Packing/Moving tips :)

tenmah

Good Luck - you have made a good start and hopefully your friend gave you ideas on what you can get rid off, even when you are not sure!

When I moved I had lived at my last property for 26 years, like you I was downsizing to a property with the same amount of bedrooms, but so much smaller and had to get rid of loads of stuff. I put it on freecycle which saved me from any hassle as people came and collected it and carried it down stairs (1st floor flat).

The property I moved to is an old victorian terrace house and getting some of the furniture (i.e wardrobes) up the stairs proved very challenging and we had to dismantle them and take them upstairs in bits and then put them together again - a nightmare, so might be worth you checking on measurements first.

Fang_3

For DVDs and books and things, the best thing I have found is those sturdy 'Bags for Life' from Morrisons. Not the 10p ones or whatever, but the really thick strong canvas style bright ones. Absolutely invaluable, much easier to transport than boxes and you can use them over and over again.

Wee_Willy_Harris

I've moved a few times. But by far the best was when I got up on the morning of the move, taped labels onto every door (Bedroom 1, kitchen, lounge etc) then popped to the new house and replicated these labels. I then paid a removal firm whatever they wanted, booked into a very nice hotel for the night, then just turned up my new house the following day and flicked the kettle on! Perfect. Only downside (apart from the cost) was that it took me a couple of minutes to locate the cups.

LE3

Fang wrote: »

For DVDs and books and things, the best thing I have found is those sturdy 'Bags for Life' from Morrisons. Not the 10p ones or whatever, but the really thick strong canvas style bright ones. Absolutely invaluable, much easier to transport than boxes and you can use them over and over again.

Oooh that's a good idea - thanks
Hmm, just thought - with the amount of books I have, I think a few boxes may be a good idea too - but def will use this for some of the smaller irems like CDs / DVDs etc ...

LE3

Wee_Willy_Harris wrote: »

I've moved a few times. But by far the best was when I got up on the morning of the move, taped labels onto every door (Bedroom 1, kitchen, lounge etc) then popped to the new house and replicated these labels. I then paid a removal firm whatever they wanted, booked into a very nice hotel for the night, then just turned up my new house the following day and flicked the kettle on! Perfect. Only downside (apart from the cost) was that it took me a couple of minutes to locate the cups.

Great idea - but I am downsizing & neet to get rid of a LOT before moving or I'll never be able to move in the new house!
Paying someone to come & move stuff doesn't get rid of 5+ yrs of junk!!

Wee_Willy_Harris

LE3 wrote: »

Oooh that's a good idea - thanks
Hmm, just thought - with the amount of books I have, I think a few boxes may be a good idea too - but def will use this for some of the smaller irems like CDs / DVDs etc ...

A useful tip is to put as much light stuff inside the furniture from the same room... Bedding in wardrobes etc. Then you put the wardrobe in the right room, and as if by magic, so is the bedding.

shabby_chic

Loads of great advice here which I will keep in mind for myself if we eventually sell.

My own tip to make the move easier is to take clothes from wardrobes on the hangers, tie a bundle together and cover with black bags so when you move in you just need to remove bag and place straight in the wardrobe. We also bought those clothes rails from Argos as we didn't have enough wardrobes at first and found these useful.

Good luck

maria6259

Be RUTHLESS when decluttering!

Remember, if you havent used it for 6 months, you probably dont need it.

During my last house move I had a skip at the old house to get rid of stuff two weeks before I moved, but still found I needed one at the new house within days to get rid of even more clutter!

I did use a removals firm who did the packing one day, then uplifted the next. AND we exchanged on Monday and completed Tuesday so it was all a bit hair-raising!

At one point we couldnt move in our new house because of boxes (house was a bit smaller) and I had to stash the empties outside until I had time to flatten them.

I did say never again but....

Am thinking of downsizing again now 2 of the kids have left home (just me and my son left now).

Good luck with the move and keep the kettle handy!

Procrastinator333

Not read this, so may be covered, but my tip would be to keep to a simple rule. If you haven't used it or seen it for 6 months it goes in the bin. With the exception of a few sentimental objects.

Then just start with something easy like a bookcase. Box up the books, not too heavy. Make sure you have space, near to the front door for all the boxes as u pack. Then just keep going! Good luck!

LE3

Thanks for the advice everyone. It’s a huge job and one I’m not enjoying at all, but one which desperately needs doing! I am definitely being ruthless with my decluttering!! A skip is a great idea but it’s not possible because I haven’t told the landlord I’m moving yet & if he were to see one on the drive he may figure out that something’s going on! (I will tell him - soon - but not yet!) Also, I live on a main road & skips round here (unless they are only there for the day) just end up filled by neighbours etc & as I understand it, you are responsible for the contents/type of waste/paying by weight etc …

I am intending to pack at least 2 boxes a night from now on, with the exception of Mondays when I work late & don’t get home till 10pm! I have evaluated what's left to do & I think my action plan is:
Front Bedroom - left hand wardrobe (includes winter coats, hats etc), shelves, chest of drawers, main wardrobe. Dismantle bed.
“Office” area - Filing cabinet (shred most of it, keep what’s needed & put in “safe place” - possibly take to work?), storage unit, desk/computer area
Middle Bedroom - under bed, bookcase, chest of drawers, bedside units.
Empty the loft (not much in there - just Christmas tree & a few small bits)
Living room - ornaments, bookcases, board games, CDs, DVDs, TV unit
Kitchen - Empty fridge freezer & food cupboards (currently munching my way through as much as possible!), drawer under oven, “appliances” (toaster, slow cooker, etc), pan cupboard, plates cupboard, drawers, cupboard under kitchen sink (need to leave out cleaning stuff to last minute).
Defrost Fridge freezer. Disconnect washing machine & fit “transit fittings”

Last minute tasks - can be done day before/of move J
Dismantle bed in middle bedroom (will need help to do this & won’t have help again till prob day of move L )
Towels from airing cupboard
Cupboard with spare bedding (only keep what I know I need J) - contents will be used to protect furniture in transit!
Bathroom will be done last - can prob fit the contents of that in a carrier bag!

The two areas I REALLY don’t look forward to tackling are the back bedroom which has become a bit of a store room & the shed!