move help!

[dippyeggsandsoldiers]

So me and my partner have finally found a house we both love. We've only ever moved out of our parents house to the house we're in now.
Fast forward 4 years, we've now got a house full, our one year old and a dog. We have 3 weeks to pack everything and move.
I'm starting to feel anxious now thinking about packing and getting sorted.
Does anyone have any tips on how to make the move as smooth as possible? Any tips highly appreciated!

room by room
3 boxes

• bin/recycle
• charity shop
• sell

do one room at the time, kitchen last.
if you could leave dc&dog at relatives on move day, that would help.

(or hire movers/packers)

Get removal people to do it all.

Start now!
Empty your loft / shed / garage first. Try to be ruthless - take what you can to the tip or charity shops etc.

Get lots of boxes - removal firms generally sell you them and will buy them back afterwards (you don't necessarily have to be using that company). Don't pack all the same things in one box - books for example would then be too heavy.

If you have lots of towels / quilts etc, spread them through boxes as extra padding.

Start packing everything you know you won't use for 3 months, NOW.
Christmas decorations / photo albums / books / DVDs / 'memories' / etc.

Label every box - clearly with which room it needs to go in, and then either with a list on the outside of what is in it, or a number, then list contents on your lap top (Kitchen / Box 4) or (Bedroom 2, Box 1) etc.

Pay the removal firm to pack for you. They are a lot faster than you will be and are skilled at it. Then you can live normally until a couple of days before the move. Spend your time decluttering instead of stressing about packing and living surrounded by boxes.

If you can find the extra money, the best money you will spend on moving is to get the removal men to do it.
Do as @greenelephantscarf says first so that all rooms are sorted and you're not paying to move stuff you don't actually need to move!
But they'll pack and protect all your belongings. Our's also dismantled all furniture that needed it and rebuilt it in the right places in the right rooms at our new place - game changer!

I completely agree with PazRaz. And you'll wonder why you ever contemplated doing it yourself.

Those of you who have used packing and removal services - is it usual to pay after the move; a deposit before and balance after; or all up front?

Thanks :)

so far I only moved with packers once internationally for work and payment was due 2 weeks before moving.
don't know if regional movers have different conditions.

A deposit to confirm the date for one move with the balance payable when completion/moving date was confirmed and full payment upfront for the last move in order to reserve the day. Do it varies between companies. There has been some flexibility with movers as long as I've kept them posted. What they don't want is to find themselves without a job/payment because someone pull out.

Start by clearing out, be ruthless! Then pack things you're unlikely to need between now and moving. Label clearly as you may not fully unpack as soon as you move ( We moved 4 weeks ago still have lots in boxes). Then as you get closer pack nearly all clothes, just leave enough to get through the week.

Have a suitcase with a few outfits each, toiletries, underwear and socks and anything you will need imediately after moving. This was really helpful as it meant we didn't need to touch the boxes during the madness of moving.

And if you can use removals, they were worth their weight in gold and I will never move without them (If i can bring myself to move again). They didn't pack for us as I couldn't handle that but having them to do all of the lifting and going up and downstairs was priceless. We paid them after the move, no deposit and the date changed several times.

If you can find someone to have your dog for the day it would help, our poor cat ended up either on his harness or in his carrier for the whole day to make sure he didn't escape with the doors being constantly open.

Good luck! We had only ever moved from parents to the house we just sold which we'd lived in for 14 years. It is hard packing up a full house but it's worth it once you're in your new house.

Thanks for the info re paying for removals, much appreciated!

Good luck for your move dippyeggs :)

Clear out the crap first, don't take it with you.

Then start doing the things you don't need between now and the move, room by room. Label the boxes, with what's in it and what room it's going in in the new house.

Look for a removal company who offer cardboard wardrobes, ours took all clothes out of our wardrobes, and then hung them again at the other end. Buy boxes from a removal firm, they're sturdier and they'll be sized identically so will stack well. Try and dedicate a space in your house where you can start piling boxes up, and label the shit out of them.

Overall, use a removal company. Not only will they do all the hard work, ours took apart and rebuilt furniture, helped me plumb in the washing machine, etc, but they're also great support emotionally and know a lot about how to hurry keys along, etc...