick and just swoop in! If you decide to pack yourself then pack boxes according to which room they will be going to in the new house and label the boxes. Start now with things you won't be needing before the move.

Different coloured post it's for different rooms, makes unpacking or even getting the movers to put the boxes in different rooms much easier (ie green goes in the kitchen please)

Don't bother unpacking drawers, leave as is. Same with clothes on coat hangers. Do another cull as you pack to decide if you really need that item. Same when you unpacking, cull again!