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 ❤️

Everything packed according to the room it will end up in. Label boxes in detail with the actual contents. My genius husband thought he was being terribly clever labelling his boxes “Fred’s crap”, “Fred’s shit”, “more of Fred’s crap” etc. Guess who still doesn’t know what’s in all the random boxes in his study two months after we moved, and can’t find the incredibly important thing that’s probably in one of them?

Also, put the most important things- clothes for a few days, wash bag, passports, jewellery- in bags and suitcases in your car, so they stay under your control.

I just did this a couple of months ago. It’s absolutely horrendous. Sorry! 😆

Agree with most of the advice here especially starting early and doing a little bit every day. It takes SO long! Also to start running down your freezer if you haven’t already.

We got cardboard wardrobes which were really useful.

More paper, bubble wrap, black markers and tape than you think! Mark every box clearly with the name of the room in the new house it is going into.

Essentials - a toilet roll, at least one lightbulb in case you have a cheeky seller who's taken them, a kitchen roll, toilet bleach, pet food?

How many boxes do people order?? I'm thinking small book boxes, bigger boxes for lighter stuff and about 60 of them??

😂😂😂

I’m never moving again but I would absolutely pay for packers if I did! We don’t even have much clutter and it felt never ending!

if you’ve got a room you can just start putting packed boxes in as you go it makes it easier especially on moving day. Apart from beds everything to be moved on the day was in the dining room. Wardrobe packing boxed with a rail were a godsend as no urgency to unpack the other end just open the side and find what you need.

declutter again and then once more!

Thanks all! Lots of great tips - one last question from me - how much should I tip our removal guys?

Has never occurred to me to do so but isn't 10-15% standard for any tipping? So I guess that percentage of their fee.

I really didn't think it was a thing though.

Oh I didn’t realise it wasn’t a thing!

Start with the stuff you don't use much/ don't need access to.
Out of season clothes, books, ornaments etc., rarely used kitchen stuff. Make yourselves a capsule wardrobe of a couple of weeks of stuff each and pack up everything else.

And have a clear out and be as brutal as possible. Can you get rid of cds/ books/ dvds if you use steaming services?

I always start packing a few weeks in advance and slowly chip away at it so it's no big deal.

Tipping is a thing in my family, at least whenever we have more money than sense. Tend to just hand out £20 cash per person.

@ChateauProvence I tipped ours (man with a van type rather than big company!) They were great on the day - really friendly towards our toddler and just made the whole thing less stressful really!! I think I gave the 3 of them £20 or £30 each. I can’t remember the exact amount.

When it comes to the move - pack a suitcase each as if you were going away for a few days to a self catering place. Clothes, shoes, toiletries, a towel, electricals, medication etc. Enough that you can wash and dress without having to rummage in boxes. Then we packed a box with kettle, cups, a set of cutlery and plate each, dishcloth, dishtowels, washing up liquid, bin bags, toilet rolls, hand soap, tea, coffee, some snacks etc.

Start packing now - start with all the stuff you don’t really need now. Empty bookcases, drawers, kitchen stuff that isn’t used often, seasonal decorations, summer clothes etc 😊

Best of luck with the move 😊

If you have any pets put their dishes and food in the essentials box and a toilet roll.

I usually tip £20 per removal man.

First day list is missing pajamas, mugs, plates, bedding, and your jewellery box/ documents box.

Thanks so much everyone I think I will go with £20pp! Getting excited now just wish we would exchange quicker so I can relax!

Bedding. Strip the beds on moving day by just wrapping everything in the duvet, pillows and all and putting in bin bags in your car.

Take a basic cleaning kit and your vacuum cleaner and a loo roll.

Oh god, I’m feeling terrible now that I didn’t tip our (second) lot of removal men, because they were lovely and worked really hard. It never occurred to me. I hate tipping culture, tbh.

Seconding the laundry bags. Used them for basically anything soft. scatter cushions, bedding, clothes, soft toys, balls, spare blankets and duvets that weren't being used for packing large breakables (TVs/Pictures). Having used packers i absolutely wouldn't use them again unless i couldn't pack int he time scale. By doing your own packing you have control over it all.