starting to pack, where do I start !!

[tickleyourpickle]

We're moving in 3 weeks.
We have 2 DCs, 3&5 and I have inconveniently broken my hand

DH works long hours so it's pretty much left to me to pack our house up with 2 DCs and a broken hand

I don't want to disturb the childrens stuff too much and would like to do their rooms last so as not to cause too much change for them but their stuff will probably take the longest to sort!

I have boxes, tape, big labels ect any other handy tips about what I will need?

[Fedupofallthemud]

We are also moving at some point in next 2 weeks (assuming money for final instalment of self build comes through on time)
We are in rental at the moment so a lot of our stuff is in storage so unpacking once we move will be a bigger job than the move itself.
I've been decluttering for a year in preparation but may get rid of any other few things before we actually move.
I think packing up the kitchen will be the biggest challenge as I have a lot of big heavy pots etc. planning to pack ourselves but removals doing the moving
Marking place for good tips!! (Have already been working on the freezer wowfudge )

[goldenlilliesdaffodillies]

We are also moving in just over 2 weeks. The amount of clutter which needs sorting/getting rid of is so overwhelming. We are getting packers but I still don't know where to start so have been tackling a cupboard at a time.

Good luck!

[Janecc]

I mean he packs the boxes as well.

[Janecc]

Well done for getting rid of a bunch of stuff. Your dh is not acting in your best interest as a family I'm afraid. Movers aren't actually that dear if you shop around. We have always used packers. If he wants to do the move yourselves, I would tell him you're take the kids to your parents or on holiday somewhere out of the way from himand he can do it himself undisturbed and without distractions.

[JT05]

You must use packers! It is madness not to! Beg, steal or borrow the extra money!!
Especially, with your broken hand and small children. Unpacking will be bad enough.

We had packers and storage when we last moved, years ago. Our children were little. It was wonderful, they packed everything they came across. ( including the children's sweets!😪 )

We are moving again, a few days after you. This time there are only the two of us, both able bodied, but we are using the packing service again.

[orchidnap]

Your poor buyers won't be impressed when they come to move in and find your overwhelmed dp trying to shove stuff in a van!

[AlisonWunderland]

Sounds like a plan. You need to look after the kids....

[tickleyourpickle]

I've just asked how on earth he is going to even consider moving all the heavy stuff, apparently he's getting his mates and brothers to help.

I think I might just go out for the day on completion and let him deal with it all, then when he's all stressed and knackered I shall be sat sipping my gin complete a smug face

[wowfudge]

Doreen - I work full time too, it's just about planning. Running down the contents of a freezer can be done over a longer period of time. Moving a freezer which is full of ice and bits of food with used bed linen inside sounds rank if I'm honest. Plus it does not make making up beds at the other end easy.

[wowfudge]

Moving house is a big undertaking. I think your DH would be viewing things very differently if he had a broken hand. In your shoes I'd be telling him I wasn't going to jeopardise my future health because he was being 1) mean over money and 2) unrealistic.

[DoreenLethal]

Sorry, but I have to disagree with your top tip Doreen

Your method is fine if you can run down all the food a few days beforehand. I tend to work for a living and don't have the time to do the defrost a few days beforehand so bunging the bedding into the swiftly emptied fridge/freezer has saved me from having to faff about many times.

I spoke to DH about it last night and he's still adamant we can do it ourselves

When he says 'we' he means 'you' right? Nice.

[CiderwithBuda]

What is his objection?

You physically can't and shouldn't be lifting heavy stuff with a broken hand.
You have two young children.
He is working.

I'd be telling him I wasn't moving!

I agree you can get organised and declutter and pack smaller items but you cannot physically help,shift heavy furniture up and down stairs and into and out of a van.

He is mad.

[tickleyourpickle]

Wow thanks everyone, some really good tips there.
We're not short on funds, we could afford the packers. I spoke to DH about it last night and he's still adamant we can do it ourselves yet again though, he is at work.
I do think i can pack ourselves up over the next 2 weeks, but he isn't considering things like moving the washing machine / fridge freezer ect which I'm going to be no help with.

I'm making the most of the nice weather and sorting the garden out whilst the kids play.

My "tip" pile is mounting!

[wowfudge]

Sorry, but I have to disagree with your top tip Doreen. Put the bedding - pillows in pillow cases, duvets in duvet covers - in bin liners and take in the car. That way you can easily and quickly make up the beds in the new house with no need to find the bedding.

As for the freezer, etc - run down supplies and set to defrost a couple of days before moving day. Empty, clean and leave door ajar, but switched off if possible. If it's a fridge freezer and clean and empty it won't come to any harm over a few hours with no power supply.

[DoreenLethal]

I also agree with getting the packers in with a broken hand. It is all very well for him to say no but he is opting out by not being there to pack himself.

Before they come in though - do a sweep of each room and ditch everything you can. The packers will have boxes and the boxes should have all the rooms printed on the sides, and they will mark which room it all needs to go back into in the new house.

I have paid for removals for the last 4 moves. After doing all my previous moves myself [and I have lived in 20 odd different places since leaving home] it is worth its weight in gold. I have always done the packing but if I had a broken hand, I would pay someone to do it for me.

One top tip though - when you take the sheets off the bed on moving day, bung them into the fridge and freezer so that when they defrost, the bedding soaks up any water and then bung the bedding straight into the wash in the new house and wipe down the fridge/freezer and when you turn it on the next day, you are good to go.

Always save the kettle and mugs and spoons and tea/coffee and buy a fresh milk on the way so you can have a cuppa when you get there. And have some cleaning stuff for your last clean as you leave [do each room as it empties] and to wipe down stuff whilst they are shifting all the boxes to the rooms. Otherwise you are fannying about opening boxes trying to get the cleaning/tea stuff and getting in their way.

[Ememem84]

Agree. Either get the packers in. Or start packing stuff away now.

We're thinking of moving next year and I'm starting the declutter now...

[orangina01]

Get the packers in! I think your DH is being very unreasonable unless you are really tight on funds. It is the best money we spent moving house and it is usually less than you think.

[greenfolder]

Last time we moved I vowed we would never move again unless we got a removal firm and full packing service. It is an essential expense of moving house. De clutter, esp whilst kids are out but get packers to do it.

[ExtraHotLatteToGo]

You have a 3yo & a 5yo AND a broken hand and instead of seeing what help you need on a daily basis your DH is saying you need to pack up the house!? I hope you have a spare bedroom at the new house, he's going to need it. Cockwomble.

Shop around because they vary in price from extremely reasonable to WTAF. But also make sure you're comparing apples with apples and ring anyone you know that could either recommend or otherwise a company to go with.

Carry on decluttering, you'll thank yourself at the other end.

[SugarPlumTree]

Everyone has said it before me so just to add that the packers pack literally everything so make sure you have a box of essentials stashed away that you take rather than going on the van.

[caroldecker]

Them packing also insures everything.

[wowfudge]

Our move is going to take about 3 days in total - having the full packing service was only about £200 extra.

[cudbywestrangers]

It really is worth paying for packing! We moved 6 months ago and no way we could have done it ourselves. They boxed up our overflowing 3 bed house in a morning... get those quotes!

[AlisonWunderland]

Packers are worth every hundreds of pounds penny.
Doing a pre pack clear out is more than enough for you to do, and makes it easier all round
Remember that you have to unpack the stuff yourself so you'll need your broken hand kept safe

[tickleyourpickle]

Thanks all, funnily enough the postman delivered not one, but two leaflets from moving companies - it must be a sign

I've filled 6 bin bags of rubbish and had a really good sort out in the kitchen and dining room. It's a start.

The move falls slap bang in the middle of the Easter holidays, Joy! But I'm sure our parents will help with the move / babysitting

We're actually completing on our sale on the 30th March, but can't complete on the purchase until the 8th April, but the LOVELY lady buying our house has said we can stay in it until the 8th ..... she will be receiving a huge bunch of flowers!!! Or we literally would have been homeless for a week !