Help, moving house and dont know where to start.

[VoldemortsNipple]

I have 3 weeks to de-clutter, pack up and move house. I don't know where to start, and could really do with some help and encouragement.

I should really be on the flylady thread, as I am notoriously bad at cleaning at the best of times. I also work full time so only have a couple of hours in the evening and the weekends.

On the plus side, we can take things to the new house as and when we want.

So, does anybody want to help and guide me and give me a kick up the bum along the way, starting with take that bloody tree down and send it to the new house :)

Bump

Hi Voldermort, we moved in September and had to do everything in two weeks - plus we ha to move everything on moving day so you're definitely at an advantage.

Have you got packing boxes and a tape gun? If not, get lots!! We has over 300 boxes of varying sizes and moved a lot.

In terms of being able to move stuff in early, I would start with the stuff you don't need daily, anything from the garage or shed etc. start moving things across as soon as you can, will make moving day a lot easier.

If you have a lot you want to de clutter, it may be worth getting a skip, we wish we had! We has to make a lot of trips to the tip, I think we filled a couple of hundred bin bags with stuff we wanted to get rid of.

I also labelled every single box and numbered it - I kept a had written list with me so I knew exactly where to find everything e.g. Dd comes an says she wants her barbie house - you know right away it's in box 20.

In terms of keeping things settled for the children, start moving things to their new rooms you know they don't need/ won't miss for the next few weeks. As you've only got evenings and weekends, I would start moving bits today if pos - just to clear some space and get the ball rolling.

I'd second getting as many boxes as possible we've moved quite a few times & never seem to have enough. Also label boxes as well as you can as it's such a pain opening all the 'kitchen' boxes to find a specific item. Definitely use it as an opportunity to declutter, get big items you want to get rid of on freecycle or out for sale ASAP so you can get rid of them before you move.

Good luck!

Don't be tempted to cut corners when packing, wrap ornaments etc.

You can buy (poss hire) cardboard wardrobes, so you pick your clothes straight out of your wardrobe on the hangers and put them straight into the box on the rail and out again at the other side. A big time saver I should think.

Make sure the box with the tea cups kettle etc is at hand. Also keep your insurance, moving list type of paperwork in your handbag just incase.

I would take your curtains down now (if you are taking them) and get them hung in the new house, and if you are taking any, pots from the garden etc.

Maybe you could get the DC to pack a first night kit for the new house with their pjs, next days clothes and a few small toys, a book for bed etc. That way they would feel involved in the packing but also on that first night hopefully they will be exicted about unpacking their special box and wearing/reading/playing with the things in that box and avoid the whole MUUUUM I want xyz or I can't sleep scenario!

Also worth packing that for the grown ups!

Thanks everybody. Dh was talking about taking things from the loft and placing them in the new loft this weekend. The hallway here seems to end up as a bot of a dumping ground with bikes, lawnmowers etc. I've asked him to take these things first so we have somewhere to put packed up boxes ready to go.

I suppose I could really downsize the kitchen equipment now as well. I can't see me doing anything creative this month, so basic pots and pans and crockery would surely suffice.

The dcs are 9, 13 and15 so there is not much in the way of toys, but ds2 has quite a few Lego Harry potter models which I think would be a good idea to move early, to avoid getting broken and pieces lost. An overnight box would be a good idea though, thanks.

The other headache is sorting out utilities, change of address and the likes. How early can I give notice or change addresses over? How does re-directing your mail work?

I think, but I'm not sure that you tell them right before you move with a meter reading etc. I've always done it the evening before moving day - however I might be mistaken.

You can tell things like your insurance companies ahead of time, and sort out if you are keeping the same policy and paying the difference if there is any or if you are cancelling the policy and starting a new one. Do you already own the new house? Is it insured? Don't overlook that not that I ever have to my fathers horror

With re directing the post I don't know how that works, I have always rang every company myself, and sent out new contact details by card, email or text.

You might want to ring BT and ask if you can keep your number.

We get our keys to our new house on 16th, moving on 23rd (hopefully) but don't have to leave here until 7th Feb so sort of in the same boat as you!

Things we DW has already done;
Pack away DVDs, CDs, Books, etc
Have a clear out of clothes, etc to go to charity/tip
Organised change of address with BT (this was v easy apparently but we did have to ring them as it didn't let us do it online)
Notified local council for council tax - did this online
Notified TV licence people - also online
Organised cleaner for new house the day after we get the keys and for old house after we've moved
Arranged delivery of new furniture to new house (bought in sales)

I have also done a list of people to tell about change of address by going through all our cards e.g. Tesco, Boots, Matalan, etc and noting any catalogues that have come. Change of address from the post office is not cheap but if you all have the same surname you only pay for one redirection for up to 8 people and can chose how long you want it for (1, 3, 6, 12 months)
Details here

If you look at your utility supplier's website they normally have an FAQ about moving (well NPower did anyway!)

Didn't think we'd done that much but now I feel quite organised! Sorry for the mammoth post - hope it helps! xx

you can start packing stuff straight away. With things that you might want again before you move, or quickly when you arrive, you can use those translucent plastic crates with lids. Stick the "contents" label inside the end so you can read it from outside. They will stack up in the room they come from, and are not so big and heavy that you can't lift them aside to get to the one you need.

Eat all your tinned and frozen food before you move.

Do a standard letter for all your banks, utility companies etc, write in the account number and addressee individually. Use your bank statements to spot that you have included everyone, including the "once a year" ones. Don't state the moving date until you have exchanged contracts. If you are online with your gas, electricity and water co you can put in your meter readings as often as you like, do it, say, a week before moving and then again the day befdore, so even if you somehow forget to do it on moving day, there will not be much of a shock. Note the final readings on completion day (this might not be the same as moving day) and preferably agree it with the buyert, and both write it down, or phone it in while he is there. If not there, stick or tie a label on the meter with the final reading in permanent marker and turn the supply off. Try to get the utility companies to come and read the meters, they probably will if given reasonable notice, but take your own anyway.

You can do redirection of mail at the post office, they will want to see evidence of identity from all the named people. I'd go for 12-months redirection, it is cheaper than gettting a few months at a time, and will include a complete set of Christmas and birthday cards. They are not totally reliable so prepare some sticky redirecting labels and ask the buyers if they would be so kind as to use them. Be sure to advise anyone whose mail goes to your old address that you have moved, the new residents will soon tire of redirecting mail.

Phone disconnections and reconnections are notorious for going wrong, so have your mobiles to hand and make sure you have written a letter to the supplier so you can refuse to pay if they try to bill you after your completion date.

How has packing gone this weekend op?