Moving house with kids and animals - please please help

[MahMahMahMahCorona]

I am so overwhelmed I just don't know where to start. Moving out of former marital home - me and the kids and the dogs and the cats. ExH moved out three years ago. Never been more happily divorced.

I've got a quote from a wonderful removals firm and they've given me some boxes to just start getting going. Moving in a month.

I just don't know where to start. I don't know what to do with the kids on the day, what I'll need in the two boxes I will be able to fit in the car alongside literally the most important things in the world that I get to keep (kids and pets), I've got PTSD and I just want to hide in a dark room until this is over. I've had a skip already which I filled but I don't have enough stuff to fill another.

Should I be utterly ruthless and chuck out everything I don't think I need? Or meticulous and just spend this next month sorting everything out so we only take what we absolutely want / need?

My kitchen alone will take days to pack up. I don't even know whether my ASDA delivery will allow me to change my address. Oh my god what about my post?

I've never done this before - can you tell?

Please help me write a list 😳

I've moved regularly as a child and an adult. It's always bit of chaos but works out in end. As a kid it was adventure and loved camping out in house.

As kids we went through our toys and decided if there was anything we didn't need. We also helped with packing to some extent.

If you can find somewhere for pets to go. One of my dogs gets quite nervous as she doesn't understand what's happening.

Write list of all places you need to change address for, then cross them off and write date you informed them on in case of later issues. Sort internet out as soon as you can.

Get 6 months of post redirected from post office.

Survival kit in car, sleeping bags and pillows for first night if you have them. Tea making kit is last thing to go in car and first thing out with enough mugs for family and movers. Couple bits of cleaning kit can be useful such as bin bags, you will definitely need them for unwrapping. Some scissors for opening boxes and phone charger.

Order takeout first night that doesn't need cutlery or plates.

Label boxes top and side with which room in new house, so movers know which room to put it in without asking. Put brief summary on top and side, so you know what's in it even when they are stacked.

Clothes, sheets and tea towels can be used as padding as well as newspaper. If I've been stuck have ordered tissue paper off ebay. It's worth it if your cherished things don't get broken. Mark box fragile if it's china.

Try to think about your furniture layout before hand, then the movers can put heavy pieces in their permanent positions and put boxes around them.

When you unpack, try and get one room clear as soon as you can. It's nice to have one spot that is normal and will give you hope.I

Remember to take meter readings for the property you leave and the one you move into. I take a picture with my camera, then photo is dated in case of any disputes.

Find out where nearest tip is, you will have lots of rubbish.

Sometimes removers will take boxes away with them, so worth finding out and getting load emptied before they go.

Make sure you clearly understand what is happening with keys in both side. You don't want to be hanging around.

Come moving day, have one upstairs room which is already empty and make it a no-go room for the removals people. Put your important/valuable things in there and set the kids up in there with a laptop, snacks and dvds in there too.

As you pack the boxes, tape them up so that you are not tempted to dive into them for something.

And try to clear one room that you dont need to use and then designate that as the one to keep the filled boxes in.

If the property has been previously occupied then aim to arrive before the removal company and give the empty rooms a quick hoover (take hoover in the car with you). There may be dust deposits where the previous occupiers have moved furniture.
As you empty boxes in the new house flatten them and put them in the boot of your car until you have time to deal with them.
Once you're in and settled change the locks. You don't know who the previous owners may have given spare keys to.

Google packing lists for moving house. There s lots of good advice, like contacting electric, gas etc, dismantling what can be dismantles, like beds, packing, and so on. All gives a times schedule, so it's easier. Labelling boxes for each room, child etc.

I'd organise someone to look after the kids and pets That would be the biggest help.

Thank you. Hoover in the car is a great idea. As is cattery / kennel.

On a practical note: how on earth does it all complete at the same time? How do I get keys to the buyers and get keys from the vendors? I can't be in two places at once 😕

You can leave your keys with your estate agent and the same can happen at the other end.

I had agent meet me at new house with the key as I couldn't park outside the shop and couldn't leave the car anywhere. I think DH dropped keys with agent selling old house as he left the village

Hey all! Your help and advice has been wonderful - we are practically sorted!!!

Then I got a call from vendors EA yesterday: the top of the chain didn't know (weren't told by their agent....) what the date of completion was which had put the dates out by a fortnight. How furious should I be? Top of the chain and I share agent. I'm gobsmacked. I have a feeling somewhere in the chain (probably me) someone is going to have to pay for storage 🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

That sounds like a massive pain in the arse. It seems unlikely that that your agent would have just not bothered to tell their other client about the completion date doesn't it? If they really didn't I'd be passing the bill on to them though!

Still, even if you have to drag it out for 2 more weeks and pay for storage it'll all be forgotten when you make it into your new home.

Can you afford to pay for the packing service? It might not be as much as you think - worth asking.

Declutter first.

Good tip I saw on here was to label each room - so put a sticker or bit of paper on door of new house so you can say Room 1 when they ask where stuff is to go.

Oh and we put the cat in a friend's house for the day. With a litter tray.

I was coming on to suggest a packing service too. You could contact your removals firm to get a quote at least. Also some removal firms will put beds together for you for an extra cost so that at least you have somewhere to sleep on the first night. They will do it much faster than you'll ever do it on your own! Can you ask a couple of friends to help? They could put essentials in their car and everything else can go in removals van.
Label boxes with the rooms they will go into and write urgent on boxes you will need straight away. Pack a bag for each child with pj's and clothes for a couple of days. Take meter readings in old and new houses, and take a photo of each meter.
I did this 6 years ago - moved from big posh family home to small semi detached after divorce with a small child. Never been happier! Enjoy your fresh start and I wish you every happiness in your new home 😁🏡

I did it! We are here, we are unpacked, the children are delighted and the animals are content.

Thank you alllll for helping me

Enjoy your new home, OP!

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Never underestimate your own abilities OP! You are a strong woman! Enjoy your new place.