At What Point Should Packing Start

[AA20192022]

Hi,

So I am in the process of selling my house and buying another. We are in a chain of 5, and all pretty much at the same stage. Searches have come back and enquiries have been sent, just awaiting thier replies. Today we have received documents to sign such as contract TR1 form etc and send back to our solicitors. At what point shoild we start packing. I am worried its too early but also worried we are leaving it too late as we also have 2 young children. Any experience or opinions would be appreciated 🙂

It's never too soon to start having a clear out and generally thinking about what you want to take with you to your next home. You can get things sold or off to the charity shop. Then pack things you don't need much. I have found over the year doing it in stages makes it much easier.

Yesterday!
Declutter and pack as you go, with stuff you won’t need for a few months(winter clothes, toys, kitchen stuff, Christmas decs etc).
or just start decluttering and get quotes for removal including packing. The packing element will be the best money you spend on the move.

Yesterday!
Declutter and pack as you go, with stuff you won’t need for a few months(winter clothes, toys, kitchen stuff, Christmas decs etc).
or just start decluttering and get quotes for removal including packing. The packing element will be the best money you spend on the move.

Yesterday!
Declutter and pack as you go, with stuff you won’t need for a few months(winter clothes, toys, kitchen stuff, Christmas decs etc).
or just start decluttering and get quotes for removal including packing. The packing element will be the best money you spend on the move.

If you are using a moving company get a quote on a full pack.
It's usually very little extra on top of all the coats of moving and makes life so much easier.
You just take an overnight bag and perhaps a kettle/things you need straight away.
It is still worth a bit of decluttering as they pack everything.....

I am in the process whilst waiting for dates - clearing out the lofts, the study (large desk with fixed filing cabinets), the garage and down sizing the kitchen contents. Also off loaded furniture (as this is a significant down size)

I am roughly 10 weeks in so expecting some dates to appear next month. Dont underestimate how long it takes to get rid of stuff. My local tip is one hour round trip so having to do boot loads.

I am going for the removers doing the packing the day before and dismantling the beds etc.

I'd definitely agree with opting for the removal company packing service.
I would also start decluttering now, sort the attic out so there's only stuff you want to take with you, go through everyone's clothes and get rid of the outgrown/worn out stuff, go through the kitchen cupboards and get rid of the unwanted/out of date stuff. Otherwise it'll all get packed up and you'll be decluttering as you unpack at the new house!

The earlier start the better. Moving house and having to pack up your whole life is a massive job.

As said start with a massive declutter. It’s amazing how much stuff you accumulate that you don’t really need. Then start packing boxes with stuff you want to keep, but aren’t day to day essentials. Pile your garage or a spare room up with the filled boxes. By the time you get to exchange, there shouldn’t be too much left to sort out.

When we sold ours in January, we started to pack before we’d even put the house on the market. We packed belongings that we knew we wouldn’t be using before the move…. We also had a declutter too at the same time!

Don’t underestimate the time it takes to pack up a house! By the time we got to exchange (a week before completion) - 90% of the house was packed and ready to go…. The rest (essentials) was packed up during the last few days/ moved on moving day….

You could outsource the removals and get a company to pack for you and they’ll do it in a day or two but can be expensive…. But then it takes the stress away so it’s up to you really what you want to do!

Last time I moved we packed the night before. Outrageous amount of stuff. Ridiculous overestimation of our skills. It didn’t go well. But it did go. So I wouldn’t worry too much, but maybe start thinning !

I would also vote for the packing service as it saves so much time and stress. In addition to this, if anything should be accidently broken, it is covered by the removal company's insurance whereas it is not if you don't your own packing. But, yes, definitely start having a good declutter. If you can face a car boot sale, you could even make a little bit of money towards your moving fees (enough for fish and chips on the day you move, anyway, as you won't feel up to any sort of cooking).

If you are getting a removals company in I cannot stress enough to pay the extra for packing - it is likely very little on top and those people are demons! They pack everything at such speed and are the best people in the world 🤣
But yes start decluttering now

I started packing as soon as the legal side started in motion. Initially, I did an enormous declutter and sold/binned/donated anything we definitely don’t need or want.

Then, I’ve had a think about any things we use regularly (so won’t declutter) but could avoid using for the next two or three months. So for example, we now have one player, bowl, cup, set of cutlery each and the rest is packed. I packed all the pasta bowls and we’ll just use normal plates. I can live without baking or making mashed potato, so I packed all those things. We have an air fryer, so I packed the baking trays etc. I’ve streamlined wardrobes and shoes so the seasonal stuff is packed but also I just have a capsule wardrobe to pack nearer the time.

Also, in each room I’ve put a moving box and piled as much of the contents of the room as possible in. I don’t tape them so I can grab anything I need. Items being grabbed a lot are allowed to live on a surface, but otherwise it goes back in the box. Then the worst case scenario if I’m stressed for time, I can just tape the box up and move it as is.

We considered paying for the packing service, but realised we don’t have enough stuff to really merit it. Plus, I work part time and from home so I have plenty of time to pack in small stages. I’m also quite well organised so a lot of stuff we want to move is already stored in boxes anyway (winter clothes, garden shed stuff etc).

I packed an entire house by myself as Dh's job had already started in the new location so he was in temporary accommodation whilst we waited for the houses to complete. Ds was still in nursery 3 days but I finished my job 2 weeks early and spent that time packing.

I colour coded each box (get large stickers) every side and the top. I had 2 colours for the kitchen, stuff I don't use daily ie cake tins was all packed up first. I designated the dining room to stash the filled boxes. Each box had a number and I had a hardback book and wrote everything down. Leave all boxes untaped until you know you are definitely not going to dip into it for something. And use a tape gun. Watch the pros use this online, copy that.

I also used the current house as the reference, ie cupboard under the stairs box was labelled as that, meaning if I wanted something at the new house and I knew where it was stored at the last house I would know which box it was in. Easy to find.

On moving day you can put a sticker on the top of the door frame so the removal men know which room it goes in without you having to tell them. Good luck, just box it and take it if you run out of time with sorting.

I started packing the same day I made the first appointment with the estate agent! Was sorting/binning/boxing ready for the photos. Then did a couple of boxes a week right up to the removal men coming.

Contrasting everyone else, I packed the whole house (4 bed + garage + shed) in 3 days. It was half term so primary aged kids were wafting around too (couldn’t have done it with toddlers around). DH did do much of the kitchen and his wardrobe the day before, but that was his sole contribution.

It was a relentless 3 days. We do seem to have more stuff than younger families though, younger peoples’ houses always look half empty to me.

I’d been hoping to get the packing service but apparently everyone in the world was moving on the same day.

Full packing service. End of. It is literally the best money you will ever spend….