how long does it take to pack and move a 2 bed flat?

[MamaChris]

we've been hanging on our awkward buyers for months now. Today they have said they want to complete by 31 oct, but they are waiting for some council search and a letter from the landlord (it's a leasehold property) before exchange.

There's only one other party in the chain. IF he's able to move by then, would we be? How long does it reasonably take to pack a (not at all minimalist ) 2 bed flat, with a 8mo baby to look after? Am reluctant to commit to a date without exchange, but also scared buyers will pull out if we don't agree.

Can you get someone to mind the baby, and how many pairs of hands can you rope in for the packing?

Every time I've moved I have done an extensive edit so it takes me quite a long time to pack, but if you're just chucking everything into boxes, you could probably have it done in two days.

Might be worth paying packers, though, if it's the difference between selling your flat and the buyer pulling out. Packers will do it in half a day.

we packed our 2-bed flaat over the course of 10 days, whilst still working (DH full-time, me part-time) and looking after DD. We managed one child-free day in this period. Think 2 days is unrealistic if you also any furniture to dismantle, or fixtures to remove from walls.

The pacing was scandalously awful, though - random piles of stuff flung into unlabelled boxes. I can't find anything 3 weeks later.

This isn't helpful - but it's a lesson learned from many moves. It will take at least half as long again as you estimate. If possible, double your estimate.

We packed and moved a furnished flat in a weekend, although had no children at that point. We hired a van, DH and his mate loaded, his dad drove it and I unpacked at the other end. We did do a lot of chucking into boxes though, took months to get everything sorted. And we had no furniture to move.

so difficult, but possible then? thanks.

You don't have to agree a date until exchange.Start getting rid of lutter now and box up everything you don't really need.Leave out a couple of sets of clothes and crockery and start using up all the food.If you don't love it get rid.

start now. i kept out the kids uniform and weekends worth of clothes. pakced up toys and anything not needed. any bric and brac which was just decoration pack it up.

yes - have started sorting already. I have a terrible tendency to hoard (mostly books and papers), so trying to sort through those. And get rid of clothes too old/small, eat up food in the freezer.