Packing up to move - please, your best tips - I am going mad!!

[Flllight]

Help

I must have packed about 30 boxes, have emptied all the cupboards, got rid of lots to charity shop/ebay/rubbish, but it still looks a tip and cluttered with stuff. We get the keys next week and move in on the 1st. So I've just under 2 weeks to get things finished.

Does anyone have any tips for getting it done, I have been pakcing for about a month and feel like it hasn't really progressed a lot - am still using some of the stuff that's hanging around.

Thanks...before I go nuts

Wine lots of wine

sounds like my house and I'm not even moving!

yes ecmo it is usually rather like this

We did it in a week, the kitchen is the most time consuming irrc, wrapping all the plates up seperately.
Ok, don't panic, just go around room by room, starting with the room you use the least, ie guest room. Do 15 min stints, have a break for 5 mins, then another 15 mins. Taking down furniture is a pain too.

Sorry, I guess that's not much help, someone more helpful will be along shortly.

1 room at at a time.
Get your post redirected.
Everything you don't want packed put in one room.
Stick a post it note on stuff to stay (if any).

Label every box with the room it should end up in at new home.
Don't leave it until moving day to dismantle beds (like me!)
Make sure you have a box just for kettle, tea bags, mugs etc. so you can have a brew when you get there.

This is all good stuff, keep it coming!

Have arranged redirection

Have been trying to empty a cupboard, pack contents and then shove boxes neatlyish up against cupboard, so the middle of the room is free.

I was going to leave the beds up till last will rectify that!

have been labelling boxes, roughly, but they mostly have the room on anyway...my mum's idea!

I don't know what to do about the stereo, computer, etc. Do we have to pack them in boxes too?

I know I will lose some important documents, I always do...

Have a bag for things like valuable docs, passports, rail cards etc.

I feel for you! We moved into a house a long way away a week and a half ago and had two flats to pack up - just beginning to feel human.

What's really helped us:

1. Having LOADS of boxes to pack in - otherwise they get too heavy and you get mentally exhausted trying to pack cleverly.

2. Don't skimp on labelling - the other day I desperately needed a deck of cards for work (long story) and would have had to open & rummage 20 boxes had it not been labelled.

3. Getting rid of LOADS of stuff beforehand so you don't have to move it. Mainly clothes, books and shoes. It's a mental drain going through it all and making harsh decisions - but so worth it in the end.

4. Thinking ahead for when you get to new home and packing some special boxes for your "Primary Needs - home" (phone, some lamps, radio, pot, pan, toaster, kettle, a couple of mugs, glasses, kitchen & loo roll, wet wipes, bin liners) and "Primary Needs - people" (towels, underwear, bedding, shower gel/schampoo, some changes of comfy clothes) - you'll thank yourself for that during the 1st day or two as a lot of unexpected stuff always happens to make you forget where you put all that neccessary stuff otherwise.

5. Stereo, computer - yeah, boxes + bubble wrap is best since they are so expensive. It takes time to prep & unpack but saves your nerves & time during the actual move as boxes can be put on top of each other/deal with rain. We found some of the original boxes in the loft (TV etc) - v useful.

6. We got special 'hanging file' boxes (along with loads of other boxes, bubble wrap, markers & good tape, from a business online - not cheap but so worth it) with neat loose lids for all important documents (I work from home) - we loved them, genius.

Good luck! The most exhausting thing is that work & life doesn't stop during the move, right?

Thankyou very much indeed - a really good list there and some great tips from everyone