moving house any tips??

ben_m_g

I refuse to move without a removal company.

We have a horrific time moving last time, and although they are costly, it is not something I would consider otherwise.

pelirocco

Errata wrote: »

Ask at any supermarket - I got loads of boxes from Sainsburys.

My tip when moving from one property to another is - valium!

lol I was going to say valium , and thats just for the removal company !!!..............Its pretty stressful out there at the moment , I have just had a client on the phone who has lost the will to live


You can buy removal boxes from removal companies , for cheapness ask for the used ones ( they last a few moves ) , and because they are standard size and rigid they stack better . Dont overfill the boxes , remeber you have to lift them

and have a spare box for the last minute stuff you should have probably chucked away but ran out of time

poddle911

It's definitely worth checking Gumtree or Freecycle for boxes - we got a whole set of quality boxes from someone who had just moved here from Australia. Free, except for the bottle of wine we took them to say thanks.

I did freak out a little bit when a huge spider emerged from the stack of boxes in our living room...

Sarahspangles

Do you need a list?

The List of Lists thread!

Francesanne

jobbingmusician wrote: »

May I ask an additional question here (I hope the answer will be helpful to the OP) - does anyone know the best place to get boxes for removals?

You redirect mail by paying a small fortune to the royal mail, I'm afraid - https://www.royalmail.com/personal/receiving-mail/redirection?PSID=Google&campaignid=RD0713_SM_25&keyword=post%20office%20mail%20forward&creative=27573235453

Hadn't realised it was so expensive! thanks for information.

surfsister

thanks all for the tips! very useful!

I've free-cycled/gum treed loads of stuff and charity shop too.

great idea to pack up early and to use the lists! Also how to pick up boxes.

Anyone know how much removers cost? we were going to do it ourselves.

snifflette

cloo wrote: »

freecycle.org to clear any clutter and get new stuff, or to ask for moving boxes

Also try out back of your local supermarket for boxes - long, flattish fruit boxes are perfect for books and DVDS and stack well.

http://www.iammoving.com/ has been a lifesaver for changing address - it has tickboxes for almost every back/retailer/service who might mail you and it will alert all of them. A mail redirect only works for a few months, but this will change your details with everyone.

Watch out, I heard you start getting mail from all the companies listed whether or not you were previously registered with them!

System

TBagpuss wrote: »

Try supermarkets for empty boxes - ones for things such as wine or olive oil are good, as they tend to be fairly strong and are small enough still to be lift-able when full.

I would not use olive oil boxes as they sometimes have a bit of oil residue inside. Dried pasta, fabric conditioner and biscuits are best. Banana boxes for saucepans, food cupboard staples etc..A lot of the supermarket goods come in shrinkwrap with shelf ready packaging

If you work in an office which uses a lot of photocopy paper, the boxes are good for small things.

If you have a McDs nearby, their boxes are very strong. Last year, someone moved into my block of houses and flats and left these boxes in the bin area. A colleague's daughter was moving and I took them. These boxes contained drink cups and Happy Meal toys. My friend who lives at another McDs, refused to give boxes to her.

System

A box with these:
. Mugs - best to use old ones as they tend to get lost or broken. If your mugs are all decent, a trip to a charity shop or car boot.
. Teabags, coffee, sugar/sweetners, milk and spoon
. Kettle and teapot
. biscuits
. loo roll
. Crockery and cutlery for the number of people in your home for evening meal and breakfast
. food for breakfast
. a copy of a takeaway menu
. alcohol
. kitchen roll

Also put your remotes for TVs etc in the box as I know people losing them and having to buy them universal remotes - unnecessary expense and find them a few months later.

I have moved 6 times 2002-2010 and a couple of them were small - filling back of Dad's Mondeo with back seats down when I moved out of student accom and when I moved back to my parents as I dumped my ex. He had some of the large furniture and gave the rest away. All have been stressful.

Paully232000

surfsister wrote: »

thanks all for the tips! very useful!

I've free-cycled/gum treed loads of stuff and charity shop too.

great idea to pack up early and to use the lists! Also how to pick up boxes.

Anyone know how much removers cost? we were going to do it ourselves.

Ours cost, for packing and moving, 3 bed semi to a 4 bed detached, 2 adults and 2 children, about £750, plus a tip for the movers, and lots of tea and biscuits.