Moving in 2 weeks - need a kick up the bum

[wonderings2]

Just that really.

Moving date is looking to be 10th September, we are moving from a small 2 bed to a medium 3 bed with double garage, the new house is a mile up the road.

I've been clearing out and decluttering but getting a bit overwhelmed at packing everything else, not much in the way of furniture to dismantle & move but it's the "stuff" that's stressing me out.

We have 5 year old DD & I work full time from home but not sure what days to book off, how many before & after? We pushed to move in the summer holidays so DD could stay overnight at her Nans but sellers having been dragging things out and DD will be in school now...

I've packed up everything in the shed & a few boxes from the kitchen of stuff we don't use all the time.

I know we need to get the beds dismantled asap the morning of the move and off the van the other end first so we have our beds made if nothing else. Is there anything else to bear in mind?

Can anyone give me a list or order that I need to be packing stuff in? Any tips? The last time we moved was 15 years ago out of our parents houses so I'm clueless

At the moment I'm just faffing about, and really need some direction

If your having removals they will do it all for you. We didn't and moved ourselves. I bought a book, split it into sections box no, contents and room it was going in.

As I packed each box I labelled it and wrote (roughly) what was in it eg box 1, mugs, plates, kitchen.

We ended up with about 55 boxes.

I also bought a tape dispenser from Amazon.

If you're doing it yourself don't be fooled, you need to start packing asap.

As above, do you have removals or as its only a mile up the road, are you moving yourself?.

If moving yourself have you booked the van!. Make sure you write on the boxes the room and contents. Keeps stuff like bedding and kettle, mugs etc seperatly, in your car if you can. Stuff you might need tp find when ypur knackered.

Remember you need to take meter readings on moving day

We are moving ourselves, van is booked. We think it may take 2-3 trips though as we have garden furniture as well, We have people to help move furniture and boxes on the day.

It packing the house up that's overwhelming me, it's so stupid really. I'll just try and start

See if you can get some friends or family to help you pack, it might help motivate you, maybe get in some pizza to share to reward you and them!
I've done it several times for friends moving, pop round for the afternoon or evening and sit there wrapping up glasses/china/whatever, or putting books into boxes.
Start packing the stuff you definitely don't need access to before the end of September..books, coats, holiday gear if you've already had your holiday, ornaments and photos or pictures. Spare bedding could be packed up as well. Make sure you've got plenty of smaller boxes that won't be too heavy to carry.
Good luck, it's daunting, I know!

My moving story was pretty much the same as yours, small two bed to three bed a mile up the road. I was ruthless with what we needed to take and threw a lot out that I’d hung on to and that made unpacking much easier (though there are still boxes in the loft).

I also accepted that living with bare minimum for a few days before reduced the stress on the actual moving day. We put the beds down the night before and just slept on the mattresses.

it is really overwhelming when you stand and look around at everything! Can you take off two days before and two days after the move from work?

Pack as much as you can. Keep bare essentials out. It will all take much longer than you think. Pack clothes, pack bedding, etc.
If you can use one room for boxes and put them in there as you can, or have a space on each floor.
Have a box with cleaning stuff in, in case the house you go to needs a clean. Eat a takeaway then night before you go and pack up your kitchen.

2 weeks is the time you're away for a holiday. So pack everything else including most of the children's toys. The excitement when they see them again will be fabulous.

A box with all the important controllers and cables, any Allen keys anything you must have as soon as you arrive.

A box with kettle, tea and coffee etc, takeaway menus. (In the car first trip)

Freezer blocks to keep your remaining freezer items cold. (In the car first trip)

Bedding for that night.

Box of cleaning stuff and the hoover. You have no idea how grubby it will be. (In the car first trip) including bin bags.

Let your child/ children pack their own box and wave it into the car. And have it ready for them to unpack at the new house.

You can do this. You need many more boxes that you think. Use those suitcases and borrow from family and friends. And as a pp says get a tape dispenser from Amazon.

Identify every box and have a master sheet. And label the rooms at the other end. Bedroom 1/2/3 etc. Just so there is absolutely no confusion.

Good luck in the new home.

Just get some boxes and some large zip up storage bags (or even those blue Ikea ones) and start chucking in everything from one end of each room to another. I've found this is the best way to pack when you can't get motivated. Don't waste time faffing about sifting through what should can be chucked out now. You have plenty of time to do this in your new home.

Keep the goal simple, you just need to bag and box up everything.

As you clear stuff into bags and boxes just stack them up on one side of the room and shuffle along empty furniture on the other.

Empty the loft.
Empty the garage/shed.

Look on Facebook marketplace for anyone that has boxes and ask family and friends. I ended up buying some off Amazon in the end.

When we moved we started sorting out a full 12-months in advance and several dozen boxes (packed) boxes were strategically placed around the house & garage during viewings.
We started the full-on packing about 4-months before with the final items being put away just the night before.
We were moving into another house for 6-months before we finally moved into our new house so 90% of the boxes were not to be opened during that time and were marked up accordingly.
The garden, garage & workshop were particularly difficult as there were a lot of large, heavy items which we could not even shift around ourselves. Plants etc we moved between properties ourselves beforehand.
Boxes, bubble-wrap, tape & pens were all in good supply and logical packing paid dividends both when we were in the temporary house (my late parents house) and our new one.

No way did we consider doing the move ourselves. There was enough to do making sure the boxes & furniture were positioned correctly in the house and there was no way we were going to be humping heavy items (washing machines loose there attractiveness when you start lifting them).
The removal companies (we used a different one each time) were both great and with ample vehicle capacity and lots of bodies, both times we were "in" by 2pm both times.

This weekend:

Get your mum to take your child for a whole day.

Pack your everyday mugs, plates, bowls, cutlery.
Buy paper plates, cups, plastic cutlery to last until you move.

Pack all vases, jugs, water bottles, baskets, holiday stuff like Christmas tree, decorations.

Pack all saucepans bar one plus lid. Pack all pyrex/ cake pans, bakeware, food mixer, blender, waffle iron, panini maker, etc.

Buy takeaway meals or frozen pizza to keep you going from here on and use up what's in your fridge or throw out.
Keep out tupperware/ limited amount of plastic storage bowls.

Pack all books. Maybe keep a few children's books.
See what toys can be packed.

Pack all important documents and records in a box that you will bring to the new house yourself - do not hand it over to the movers.
Mark it as important and note where it is.

Pack all extra towels and sheets/ bedding bar what's now in use.

Pack all cold weather clothes, boots, and outerwear.
Pack all light summer clothes, sandals, swimwear.

Pack all craft / art stuff.

Mark all boxes with contents and room they're going to.

Are you selling and buying, or moving from rented? You mentioned it taking a few trips, which you obviously can't do if you've handed over keys to your old place.

Pack away all personal items like jewelery, family photos, mementos, special decorative items. Keep track of this box.

Pack all wall art and framed photos.

Pack all candles and any hobby stuff.

Your work space will be the last area to get packed, I assume, but you can still put files or office supplies in boxes ready to be taped up the day before you move.

Yes this - you just have to do one trip if you are selling and buying on the same day as your buyer will need access. When we moved ourselves we hired 2 vans and filled them the night before.

Week before pack a suitcase each as if you are going on holiday, might have to double up on toothpaste etc , then just pack everything else and live out of your suitcase for the next few days and first few days in new house!

Pack 3 boxes a day and you'll be ready in two weeks. Mix cushions / duvets in with heavier stuff so you don't end up with really heavy boxes. Don't forget to label what's in them and the room they are to go into.

Kitchen - leave out 1 set of bowls, plates cutlery and mugs and pack all else. I frying pan, 1 pot, 1 knife, kettle etc. I did find bubble wrap good for kitchen stuff.

If you just get a box ready and start filling 3 a day then you'll be ready in time. When you get there then just unload kitchen stuff and bedding and you can then take your time with the rest. I unpacked at same rate - 3 boxes a day.

The trick to packing is to do as much as you can when you can. Label each box. Try to only take what you want. I decluttered ruthlessly.

I've moved 3 times in 4 years and what I always do is have an essentials box with tea bags, kettle, wine, silverwear, cat food and dishes, salt and pepper, tea towels and a corkscrew.

Then pack sufficient clothing, towels, bed linen, toiletries, hairdryer into a suitcase so you've got enough to keep you going through other end.

Then have all your important documents in a bag. These 3 things, plants and the cat come in the car with me.

Make up your beds as soon as you are in so you can flop later. Then order a takeaway.

Are you going from rented into bought or selling and buying?

If rented try and stagger it a bit over two days so you have a chance to clean the house you've bought before moving stuff in. Then move over as much of the furniture as you can, leaving a basic set up for final night, then move over the rest. Book child into wraparound care at school or ask grandparents/friends to have them.

If you're selling and buying then you need enough van space to hold all your possessions as you won't own both houses at the same time - sale money goes through, you leave house for final time with all stuff, passing key to EA, then wait for money to go through for your purchase, collect new key from EA and move all possessions in. You might well find you have several hours with all possessions in van(s) waiting for the second lot of money to clear. You won't be able to do several runs with one van.

All sound advice on here to be fair, pack separately what you need when you get to the new house straight away. Toilet rolls and other toiletries included.

Time will fly by and before you know it, the 10th September will be here! We’re SSTC on a house we’ve been in for 33 years, we have filled two skips already and will need at least another two!
We have been quoted for the removal company to pack for us to make it less stressful but there’s so much shit come across that we didn’t realise we still had!
Unless it’s sentimental, if you haven’t used it in 12 months then get rid! You don’t want to start the next chapter of your life with crap you don’t need!