Moving day tomorrow. Tell me your stories and tips please!

[parrotonmyshoulder]

It's 6 years since we last did this, and that was from a small house with one small baby. This time is with two children (and a dog).

Move isn't too far - 20 miles.

How do we make it go as smoothly as possible? Removals firm arriving at 8.30. Children being shipped off to friends until the afternoon.

I don't have any amazing advice or tips for an easy day, but the one thing I do every time I move is unpack and set up the bed with bedding, the kettle and cups, and the TV/sky first. So, no matter how much unpacking you get done or how horrific the day is, you can always sit in front of the Tele with a cuppa and crawl into bed. Bliss after a hectic day.

Very good idea!
DH has already ensured that the Internet is working in the new house!

Let the removals men get on with it while you do a last mad clean before collecting keys.
Does the place you're moving to have fridge/freezer installed?
Have something easy to cook on hand, we made up a chilli and froze it overnight, it defrosted in a cool bag the next day. Easy to cook in microwave, on hob or in oven and I've just discovered the miracle of pre cooked rice and would recommend that.
Pack up a box of kitchen and bathroom essentials- kettle, plates, mugs, biscuits, salt, loo roll, dog food etc so you aren't having to unpack 6 boxes before the kids can use the loo!
Good luck - how exciting, new home for Christmas!

Supper will be fish and chips to check out the local chippy!

Fortunately, we're leaving this house empty so don't need to do the deep clean until we redecorate it next week .

Find somewhere near to the new house where you can set up base whilst waiting for the Phone Call. Even the local Tesco car park will work - somewhere to get coffee and snacks, good mobile reception. Although if Dog is travelling with you, a park with a cafe might be better.
We were moving 60 miles and knew there would be at least a few hours between completion of our sale and completion of our purchase. DH headed off with the DC whilst I handed the keys in and made the necessary phone calls to utilities from the car. Then we rondezvous 'd at the chosen base, liaising with solicitors and removal men who were parked up at Maidstone services, while having a little early lunch, giving the DC a bit of air and walking the dogs. Then DH went to get keys and I met the removal men at the new house.
I'd specifically asked earlier in the day if a sofa could be brought in first and set up the DC watching a film on the laptop in a quiet corner. I also had some temporary fencing so I could make the dogs a little pen in the garden pending a full inspection of the fences to make sure they couldn't escape.

Good luck! If there is any doubt in the back of your mind about the vendors and their intentions, have a back up plan in case you are unable to move in (e.g. because they have piled the ground floor 1m high with junk in addition to leaving broken furniture and white goods throughout the house). Don't want to scare you with horror stories, and I think if they are the type to try this kind of thing you will have already picked up some vibes.

Vendors cleared their stuff yesterday, apart from what we've agreed to keep. Only a chain of two so should be straightforward tomorrow.

YY to making the beds up first.

I'm fascinated byt the fact you're redecorating the house you are leaving.....?

To hope it sells quicker.

I second - or is it third ? - setting up beds as a priority. No matter what else happens at least you all have somewhere to flop once you have done as much as you can.

Unless the house youre leaving is a disaster I really wouldnt bother redecorating. Maybe a touch up if theres wallpaper missing or crayony scribblings but otherwise buyers usually prefer their own colour schemes. Just think- did you buy the new place solely on its lovely paintjob?

Save yourselves time and effort for the new place.

I moved with one child, one dog and nine months pregnant.... I would advise getting someone to look after the dog for the day!

Also third / fourth setting the beds up as a priority

In fact, I did my DD's whole room, she was only 2.5 and I didn't want her to feel homesick or displaced so I sorted her whole room right down to stuffed animals and ornaments... I even put up her bunting and butterflies... How old are your DC?

I think the OP might not be selling the house they're leaving (only thing that makes sense with the redecorating) in which case there's much less pressure as you'll not be working to a key handover deadline.

Yes, house we're leaving is a long and complicated story and decorating is the right thing to do.

Someone is looking after the dog for the day, fortunately.

So, TV, bedrooms, somewhere to sit, kettle are the essentials. FIL to plumb in washing machine. Ah, hadn't thought properly about fridge/ freezer. They're built in. We're not turning this one off but there's only a cool box worth of freezer food to take.

I'm desperately hoping for it to be drier than today as I dont relish the thought of traipsing wet feet through our new house!

Helpful thread for me too as I am moving soon! How long is a typical wait for completion on moving day? We have a short chain of our buyers and us and our vendor. Our new house is only 10 mins away so I'm really hoping we don't have to sit outside for several hours waiting for the keys. I will have a row of complaining cats in boxes on the back seat of my car!!

completion on a Monday is an excellent idea AS LONG as the solicitors haven't all gone off to get drunk; I'm impressed you can get things working this week. (No reason why not of course, it is 4 days to the bank holiday)

charge the phone, have plenty of credit and chase regularly from 11am.

know where the following are: bedding, kettle, mugs, biscuits, toilet roll, one towel.

leave the dog where it is overnight if possible. Settling kids and a dog is making extra work.

the urgent address changes are: house insurance (remember full insurance from completion so that's your first phone call to switch that on from the basic insurance you should have already), car insurance, car V5 and be certain your redirect is working. Read meters in the new property as soon as you arrive and write down figures until you can contact the utility suppliers.

good luck!

Good list, special. We did all the address changes on line yesterday, so just the insurance to activate.

Dog will be easy. Kids not so! And in-laws, well...

This has been dragging on forever so solicitor will be delighted to complete and never have to speak to us again!

Is it normal to be terrified, once you've seen all your stuff packed (apart from all the crap in the garage and garden) to think there's far too much and the removals men will refuse to do it!? They came and saw the house when they quoted, so I guess they know how much there'll be. We also have loads of stuff in a nearby storage facility but they're meant to have factored that in.

DC2 now vomiting...

To take the pressure of DCs make sure they have their favourite Ted and they are ready to show Ted around the house and make them feel at home. Teddies need a full guided tour and be shown all the interesting corners and rooms. Before you know it, they've done the job of settling themselves in, and their Ted...

'Off' not 'of'!

Hope the big move went well today! Don't forget to pop to the nearest shops/highstreet and pick up a few takeaway menus. Enjoy your new home!