Moving House. Need Your Ideas, please!

[Movinginamonth]

Hi Everyone,
We have had confirmation that we will be moving house in a month and I've gone into panic mode already! We are moving from a 2 bed to a 3 bed but in reality they're not much different in size. Plus for a while we won't have a shed or a boarded out loft area that we have in our current house. We will be paying rent on both places for a couple of weeks while the move takes place so we have a bit of time on our side but we don't have a huge budget. I've looked into storage units and have someone coming to price up how much it will cost to move our big items of furniture and white goods etc we would be able to move all the smaller stuff ourselves. We want it to be as simple as possible without having to spend unnecessary money. Does anyone have any advice or ideas about moving house? I haven't moved in many years and the prospect is daunting. Many thanks

If there is an overlap of time why do you need a storage unit?

@Normalnormal we were think of a storage unit as we won't have anywhere at the new property to store the contents of the shed or loft. We've decluttered the house, shed and loft in the last few months too so we don't have anything left to get rid of

Just a thought, if you're moving to a 3 bed from a 2 bed then could you store loft/shed stuff in the extra bedroom for a while? Manage on two beds as you have been until you get sorted? It'd save money on a unit as it'd add up in time.

@Frosty1000 I like the idea but the new house just means the children have a room each. They're smaller rooms not room for 2 and all their bedroom stuff from the old house.

What is the distance between the houses? 5min drive or 5hr drive? Any relatives/friends you could leaves things at in their garage/spare room etc? Or friends to help transport things back and forth? Anyone with a trailer or van to save costs?

I would dispose of anything that can't fit at my house unless it was genuinely valuable. Storage is, for many people, a form of invisible hoarding that wastes money long term.

How many rooms do you have at the new house? I would designate one the dumping ground short term whilst you organise and declutter to fit your house.

If you have an overlap you'll be fine.

I guess the question is what is in your loft and she'd?

@SM4713 there is only a 5 minute drive between houses which is good but family and friends don't have space for much, if anything.
@calmcoco the shed has bikes, garden tools, cat carriers, garden hose, decorating stuff and a few beach toys. Just basic shed stuff.The loft has storage tubs plus the Christmas tree. The tubs have Christmas decorations, Halloween decorations, personal items etc. There's nothing in either that we can get rid of. We've been ruthless with our decluttering.
Both spaces are very tidy and very empty but the contents wouldn't fit in the new house.
Aside from the storage side of things..Does anyone have any good packing and unpacking ideas? I'm overwhelmed by it all.

@Movinginamonth as you've decluttered already & bikes and thing you will want then I think given (family/friends) don't have space a storage place is going to be your only option really (unless there are other people you could ask but haven't -neighbours, local Facebook type people, put your own padlock on their shed/garage should be fine)

then set yourselves a plan & a deadline to get the loft boarded & the shed sorted out.

you can fit a lot in a downstairs toilet room or under stairs cupboard if you have those.

@Movinginamonth

could you not fit the loft stuff spread over the rest of the house A few boxes in each room isn't the biggest deal for a short while?

as for packing, just start now & be VERY Selective with what NEEDS to stay out until you move. I'd leave the kids rooms until last & then be selective with the toys you keep out until moving day. They're surprisingly happy with far fewer toys out.

• start collecting empty boxes from supermarkets
• Boxes and packing materials are often free on the olio app or freecycle
• Keep a meticulous list and number/label all the boxes and what room they need to do in
• Instead of removing clothes from hangers. Buy bin bags which have a tie top. Move the hangers together on the rack so there are about 10 (depending how bulky the clothes are). Open the bin bag lift up so the bottom of the clothes go into the bag. Tie the top and and hangers. Stops things getting dirty during transport and easy to just hang up at the new house.

This is £295. Not sure of your budget. Quick & pretty easy to put up and surprisingly durable.
Ours lasted 5 Scottish winters before it finally conceded defeat to 70mph winds last year. Also not permanent so shouldn't go against any lease rules.

If there's an overlap can you buy a shed for the new house and get it put up, even lay a handyman to do it, it will probably park out cheaper than storage?

@VinEtFromage thank you for putting it into perspective for me. We do have an understairs cupboard so we have decided that the loft stuff should fit in there or some in the children's rooms.
@SM4713 thank you for your suggestions. I think I will use your idea and number the boxes and number the rooms at the new house so we will know where to put them easier.
@CoffeeBeansGalore thank you for the idea, that would certainly work but it's probably bigger than our garden. We are thinking that we should probably get a shed like@thesnailandthewhale has suggested. It will mean another job to add to the list but in the long run it'll save storage costs and transporting stuff to the storage in the first place.
Thank you all for your helpful suggestions. I think that thinking about it all made my head spin and I wasn't thinking clearly!