How to organise my long distance move?

[Andreaoid]

I would love everyone's ideas on how to organise my move. And potentially recommendations for national movers that are really good and well priced.

Situation: I am widowed, in my 30s, childless, with one large dog (30kg) who is nervous and not keen on strangers. No family around me as my family lives abroad and my late husband's brother lives 3 hours away, opposite direction of my move. I'm in a process of selling my current house and buying another. Moving from East Midlands to West Sussex - 4.5h away by a car on a good day.

So, what would be your best recommendation on organising myself? Should I get my dog boarded for a week, move without him and then go back up to collect him? Or should I keep him in one safe room away from movers, then lock up after and follow the movers? What about dropping the keys off at the EAs? If I do a little tidy-up, drop the keys off, and then follow down with my dog, I will have to stop midway for a comfort break for my dog. The movers might arrive way earlier than me? And then I need to be in Sussex in time to collect my keys from the other EA.

I'm so confused how to make it seamless and less stressful. I haven't started looking at movers yet (still in the searches stage) but I want to have a loose plan in place asap.

This is my first chain move. Help!!

Get the movers to pack you. I’d put the dog in the car, get the movers to pack you up and come back the next day to put the boxes in the van (or pack the van that night and keep it overnight which is common). You can have cleaned most of the house after they’ve packed up into boxes and you and your dog camp out in the house the last night (or stay in a hotel). Next day movers come you let them pack the truck, you drop off the keys, head to new house and have the estate agent meet you there with keys (or if movers have taken your stuff the night before arrange a time for them to meet you in the new house). Cars drive faster than moving trucks so you should beat the movers or get there very similar times even with a break for the dog. Move in!
You will have kept a suitcase and box of essentials yourself for your last night stay in the old house and to get you through the first night in your new without having to go through boxes trying to find your kettle etc.

I work in removals, so take this with that in mind, but a few things that might help you plan.

A two-day move is the normal way to do 200 miles. The crew packs and loads on day one, the van stays loaded and locked overnight, and they deliver on day two once you have keys. Ask each firm two things: does your furniture stay on the same vehicle overnight or get moved into a depot (same vehicle means no double handling), and is the overnight covered by their insurance. Both should be yes and in writing.

On completion timing: you usually get the keys to the new place early afternoon, when the money has gone through, so plan for loading on the day before completion and delivery on completion day itself. If the chain slips and keys are late, most firms charge waiting time by the hour, so check that figure in the quote too.

Costs: for a three-bed over that distance with an overnight hold, self-packed, I'd expect roughly £1,800 to £3,000 at the moment, and another £300 to £600 if they pack for you. The posters quoting £3,000 plus are not wrong for bigger houses or full packing. Get three quotes, each with a proper video or in-person survey, around three to four weeks out. Midweek and not the last week of the month, as someone said above. Pay the deposit by card, and read the cancellation terms before you pay it, because chain dates move.

The dog: a closed room with a sign on the door saying "dog inside, do not open" is what crews prefer, and tell the foreman on arrival. We would far rather that than a loose nervous dog on moving day. Boarding near the new house is a good shout if he has boarded before.

Tipping: not expected, and nobody will think less of you. Tea, coffee and somewhere to wash hands go a long way. Good luck with it.