Packing Tips? When to start?

Nikkinakkinoo2017

Hey all,
Just wondering what different opinions and tips there are for packing. We have rented our house for years and years so plenty of decluttering and cupboards to sort. House we are purchasing has had searches returned (no chain either) and solicitor said she will be in touch shortly. So when do I start packing? Is it too soon? Do people wait until they have a moving date?

divadee

Nikkinakkinoo2017 wrote: »

Hey all,
Just wondering what different opinions and tips there are for packing. We have rented our house for years and years so plenty of decluttering and cupboards to sort. House we are purchasing has had searches returned (no chain either) and solicitor said she will be in touch shortly. So when do I start packing? Is it too soon? Do people wait until they have a moving date?

If you have a lot of decluttering it's never too early to start. Start doing it room by room and then have boxes to bin, charity or sell. Starting early means you can sell it on gumtree or eBay without panicking you are running out of time.

LandyAndy

Packing Tips? When to start?

Yesterday would be just too late to do it comfortably.


Don't delay. It takes a lot longer than you think.


Alternatively use your removers packing service.

paul_1

Start now :-)


De-clutter first. Set aside a weekend (or other time) and go through each type of possession in one go - clothes, books / cds, paperwork, kitchen. Ebay / freecycle / dump. The less you have to pack and move the better.


Then pack up anything you are not likely to need before the move. Loft, books, xmas decorations etc. If you have a room (eg bedroom, dining room, garage) you can set aside for packed boxes it will make the job easier as you release more space around the house.


Then 2 - 3 weeks before stuff you will not miss - pictures, nick-knacks, kitchen equipment you won't use etc.


The week before you move (after exchange!), do your everyday clothes, kitchen stuff etc leaving out enough stuff for the next week.


Biggest tip - make sure you are packed the day before the move. With just a sports bag or suitcase with the clothes and cleaning stuff you will need (have a takeaway or eat out the eve of your move :-) ). The last thing you want is to be packing and trying to clean the house at the same time.


Everyone always leaves it too late. We started about six months before our move (it took 9 months from offer to contract!) and still ended up with a last-minute rush.

saajan_12

Even if you have movers do the packing, you don't want to pay to move clutter nor have it fill your new property. So, I'd start on getting rid of anything you don't want to keep (bin / charity / sell). No reason to wait for this!

Then start on long term things you can put into boxes and almost leave where they are (e.g. put the whole box back in the loft / cupboard) so you're not living around boxes but have a head start on the time consuming bits. This could be books, old children's things, fancy clothes / shoes, decorative items, extra bedding etc.

You only need to leave the regularly used things (daily dishes, main few clothes, daily toiletries, work / school equipment) to the final week and definitely after exchange in case it all falls through. Everything else can be started now!

LoopyLoops

Get started on the de-cluttering, it needs doing anyway and can take a long time! We had a mass de-clutter before we put ours on the market and amazed at how much more we had than I thought.

Good luck with it all, hope it goes smoothly.

Red-Squirrel_2

I think I got rid of about half my possessions before my last move. I haven't missed any of it.

Be brutal, be totally honest with yourself about what you actually need and use. Start now, go room by room with a big roll of bin bags.

KateySW

I'm at the exact same point as you are OP! And I haven't even started yet :doh: this thread definitely makes me think I should have!

I haven't been renting my flat very long, it was always a temporary move as we relocated last year and wanted to get to know the city before we bought anywhere. But I still have a tonne of clearing out to do! When we moved last time, I was as ruthless as I possibly could be: if it a) hadn't been used for a year or b) didn't have genuine sentimental value, out it went. Try to use what you know about your new place to decide whether to keep stuff, where would it live, still useful etc.

Also, name your boxes and try to pack room by room! Biggest mistake I made last time was not doing that and having things [STRIKE]lost[/STRIKE] spread out everywhere!

Best of luck with everything!

G_M

De-cluttering? Start yesterday.

Actually packing? After Exchange and before Completion.

Lauralou79

I haven't had searches back or exchange date set but am already sorting and decluttering as don't want to be rushing round last minute. Not actual packing tho! Nothing's certain till I have those keys!!

Nikkinakkinoo2017

Thank you for all of your replies, I will start the dreaded task of decluttering. Will start with the children's rooms while they are at school to clear out their storage units that have gathered all sorts of pieces of paper and toys that they have forgotten about. Was considering doing a car boot, maybe if I get my bum into gear I may gather enough stuff to make it worth it.
Thanks again for the advice. Oh and we aren't planning on using a removal service, we are just going to hire a van and move ourselves because we are only living a couple of streets away.
Exciting :-)