The best way to move... packing etc

sallywl

Hey everyone, hope your all ok, and I appologise now if there is a more relevant place for this post to go.

Ive never moved house before, well my family did when i was 10 so i wasnt involved much, and also, I have when i was at uni and now lived in rented, but until now only had a room and a few extra bits to move. Now we have a whole house, and have no idea where to start...was wondering if any one has any tips.... boxes are sorted.... my bf's collegue moved a few weeks ago and is givin us his boxes... was no way I was paying for boxes and the supermarkets round here arent the most helpful

I really have no idea where to start... we wont be moving till end of november but there are things which could be packed now, which we dont use on a daily basis...

any help greatly received

Thankyoooou

Sarah
xxxxxx:o

Sisyphus

Start early, stay calm. Great opportunity for a good clean out and you feel great for it. Be ruthless, if you haven't worn those clothes in the last year, you will never wear them again.
Use small boxes, half fill them with heavy items and complete with lighter objects and clothing.
Start sorting out your paper work make sure it's well organised by category.
When throwing away old paperwork shred anything that has personal details.
Make a list of eveyone (friends, suppliers, Bank, utilities, council etc)who need to be informed of your new address. Do not forget DVLA, and insurance people as they will be more than happy to invalidate any claim you make if you have not informed them of your move.
It may seem like hardwork but it's well worth it and you'll get a real sense of relief and new beginning. Good luck.

Rosie75

I'm one of the many of here hoping to move by Xmas and have starting going through the items we've hoarded over the last 10 years, taking stuff to the tip and charity shop and selling on Ebay. My OH was going to take his 25-year old hi-fi to the tip but then thought he'd try his luck on ebay, and made about £350 out of the various components. I've also made about £150 - together that's paid for our survey.

jodenice

OK there is my way of doing things - run round in absolute mad panic the day before and fill up 17,000 dustbin sacks with stuff (which will split as you carry them out) or old boxes from supermarket (which will tear at the bottom and dump contents, also as you walk to van!) - these will also handily take up ten times more space and as you put them in van, things will spill out in front of removal men (or 'family', as I like to call them) displaying old skanky knickers and other embarrassing items, making your youngest brother blush.

Or you can do it my aunts way. She went to the market or a pound shop and got loads of stacking boxes for a very reasonable price (much cheaper than stationary or argos etc) She labelled them with 'bedroom, kitchen etc' and packed the bulk of the stuff away. Anything she didn't want she took to a large bootsale, along with hot coffee and bacon rolls and made a day of it, making enough money to more than cover the boxes along with enough to buy a bit more junk to replace the lot she was selling. anything needing more last minute packing was packed into boxes from supermarket.

Good luck!

Doozergirl

Don't pack too early or you will find yourself ripping open all the boxes for stuff you thought you wouldn't need. Use the time now for a clear out and to get all your cupboards neat and organised so that they will pack easily.

Top Tip for stuff that hangs in your wardrobe is to simply pull it out still on hangers, say 10 hangers at a time and lay it flat in the boot of your car. When you get to other side you can just hang it all up again. One or two bits will fall off the hanger, but it's far easier than packing it all up, unpacking it and then ironing it all again.

Don't use too big boxes, expecially for books because you won't be able to lift them and thing are more likely to break. Try to label your boxes, not only with the room you want them to go in, but with an iodea of what's inside so you can find what you're looking for. This move, I didn't see my underwear for days! :rotfl:

I pack towels, pillowcases and curtains with fragile things placed between the layers.

I also put fragile things like pictures and precious objects (my PC and children etc) in my car, because boys are so slapdash, they break things or don't pack the van sensibly so stuff falls over and breaks.

missbee

check with your removal company about insurance as well. We were told that as we packed it ourselves (which most people do as much cheaper, and to be honest, I think I'd do a better job!) then contents not insured, only the furniture. Seems a little annoying as they could, theoretically of couse, play tennis with your boxes and any breakable can't be claimed for as your packing would be to blame! So, make sure you choose a reputable firm!

Alleycat

We're moving soon too, so have spent a fair bit of time deliberating on the best way to get things sorted without running around like Jodenice dropping erm 'interesting' items for the neighbours to nose at.

Anyway, our plan is to slowly go through each room and pack that room as best as possible. Leaving out winter clothes, toiletries and stuff you use on a daily basis like hairbrush etc, do your bedroom. If you have a tumble dryer, you can pack most bedding, leaving one set on. Pack all books, most jewellrey etc. Flat pack what furniture you think you can do without for the next month or so, pack plates, cutlery etc leaving only what you need (so its a pain to have to wash up every time you want a cup but hey ho!). If you have a spare room clear it and use it as a storage room for the boxes you will be filling. Also, if you go room to room rather than packing a bit here and there, you can declutter as you go. Throw away that broken lamp which you said you would mend several years ago, take those old clothes to the charity shop etc.

Also have a look on freecycle for packing materials. If no one is offering, post a wanted, you never know!!

hander

I'm looking at the same thing and just found this. Looks useful.

http://www.helpiammoving.com/

mrsS_2

hi-the last 2 times i moved i have used the removal men to do the packing as well-so all i had to do was keep making tea!

relative to the cost of the move, the packing was just a small bit extra on top and they dismantled all the beds and wardrobes and reaasembled them at the other end- so all my husband had to worry about was setting up his hifi- instead of building beds at midnight!

honestly- it might be worth looking at the quotes-

we have quite a lot of things that need dismantling now that we have 2 kids what with beds and desks and wardrobes- i think the packing and dismantling (which took 4 men 2 days) cost about £250- which is a lot i know but when the move was costing £800 anyway even if we packed ourselves- it really was a no brainer.

tanith

Ikea do plastic hanging bags for on hanger clothes really cheap and you can put 4 or 5 hangers of clothes in each one it made it soooo much easier to transport the hanging clothes....

gallygirl

I agree with all the packing answers.

On the day pack a large box / crate with the following:

Kettle, tea, coffee, milk, sugar, mugs, spoons, cereal bars, biscuits.
Pain killers & plasters, large supply of valium
Bottles of water.
Tel numbers - solicitor, estate agent, removal co, electricity, gas etc. (Doctors, psychiatrists, marriage guidance councellors & hit men are also very useful.)
Stardrops & microfibre cloths, bleach etc.
Dustpan & brush, bin bags (100's of these).
Radio / CD player
Small tool kit.
Notepad & pens (note pens in plural, you will lose at least 4 as the day goes on!!!!!)
And most importantly - a bottle of nice & wine & glasses. Champagne if fridge will be there early enough to chill. (also nice idea to leave a bottle for the people moving in as they won't be as organised as you!!!!:D )

Hope it all goes well!!!!!