When to start packing before exchange with baby and pets?

[JavaGreen1998]

Hi!

We had our first baby in November and a chance spot on Rightmove has meant we are now on the awful rollercoaster of the English property system.

We proposed a completion date to the chain of the 13th April which has been accepted by all other parties. (Chain of 4, we are top buying a vacant property, with our buyers selling 2 to first time buyers to move in together)

With Potentially only 4 weeks to go, and potentially only a few days between exchange and completion due to Easter bank holidays, when would you start packing?

I was always adamant it would be after exchange, but I’ve now realised this is going to be far too late with a 4 month old baby, 2 dogs and 2 cats.

What have people in this situation been doing?
My partner and Mum suggested I start with non essentials now, but I’m still so caution to do so.

thanks!

Don't. Get movers to do the packing as well. Not as costly as you would imagine and worth every penny ten times over.

We had to exchange and complete on the same day and couldn’t stretch to packers

so we just had to pack up and trust

it was worse - because of Easter holidays and booked up removal firmswe had to get our stuff out into storage the day before exchange and make do with camping set up!

if it had collapse it would have been a nightmare !

but more chains go through at this stage than not and packing takes far longer than you would think

We started packing quite early and filled a spare bedroom and the garage with boxes. There are lots of things that you won’t need books, keepsakes, clothing, winter coats ( though who knows?) non essentials from the kitchen, excess glasses breakables.
We did our own packing. Takes much longer than you think.
On the day we had the wardrobe boxes and the removal men just put our clothes into them. They were helpful.
Moved from a large 3 bed 3 bathroom detached to a bungalow. On arrival they were still packing even though they’d handed keys over ( much later than planned) It felt like they’d been told they were moving 2 days before. They left allsorts including clothes, clutter and things in drawers.
It was upsetting as we left our house in an immaculate condition.
All settled now though. Good luck with your move.

Been quoted for it and we just can’t stretch to the packing service.

we can’t use movers as with only a few days between exchange and completion it’s not enough time to book them.

we have had them out and been quoted and only got told yesterday we can’t have the week we wanted between due to Easter or we would have to push back completion which we can’t do as my partner goes away

Yeah it’s a nightmare this is my 3rd house move never again!

so I should start then?

Start by going round the house decluttering so your not taking things no longer needed to the new house.

A lot of things may already be ‘packed’ , we had things in under bed storage boxes that we kept as they were, chest of drawers, we left everything in the drawers, kallax unit and boxes kept all in place. Toy boxes not emptied.

Remove wall decorations and pack away.

Pack a suitcase of clothes and toiletries to keep you going for a few days (couple of days before the move and after) then pack all your wardrobe bits.

We moved all the kids into one bedroom a few days before with mattresses on the floor so we could take the furniture down and store it in the then empty bedroom.

I did the kitchen the night before

I would have started already

Is there a reason why Exchange can't happen earlier?

Ask your solicitor / EA if everyone is ready and ask to exchange asap. With completion for the 13th.

Last enquiries still being done I believe, I’ve signed some paperwork this week for sale Of my property and stuff. Think there’s only 1 outstanding enquiry on house we buying and bottom of chain’s are nearly complete

Start now. As a pp said it is a good idea to start looking at getting rid of anything you don't want to take with you. Then pack everything that is not in needed for daily living, like winter clothes, books, paperwork. Take everything out of the loft (or basement) , declutter and pack the rest, same goes for sheds and garage. Put the packed up stuff in a spare room or anywhere dry and secure.

The good thing about starting now is that you can clean the cleared areas as you go, so that you don't have to do try and do everything on moving day.

If you can find a removals firm that comes recommended and is free for your moving day, book them now. If the completion date gets altered, then you can re-arrange. If you can't find a removals firm for your proposed moving day, look at storage. A lot of removals firms have their own storage so you could have your stuff moved into storage a day or so earlier if that is the only option - obviously only after exchange has taken place.

Good luck Op.

Thank you - luckily I have my granddads double garage to move stuff to.

i was just worried with 4 weeks to go it still seems ‘early’ to me. Although I have bitten the bullet today and ordered some packing boxes.

my mum said if can’t get removals at short notice, over the sat/sun before moving, we can move as much as possible to my granddads. My dad has a works van and we will hire 1 additional one.

im just worried if there’s only a couple of days beteeen exchange and completion, like I have a lot of photos up that need taken down and holes filled and painted. And I don’t want to start that until exchange if that makes sense

Huge blue ikea bags are great, just pile everything into them except suitcase /wash bags to go in the car for your first day and bedding for first day

@JavaGreen1998 Just seen your last post and this pargraph

"I'm just worried if there’s only a couple of days beteeen exchange and completion, like I have a lot of photos up that need taken down and holes filled and painted. And I don’t want to start that until exchange if that makes sense"

Honestly, that is exactly the type of job I would be doing now, or in the next week. Those are the jobs that need a bit of time to do, waiting for polyfilla and paint to dry and you will have so much else to do in those two days between exchange and completion. Also, even if the worst did happen and the chain collapsed (I'm touching wood it doesn't) you would still need to fill those holes for the next buyer. I get that it feels less like your home taking down pictures and clearing out, but that is the reality, you are moving out and onwards to a nice new home. Everything you can pack up now will help towards making your move less stressfull come moving day.

It is excellent that you have your grandad's double garage as backup storage and your Mum sounds like she knows what she is doing. Fingers crossed for you that all goes well.

If you can’t afford a packing service or movers, I would suggest you start packing now and move everything you’ve packed into storage. Packing always takes longer than you think! It also means than moving day should be easier as you won’t have as much stuff in the house to move.

I’d also suggest having a first night/ first morning in the new house kit that you put in your car on the day of the move - bedding, overnight bag, stuff for breakfast, so that you’re not searching for all these things when you get into the house.

Good luck!

Now, start now. There’s so much stuff that’ll need sorting through, and be brutal with decluttering/clearing out, and loads you don’t actively need day to day, so start now I say. As above, it always takes much longer than you think.

start now
check nextdoor/facebook for boxes
couple of boxes per room, fill half way only (too heavy to carry)