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Post your top tips on how to move house (as painlessly as possible) here. Thanks

41 replies

carriemumsnet · 26/01/2009 18:14

Ok I will 'fess up that there's a mild ulterior motive for this, in that I am actually moving house in a couple of weeks, but talking about it around Mumsnet Towers, we came to the conclusion that rather like giving birth, moving house isn't something you do that often, but when you do it you think of loads of things you wish you'd known/ tips would like to pass on/things you'd never do again, but by the time you do it again you've mostly forgotten them. So, wouldn't it be great to gather all the top tips and suggestions together (this is on moving house, not giving birth, anyone still with me on this analogy?) and then edit them together so they'll be available for anyone who happens to be moving house in the future.

I'll kick off with the only one I remember from last time. Pack your bedding and a kettle/milk/tea in your own car...

Over to you and thanks

OP posts:
PandaG · 26/01/2009 18:18

colour code boxes with post it notes

stick right colour post it to the door jamb of each room in the new house

boxes get immediately put in the right room!

get tv set up as quickly as possible, so DC can watch a familiar programme/dvd while you run around like headless chickens!

pavlovthecat · 26/01/2009 18:19

I will ad to yours pack a bag with the following:
kettle, milk tea,
cups - people can share if helping
two plates
Glasses to toast in the new house.
biscuits
tea-towel
spoon
Washing up liquid and sponge, drying clothe
Mop for the floor
Purse - so it is handy for getting more milk!
Bedding
Change of clothes
Torch (in case electricity problems).
Radio

And then
Get all your friends to help, with a promise of a take-away at the end. It saves a fortune, but also, I love the end of the day when we are all tired, sat on boxes in the front room eating pizza and drinking wine.
Label boxes for each room
Pack up each room one at a time and sweep/wipe sides as you go.

All this is the presumption you do not get professionals in.

ChugtasticCrew · 26/01/2009 18:21

OOooh, great thread! I'll be watching this as I'm hoping we might be moving this year.

KnickKnack · 26/01/2009 18:21

make up kids beds 1st theng when you get to new house as:

  1. you'll be too tired to do it at bedtime
  2. kids will feel more at home straight away.

Write the contents on the outside of each box, time consuming, but so worth it (especially for those lingering boxes that are still not unpacked weeks later ;)

ChugtasticCrew · 26/01/2009 18:23

It's years since I've moved but I would (if it's possible) organise Sky/broadband to be installed asap. I find myself so reliant on the internet in particular it would be torturous having to wait weeks for it to be installed.

Pannacotta · 26/01/2009 18:25

I would add food to the list of things to have on the day. All out kitchen stuff was packed away and we hadn't bought enough food to last us the whole day, bit of a nightmare.

Also agree re colour coding boxes and making an effort to direct the removals blokes when they are off loading so you dont have to rearrange everything a few days/weeks/months later...
And label anything you want to leave behind clearly or it will be coming with you...

(We used the profs both times we moved.)

AmIOdetteOrOdileOrABagpipe · 26/01/2009 18:25
  • About a month before declutter
- Pay someone to pack your stuff for you (but make sure they don't pack your mobile phone ) - leave out a cleaning bucket stuffed with stuff, and the vaccuum cleaner, mop and brush - if you can, offload the DCs for one night to give you time to clean the new place - first room to be unpacked must be the DC's room(s) - first meal in new house MUST be champagne out of plastic cups, and fish and chips eaten from the wrappers! - When you start to unpack, look quizzically at at least one item from each box, wonder why you packed it and then throw it in the bin - and of course don't forget to ahem, 'christen' each room.....
hatwoman · 26/01/2009 18:27

I moved 3 weeks ago and was amazed by how unstressful it was.

  • if you can stretch to it paying a removals company to pack for you is so worth it.
  • if they do pack for you don;t expect them to do the kettle, mugs and tea thing for you.
  • if you and/or the packers fail to do the kettle mugs and tea thing, just chill out. you can survive without tea.
  • give yourself time; don't try to move in a day. or even two. expect unpacking to take the best part of a week.
  • make up the beds as soon as you can so that when you;ve had enough unpacking you can flop into bed
  • alternate tedious jobs with nices one - like hanging pictures
  • don;t let the removals people go until you are sure everything is in the right room
  • take a proper break/go to the pub/cafe for lunch; you will return refreshed and ready for more
  • move during the week when dcs are at school - but don;t exclude them from the process - get them to pack their own bag of special goodies/teddies/pyjamas and when they get back from school rope them into unpacking - they actually really enjoy it (for a while, at least), it's like unwrapping presents
  • chill out an enjoy it. don;t be cross with dh/dcs because you're tired. it's no-one's fault. it's just how it is.
  • say hello to your new neighbours as soon as possible, say that you hope the removals van didn;t get in the way.
  • make sure you know where a good takeaway is for dinner
  • is that enough?
Portofino · 26/01/2009 18:27

Top tip - pay someone to pack and unpack it all! Well easy said when we had a company relocation package. That was excellent. I just went round a friend's house to drink coffee and left them too it. Only to find they had packed the hoover!! Made them find it and unpack it again. Oh and i packed my own knickers and put them the car .

ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 26/01/2009 18:27

pay the extra money for them to do the packing

pay the £10 to get the welcome pack box from the removal firm

make sure you have redirected your post so you dont have to worry too much about changing addresses for everyone too soon

pay the extra to take your old phone number with you

Allow time to unpack - think about which cupboards you are putting things in as they will probably stay there for a long time.

ChippyMinton · 26/01/2009 18:27
  1. Try and get your move paid for by your employer.
  2. Pay for the packing service, but note that they will literally pack whatever they find - your kitchen drawer full of assorted cr*p will be tipped into a box for you to sort at the other end.
  3. Find a babysitter for the day
  4. Be prepared for the vile stink of disturbed dust once your house has been emptied.
  5. Start clearing out your clutter well in advance, a bag for rubbish, a bag for charity shop. Have a car boot sale if you can be bothered or just give away anything you know you won't use again. Otherwise you will just be paying to move it.
  6. Take DC to new house beforehand, if possible, show them their bedrooms, then take them shopping to choose a new duvet cover or lampshade etc to use on their first night in the new house.
  7. TIP the removal men as they leave your old house, so they are extra careful moving your stuff into the new house.
  8. Ply them with hot drinks (don't forget the sugar!) and choccy digestives on their arrival and at least once an hour thereafter.
  9. Sign up to your utilities moving service in advance so you can ring through the meter readings at each end.
  10. Fill a box with cleaning stuff, hoover, kettle, milk, mugs, tea, coffee, sugar, kitchen roll, loo roll, light bulbs, cash for takeaway.
  11. I'm sure there's loads more!!
ChippyMinton · 26/01/2009 18:31

LOL at everyone saying pay for the packing service. It may sound a lot but it's a drop in the ocean compared to all the other costs, and is the best value for money.

AmIOdetteOrOdileOrABagpipe · 26/01/2009 18:34

Agree re: keeping the removal men sweet - coffee, lunch, a beer at the end.

madwomanintheattic · 26/01/2009 18:36

sorry to be a repetitive bore, but pay for someone else to do it.
they pack and un-pack, but you do your own kettle and tea. and the macdonalds run to keep them happy.

under no circumstances should you attempt to do it yourself.

MrsMattie · 26/01/2009 18:36

Delegate as much of it as possible to other people! Oh, it's a frigging chore, no matter what you do, sorry carrie

ChippyMinton · 26/01/2009 18:37

DH insisted on making bacon sarnies for the movers last time, as the cooker was staying

chocoholic · 26/01/2009 18:39

Just don't do it.
Find a house that is perfect first time round and live there forever.

ChugtasticCrew · 26/01/2009 18:40

I want a bacon sandwich now but not as much as I want to MOVE...MOVE....MOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

snigger · 26/01/2009 18:40

If you're doing it on the cheap :

Start at least two weeks before you think you have to.

Put everything not nailed down through the dishwasher.

Look up your local paper wholesaler in Yellow Pages - buy a couple of blocks each of newsprint paper and tissue (£5-7 a block)

From dishwasher, once dry, wrap everything in your sterile paper (no inky hands like newspaper) in SMALL BOXES.

SMALL BOXES.

SMALL BOXES.

You think you want to fill the big ones, but you REALLY DON'T.

SMALL. Except for pillows and duvets, and face it, that's a black bag job, anyway.

Become a list maniac - three weeks of hair-pulling trauma will translate into a moving day of zen-like calm.

Till you can't find your keys.

snigger · 26/01/2009 18:40

If you're doing it on the cheap :

Start at least two weeks before you think you have to.

Put everything not nailed down through the dishwasher.

Look up your local paper wholesaler in Yellow Pages - buy a couple of blocks each of newsprint paper and tissue (£5-7 a block)

From dishwasher, once dry, wrap everything in your sterile paper (no inky hands like newspaper) in SMALL BOXES.

SMALL BOXES.

SMALL BOXES.

You think you want to fill the big ones, but you REALLY DON'T.

SMALL. Except for pillows and duvets, and face it, that's a black bag job, anyway.

Become a list maniac - three weeks of hair-pulling trauma will translate into a moving day of zen-like calm.

Till you can't find your keys.

snigger · 26/01/2009 18:42

(Sorry for the doubling up, I'm not being enthusiastic, I just have a bit of a router problem.)

snigger · 26/01/2009 18:43

(Sorry for the doubling up, I'm not being enthusiastic, I just have a bit of a router problem.)

Blu · 26/01/2009 18:46

Do a form 'change of address' letter a month in advance and send it to absolutely every 'official' agency you deal with - from your bank to your dentist, to the DVLA.

Pay to get mail re-directed as well, but the Royal Mail will mess it up big time and cause you some sort of mortgage payment disaster.

Once the date is set, ask the previous owners to find all their documents about boiler instructions, shower installation - anything to do with anything they leave in the house. It will come in useful one day!

Get quotes for removal and also removal with packing - it may not be as expensive as you thought, and well worth it. No finding boxes, buying enough strong tape - and no living in a half packed state for weeks- they will pack a 4 bed house in a day and a half! And if they pack, they will be liable for any breakages.

Get a removal co who put your beds (including cot) up in your new house. And re-erect any flat pack furniture thay have had to dismantle.

madwomanintheattic · 26/01/2009 19:38

bribe grandparents to have dcs to stay for at least 4 days whilst removal men are in. use two days child free to organise entire house ready for their arrival.

under no circs move with dcs in tow.

KingRolo · 26/01/2009 19:43

Repetitive I know but the only tip you really need is not to be tempted to save money and do the move on your own. Pay a professional team to come and pack all your stuff, move it and unpack at the other end. Ours cost £600 - nothing compared to the other costs involved in moving.