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Moving house on Friday - what are your top tips?

18 replies

Brabbs · 19/02/2020 01:53

I know about taking a kettle etc box in my car, valuables the same. I intend to also put my bedding in there and my cat Grin
Any other top tips? I'm separating too and it's 24 years since I did this alone..!

OP posts:
2018SoFarSoGreat · 19/02/2020 02:16

Do not lose the one box with bedding, towels for the day, tooth brushes etc.

Speaking from experience.

2018SoFarSoGreat · 19/02/2020 02:18

Oh. Also number boxes by room (1 of 6, 2 of 6) etc so that you will know when one is missing. The better the description is the easier your life will be.

Brabbs · 19/02/2020 02:41

Great idea re numbering boxes like that thank you !

Oh toiletries- yes another one to keep in my car!

OP posts:
Watto1 · 19/02/2020 02:56

The very first thing to do in the new house is make up the beds. Nothing worse than wanting to fall into bed after a hard days unpacking but having to find the bedding and put it on the bed first.

MrsTerryPratchett · 19/02/2020 03:20

Know where the kettle, tea bags, milk and mugs are.

Champagne and fish and chips the first night.

FurrySlipperBoots · 19/02/2020 04:08

Keep your cat in when you get to the new place, or they might do a runner!

LangSpartacusCleg · 19/02/2020 05:01

Don’t do it! I moved last week and am still recovering.

Ok, so that isn’t useful advice.

Can you afford professional Removalists? If so, hire them to do the packing for you.

Try to do a full clean of the new place before your furniture and boxes arrives. It is so much easier when you don’t need to navigate half unpacked boxes and cushions on the floor.

Even if you don’t usually use antibacterial wipes, get some just for cleaning for the move. Much easier than running around with spray and cloths when you are in a rush.

Unpack as quickly as possible so you don’t lose momentum.

Designate and label a ‘random’ box for things that you find after packing, things that are too large for the box they should go in, random stuff. It will be easier to find things that way.

Decent drawers into plastic bags. Clothes or kitchen items or desk drawers - one drawer per bag, it is easy and organised when you get to the other end.

Stop reading. You don’t need books. They are too heavy to move. You can borrow them from a library or get them on kindle. They are also a pain in the ass to unpack - bend, lift, stretch, bend, lift, stretch. And definitely don’t put them in wheeled suitcases (I did that because of a tip on Pinterest and it was a bloody stupid thing to do - the suitcases were so heavy it was hard to roll them, difficult to turn them around corners and impossible to lift them. I should have used archive boxes (one per shelf) which I have done in the past and which worked well.

LangSpartacusCleg · 19/02/2020 05:02

*Decant drawers, not decent drawers. I don’t care about the state of your drawers but if you decant them like wine, you will be more organised at the other end,

Blondie1984 · 19/02/2020 05:30

Take a toolkit in the car - with something sharp in it open the boxes.
Have a comforting meal planned for the first night in your new place
Take some snuggly clothes in your car in case it takes the new place a bit of time to warm up

Brabbs · 19/02/2020 05:50

watto1 great idea. My son isn't there first night so I'll only have mine to do Smile

mrsterry I'll definitely have that box in my car! Cheese crackers and fizzy water planned. I'm so rock and roll!

furryslipperboots oh definitely plan to for a few weeks he's my baby and a big baby to boot!

LangSpartacusCleg fabulous tips! Books have been charity shopped. I felt bad but I'm massively downsizing and something had to go! New place is empty and freshly renovated but wipes are a good idea. My removals men take full drawers! Just no breakables in them- superb! But great idea re the random box I'll start one tonight Smile

Blondie1984 I wouldn't have thought of that!! Thank you

Thanks for the brilliant tips! Wish I had a day off to finish packing but sadly not!

OP posts:
Extrapepperoni · 19/02/2020 07:08

You can get special closet/clothes boxes which you can just transfer hangers directly into and out of. Saves the faff of folding and clothes don't get crushed either! And, if you use IKEA sorter boxes for other stuff like socks, knickers etc pack those directly into boxes so you can just lift out and pop back into a cupboard/drawer. Unpacking clothes is the part I hate most and this makes it so much easier :)

Other than that, use your local Facebook group (and get on the one for the area you are moving to) to source and then get rid of cardboard boxes.

Pack your fridge last, into an eski/ice cooler - along with your frozen bits to keep everything cool (though separate meat into a plastic bag for hygiene). Do this while they are loading the van.

Get the movers to put furniture where you want and unload the kitchen first (including fridge and plug that in if you have a freestanding one). I usually start unpacking the kitchen as soon as the first boxes are unloaded. Oh, and pop your champagne/wine in the fridge as soon as it is plugged in!!

Hire cleaners for where you are moving out of if renting and for the new place.

Good luck moving! It's a pain in the arse but hopefully a fresh start for you. X

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 19/02/2020 07:12

Stick a little envelope on outside of box. In envelope put a detailed list of what the box contains. That way some boxes can wait until later to be unpacked and you don’t open every box looking for something specific. Military wife with lots of moves under my belt this has been a game changer for me

Frenchw1fe · 19/02/2020 07:13

I put a note through new neighbours doors to warn them that a removal van was coming and to please tell me if they needed to move a car etc.
They were very nice and sent me new home cards. It puts you in a considerate light. You don't want issues with neighbours.

Good luck.

Notyetthere · 19/02/2020 11:29

I came on here to also say make the beds first at the new house but someone beat me to it.

If you don't have those boxes for hanging clothes, you can use wheelie bin liner bags instead. You just punch a small hole at the top for the hangers to protrude through. This is how i moved all my dresses and trousers.

Itwasntme1 · 19/02/2020 11:40

Most things are already covered.

Keep phone chargers handy, you will spend so much time on the phone to solicitors, estate agents etc.

Note book and pen to dribble down electric meter stuff etc.

Have cash to tip removal men.

Leave a bottle of wine and house warming card in old house - Leaves a nice impression of you have to drop back for anything.

Have cat litter and litter tray handy and close cat in a safe quiet room while people are coming and going.

Itwasntme1 · 19/02/2020 11:41

Scribble not dribble😊

ThePittts · 19/02/2020 11:47

take a photo of gas and electric meters, and water if metered, both the place you are leaving and the new house. Good luck with the move

Kateplaysrugbyinmydreams · 19/02/2020 15:53

Buy sugar. Removers take lots in tea.

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