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Talk to me about your moving house day

13 replies

Newhome1000 · 12/01/2024 00:39

I haven’t moved house for many years so I will have forgotten a lot of useful tips.
Please share your moving day tips and tricks involving packing/unpacking, what make it easier, any conveniences, caring for a baby when you have no childcare 😣 and most of all how to get in and do a deep clean before bringing boxes in.
We can’t afford outside help unfortunately so it’ll be down to me, DH and our dads to get moved in and organised.
Did anyone hire a carpet cleaner for on the move day or would it be too much for one day?
If you prioritised cleaning bathrooms and kitchen, did you clean every inch of the room or just surfaces for the meantime?
Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
Thistooshallpsss · 12/01/2024 01:08

We downsized and opted for a two day move and we paid for a full packing service plus hired someone to clean the house as it was packed up. We stayed overnight near our new home but we didn’t get the keys until lunchtime when the removal men were outside so it was impossible to do any cleaning before moving in. Some time later we had some work and redecorating done which was when we had the carpets cleaned. Otherwise just take it slowly.

Thistooshallpsss · 12/01/2024 01:09

We also moved many years previously with three children under five and just muddled through nothing happened quickly!

Isometimeswonder · 12/01/2024 01:16

Get a box ready, with mugs, tea, coffee, sugar, bog rolls, wipes, squash, teatowel, biscuits. Put a pint of milk on the day, or even a carton of longlife now.
Don't forget the kettle!

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Newhome1000 · 12/01/2024 10:00

Thanks.. is there a particular order I should consider doing everything in? From how to pack up to where to begin cleaning/unpacking?
I feel so overwhelmed with it all I just don’t know where to start!

OP posts:
Jules912 · 12/01/2024 10:28

Make sure you label all the boxes with contents as well as what room they should go in. I did a suitcase with anything we might need for the first night and took it in the car with us so weren't hunting in boxes.

SeaToSki · 12/01/2024 10:48

On move in day set up the beds first and make them up as soon as possible, that way when you are ready to collapse, you can go straight to bed

pack a small suitcase with everything you would take if going away for 2 nights and keep it in your car during the move

if you can, plan the actual move over 2 or 3 days, so day 1, pack up house and put it all in a moving lorry. Sell the house that afternoon. Day 2 buy the new hoise amd get the keys, book cleaners etc for that afternoon. Day 3 move your stuff into the new house. It needs you to be able to afford the storage cost of your things for 2 days amd an airbnb or hotel, but it de stresses it all massively.

start packing now and declutter amd sort as you go. Start with things like Xmas dec and summer gear. If you pack a box of fragile stuff, put a strip of hot pink duck tape on the outside of the box sp the movers can tell its fragile at a glance. The most important thing to write on the box is the room you want it in, in the new house.

dont pack heavy stuff in big boxes, you want lots and lots of small boxes for things like books and crockery

on move in day, set up a chair by the front door and use masking tape to put a big sign on the door of each room with its ‘name’ eg dining room, baby room, main bedroom. And then you and the baby sit in the chair and as the movers carry each box in, tell them which room to pit it in. If you have a garage or a shed, try and send the majority of boxes with non essentials to there and the bare minimum to the rooms. This will give you space to move amd then you can pull out a few boxes at a time to unpack

make sure you have all the utilities switched into your name on move in day (dont forget internet)

start packing early, it takes way longer than you think, especially if you have a baby

Passingthethyme · 12/01/2024 10:55

I'd use coloured post it notes for rooms, makes it a quick and easy visual to distinguish and sort. Get rid of what you don't need, a great way to have a good cull!

Toomuch44 · 12/01/2024 10:57

I'd have a charged mobile phone, meter key, pen and paper handy, together with cleaning equipment, drinks and snacks. I've always cleaned things like the windows and behind cooker a few days before if we were taking them. If you have a pet that's likely to go to a petsitter, cattery/kennels then worth having them booked the night before and day of your move.

We were in a massive chain last time, so I was expecting a late completion, but it was all done around 11am and we had buyers sat outside waiting to get in at noon - they were lovely and very patient - everything was cleared out already but we asked for a bit longer to finish cleaning. Just thought I'd highlight this as things can move very quickly these days.

mindworkingovertime · 12/01/2024 11:21

It's hard re carpet cleaner as they take a while to use and then for the carpet to dry, if you have your house all day i'd consider it, move out a room at a time and as they clear it you clean it, but if your new owners are moving in as you move out then i wouldn't as they'd be coming in to damp carpets.
Can you clean it a week or so before the move and on the day have people wear shoe covers for going in and out/put the furniture by the doors so someone outside stays outside?
We had a packing service which was amazing, they came in on the Saturday and packed up most things, leaving us plates/mugs/cutlery/tea and coffee, the came back the Monday morning for the move, moved as much furniture as they could fully assembled which sped things up.
I second the beds, get them built asap and made up. Make sure any of the baby's things are on hand. If you can get a takeaway for dinner!

Newhome1000 · 12/01/2024 13:38

Thanks everyone!
The carpet cleaning would be for the new house. Our current house will have cleaners in the day before moving but the new house is empty and a complete mess. The current family can’t/wont give access before move day unfortunately.
I just know I’ll forget something super helpful to speed the process if I don’t plan ahead now!

OP posts:
PixellatedPixie · 12/01/2024 13:41

Top tip: pack some suitcases with all your essential clothes, toiletries, medication etc as if you were going overseas for a holiday. Do this for everyone in your family and then pack another case with kettle, tea, bedsheets and some other kitchen and bedroom essentials and then you at least have everything you need for the first night and morning.

SpellitwithaY · 12/01/2024 13:44

I second making the beds first. When you're ready for them, you'll be too tired to make them

ettieb · 12/01/2024 13:56

I have no tips but moving soon so these are very useful

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