I need tips on packing a 5 bdr. 3 bath house in 5 days?

HildaM

Interesting thread - please bear with me while I ask some daft questions.

IF our move ever goes ahead (bitter hollow laugh) we will only have a few days notice so will be paying for packers.
Some people have mentioned buying clear or strong boxes - won't the packers be supplying those?
Somebody else mentioned going out and leaving the packers to it - how do we let them know which room in the new house that things have to go to? I know the kitchen/living room stuff may be obvious but we're going from 2bed/1bath to 3 bed/2 bathroom. Do I have to label toiletries, for example (waste of time - might as well pack it myself) or do I stand there and say "that brand of tampons is mine - so goes to the en suite. That brand is my daughters - family bathroom"? (don't really fancy that either -also a waste of time)

mysk_girl

Our packing service supplied all the materials. We got some a week before if we wanted to do any delicates ourselves.

The packers marked each box with the room it had come from. We told them on move in where the boxes for each room had to go (eg bed 1 in old house went to bed 2 in new house).

Can you not sort things like toiletries as you unpack? It really is less stressful and quicker for the packers if you aren't trying to organise as they are packing. We had a nice walk round town, late brunch in a cafe, and then reorganised (and threw a lot of stuff out!) as we unpacked. Especially as you have limited time...

Kathy535

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

That thought hadnt even occurred to me:eek:. I just checked whether the removal firm will disconnect my automatic washing machine for me and they said they will (from memory) - or do the removal firm supply these (as I imagine its just a couple of cheap little bits of plastic?)

What are these "plumbing wotsits" and where can I get them please anyone?

As a follow-up thought - what happens about disconnecting the cooker? The removal firm said they don't do that and mine is freestanding (don't know if it will have to go with me or no - as I don't know which exact house I will be buying yet).

You can get them from B&Q, Homebase etc. They are little plastic caps that fit over the pipe ends and aren't v expensive. I only found I needed them when, with a huge sigh of relief at having finished all the cleaning before the new people got in, I poured the dirty water from the bucket into the sink only for it to flood over the newly cleaned cupboard and floor. Much cursing ensued plus a high speed visit to the plumbers merchant down the road. Your removal company might do it for you as a matter or course but ours were (with hindsight) rip off cowboys and did very little than than load and unload the van.

HildaM

mysk_girl wrote: »

........ We had a nice walk round town, late brunch in a cafe, ...

This sounds like the best idea of all.

herewegoagain2010

As a forces wife I've always packed my house myself top to bottom, but that's just do to my ocd ad me being a control freak.

I packed my 4bed 2bath in Germany (including cellar, garage and loft) in 5days, but it was a nightmare. Hubby was in UK and juggling the kids and dog didn't help.

I didn't sleep for more than 6hours a night, but got it all done moved without a break. I was shattered but do consider myself a serial mover now and go into autopilot.

My advice pay for the packers, you have to get boxes anyway and this will be covered the cost, let them pack, you won't be stressing and concentrate on your new home!

Slinky

Our's was a two day move due to the distance. They packed everything bar the overnight essentials and the bed and the cat, and came back first thing in the morning to get everything else. At the new house they moved things into each room as required then left us with all the boxes to unpack at our leisure. They did unpack the hanging clothes into the wardrobes so they could take those boxes with them.

We called them a few weeks later and they arranged for the next time one of their vans was in the area to pick up our empty boxes.

Slinky

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

As a follow-up thought - what happens about disconnecting the cooker? The removal firm said they don't do that and mine is freestanding (don't know if it will have to go with me or no - as I don't know which exact house I will be buying yet).

Depends whether it's gas or electric! If it's gas, I'd have thought you'll need to get somebody qualified in to disconnect it for you so the gas is capped off properly. If it's electric it should be easier (you'll need to pull the right fuse/switch on your RCD out first obviously) for somebody fairly skilled with a screwdriver.