Packers are coming in 12 days

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The packers are coming the day before we move.

I've always packed us up myself for our precious moves, but this time I'm being an adult 🤣.

What do I need to know or be prepared for. Jewellery and underwear will be put away in my overnight bag.

Oh, check every top of every bottle/jar etc is on really tightly. We had several things leak because of this.

They don't have hangers - they have cardboard wardrobes which usually need to be emptied first and boxes returned.

We got a cleaner in to whizz round after packing.

Definitely declutter. I was ruthless and still had a skip worth of stuff when we unpacked 🫣

Do put your first aid kit in your car to unpack as soon as you get in. First night in my rented cottage I ruined my big toe dropping a stool on it, had no idea where mine was!

Packers pack everything quickly! I always pack a suitcase with a couple outfits each, toiletries, towels, bed linen and pyjamas so you've got them at hand. I make the beds as soon as they are put together.

A box of supplies like the kettle, wine, teabags, things for the cat, milk and mugs.

All the important documents go in my workbag.

These 3 things and the cat come in the car with me.

Get it, have a takeaway and flop!

It's usual to tip them, so have some cash in your purse.

i remember in a previous post someone suggested putting things you don’t want packing in the bath.

If you are going to change shoes, need a coat make sure they don’t pack them.

They will pack bins full of rubbish if you don’t tell them otherwise!

We went out for lunch and left them to it (they were packing up elderly DM’s house when she was moving after DF died) so less emotional for her not to be there. Also meant we had somewhere to sit after the sofas were on the van.

They are like locusts! If you pack special items they won’t be covered by their insurance

Our packers didn’t unpack but did manage to cope with having 3 different locations to take items as DM was down sizing so other relatives en route were taking some items

You maybe surprised by what they pack. My DM ended up with doorbell ringer from her old house!

Really??? In England?

The Bath stash is an excellent idea!

Thanks all!

Yes,the packers get paid peanuts. We gave a tenner each but that was 16 years ago.

Definitely tip, I bought mine lunch and drinks and fish and chips for tea too.

We are in! The movers and packers today were relentless (although slowed a bit when the football sounded interesting) and did the whole thing in good humour.

They dismantled and rebuilt the furniture we specified, labelled all the boxes and checked where they were to go in the new house. And we tipped them £40 because they did well.

Exhausted and have unpacked the kitchen in an unsatisfactory manner. Will do it again tomorrow.

Ours didn't like packing open toiletries or any food or spice things that were open. Now we did get the cheapest company going and we'd never used a packing service before, so no idea if this is normal or we made some newbie mistake having these things. But they asked me to pack those bits so they weren't liable should anything come open. Which was absolutely fine by me, only took ten minutes. But if you're not comfortable with that run everything down and get the cupboards absolutely bare.

No, our packers weren't fussed about things that were open eg half empty bottle of olive oil, jar of jam etc. they all just got wrapped in paper same as the crockery.

No need to pack or unpack drawers, you can get what is essentially jumbo rolls of opaque clingfilm. Remove drawer, wrap, move, unwrap, reinsert.

Depends what your packers do though. Ours insisted on emptying the drawers instead of moving them like that!

yes yes yes!

and packers are machines! They will pack dirty dishes and bins with rubbish inside! Be very very prepared for their arrival and so all the ruthless decluttering first

We tipped our removal men. They were so lovely, plus they were cheaper than everyone else by miles.

Make sure you keep any shoes you may need somewhere safe. Otherwise they may get packed 😂

Even though we properly decluttered, we still ended up taking things we didn’t need. Keep decluttering.

We did our own unpacking. It was made easier as we didn’t pack.

I tipped. Three men £20 each. It was a long very hot day and they have to carry some stuff down a lane!!!

I think a lot of people tip removal men now. I always have.