Tips for moving house ourselves please!

TripleH

We did this moving half a mile down the road. 5 min drive 1 way but one way loop to navigate on return journey. My tips are :
1. If you are not time pressed take 2 days to do it
2. First day move the heaviest items earlier in the day, less likely to injur yourself 
3. Move the most fragile things earlier in the day also
4. Buy/hire a sack truck its well worth it.
5. Plan the orderyou move things in advance of moving day
6. Ensure you have screw drivers / allen keys to hand to dismantle furniture
7. Bring large / awkward items down stairs ready to go (if possible) in advance of moving day
8. Don't try to be clever and move  something like a cupboard or small filing cabinet with all its contents still in it (taping up the drawers doesn't work)
9. Pack clothes as padding around crockery and breakables
10. When packing boxes spread the load, if you can't lift it comfortably repack it.
11. Work to the strength of the weakest person in your team 

zagubov

Print large coloured labels /coloured tape to stick on every face of every box so your family  & friends can easily see from any angle what belongs in each room.

But I'd agree with everybody else: it'll take forever and be massively bigger than  the job you'll anticipate.

Tippytoes

Lots of good advice here.  Best advice I can offer is do not underestimate how long it takes to pack up.  Look around your home and it might seem there's not too much to move.  Start packing it and you'll wonder where it's all come from!

A_Lert

Unless you are very minimalist, be prepared for a lot of hard work.

Decluttering before moving might not actually save you much work overall. Depends how quick you are at the decluttering.

Tippytoes

A_Lert said:

Unless you are very minimalist, be prepared for a lot of hard work.

Decluttering before moving might not actually save you much work overall. Depends how quick you are at the decluttering.

Last time I moved, I just packed everything, then decluttered as I unpacked at the other end.  

badger09

Tippytoes said:

A_Lert said:

Unless you are very minimalist, be prepared for a lot of hard work.

Decluttering before moving might not actually save you much work overall. Depends how quick you are at the decluttering.

Last time I moved, I just packed everything, then decluttered as I unpacked at the other end.  

Danger with that is that you do not get round to it, so end up 20 years after the move with stuff you brought with you which you don’t need & haven’t used. Just kicks the can down the road😉

Bonniepurple

Apart from don’t, check your driving licence- anything post 1997 you’re limited to a max of 3.5 tonnes including contents- so that nice 7.5 tonne Luton? Forget it.  Work out the number of boxes you need and triple it.  Do you have white goods to move?  Are they hard wired in?  How are you with plumbing if you need to take the washing machine out?  It will take longer than you think.  You will be exhausted.  Honestly, get the professionals in.

swingaloo2

We did it ourselves just 2 months ago. We only moved about a mile. Like you we had a few days with both properties so no 'one day' rush.
How we did it- On the day we got the keys I went in and cleaned all the kitchen cupboards so they were just ready for our stuff.  I then decided what was going in each cupboard before it was taken to the new house. I didnt pack boxes, I used some of those big blue bags you get from Ikea so you can see whats in there, no need for labels and as long as you are careful no damages either.  I spent nothing at all on boxes or packaging. I di use some newspaper for my glass ornaments. Every time I went from one house to the other I took stuff that was going to be put away in the cupboards first, pots, pans, cutlery etc and so the kitchen was sorted  easily.  It meant we could make a drink or sandwich easily during the 'big stuff/final' day.
 I cleaned all the windowsills so I could transfer ornaments straight out of the bags.
Then I went round working out what item of furniture was going where so I knew exactly what to put in each room. I took my curtains down and transferred them to the new house, the same with any light shades.  Any pictures off walls were put in the car and hung straight up in the new place.  I took all the drawers out of the bedroom furniture and put them into the car without emptying them so when the carcasses came they were just slid back in.  I borrowed 2 hanging rails to use till the wardrobes were re-built and took all the clothes round still on hangers.
We had a 3 bed semi and apart from the very large  stuff, sofa, dresser, table,  2 double beds, 2 wardrobes, fridge and freezer everything fitted in the car and was taken on the 2nd day. I planned on hiring a van for the day for the big stuff but I went on a local neighbourhood site and put out a request for a man and van.  I put a list of what needed moving and how far it was. Was really lucky in that a man replied straight away and although he was not a removal man he had a big van that he used for his job (gardener) and he offered to move it for £30. I told him I would give him £50 but it took 2 trips and a bit longer than I think he had estimated and he was really good so I gave him £100. He was over the moon and so was I. 
The worst thing ws rebuilding the wardrobes but just transferring things from one kitchen cupboard to a new one was easy. 
I wouldnt hesitate to do it again, just needs forward planning but if you dont have to do a 'one day' move it's achievable.

Sotts

A_Lert said:

Unless you are very minimalist, be prepared for a lot of hard work.

Decluttering before moving might not actually save you much work overall. Depends how quick you are at the decluttering.

Im fairly minimalist, only been in my flat 3 years, and can't believe how many boxes I've packed.  Im normally ruthless with clothes - if i haven't worn them for a year, they go to the charity shop.  Then realised after almost a year working from home, i haven't worn anything in my wardrobe.  
And don't get me started on the 38 USB chargers in various cupboards and drawers 

SootySweep1

Hi
As obvious as it sounds its the loading & unloading that takes the time. If you have some friends that are willing to assist at either end, getting ready to load and others at the other end to help unload and move into the appropriate room it makes life alot easier.
Jen