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Original poster

Moving gradually. Has anyone else done this?

32 replies

Rooners · 09/03/2014 09:10

Or are we weird? Smile

We're moving from rented to owned in a few months, and it's taking me ages to pack as we have a lot of children and a lot of stuff, including a fair amount of DIY materials, tools, etc etc.

I'm thinking that as soon as we exchange, and have the keys, I'll start taking boxes over myself - not to unpack, as we need to do decorating and some gas/electric work is being done, but just to ease the burden on the actual move.

I will leave most of it and the furniture to the removal people, but is it wise do you think, if I take the fragile stuff, odd stuff I can't think of a way to pack safely, and so on, myself?

Has anyone else done this?

Also worried about whether they will be able/willing to bring large garden items such as rabbit hutches etc. and how this will work.

I have a garage I'm using as a sort of depository for the DIY stuff, things like sinks and fireplaces and tiles.

Also I have packed nearly everything and most of the cupboards are empty now so it is very crowded here with boxes piled up everywhere. I will need to do some work here when it's all gone, as it's rented, so I'm thinking it's best to get as much out of the way as I can really.

Any tips gratefully heard!

OP posts:
50shadesofmeh · 09/03/2014 09:18

Is the house you are buying lying empty? I don't see a vendor agreeing to it unless house is empty. We started taking things over a few days before completion as vendor was kind enough to allow us access to house which was empty but I wouldn't have expected it had they been living there up until completion.
I wouldn't take anything valuable as you don't have a leg to stand on insurance wise.

MarianForrester · 09/03/2014 09:21

We did our whole move like this, ourselves, with friends and borrowed trailers, rented vans, all over a period of about a month.

It was blooming nightmare, but logistically worked ok. We just have too much stuff!

I think your plan sounds good, it seems sensible to get moving ASAP and will save lots of time on the actual day of the big move.

RoganJosh · 09/03/2014 09:23

If you're getting removals people I'd ask them about the garden stuff. They should be fine with it.

I find they're so quick it's not really worth doing any of it yourself.

cattypussclaw · 09/03/2014 09:27

I don't understand how you did this at all! I've never met a vendor who would let you start moving things in at point of exchange especially as, normally, people are living in the property until completion day. And things can fall apart between exchange and completion, it's not a done deal until completion. The only way I can see you doing it is if you're moving from a rented property to an owned one and your rental doesn't end until after completion day. If you've come across a vendor with an empty property who will let you do this, that's a rare thing in my house-buying experience.

Original poster
Rooners · 09/03/2014 09:28

Oh gosh no I didn't mean while they are still living there! Sorry - not great with the correct terms. When I say exchange, I mean when we have completed I think and the chap has moved out.

I wouldn't dream of putting my stuff there when it was still occupied!

I thought about insurance - will make sure anything I leave there is covered...it's just that I have a lot of bits and bobs that I don't know how best to pack, and some things I don't want anyone else moving, so thought I could take those myself as I'll be going over almost daily I think, to paint and clean and so on.

So I may as well bring a few boxes in the boot when I am going anyway.

I'm like you Marian - way too much stuff Blush so I think once I've taken a fair bit, it will look 'normal' to the removal people!

I just want to kind of sweep odds and ends currently in use into an uncovered box and transport them as they are, if that makes sense, rather than have to go through all of it which will take too much time.

Am getting rid of an awful lot though which is quite nice. Straight to charity shop, do not pass ebay Grin

Thank you for all the replies.

OP posts:
poocatcherchampion · 09/03/2014 09:29

I wanted to do this but actually the removals people are so good it is better just to leave them to do the lot.

Original poster
Rooners · 09/03/2014 09:32

Last time we moved we had a quote of £300, but on the day, they were really red faced and exhausted and quite grumpy and cross. They seemed to have the impression that I had magically produced loads more stuff for them to take, which of course I had not, but it was a hot day and they had totally underestimated.

I ended up paying them quite a bit more in tips and still felt awful.

I really don't want that to happen again. So that's partly why I want to do some of it myself iyswim.

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MissSmiley · 09/03/2014 09:55

I think v sensible if you wait until after completion. I have lots of children too (5) and it is hard to keep on top of all their stuff but I try to sell (ebay) anything they have grown out of or send to tip as soon as poss. Same with toys etc. why don't you spend the next few week having a huge clear out then you won't be moving lots of stuff you don't need.
Do it while they are at school and they will never miss it!

specialsubject · 09/03/2014 10:25

let's sort out the confusion. England and Wales system.

exchange is when you commit to buy and know it will all happen. You need to insure the building from this date. You will NOT get keys at this time.
completion is when you get the keys and pay, and by then the vendors must have left. You need to insure both building and contents from this date.

your vendors do not have to give you any access until completion. You may, repeat may, be able to negotiate bringing over some outside stuff - our buyers asked for this, it was no odds to us that they filled the garden a few days before we left. However you need to ensure a very clear boundary, as otherwise their removers may take your stuff by mistake! (we did this by already emptying sheds and so telling the removers 'nothing outside')

as you have a rental, it is definitely worth paying for a week or so extra to provide an overlap - we did this, makes life much easier.

wigglybeezer · 09/03/2014 10:30

Speaking from recent experience insurance might prove tricky, I recently had to pay £600 to insure a flat we have bought for six months but are not moving into right away, and that does not cover contents ( this despite the fact that it is the flat below us ( lower half of conversion) and we are in and out all the time but crucially no one is sleeping there. You might be okay if it is going to be empty for less than 30 days though.

Original poster
Rooners · 09/03/2014 13:14

Oh thank you everyone. Yes clearing out is in progress! Some stuff I can't do for the time being but we are going through boxes of random toys etc.

Specialsubject - thanks for clearing up the confusion. I definitely won't want to take anything there till we have the keys and they have left. That's not what I meant to start with - sorry to get it all muddled. I meant completion.

Wiggly, that's a v g point about the insurance. I will make sure it's less than 30 days I think. At least if anything valuable is going to be there. I might take stuff that isn't valuable, before that.

Lots of stuff to think about and get in the right order Smile

Going to finish taking climbing frame to bits I think...sigh...

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FourArms · 09/03/2014 13:43

We did this - completed in Apr & moved in mid-June. Went up each weekend to decorate (and slept there for two nights a week). No problem with insurance. By the June we had enough stuff there to survive - I was cross when the extra house full arrived!!!

Original poster
Rooners · 09/03/2014 14:00

Yes Fourarms I think I might feel the same - all these boxes are getting in the way! I might just set fire to them all instead of bringing them tbh Grin

It is lovely just having what you use, daily, isn't it? Though the boys keep demanding dressing up outfits and stuff that I have packed.

OP posts:
specialsubject · 09/03/2014 14:16

remember that the reason for the insurance is for the most expensive thing - the house! you are committed to buy from exchange, even if it burns down the next day.

Original poster
Rooners · 09/03/2014 14:18

Yes, we will have buildings insurance for sure. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. It is the first time I've been involved in a house purchase. Am a thicky Smile

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ChunkyPickle · 09/03/2014 14:24

I've always done this, except when moving countries, and intend to do it again this time around. Once I moved between rented accommodation using carrier bags, taking a couple each day after work!

I also like to camp there the night I complete, but that might not happen now that I have kids.

Mandy21 · 09/03/2014 16:37

Also did this, kept rental house for about 3 weeks after completion. Meant we could do some emergency alterations - like having the 40yr old carpet replaced - before we moved in. Did the move ourselves on the final weekend (hired a van).

Preciousbane · 09/03/2014 17:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShoeWhore · 09/03/2014 17:41

This approach is my idea of hell Grin esp with young children. It's a real pain not having access to your stuff and I would minimise the amount of time this is a problem by getting the removers to do as much as possible.

Do get decluttering though Smile

EllieQ · 09/03/2014 17:51

We did something similar when we bought our first house - moved most things (hired van and drove ourselves) on one day, but had the next few days to shift the remaining stuff (carload by carload). This was only possible as we stayed in our rented house for a few weeks after completion due to work needed on the new house (a fun month paying rent and mortgage!).

We're planning to move house this year, and have already decided that we'll rent a storage unit when we prep our (overcrowded) house for going on the market, and move inessential stuff out of the house. Hopefully this will reduce moving costs as we'll only need to get a removal company in for everything left in the house - we can empty the storage unit gradually after the move.

We need to declutter to get the house presentable, so might as well make moving day easier for us!

Lioninthesun · 09/03/2014 18:28

I've just done a move from one street to the next in the way you describe. I thought same as you - will be nice to clear things out as and when they are packed up etc. It is completely backbreaking! I had no car so was literally ferrying banana boxes of books over (banana boxes are fab as you can pack quite a bit in and still be able to lift it, plus they are stackable) but it took me a couple of weeks. In hindsight it would have been far better to just have a van and a day of slog rather than drag it out. I had to juggle it with nursery times and rushing about for 2 weeks felt horrible. You may be more organised though and have hands to help! I'd say try to get the boxes into the rooms you want them in if you do it this way. I ended up spending an hour or two unpacking kitchen things, which meant the kitchen was at least relatively functional when we got in. That was one of the better ideas Wink

liftdoors · 09/03/2014 18:36

I did this when moving into DP's house from my own place - no time limits as I was keeping on my old flat and DH obviously didn't mind me bringing Ikea bags and boxes of stuff over! It was a 15 min walk or short bus ride - ended up taking things like ironing board and chest of drawers on the bus over several months. It made me realise that I could leave a bunch of stuff in my old flat as I ended up living at DP's place without missing it and ended up just getting rid of it in the end!

Original poster
Rooners · 09/03/2014 18:49

Thanks so much everyone. Some brill ideas here.

Ellie, yes that was sort of the idea with the garage. It's made things a lot clearer here in the interim - plus we had a flood in the conservatory so I had to take things out of there, it's like one of those plastic letter puzzles, trying to get all the bits in order by moving them round in circles!

I haven't got any help really, but I have got use of a good car and am thinking I'll just stack the boot every time we go over there.

I just want to be able to say to the removal people, 'these boxes, this furniture' etc and not have all the little bits and pieces hanging about everywhere to get in the way.

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Clayhead · 09/03/2014 19:02

We did this! Had a three week overlap between rental and completion, took stuff over in the car each day and only had furniture for removal men to do. We had the kitchen up and running and curtains up so the day we moved in was dead easy.

Original poster
Rooners · 09/03/2014 19:33

Oh wow - that was the reply I'd been waiting for Grin

If I could get it down to just furniture I'd be so so happy.

I think it is the mountainous way it is all appearing at the moment, that I want to try and conquer a little bit iyswim.

Bit by bit.

If I leave it all till the day it is going to seem totally impossible.

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