Packing/ moving tips please

[AmethystMoon]

We are due to move in the next few weeks and it is dawning on me the scale of the operation!
I have a small baby and dog to look after so not any time on my own to sort things out. I am panicking a bit so wondered if anyone has any tips to make the practicalities of moving easier?

I was in same position as you 2 years past in May. Best thing I did was use a removal company, and enlist friends/family for unpacking at the other end. Dont stress about the small things, you wont have everything done for night 1. Keep your essentials to hand, make fixing up beds a priority...everything else can/will take time. For actual move I combined packing with clearing out, dont pack stuff youre likely just to dispose of in the months to come...get rid now. Pack away everything but everyday essentials...I was down to 3 cups, plates, pieces of cutlery by the end lol.

Thanks some good ideas, especially clearing out as I pack. We're moving into rented then will move again as soon as we find something to buy so it will prevent me moving it twice before I throw it away

You'll find checklists and the likes online for everyone you need to notify of change of address too, bank, credit card, etc. Get registered for Doc and dentist before you move...and check your contents insurance if you have it to make sure youre covered while belongings are in transit.

Get a company in and get packers - moved twice in 18 months - packers both times and it was pretty stress free. Had a big de-clutter the day before they arrived and did a charity shop run and that, was pretty much it.

First time I moved I got a bit obsessed about not taking anything necessary with me and having everything in order (like paperwork and letters). Second time I just chucked it all in a box marked "paperwork"!

If you are moving to rented I wouldn't get too worried about change of address - just pay for the 1 year mail forwards and you have 12 months to worry about all that stuff. You may even have found somewhere to buy and will just have to change it all again.

Oh god yes, insurance I must check that. I had been thinking about packets but was worried about:

1. Privacy
2. How careful they are
3. How will I know where it has all been packed? What is in each box?

God tip about registering with doc before moving especially for baby.

Packers not packets!

At end of the day its more than the job is worth to risk routing about your knicker drawer lol I got them to leave boxes a few days before the move and I did some labelling, simple stuff, just bed1, bed2 etc...then its just a case of getting boxes to the new room equivalent to where they came from. Afraid I disagree with Hills re the change of address. I think its essential to keep it all up to date to avoid a number of issues-identity theft, fraud, credit rating...to name but a few.

Mmm been thinking about change of address. Maybe I will focus on important things like bank first then be a bit more lax with things like the dogs trust!

Definitely get packers. Get lots of quotes first though - they vary enormously. If you can get a good one it is worth its weight in gold... with a new baby it is hard moving, they sweep in, pack it all in a few hours, everything is labled clearly and some will even unpack the other end (although I think that is a bit unecessary)

I have moved a lot. The last time from Madrid the packers came in and I said 'everything in the kitchen' (having cleared out and chucked all stuff I didn't need any more - I had a 4 month old too!) When I got to the new flat, 24 hours later, I unwrapped half an onion I had left in the fridge! They wrapped and packed EVERYTHING for me.

As someone said - keep a box and bag for you of essentials (sheets/towels for bed for first night) and baby things and away you go.

See it as a great opportunity to declutter also. Don't unpack everything, I still have things in the boxes (books and the like that I couldn't part with but I don't need at all) in the attic. Then, if you move soon again, the non essential stuff you have been hoarding is already ready to go.

One other tip - make sure you pack a suitcase as if all of you are going on holiday for 5 days - and put it in the car. That means you are completely self sufficient and don't need to do a mad unpack just to find a pair of pants! First time I only did 2 days worth of stuff - it wasn't enough - 5 days definitely takes the pressure of if you end up bunging some boxes in a spare room - means you can take the unpacking at your own pace. Unpack the kitchen first and then work your way through the bedrooms.

We too moved into rented while we looked for somewhere to buy. In the end it took 18mths, so not long and I was glad I had kept lots of the books, camping stuff, non essentials in their boxes in the cupboard.

Love the suitcase idea, will definitely do that

Start now going through your filing cabinet. Write down the tel numbers or websites and your reference nos. All in line handy place to do the change off address thing. Most you can do a couple of weeks before and just need to do meter reading updates on the day.

Don't forget to pack some shoes into your overnight/week bag. A friend and her husband had to spend two days in slippers when the packers got going while they had a leisurely breakfast and congratulated themselves on getting someone else in to do it all

Good idea to get started on a list of addresses now, in fact right now!

at slippers

And keep the list very, very safe - so you do not have to do it all again when you move from rented to Dream Home....

Good point... It may be as little as a month between rented and buying. So do I really need to do it all twice?!

If as little as a month, is the interim move really necessary? Could you bring entry date forward, or extend lease for additional month?

Okay - so if it really is going to only be a month or two you should get a quote from the removal company for storage - they come - pack it all into a container instead of a van, take container away to storage then come on arranged day and deliver. That way you only play one set of removal costs plus the storage costs for the time period. It is sometime possible to access your stuff in storage too - but you need to discuss this with them in advance.

You would would need to be moving for furnished temporary accommodation for this to work. May be worth costing though..

Unfortunately we can't move the dates. Our buyers have given notice so have to move on a set date and it was a condition of their offer we would go. Also new house won't be finished until December as it's a new build. Good idea though.
Storage idea is good, maybe for just some things.
Thanks for all the great advice

forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?p=36196317%23post36196317
You might also find this thread very helpful.
Good luck with the move

I just moved 4 weeks ago - also a baby, toddler and dog to look after. I just did a bit every night. I cleared out and Charity shopped loads.

I got all my boxes and bubble wrap from free cycle - it was great.

I also packed a suitcase with about 5 days worth of clothes. Also a bag with nappies, other kids stuff, well used toys etc.

I kenneled the dog!

We also did the redirection from royal mail - that has been great as have been able to change addresses at a more leisurely pace.

get the storage company where u can access 24/7 and is convieniabt for you.

kennel/ ask friends to have the dog

also if a new build beware the dates aren't set in stone keep pushing

Great idea for dog, I think I might give her a little holiday with my parents!!

How soon do I need to arrange for gas, electricity, water to be turned in at new house? It is currently empty.