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Original poster

How long to pack a house??

50 replies

NavyNails2 · 15/06/2022 15:32

I feel like it won't take that long, am I being delusional? We don't have a set in stone move date yet but a provisional date has been given within the next 2-3 weeks. I just keep walking around the house not knowing what to do. I also have the fear it could all still fall through so almost reluctant to do anything. I'm normally so organised but with two young children I feel like I'm going to need almost everything until the last minute. Any advice?

OP posts:
TooMuchBoozeTooManyBoos · 15/06/2022 15:38

You are totally delusional Grin

Professional packers work at a phenominal rate with very little downtime (breaks, stopping etc). Even then, it would take 3 men at least 2 FULL days of work to pack my house and I've moved so many times I;ve got rid of a lot of 'spare' stuff. I could not physically do the kind of full day they can do, so what takes them 6 man days would take me at least 9, I think.

Please do not leave it. Start now! Shock

Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas · 15/06/2022 15:42

Start with your loft, shed, outhouse now.

Original poster
NavyNails2 · 15/06/2022 15:46

@TooMuchBoozeTooManyBoos I thought I probably was 😆

I'm going to go out to the shed right now, probably just stare at it for a while, and then hopefully motivation will strike.

OP posts:
Mossstitch · 15/06/2022 15:46

Far longer than you think😩 although know what you mean, first move with children everything packed for next day move when solicitor rang saying delayed a fortnight, had to unpack a pan to cook kids tea, then next day changed again to 24hrs later....... Its a nightmare!!

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 15/06/2022 15:47

Time travel!! I swear that’s how the professionals do it.

Start with loft, sheds, garage, outside areas, under statues cupboards, move on to things like sideboards, winter clothes, ornaments, pictures etc. it takes ages and a lot more packing boxes/bubble wrap than you ever think.
even if you are getting professional movers and a packing service, it’s a good idea to go through stuff and sell/donate/bin things you no longer need or are broken.

LadyDanburysHat · 15/06/2022 15:47

Have you not started at all yet?

I started packing up stuff in cupboards that doesn't get used often about 6 weeks out.

If you have decluttered already it's not so bad, but with your timelines you will just have to throw things in boxes as fast as you can. Some stuff can be packed quickly, but anything breakable can take ages when it needs to be wrapped up.

KarrotKake · 15/06/2022 15:48

Packing is one of those jobs that expands to fill the time available. If you start now, it will take 3-4 weeks.
If you start in a fortnight, it will take 1-2 weeks.
If you get tol, with3 days notice, you need to move due to mass building works(cheers Mr Landlord) you can do it in 3 days.

We are hoping to move next month. I'm intending on paying the extra to get he movers to pack.

Tontostitis · 15/06/2022 15:49

Took me about 3 months to get a small 3 bed terrace ready for the professionals to pack and move me. Books took 3 weeks she'd another week loft took at least 3 weeks. I was working full time and doing evenings and weekends and I'd lived there 23 years. They took 2 days to pack, one more day to load and move.

TheFairyCaravan · 15/06/2022 15:50

You’re being delusional. I’ve moved about a dozen times because DH was in the forces. 2-3 weeks beforehand my house was usually almost packed up.

We moved 6 weeks ago and came to the house a week before we were completing to measure for blinds. They had packed nothing. I was gobsmacked. Hence why on the day we got the keys they were still in here, and on the front garden, packing their belongings at 6pm when the house was ours at 2pm. Fortunately we’d arranged removals for the following day.

There’s so much you can pack now.

Original poster
NavyNails2 · 15/06/2022 15:56

@Mossstitch that's so stressful!!

I haven't started packing at all but I have de cluttered a lot. I've got rid of all the baby stuff from the attic (there was a lot) and gone through clothes and shoes. I also vacuum packed the winter coats. (Although this vacuum bags are barely worth the money). But you've all given me the kick up the bum I needed and I am going to spend my evening packing all the pictures and 'stuff' from shelves and on top of units.

OP posts:
Pemba · 15/06/2022 15:57

Can anyone say how much extra it will cost for the full packing service? I know houses are different etc but just to get a rough idea?

Sorry to hijack OP.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 15/06/2022 16:04

We are due to complete in 10 days. Our Vendors haven’t packed anything and they run a business from the house. Contract states clearly, it’s is to be clear of all possessions and vacant upon completion.
Estate agent has already asked what my plans are if it’s not all emptied - I’ve replied I have a skip man on speed dial.

Hathertonhariden · 15/06/2022 16:08

Pemba · 15/06/2022 15:57

Can anyone say how much extra it will cost for the full packing service? I know houses are different etc but just to get a rough idea?

Sorry to hijack OP.

It's worth it even if you have to sell your granny to fund it. Not got current pricing but 2 bed house was a few hundred pounds several years ago

Original poster
NavyNails2 · 15/06/2022 16:10

It'll definitely be all done by the time it needs to be. We're in a very fortunate position where we will be getting the key a few days before official move in date. We aren't allowed to stay there but we are allowed to move things over, so the plan is on the official move out date, the only things left to move will be the mattresses. I have 10 days annual leave starting next week so I'll have me excuses then!

OP posts:
zukiecat · 15/06/2022 16:12

I didn't have furniture to move, so that helped, but DD2 and me moved into a new house in just a little over 24 hours.

It was a very different situation to most people's moving house. It was absolutely crazy!

Original poster
NavyNails2 · 15/06/2022 16:13

@Pemba we had a quote for just the removals, not the actual packing of contents. We have a average 3 bed house, moving approximately a mile away, that was quoted at £900 (in south west).Dread to think how much extra the packing and unpacking of boxes on top of that would be.

OP posts:
Jarstastic · 15/06/2022 16:13

If you are paying removals packing is only a few hundred extra. We’ve done too many moves in the last few years to mention.
last time 4 bedroom house to a 5 bedroom house. They packed for one full day then moved the next morning.
we don’t have a lot of clutter though.

TokyoSushi · 15/06/2022 16:15

We had a very long and painful drawn out move, which came to a conclusion all of a sudden. I packed a 4 bed, 3 storey town house, from scratch in 12 hours, do NOT do that, it was HELL!

TokyoSushi · 15/06/2022 16:16

NavyNails2 · 15/06/2022 16:13

@Pemba we had a quote for just the removals, not the actual packing of contents. We have a average 3 bed house, moving approximately a mile away, that was quoted at £900 (in south west).Dread to think how much extra the packing and unpacking of boxes on top of that would be.

Surprisingly when we got our quotes it was only a couple of hundred more!

disneylover367 · 15/06/2022 16:17

I have a two bed terrace live on my own, Im moving in a week and am paying 170.00 just for the moving. Will pack myself. southwest.

ShaunaTheSheep · 15/06/2022 16:20

Book the packing service NOW!

Our move cost £££ but the packing was £500 (5 people, large 3 bed, double garage, loft, shed) and was the best money we spent.

That included all packing materials - probably 100 boxes- look at the cost of boxes and packing material and you will soon realise the value for money, not to mention 5 men working for 2 days.

But also declutter now, otherwise you are paying to pack and move stuff you don't want.

motogirl · 15/06/2022 16:24

Took myself and my ex 3 days to pack everything despite the fact I had already moved all my personal stuff out a year earlier! He then spent a further day cleaning

Baxdream · 15/06/2022 16:25

We had the packing service. It took maybe 4-6 hours for them to do the day before we moved.
It was probably an extra 4-500 pounds and worth every penny!
We worked it out by using how many of our working hours it would have cost to justify it!

Baxdream · 15/06/2022 16:26

That was a large 4 bedroom house

1moreyear · 15/06/2022 16:27

I bought a new build with move date set for 4 months. The day after I put the deposit down I started clearing out the loft.

I'd crack on if I were you!