To believe that we can unpack from a move in under a week, and ask for your best tips to be able do so?

[OptimisticReindeer]

We'll be staying in a local holiday let for the week of the move, and I really want to take advantage and get as much done as we can at the house.

Much preferable than to be living amongst the boxes, and we can dedicate a fair amount of time to it each day.

We have movers and opted for the packing service, so hoping that the boxes will be better organised than if we had done opted DIY. We've never had packers, or movers before so have no idea what to expect.

Is it manageable for a four-bed? How long did it take on your last move? Any tips also very welcome.

we moved in 2017. there are still boxes in the loft containing god knows what and they can stay there till we move again.....................

I've concentrated on bedrooms first, to ensure everyone can sleep in their own fresh beds, with a few personal bits out so it feels a bit like home. Then essentials out in bathrooms, the kitchen is the one that I will stay up until the early hours to get unpacked. A nice lie in and a delivered breakfast for everyone and crack on with day 2, the teenagers should be helping out unless their duties are to pet sit (?)

Quick !!! Read the original Marie Kondo book (and give the manga version to the teens)

the joy of tidying

then when you pack, ask yourself if you really need it, does it bring you joy? If you have unpacked boxes from the last move then you really need this!

once you have everything in categories then pack…..

second tip - massively over label the boxes, put lots of extra info on the outside, so kitchen / all the plates and bowls. Don’t overpack so they are easy to unpack at the same time. And pack like with like.

A week is certainly enough time for all furniture and items to be put away, allow some time for the cleaning first. However, 8 months later, we still have loads of bags unpacked but these are non essentials. Xx

Organisation is your friend here.

I am a chaotic racoon and have moved 5 times in 5 years (do not recommend) and it is always chaos that takes forever because I can never be fucked to do what I KNOW works.

My best mate is the most organised human you've ever met in your life and her 4 moves in 6 years are 100% smoother then mine - and quicker.

If moving into a multiple storey house, stick large pieces of bright paper to each box (Red ground floor, Blue 1st etc) and label them clearly (Bedroom 1, Freds Clothes, Jumpers) and have labels on each door.

All the boxes being in the correct room takes SO much hassle out of it then you can go room by room.

Get some giant laundry bags for bedding, 1-2 for each bed, with bedding on (you don't need to change on move day, do a day or 2 before) and sheets in the bag. Your teens are perfectly capable of making the beds as soon as they're in the house.

Box of a set of cutlery, bowl, cup and plate for each person, cleaning surface spray, paper towels, loo roll and phone chargers (and any meds you take) to go with you (or info possible then a VERY clearly labelled box (we painted one hot pink for this).

Utilise your teenagers! its their house and move too!

THIS!!!

My poor friend was left unwrapping tiny packs of hair slides, paper clips and rubber bands that the packers found in random places when she was moving out after a divorce (so had not been in the house).

Also, don’t worry OP, e we still have 2 boxes in the cellar from our move 3 years ago!

I knew someone who moved to Australia and had packers do the stuff sent by freight. Two months later they unpacked and found the bins were full of rubbish. They had no idea how the one containing an apple core made it through without them being fined.