Tell More Th>n your top tips for making moving home easier - £240 voucher prize draw NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

More Th>n would like to find out Mumsnetters' top tips to make moving home a little easier.

Heres what More Th>n have to say, "Life can be full of little frustrations. At MORE TH>N we want to help, and that's why we love collecting and sharing all sorts of tips and tricks that make life that little bit easier. We like to think of them as 'helping hands', those clever ideas you never knew you needed to know. We're always on the look-out for more great hints to share, so if you've got a top tip, let us know."

To get some inspiration, watch the video clip below and then share your own top tips on this thread.

Do the suggestions given in the video appeal to you, or not? Which, if any, would you try out? Do you have any of your own to add? Do you pack duvets into your cupboards to save on space? Maybe you write the contents of each box on the box after youve packed it to make it easier to find the right box in your new home? Or do you make sure there are lots of biscuits around to fuel the hard work ?

Everyone who adds their comments to this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £240 Amazon voucher.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

Moving is a chance for a clearout! you get 3 goes at it:

Clear out as much stuff to charity shops, car boot etc as you can before moving.

Then, when packing, cull again. Don't pack stuff that you know in your heart isn't a long term keeper.

And then when you unpack and it is obvious that the item won't fit/is unsuitable put it in a box marked charity.

I make a scale plan of the rooms with window/radiator placements on squared paper before the move and cutouts of the big furniture, carpets etc. Playing around with these means I can make instant decisions for the movers as to what goes where. I might well change things later but it makes things much more efficient on moving-in day.

Yes as above, don't assume that, because you moved in with a single journey in an estate car, you will move out the same way. Apparently 1 year is enough to accumulate two high top, long wheel base transit vans full of extra crap essential items

Get rid of as much stuff as you can. We decluttered before we put the house on the market - emptied loft, garage etc. Sell items on ebay /gumtree, donate to charity / friends or worst case scenario take to the dump. The house looked a lot better for it and sold quickly.
When it came to moving start packing as soon as you can - use bubblewrap to protect corners of furniture - you can often get this free from supermarket a small quantity at a time from the fruit and veg dept.

My best tips for moving house are: if you can't be organised and de-clutter before you move, then lower your expectations and relax. It will be chaos. Just accept it.

If you have a baby/young children, do everything you can to keep them out of the way. Grandparents can be fantastic.

Try not to move house more than once a year and avoid moving into a smaller property when your family is getting bigger if you can help it.

My top tip, have my mother in law in the New house and my mum in the old house, cleaning as you pack up/UN pack. Lifesaver!!

I could Hire them out! :)

Ask supermarkets for boxes, always found them very helpful.

Mark on each box which room it's for and take it straight to that room as planned. This would have been much easier than DH taking them all into a small spare room then having to Hunt through all the boxes to find the kettle!

Keep old newspapers for months in advance so you have plenty for wrapping glassware/ornaments/delicate kitchenwares.

Write the room name on each box and make sure the box goes straight to that room ready for unpacking when you arrive at your new home. My DP decided to stack everything in the living room the last time we moved so it was a bloody nightmare!

YY to whoever suggested organising childcare so they're not under your feet unless they are older and can be used as slaves!

Use a removals company. They do all the back-breaking work! I wish I'd done this!

I have only moved three times, but it's not something I like. There's just so much to think of. I loved the ideas, especially the walnut for scratches. My tip would be keep all the contact details of everyone like estate agent, removals company etc on your phone. Make a list of everything in each box and write the name of the room the box has to go in, on the box. Then just unpack as much as you can - it's best to get it done straight away and then your new house will feel like your home!

Hand round the , and and leave it entirely to the removal firm (assuming of course that you've booked a super-duper one that does everything!). Arrange for a food order to be delivered to your new address for before the removal lorry arrives (if the previous owners have left the fridge/freezer) then you can be assured you've got provisions to see you thro' the first few days of chaos - and you'll have tea and biscuits to keep you and the removal guys fed and watered

Keep a suitcase of essentials so that on the first night you can be comfortable, things like sheets for all the beds and a set of pyjamas. That way if your'e too tired to do anythign you can just crash!

Find a local takeaway on the evening that you move!

Agree about travelling with valuables and also getting childcare on the day if you can but also with getting children involved in the unpacking.

My top tips are ....

1. Give every room a name and a number so Kitchen 1 .... 2 .....3 ..... and in a book I list "everything" that is placed in that box (everything) as so many times I have looked for something and cant find it , so I look through my book until I see what box it is in.

2. I write the room name and box number on every side of the box to make it easier to locate, as Murphy's Law the box you will need will either be at the very bottom of the pile or at the very back.

3. Make each child a special box of things to keep them occupied, with treats and surprises, as well as their favourite items that they can have fun opening and unpacking themselves, I also wrap a few surprises and place them in their boxes , that gave me peace for ages.

4. Price around loads of companies if you are using removal men, the price differences for me was huge. After I got their initial quotes , I went back asking to speak to the manager, saying that I wanted to use their services, but they were expensive and they bettered the best price I had been given, " worth a try" ... all they can do is say no.

5. And my biggest tip .. get rid of the husband / wife / partner (especially if you are a hoarder like me :-) as my hubby is a keeper of nothing .... and all I got is .... What do you want that for ? , when will you ever use that ? just get rid of that ......

Happy Moving xxx

Book a full pack and unpack service. I am never moving again without by this. If I couldn't afford it I would delay moving to save!

If you're doing a long distance move my tip is to choose a removal company from the place you're moving to. This means that when they are packing/unpacking they only have the homeward journey or are already there and if you have any issues with them to sort out afterwards you're in the right place. My Grandparents moved every 7 years of their 50 year marriage and this was their best tip :)

I've moved 5 times in 3 years! so here are my tips: Your local big large supermarket, have a word with them and find out the day they chuck out their boxes, you can normally if you ask nicely get them to put some aside for you if you pick them up on time.
Start packing a monthe before, I'm not jocking literally a month, all the stuff you havent used in months you can pack early, stack boxes in a corder of a room which gets not much passing traffic so they are not in the way.
So pack last seasons clothes, leave enough bed clothes that you'll need and pack the rest. Pack them with the hanger on so all you have to then do is hang straight onto the wardrobe no folding and unfolding.
Pack all the toiletries that you hardly ever use, these will be very time consuming if you leave to last minute.
Pack all the kitchen bits that you haven't used in months, otherwise very time consuming in the last week.
Get the kids to choose their toys for the month and pack the rest. This will actually be exciting when they unpack them in the new place, like new toys again.

Ensure you LABEL LABEL LABEL, imperative to then find all your stuff.

Day before pack a box for each person with their most likely to use clothes so that for the next few days youre not opening hundreds of boxes if you dont have time to unpack everything, all essentials will be in one box.

Day before you should only have out, a change of clothes for each person (if you have babies and toddlers their essentials such as formula, nappies etc). In the kitchen only have some snacks out and just have take out dinner as a treat, this menas no last minute pots and pans to wash and worry about packing away.

Major help if you can pack the kids off to grandparents/friends/nursery etc that day, you will move faster and won't worry what they are getting up to.

My tip is get rid of ur oh and children, know it sounds harsh but its a lot easier to throw away all the stuff you don't need to take with you when they aren't around. It's also quicker when you haven't got people under your feet all the time, saves on arguments and is less stressful.

my mum has learnt today, dont go and help a pedantic old man move when you both wiind each other up!

Pack a "Day" box - items that you want to have to hand, so pack a suitcase filled with clothes etc, washbag and whatnot.

And a box with your kettle, takeaway voucher, cups, teaspoon, tape measure, phone charger etc.

I'm not particularly experienced at moving, but will be doing so in January (a few weeks - aaargghhhh!).

So far, (1) sell what you can, but I find I can't sell lots at the moment. I'm having to just charity shop a lot - it is painful when it is good quality stuff I paid lots for, but ultimately I will forget each item and if I don't need it there is no point keeping it. (2) I will be sourcing good, stackable cardboard boxes and pens. (3) Anyone offering help will be given a child. I know what I want packed, where, and suspect it will cause chaos if too many people help. Keeping the children out the way? Priceless.

I wouldn't have thought of the fridge drawer tip so thanks for that!

In exchange, I can offer...

Put your itinerary and to-do reminders into a spreadsheet with columns for item, company / contact, action and progress.

Make darned sure that you know exactly who is turning up with the keys and when and where they will be.

If you have smaller children, walk around with them while they discover each room and decide together what you're going to call it. Is it the sitting room, front room or lounge? The conservatory or sun room?

Say hello to your new neighbours on your first day

Pack a small suitcase filled with what you will need for the first night and next morning.

A good removal crew are invaluable. Get a part or full pack if possible.
Leave out ample tea, coffee, sugar, milk and biscuits. Both you and the removal company will appreciate it.

Good removals people come round to check how you are getting on with packing a couple days beforehand, so they can give you more boxes of the right sort (eg clothes rail ones or small ones for heavy books), and reassure you it'll only be an extra £100 to finish it for you if necessary. Check yours will. It's annoying, but a good sign if they refuse to quote without seeing your house and how much stuff there is.

Write on boxes with marker pen - label with room they will go to in the new house (ensure crew have plan so they know which room is study, dining room, bedroom 1/2/3 etc - put post-its on doors when you arrive)
And as much detail of contents as you can bear, and number boxes for each room, which makes it easier to tell if you've unpacked them all yet.

Figure out how movers are going to get into destination house. Got great man+van to pack MrNC's flat once, he filled van in half an hour then said "ok, see you in London" and we suddenly realised we needed to finish packing essentials, clean the flat, and then drive to London to meet the guy and letting agent and let him in! Speeding may have been involved... We then had same issue two moves later, ended up giving a cleaner extra cash to finish old flat herself and get a Travelcard to new house after.

Moving is hideous, such a pain. I have to declutter first to try to reduce the amount I'm taking. Try to keep boxes as organised as possible so you know where things are when you arrive. Make sure to get help and don't try to do it all on your own!

I moved 3 times in 12 months and the last one was the easiest for me. I got proper flu, couldn't help at all and got moved from the sofa in one house to the bed in the next without realising what was happening. Luckily the houses were only half a mile apart! Don't really recommend it though. Just get as many people to help as possible. Send pets and kids to play somewhere else, so they are out of the way.

Start to declutter as soon as you think about moving.

If you can afford it pay the removals firm to pack and unpack for you

If you can't then top tip label boxes with room and brief list of contents

Keep essentials with you in the car eg kettle, mugs, tea, milk, pyjamas, wash bags etc