Can anyone share their moving day hints and tips please?

[ThePlantKiller]

All going well we will be moving house next Friday. We have booked the cat in to a cattery for a few nights and sorted movers which includes a packing service, they will come in the day before and box everything up. It’s been years since we last moved so am a bit unsure what to expect. No concerns re new GP, schools, takeaways etc as we’re only moving a mile or so up the road.

Anyone got any useful tips for moving day or the day before when the packing all starts? Thanks

One tip for the packing day - If you're going to be wearing different clothes on the moving day, don't let the packers pack them !! ( Happened to my Mother in Law- gave us a good laugh on the day !! )

Good point - kids are at school next day so need to stash clean uniforms. DS age 13 def can't wear same one two days in a row

The first thing you should do in the new house is make up the beds. Nothing worse than wanting to fall into bed at the end of on long day unpacking and having to make the bed.

Have a box that goes with you, rather than movers, of ‘on arrival essentials’. E.g. kettle, a couple of mugs, teabags, loo roll, basic cleaning materials (I usually have two or three cloths, a sponge, cream cleaner and Dettol), some cutlery (even if you get a takeaway you need utensils to eat it with!), a few snacks, phone charger etc. If possible also have a box with the bedding in that you’ll need that night. Also a torch in case of emergency!

Also, pack a bag for yourself containing a fresh change of clothes for the following day as all that lifting stuff around can be dirty/dusty work. Plus add in your pj's and toiletries and any meds you may need. Keep the bag with you/in your car so it doesn't end up bottom of the pile.

•put pets in kennels/cattery for a few days. Our cat went AWOL about 15 minutes before we were due to drive over to the new house.
• take your vacuum cleaner and cleaning stuff n the car with you and aim to arrive before the removal company. Do a quick hoover and dust while the rooms are empty.

•change the locks and reprogram the alarm system.

This is what we did, vital

Thank you everyone, your advice has been really helpful!

Having witnessed packers pack they were great but only labelled boxes by room and the way they'd packed meant things from the same room were really mixed up (obviously to balance out the weight) but it meant a lot of rummaging to find the things we needed immediately the next day. So I would be tempted to follow them round with a sharpie marker if you can!
Definitely pack an overnight bag with enough clothes for 2-3 days. Keep the kettle, tea, coffee, mugs and milk to hand, ditto cleaning equipment and a toilet roll!

I do! I've moved 3 times in 4 years!

I pack all important documents in my workbag and put it in the car. Then I pack a suitcase with a few outfits, towels, bed linen, toiletries, medication and pyjamas so I've got enough to get me through whilst I unpack. That goes in the car. Then like others I pack an essentials box which also goes in the car.

Ask your movers to build your beds. Then you can just make them as soon as possible whilst you've got the energy.

But before I even start packing I always declutter rather than throw stuff out the other end.

How exciting! Good luck!

I put color coordinated stickers on boxes, furniture to indicate in which room things should be placed. Then same color sticker on doors of new house and a master plan in the entryway. This saved everyone a lot of questions and almost everything ended up in the right place!