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Original poster

Your tips for and/or lessons learnt from moving house

21 replies

Mendi · 01/08/2013 14:25

I am moving house later this month and am trying to be organised about it this time.

I'll get the keys for the new house a couple of days before we actually move in, so will have the opportunity to take some bits over there before arriving with the removals men on "move day". Was thinking I should take the kettle, some mugs, glasses and general tea and biscuits stuff so at least that's on hand to keep the removals men happy on the day (especially if it's hot).

On the day I plan to take a suitcase with clothes for the first few days, boxes of bathroom/make up stuff that's used daily, and all "precious" stuff like laptop, ipods, hard drive, passports, etc, so that I can find all that stuff quickly.

For the house I'm leaving, I was thinking I should put luggage tags on all the keys "back door", "windows", etc. and a list of instructions of where to find the stopcock, how to work the heating, etc. for the new person (renting it from me).

Other than that I know I have to get the post redirected and do meter readings on exit/arrival. All of this seems a bit "light" on the planning so I am hoping to learn from the collective "I wish I had..." knowledge here to avoid disasters. Come and tell me your top tips!

OP posts:

valiumredhead · 01/08/2013 14:29

Get packers, they are so worth it and surprisingly cheap.

Original poster

Mendi · 01/08/2013 15:30

Yup, got the packers! Am going to do a bit myself but will leave most of it to them.

OP posts:

ProudNeathGirl · 01/08/2013 15:32

My tip - never, ever, hire a van and do it yourself. Even if you think you don't have much furniture.

Second tip - ship DCs off somewhere for the day/night of the move.

mirry2 · 01/08/2013 15:33

Don't forget the toilet paper and some light bulbs in case the previous owners have left you with none.

Original poster

Mendi · 01/08/2013 16:30

Toilet paper, yes! I hadn't thought of that. I knew I'd get some good tips here.

DCs will be at their dad's so it will just be me and the packers, which I suppose is best but I'm feeling the weight of doing it without another grown up to help remember everything.

OP posts:

doglover · 01/08/2013 16:36

We had a cleaner follow the guys from room to room giving a final once-over. Best £30 ever (£10 per hour) - it was during that baking hot weather 1 couple of weeks ago.

Spikeinhiscoat · 01/08/2013 16:38

I think we had a useful box, things like baby wipes, kitchen roll, loo roll, washing up liquid, bleach, bin bags, first aid kit, lightbulbs, kettle/tea bits, dustpan & brush/hoover, notepad and pen, that came with us in the car. Can't remember exactly what was in it, it was a few years ago. Oh, remember snacks as well, and the phone number of a local takeaway. I definitely recommend getting the packers in. Good luck!

lovelychops · 01/08/2013 16:42

Sorry to hijack and this is an unbelievably stupid question- but do packers pack everything for you, or just big things? I'm hopefully moving very soon from a tiny flat and don't have much space to pack as I'm going along if that makes sense?

SuperiorCat · 01/08/2013 16:53

Lovely they go through the house like a plague of locusts - they are unbelievably quick cos they do it all the time. If it's not nailed down, it will be wrapped in paper and boxed

RoseFlowerFairy · 01/08/2013 16:55

take meter readings

specialsubject · 01/08/2013 17:09

I assume that you have gone through all the proper hoops for the property you are about to rent out? You have duplicates of all keys? (obviously you can't use them as you will only be able to access the place with permission, but you need your own set).

suggest leaving copies of the manuals for any items that are staying in a folder for the tenants. (Heating, cooker etc). Don't leave the originals as they may vanish.

meter readings on both houses. Post redirect from the old one for at least 3 months. Advance notification for suppliers of gas, electric, phone etc.

and all the stuff you need to do for a rental!

lovelychops · 01/08/2013 17:20

Thanks superior, I'm going to look into it price wise!

Toomuchtea · 01/08/2013 18:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Mendi · 01/08/2013 22:50

Good points from toomuchtea and reminds me: how much should I tip, and when? Assuming 2 removals guys. Is £20 each enough, or not enough? And is the time to give it at the other end?

I am very afraid of the whole business of tipping, always afraid it's not enough/ too much...

OP posts:

Erlack · 02/08/2013 08:12

We moved a couple of weeks ago so this is fresh in my mind...

If it is hot get a bunch of ice lollies and cold juices or other drinks. The guys were sweating buckets and kept nipping out to the corner shop on their breaks for cold items.

Agreed on the manuals- but make sure if you have packers that they know not to pack them! I set a pile of papers aside including instructions for fridge, boiler, etc and somehow it went into a box- and into storage for 2 months. Oops.

Also, with the packing service- this maybe just my experience but despite my telling them to pack everything, certain stray items were left behind. I had to chase around at the last minute packing a pot that for some reason took up residence on the kitchen counter and was left out. They also refused to pack any bottles of anything that were open (including cleaning stuff) so I had to shift those myself.

I didn't tip on the day we moved out-there has been a discussion about this elsewhere and people have different views as to what is appropriate. It would have been a little awkward in our case for various reasons- we had 4 guys and everything was going into storage which means there was no "other end" yet as such-and frankly the whole removal is costing me an eyewatering amount so I was a tad reluctant to possibly pay what would have ended being possible a big double tip. DH and I have agreed we will get them a case of beer to take away on the other end when we get there.

Skang · 02/08/2013 08:22

Don't expect them to have cleaned. Our house was absolutely filthy when we got here. We had to change plans to clean it.

Toomuchtea · 02/08/2013 08:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AnythingNotEverything · 02/08/2013 09:10

YY to a packing service. Made our move so easy!

Also, make the beds as soon as your beds are built. Otherwise you'll leave it till the end of the day and you'll be knackered!

We had a bit of a nightmare on move day when we realised that our vendor hasn't plumbed in their washing machine or dishwasher, and we had to get someone in sharpish to help us connect them - we needn't new pipes attaching, not just hooking up the waste! If you have a "move book" as suggested by PP, add names of useful handy people to it.

Blankiefan · 02/08/2013 17:18

Clean the new house before you move in (better still; get a cleaner in to do it).

First thing you sort out in the new house is to make the beds with fresh sheets. Then, when you're knackered later on, it's all ready for you.... Lovely.

Original poster

Mendi · 02/08/2013 21:06

I am going into rented - can I expect it to be clean or is that overly optimistic?

OP posts:

Toomuchtea · 05/08/2013 13:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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