When do you start packing to move

davidmcn

mm1985 said:

ccfc1972 said:

We're hopefully looking to complete around the 14th Jan as well. We've already started packing.

Especially with the local search still outstanding 

Why is that worrying you? Local searches very rarely contain anything particularly surprising. And it's even less likely that a surprise would be something which you weren't already aware of as an owner-occupier. So unless you're actually keeping quiet about the bypass about to be built through your back garden...

mm1985

davidmcn said:

mm1985 said:

ccfc1972 said:

We're hopefully looking to complete around the 14th Jan as well. We've already started packing.

Especially with the local search still outstanding 

Why is that worrying you? Local searches very rarely contain anything particularly surprising. And it's even less likely that a surprise would be something which you weren't already aware of as an owner-occupier. So unless you're actually keeping quiet about the bypass about to be built through your back garden...

No most definitely not. I think it’s more the concern of not knowing when the search will return. If it’s not this side of the year then our move date could get pushed and I guess this could result in any household in the chain pulling out...guess I’m a glass half empty kind of girl

SonnyLumiere

We moved in mid November. We had been decluttering for over a year - sounds like you've done this too. Started packing two months before likely completion date - we were still hard at the packing the night before the move, though! Maybe we are just inefficient packers? One thing that nearly caught us out was booking a removals firm. We started getting quotes a month before completion, but it was hard getting the week we wanted as everything was so busy. Most firms seemed to work on the basis of accepting provisional dates and allowing for a degree of movement. Firms seemed to be booked up for weekends (inc Fridays), so we chose midweek as we had the luxury of moving out a couple of days before completion. So, my recommendation is: assume it is happening and panic early!

welwynrose

We were brutal when we moved last year, we’d been in the same house for over 20 years so had accumulated lots of crap, some stuff went on eBay, other stuff went to charity shops the rest we got a skip & binned but we still ended up moving stuff that we haven’t touched since we moved

mm1985

So general consensus is to assume we are moving and start getting ready without packing essentials. 

For a household of 4 we really don’t have much, I don’t hold onto clutter and am always ruthless with getting rid of stuff. We’re moving from a 4 bed to another 4 bed so all our furniture will be coming with us. 

MovingForwards

I started de-cluttering when I made an offer / had it accepted. 
Then started packing things I didn't need on a day to day basis.
After that I went through my clothes and kept my work ones and a few non-work ones out, everything else got packed. Did the same with toiletries, make up.
When I was given the date my solicitor was working to, I then packed up most of the remaining things aside from a couple of outfits and my electronics.
All in all 4.5 months of chipping away at it.

dimbo61

We started packing boxes weeks before our move.
Everything have a label. Kitchen, dinning room, master bedroom etc.
Junk went to the tip and the rule was Not used in 2 years bin it or flog it.
On the day 3 transit size box vans with tail lift had everything we owned.
We did the packing and filled our double garage with boxes.
Removal firm arrived and 3 vans loaded in 2/3 hours with 4 staff and us.
This was 4 bed house to 4 bed house and no wardrobes.
Can be one very stressful day but if you pack and label all the boxes it makes life easier.

mm1985

dimbo61 said:

We started packing boxes weeks before our move.
Everything have a label. Kitchen, dinning room, master bedroom etc.
Junk went to the tip and the rule was Not used in 2 years bin it or flog it.
On the day 3 transit size box vans with tail lift had everything we owned.
We did the packing and filled our double garage with boxes.
Removal firm arrived and 3 vans loaded in 2/3 hours with 4 staff and us.
This was 4 bed house to 4 bed house and no wardrobes.
Can be one very stressful day but if you pack and label all the boxes it makes life easier.

@dimbo61 So you started before you exchanged? I guess at the moment all I keep hearing is sales are falling through more than usual and as exchange is only days before completion all the packing could be done for nothing 

Thrugelmir

mm1985 said:

Thrugelmir said:

I'd use the time now to rid yourselves of anything that you don't intend to take with you. 

To be honest we don’t have very much clutter and what we do have we have recently got rid of with a couple of trips to the dump. I’ve given away all my children’s baby toys so they don’t come to the new house with us.

Surprising what you acccumulate and keep just in case it's needed. When you pack you then realise how much "stuff" you actually have. 

Marvel1

I would be starting now, saves the rush later on.

A few weeks ago, I had a de-clutter - I ended with a car full of stuff to the recycling centre, surprise how much stuff you have and you don't need.