Moving Tips!

[SlackSally]

After a very long, drawn out, and frustrating process, I was told today that we'll be completing on Friday.

I've never moved house properly before, just moved carloads of stuff between different student digs and then into DP's flat.

I know some on these boards are absolute pros and have moved across continents several times. I'm now panicking just a little that we only have a week to sort everything out.

What are your top tips for moving for a first timer?

Thanks in advance!

Also moving soon so wil watch with interest. Our removal quote was only £100 more expensive for the packing service, so I've booked that, which should take some of the hassle away. Good luck!

Yyy to packing service, worth every penny.

And try and get someone to look after dc's for the day,

Pack a suitcase with night things, toiletries and clean knickers and keep it close. Have bedding, a kettle, cups and biscuits in easy reach.

This is great, folks. Keep 'em coming.

Write on every box which room it is to go into, also if you can pack each cupboard into one box, so that you can empty it back into corresponding cupboard

Pack things like knicker drawers in carrier bags, then in boxes, just empty bags back into drawers.

Use towels bedding and such to pack fragile things.

Make sure you have a tool box with everything you need to put beds etc up with in it.

Put all nuts and bolts from everything in plastic bags and tie to bed frame/cot frame so you know where they are.

Put beds up before anything else and make them, when you have had enough you can go to bed even if nothing else is unpacked.

Box with Brew Kit, biscuits, loo roll, and cash for the chippy in it.

If young crawling baby, travel cot off the wagon first.

Make sure all important paperwork is boxed safely (threw all b.m.d certificate out by mistake once.)

Make sure your phones are fully charged the night before.

That's amazing Shoshe, thank you.

Military child then wife, have moved just a few times

Oh and light bulbs, there are never any light bulbs!

And DO NOT let DH start fiddling with putting the TV/PC/anything remotely noy needed to be up that day. You WILL end up unpacking everything else while they do the on essential stuff. (setting the bloody clock radio last time!)

Ooh, marking place, could do with some tips

If you have your own wardrobes and such take the handles off and tape to inside if cupboard, I have had them smashed off or door surrounds chipped being taken into rooms.

Yes,definitely have a box with all cup of tea related things.Don't forget to put a teaspoon in it.

And I'm pretty sure it's the law to have a chippy tea on the first night. That's all you'll be fit for!

If you have a toddler who's a bit wary, do their room first, as near as dammit to existing house. Same, unwashed duvet and pillow helps as it's a familiar smell etc.

Good Luck!

Thank you so much everyone, I can't tell you how reassuring this is! We don't actually have kids yet (moving largely to accomodate future children), but I'm still panicking!

Do NOT let DH pack under sink cupboard, because he will not make sure all sprays are switched off and bottle lids secure, but will pack every bottle, even if only quarter inch in bottom.

If you can pack in waste bin, packed tight with bin liners.

Get movers to pack - it will be surprisingly reasonable I bet.

Haha, Shoshe, you sound hardened at this! Think we prob will get movers to pack. Only moving from a one-bed flat, but, my, is it stuffed with things! And neither of us can book any time off this week, so little time to do it.

If you still have the screws that stop the drum moving in your washing machine put them back in (and remember you have )

We moved 4 times in 36 months, last move November 2011, I AM NOT MOVING AGAIN TILL I GO OUT IN A BOX!

Washing machine screws? What witchcraft is this? panics harder

When you buy a washing machine, it has HUGE screws that stops the drum moving in transit. (usually delivery people take them out) I ask for them, saves your washer getting broken.

Make sure you have moving insurance as well.

Wow, there's so many things I hadn't considered. You're my new hero, Shoshe!

[preens] never been a hero before

Oh and if you ask on freecycle (freecycle pages on fb) there is usually loads of people with boxes.

De clutter first - no point taking stuff with you that you will just be throwing away.

Good thread. Ok got a question (if you don't mind me butting in). When you arrange for the removal people to do the packing do you not pack anything? Do they do the lot? ie remove pictures from walls, empty kitchen cupboards, pack toys, empty wardrobes?