Moving House Before Christmas

[Attippingpoint]

Am I being unreasonable to think this is absolutely not possible?!

I’ve been told it is. Single mother, 3 children moving from a house I have been in (and filled) for 15 years.

How can this be possible?

It is possible. I did it many years ago on 4 December with 3 small children. Get everything packed up, label all boxes. Put presents and decorations into boxes with labels on too. Make it fun for the children. It will be okay.
Enjoy your new home.

why is it not possible, are you buying or renting?

It depends when you have the keys.

We moved on 18th December 2015, so it is possible with some planning.

It very much depends... Why are you moving? Are you renting or buying/selling? How much notice have you had about moving? Why haven't you started packing preparing before now (ie were you aware of the move before today)?

I'm in the middle of the house move, as part of a chain, that started in August. It looks like things are finally nearly there and might be moving next Friday or the one after. I'd be furious is someone held up the chain now because they weren't prepared!

We moved in on 23rd December. Is it that you are worried about getting removals etc or is it the practicalities?

OP can you clear up why you think it's not possible?

It’s depends really doesn’t omit on whether you have a choice.. it’s not idea, but it’s doable

Yes you can physically move before Christmas. Usually moving is a 1 day thing and I think there are 23 days remaining before the big day. I'm sure you can schedule a day to the move before then?

My parents worked for the civil service and got relocated for work twice. Both times we moved on 23td and 24th december! Other than the chaos of trying to clean one of the houses as the sellers had left it in a complete state we had great christmases both years.

I moved on my own with two kids and three days later hosted a cooking birthday party for 12 kids - got the paintings up and everything. Hard work but planning and labelling is key.

When we last moved we had 2 weeks between exchange and completion and packed up during the second week so what's the issue?

We moved the weekend before Christmas a couple of years ago, not ideal but it just fell that way.

Are you buying or renting? Have you started packing yet? Be ruthless with throwing stuff out, I was and still ended up bringing boxes that are still sat in the garage

My parents did this when I was a teenager. Christmas in a new house was awesome! If you post a bit more people will be able to help. For example, same town of different country? Selling and buying? (Rather than one or both being a rental, then you can get a couple of crossover days!) Happy to move or sad? It affects how you approach it. You may want to hire a skip. Although for all we know you are gaining 2 bedrooms and a reception room. it is definitely doable though.

Totally doable.

I would recommend, if possible, leaving the Christmas presents somewhere else. I took mine to my parents house and it made it so much easier. I wrapped them there too

We did. On the 17th. First box unpacked was the Christmas decs!

We had less than 2 weeks' notice of the move date and had been in our place 11+ years. Lots of stuff.

Are your dc in school? Have you frienda/family to help or can you book professionals?

Renting. I’ve just been given 6 months notice but the agency have offered another property that meets our requirements - they are few and far between so feel i should take it but they want it let before Christmas

OK so your options are to pack slowly over the next 6 months to give yourself time, and potentially not have a suitable property available in the right area etc., or to ram stuff in boxes and hope for the best.. We definitely did the latter!
Are your dc old enough to help with packing up?

Can you pay removals to pack for you!?

Pack a case each, presents, decorations. Maybe a box of kitchen essentials, some easy to eat food, cleaning products.

Then just leave everything for packers to Chuck into boxes?!

It will be chaos at the other end but you've got time once you're in to slowly sort it out as you unpack.

If suitable houses are few and far between I'd take it.

Otherwise you may find yourself with more time to pack over the next 6 months and end up with a house/area that's not suitable.

I agree with the above. You've basically got two options:

1. Throw everything is boxes and sorry everything out in the new place.
2. leisurely pack everything up over the next 6 months and hope there is a suitable place at a more convenient time.

The agency are a business and are not obliged to wait for a more convenient time for you. So it's whether you want to do option one or two.

We moved just before Xmas last year with a 4 year old and 4 month old. Complete chaos and hard work (packing while trying to look after clingy baby was interesting).

But we did it and the tree went up at approx 3am on Christmas Day.... dd thought Father Christmas had done it and was so excited.

We managed to more or less clear the lounge/diner so we could do presents and eat at the table.... the rest of the house was floor to ceiling boxes!

We were supposed to be moving in to our new house very soon but have now being held up by the bottom solicitor, we feel she’s stalling as she’s just being fucking ridiculous right now and going against her clients wishes .
We had been holding off on decorations but dd was getting upset so today we gave up and put the tree up .
It’s totally possible and I’d move Christmas Eve if it meant getting in there

Yes it is possible. I moved three weeks before Christmas as a single mother with a one year old. We had his second birthday the week after and then Christmas. Just pack everything up, move and sort out the other end. I hope you will all be very happy in your new home!