When to start packing to move

[zippyswife]

I don’t want to get ahead of myself as this is the third house we’ve been trying to buy over the last year and I’m well aware that things can still go wrong. But in theory we’re hoping to move in august.

What things should I be doing now to prepare to move? When should I start packing? I’ve got 3 primary age dcs so I’d like to get ahead of the game before school holiday hits and they’re at home.

We started packing non essentials about a month before we expect to be completing. I cornered off a section of a room and just filled it with boxes of Christmas ornaments/cr*p that we all store but use once in a blue moon/spare duvets etc. When we went to sign for exchange the solicitor announced that the buyer would like to complete in 5 days (which was a total shock as our original purchase had 4 weeks between exchange and completion) so I was glad of the head start!

I’d start stocking up on bubble wrap/tape/marker pens etc too so it’s not something to add to the rush once you have a date!

I’ve been waiting to move for what feels like eternity. No end in sight yet.

But i’ve packed up things we don’t “need” everyday. So the bookshelves have been cleared, All those extra plates and things you use for christmas etc (although the way things are going, I wouldn’t be surprised to have to unpack those!).

But in reality, most of our stuff is kitchen things, clothes and toys. So there isn’t much else I could pack until we get a date.

I’m in rented though so in all likelihood, we’ll have a couple of weeks to move things.

I massively decluttered before I put the house on the market. I'm sure you have tons of kids stuff they've grown out of or you are keeping for sentiment- go through all that and be ruthless.
Then yep you could start packing all your Xmas stuff, 'best' China and so on, but really I would recommend packers. You need to get a suitcase each of essentials (don't forget favourite teddies etc), a box to get you through a day (kettle, some cutlery, dinnerware and tea, and some dry goods), which you put in your car, park the kids with relatives or whomever, then let them at it.

Pay for professional packing then all you need to do is ditch anything you don't want and they do all the rest a day before you move. Best money you can spend.

I’d also recommend packers. It was an extra £500 on the removal company bill but so so worth it. All you need to do is to be tidy and organised the day before they come, and they’ll go through the house like locusts packing up far faster and more efficiently than you ever would.

Declutter like mad now

Pay for packing at move time.

Yes it costs extra but best money ever spent for the time/stress saved.

Also your contents insurance will often cover breakages if professionally packed (and if not then your movers insurance should cover) but no cover if you packed yourself.

I'm (fingers crossed) moving on Thursday. We started decluttering when the house went on the market anyway ready for the photos and video being done. About 3/4 weeks ago I got the kids to go through all their books toys etc and decide what they wanted to keep and what was for charity. At that point we boxed up all the DVDs CDs books etc. Then last weekend we started packing in earnest.

Get packers in, especially if you have children. So much less stress. Can declutter beforehand but get someone else to do the packing.

We have decluttered like mad. Everything we have now is going with us. Attic is packed ready. I will pack everything else as soon as we exchange.

If you can afford it, get packers-I wouldn’t move without them

I'd start packing now.
never a better a chance to sort through clutter and chuck everything you don't want in your new house.

the last time we moved we had our offer accepted mid-January. I was 3m pg so I started sorting through crap straightaway, because I knew that it would take me weeks to get stuff done (we had 6 kids already so had to fit it in between them, puking & naps😳)

we moved 4 m later, by then I had sorted so much and labelled everything that even though we didn't unpack boxes this end quickly I knew where to find most stuff.

we got the removal guys to come on the Wednesday & Thursday to pack a lot of things then to put it all in the vans on the Friday, moving day.

I'd start now.