Packing/Moving tips :)

LE3

The time has come to commence the packing ready for teh move when it happens. I need to start packing now as I've a lot to sort/pack and very little free time in the next few weeks (the next month or so is not the best time to be moving house!). I'm having to do this on my own, though I do have help to actually move it when the time comes.

I will not be employing professional movers as I know there is a lot of decluttering needs to be done as I pack - it's a bit complex but I'm sort of downsizing & I also have a lot of "stuff" here from Mum, Gran & a friend who've died since I lived here as well as stuff I was storing for friends & who knows what else. I have the same number of rooms where I'm going, but they are slightly smaller. I suppose in some ways I'm downsizing. I will also be replacing some of my furniture (some of what I have was bought cheap & was only ever designed to be temporary for a year or so till I moved - that was over 5 yrs ago!!)

Where do I start?!

Any advice/tips from those who've been there, particularly those who have had to do it all themselves or those who have downsized, would be appreciated.

kprice580

We haven't sold/bought yet but we are also de-cluttering! We started in the garage then moved onto kids playroom.

Go to your local supermarket for boxes, large Cereal/crisp boxes are great for light bulky items such as teddies/toys & shoes, veg boxes are good for DVDs. start going through your nic nac drawers (I have loads) there is always something you put in one and forgot about, but no longer need lol!!!

Good luck with it LE3

Katy x

LE3

I have boxes, I just don't know where to start - I don't have "nic nac drawers", a garage or a kids playroom!

delmar39

Don't move would be my first bit of advice! We've just done it and glad it's over. But alas you are so that's that. We started by packing none essential items into boxes and storing them in our dining room. We took down our dining room table and chairs plus any beds we didn't need. We hired a mini skip for chucking things out - we hired the smallest for around £65 and it was too small!! We put clothes that we weren't using into suitcases and holdalls ready to transport. However, as we didn't exchange contracts 2 days before we moved the last couple of days was spent literally chucking things into boxes at random. So, whilst we had some order all that went out of the window when we exchanged. However, we'd chucked loads out into a skip and packed the main things. We thought we were disorganised but when the removal firm turned up they said that often people aren't even up when they arrive and haven't packed a thing! Just goes to show how one can doubt ones self!!

Good luck.

LE3

The dining room may actually be a good place to start - thanks delmar39

I don't want to pack everything just yet, but need to make a really good start as I know it's going to be such a huge job! Skips etc is not feasible (I live on a main road - everyone would chuck stuff in it!) but I can go via the tip on the way to/from work a couple of times a week if needed.

I can prob start with the dining room - 2 of the 4 dining chairs are beyond repair so maybe I can drop them to the tip on the way to work sometime next week - I will probably ditch all of them & buy new for the new house (can't do that for everything, but some of it's necessary!)

kprice580

LE3 wrote: »

I have boxes, I just don't know where to start - I don't have "nic nac drawers", a garage or a kids playroom!

Your a very lucky person then lol!!!!

Like delmar39 says, anything non-essential pack it, leave out enough plates, cups, cuttlery for each person or buy plastic ones to throw away!

Make sure you label/mark the box of whats inside/which room its going in.

If I think of any more I'll let ya know.

Katy x

dreamywings1

LE3 wrote: »

Where do I start?!

Good luck with your removals.
I am an ex army wife and have moved 11 times in my lifetime.lol

OK what i do is :-

Hire a skip so you can throw things as you go along (sounds like an expense but really does save on trips to the tip and is soooo much easier!)
Collect enough boxes, tape and packing materials plus marker pen
Have enough black bags so you can sort and throw as you go along
Write lists of what is in each box (as your packing it so you dont have to rummage through all your boxes later) and put this list on top inside the box so when you open it you can see whats in it)
Mark the box as to what room it belongs to in LARGE BOLD WRITING

I do my packing room by room leaving the bathroom till last (as this usually only uses 1 box and is quick to pack)

Pack and clean as you go along (saves time when you get to new place)

Keep out and keep together in a file ALL ESSENTIAL PAPERWORK PASSPORTS INSURANCE DOCS DRIVING LICENSE etc nothing worse than packing something then realising you need it.

I usually start in the kids bedrooms....
Take down bed and put mattress in another bedroom (I have 4 kids and by the end of it all we will all be sleeping in the lounge for a night or 2 lol) sort out toys/books chuck whats not wanted or recycle whatever is easier for you and put into boxes write your list as to whats in it and place ontop of items then SEAL IT - this does not get opened again untill ready to unpack so leave out little ones night time teddy or whatever lol.
Wardrobe next...pack what ever clothes are going to be used into a suitcase or bag then pack rest of clothes into either suitcases or boxes (I find that if you pack into boxes line with a bin liner 1st stops you getting itchy from your clothes just in case your allergic to anything in the cardboard)

Once everything in room is packed I move boxes out so I can give the room a good clean, then put the boxes back in their, this will now be my packed box storage room. and where dismantled bits of furniture go.

Carry on with each room putting all filled boxes into your box storage room, then when a room is empty clean it then do not go in this room again until your removals have gone and you will just need to give it a quick hoover and your ready to go.

The hardest room to do I found is the kitchen but all i do is leave out 5 plates/cups/glasses/cutlery a couple of pans and utensils and kettle and pack everything else.
Remember to sort through cupboard and chuck any food away thats past its best or better still try to eat everything before you move.

HUGZ Dreamyxx

If your anywhere near Herefordshire give me a shout and we can get it done in a day lol x

delmar39

kprice580 wrote: »

Your a very lucky person then lol!!!!

Like delmar39 says, anything non-essential pack it, leave out enough plates, cups, cuttlery for each person or buy plastic ones to throw away!

Make sure you label/mark the box of whats inside/which room its going in.

If I think of any more I'll let ya know.

Katy x

Yes good point label each box with the room it's going in. Obvious yes, but really does help. We then put a sheet of A4 on each door in the new house which related to the box labels so the removal firm knew where to go - genius! That wasn't my idea by the way, it was my missus's Mum so I can't take all the credit

dreamywings1

Forgot to mention that if your getting rid of furniture that you no longer need some charities may come and collect it from you x

LE3

dreamywings1 wrote: »

If your anywhere near Herefordshire give me a shout and we can get it done in a day lol x

Dreamy - alas not in Herefordshire, but thanks so much, you've given me a huge amount of encouragement!
I know I have a huge job ahead of me - as I say I have been here over 5 yrs & have accumulated for too much stuff in that time that I've been hanging onto "for when I move" - now I know where I'm moving to, I know that I can get rid of certain bits of extra furniture etc as well as the usual rubbish you accumulate!

I LOVE the idea of the "packed box room" and I think it makes sense to have this downstairs rather than having to lug everything from down up & all the packed boxes down again on moving day, so I'm going to use the dining room as "packed box hq" & am formulating an action plan, which starts with "empty the big cupboard" & "take the broken dining chairs to the tip" & hopefully ends with "lots of packed boxes stacked neatly by the wall"

Even better, I have just had a text from a friend who said "were you serious that you're spending this weekend packing? I'm free Saturday if you want a hand?". I'm not the sort of person who would usually say yes, but I have on this occasion & she's coming over around 9:30am to spend the day with me helping. She's detached enough from my belongings to be able to chuck out the rubbish & yet knows me well enough to not force me to get rid of things I may regret ...

I'm quite looking forward to it now - just need to go to the supermarket on the way home to buy some munchies to keep us going as we pack!

Nosht

When uplifting old carpets the easiest way to do it is by taking a Stanley Knife, or similar, & cutting the old carpet into managable sized strips which can easily be rolled up for dumping.


Regards,


N.