Moving House Old Style

the_cake

Just another thought - where we live we get "real" darkness, which I love (lots of stars....), and one of the most useful things we have bought is a head torch ... feels a bit weird when you first wear it, but hugely useful to be able to move around at night with your hands free ... feeding animals, shutting chickens, etc. Oh, and a large, bright, rechargeable torch is also an essential, in my opinion. Buy the best you can afford of both; cheaper ones (and I have tried them!) are a false economy. HTH, the cake.

JillS_2

the_cake wrote: »

Just another thought - where we live we get "real" darkness, which I love (lots of stars....), and one of the most useful things we have bought is a head torch ... feels a bit weird when you first wear it, but hugely useful to be able to move around at night with your hands free ... feeding animals, shutting chickens, etc. Oh, and a large, bright, rechargeable torch is also an essential, in my opinion. Buy the best you can afford of both; cheaper ones (and I have tried them!) are a false economy. HTH, the cake.

It's also great if you go out at night catching slugs. I used to wear my son's and passersby were sometimes shocked by hearing me chanting, "Take that you !!!!!!, bwaa-ha-ha."

Toonie

Hi everyone, need some advice and someone with a clearer head then I have at the moment.

Some of you know that I have recently split with my partner and have been looking for somewhere new to live. Well, I've just found out that we (my friend and I) have been accepted for a house we put a holding deposit on. It's empty so we can move in straight away, so we decided on this Friday as we both happen to have it and the rest of the weekend off.

However, it's only three days away. I've booked a van, a man and a mate, but having trouble knowing how to even start packing up. I've got a few cardboard boxes which I've begun packing books into, but what do I do about all my kitchen things? I won't have enough boxes for everything. What's the best way to sort it out? Bags, boxes, plastic crates?

Also, what do I need to get sorted in terms of letting people know? Banks, local council, electoral register...anything else?

I've got a load of friends who are going to help move some things on Saturday, so anything that doesn't fit in the van on Friday (boxes etc) can go then. It's the furniture that I want shifted in the van, stuff I can't do because of a back problem.

Is there anything major I'm forgetting?

cte1111

Is your ex staying in the house? Either way, think you need to read the meters (gas, electric, water?) and keep the reading somewhere safe. I'd take a photo if I were you in case you misread it, it's easy to pick up the wrong numbers.

Post redirection - you can usually apply for this online, but seems that they're having technical difficulties ATM. You can print the form off and post it with a cheque. It takes them a week or two to sort out, but hopefully you should be able to pick up any post in the meantime. I'd redirect it for a year and then you won't miss out on any annual statements / renewals, if you forget them when you are contacting organisations. Worth it IMHO in order to avoid having to see your old house / ex whenever you want your post / Xmas cards. https://www.royalmail.com/delivery/inbound-mail/redirections

Boxes - maybe worth looking / asking on freecycle or freegle. When I was packing up my Gran's flat, the small co-op gave me a load of boxes so worth a try. I think kitchen items are generally best in boxes, with newspaper around plates and other fragile items. Try and keep a couple of boxes spare - one for rubbish and one for charity shop. Don't put too many books in one box as it will be too heavy to life (surprising how heavy they are en masse).

Good luck, make sure your painkillers aren't packed in case your back plays up!

Memory_Girl

Pack an "emergency box" - loo roll, kettle, makings for a cuppa, mugs, prescription medicine, snack bars .... and keep it close by you - Mine was always sashed in the front of my car on moving day. Everything else - well if you haven't got enough boxes, create a pile in each room of everything you are taking.

Then you move one room at a time using what boxes you have - with whoever is ferrying the stuff over taking it to the new place and putting in the appropriate room - then at least you have a chance of finding that the kitchen stuff is in the kitchen and that your bed sheets don't end up somewhere random.

Make the bed up as soon as you get into the new property - because there is nothing worse than needing to fall into bed and having to rummage around for everything.

You have got three days - so draft the "big boys" for Friday to move the furniture, the mates with cars to move everything room by room on the Saturday and a "settling in/unpacking" day on Sunday (followed by a takeway dinner and a bottle of something lovely - and a Loooong bubble bath too)

Good luck in your new home

MG

Ziggy8083

Hello,

I found this website that was super helpful when I moved http://www.helpiammoving.com/moving_house/home.php

The checklists were excellent. I agree with above, our supermarket alwasy ahs double walled cardboard boxes which were handy for us when moving.
Blue Ik*ea bags and 'bags for life' are also handy.

HTH and good luck on the move

sarahl1_2

Hi,

Sorry to hear that - hope a new start will give you a boost. We're moving house next week. Great tips already, here's my list of 'change of address' people:
Change of address:
Banks
Credit cards
Savings/ISAs
HMRC
Council
Employers
Pensions
Water
Electric/Gas
BT/Sky/Mobile phones etc.
TV licence
Insurance: home, car, life
DVLA
Magazine subscriptions
Family/friends
Set up Royal Mail re-direct

I would make sure you call in meter readings, even if you're ex is staying in the house, saves disputes later.
As for packing I agree, room by room. If things are going back in the same place pack them as such, makes it easier to unpack.

And great advice about making the bed - I'm going to steal that one! Good luck!

redlady_1

Put a redirect in place now and worry about informing everyone once you are settled.

Blackpool_Saver

Insurance, phone them and request they cover goods in transit and tell them new home arrival date......

Blackpool_Saver

oh and don't forget your free home move box