When can I pack??

[notanoxfordcomma]

We've never bought a house before, always rented.

Things are moving well with our purchase, chain is complete, surveys have been returned etc.

How long can it take from this point? I don't want to start packing if it could be absolutely ages, but I also don't want to be told we have a short period before we exchange.

What's best?

Totally depends on the complexity of your personal chain. Can be months.

Pack after exchange, when you have a target completion date.

There's 2 more in the chain, our seller and their seller. Both have places to go, no further upward chain from that point.

I'm no good at waiting

No point packing until you have exchanged contracts. Then you know it is definitely happening and you know - with certainty- when it is happening.

It tends to involve endless waiting and faffing around with nothing much happening, and then it all suddenly coming together and you find out you're moving in a fortnight.

Paying for packers is money very well spent, if you'd consider that...

@Persipan we did consider packers, have you had them before? Can I ask how much you paid? Quotes vary wildly!!

id start the decluttering and sorting of stuff you don’t need/can sell/donate now if you are itching to get going.
But, If you are in rented I would be cautious about giving notice until you have exchanged and then you’d end up with a period where you have both properties and can move stuff across gradually which takes the pressure off a bit.

It kind of depends how much stuff you have to pack!

I'd never move without packers! But they will literally pack EVERYTHING- that bathroom bin with a bit of rubbish? Packed. With rubbish still inside.
You must pack a suitcase with clothes for a couple days (school uniforms etc) and a box of essentials - kettle, chargers, bed linen, towels, toiletries, school stuff - to get you through the first night. Put that in the car before the packers arrive. If a sizeable house they often pack the day before other than beds so they can move first thing in the morning.
While they are used to last minute changes, some won't allow you to properly book them until you've exchanged. And the time between exchange and completion is negotiated between all parties. Two weeks seems reasonable to me.

I've moved a family of 5 along with assorted dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters. You can never start packing too early. Start with the loft, garage, garden shed and create a space for packed boxes. I taped a list of the contents of the box to the top - helped no end at the new house.

Then move onto books, kitchen cupboards, games etc. Stack packed and taped boxes in the corners of rooms. Never ever ever leave a box untaped to 'add extras'! And try to avoid half full boxes as they tend to get damaged - use plenty of bubble wrap, pack fragile items with cushions, teatowels, towels etc.

As I always used moving as a decluttering session I never used packers but my sister did and they packed an old sainsburys receipt that was on her living room floor!

Thanks so much everyone,

It's a 3 bed house, moving to a 5 so when we arrive we will (in theory) have enough space to just dump boxes before we plan what goes where.

I think starting the garage and loft is a good idea, hoping we can throw loads away.

We haven't given notice yet and are happy to pay an extra months rent to have that crossover period.

So practically, we probably have plenty of time to move at leisure but in reality I want my cases packed and the keys in my hand yesterday