Question about removers' packing service

verytired11

I am about to move into my new home and had a question about the removers packing service that I booked.  I have always done my own packing in the past so am not sure what to expect.  

I have done all the sorting/editing ie getting rid of anything not wanted, and I have seen on the T&Cs today that they won't take jewellery, laptops, money, phones, aerosols, paints etc, which is all fine.  I am leaving all the paints etc and can take all the other bits and bobs in the car with me.

I think they will need me also to unplug and disconnect computers and TVs etc.  I am not taking any appliances with me.

But i just wanted to check whether I should be prepared for anything else when they come.  I did call them and they said there was nothing I needed to do, but I can't somehow believe that it will all be that straightforward.  

Do they literally just come and pack up the whole house in one day, or should I have done something else to get ready for them?  Is there anything else I haven't thought of that they might not take or pack?  I only have a small car and don't want any last minute panics on the day before we move.  I still have a couple of days to take further steps if needed.

Want2move2021

We had our house packed up yesterday, three hours, best money we've ever spent! They did everything. We put aside a few suitcases with bits to get us through until the move, and food/tea etc. We put awkward bits like garden tools and a mop in the car.

verytired11

Want2move2021 said:

We had our house packed up yesterday, three hours, best money we've ever spent! They did everything. We put aside a few suitcases with bits to get us through until the move, and food/tea etc. We put awkward bits like garden tools and a mop in the car.

Wow that's quick.  We have also put aside a couple of suitcases with essentials.  Was there anything they refused to pack?

PollyWollyDoodle

Be warned, they will pack EVERYTHING!  

In my case that included the teabags and biscuits… If there’s anything you don’t want packed, either put it in the fridge or mark very clearly that it’s not to go in the boxes! When my friend had it done they packed a waste paper bin with an apple core in it. Because I was moving into storage, I was told they wouldn’t pack any perishable foods and I had removed a lot of them, but in fact they still packed everything in the cupboards. The only thing they wouldn’t take was an aerosol gas canister for refilling lighters.

I take it you have already got a ‘moving’  box with essentials that you will need on the day (scissors, screwdrivers, cutlery and mugs, cleaning stuff, corkscrew and so on)?  If not I would pack that up in advance because once those things are in boxes you’ll never find them again.

They packed the entire contents of a three bedroomed house in about four hours, I couldn’t believe the speed. I had already put personal things like the laptop and some valuables in the car just because I wanted access to them. They even packed the garden tools. It really is money well spent, sit back and relax - all you need to do is make cups of tea when wanted. 

MatyMoo

I packed:
- clean bedding
- clothes/toiletries for a couple of days
- my dog pen
- dog bowls, food & treats for a couple of days
which were all in my car before they arrived 
- an essentials box with chargers, kettle, tea, coffee, biscuits, milk
To go in my car last 

when they finished I locked up, collected the dogs from the sitter and met them at the new house a couple of hours later

verytired11

PollyWollyDoodle said:

Be warned, they will pack EVERYTHING!  

In my case that included the teabags and biscuits… If there’s anything you don’t want packed, either put it in the fridge or mark very clearly that it’s not to go in the boxes! When my friend had it done they packed a waste paper bin with an apple core in it. Because I was moving into storage, I was told they wouldn’t pack any perishable foods and I had removed a lot of them, but in fact they still packed everything in the cupboards. The only thing they wouldn’t take was an aerosol gas canister for refilling lighters.

I take it you have already got a ‘moving’  box with essentials that you will need on the day (scissors, screwdrivers, cutlery and mugs, cleaning stuff, corkscrew and so on)?  If not I would pack that up in advance because once those things are in boxes you’ll never find them again.

They packed the entire contents of a three bedroomed house in about four hours, I couldn’t believe the speed. I had already put personal things like the laptop and some valuables in the car just because I wanted access to them. They even packed the garden tools. It really is money well spent, sit back and relax - all you need to do is make cups of tea when wanted. 

Ha ha that made me laugh about the apple core in the bin!  Thanks, this is helpful.  I have started to set aside the things we need in the car on the day and will make sure they are clearly marked as not being for packing.  That's good that they are not quite as strict as they say on the T&Cs.  I only just saw them today and had visions of not being able to fit all the excluded items in the car.

pinkteapot

You don't even need to disconnect things! And yep, they can pack a whole house in about half a day. It's amazing. Just sit on a bed out the way watching Netflix and let them crack on.

Put a post-it on anything you don't want packed (e.g. stuff you need overnight if the move is the next day). Make sure that includes the kettle.

Ours have only ever asked that we empty the loft before they come. We only had to bring stuff down - they then packed it.

Want2move2021

verytired11 said:

Want2move2021 said:

We had our house packed up yesterday, three hours, best money we've ever spent! They did everything. We put aside a few suitcases with bits to get us through until the move, and food/tea etc. We put awkward bits like garden tools and a mop in the car.

Wow that's quick.  We have also put aside a couple of suitcases with essentials.  Was there anything they refused to pack?

I don't think so-we don't have anything that could be a hazard and had emptied the loft into the garage in advance. 

trailingspouse

It's like poetry in motion. They walk into what looks like a perfectly normal room, and 5 minutes later it's all boxed up and ready to go. That might be a slight exaggeration - but only a slight one.

I packed a suitcase with my *ahem* personal things, and they did the rest. They unplumbed the washing machine, and dismantled the wardrobes, and made sure to leave a few essentials unpacked (kettle, tea and coffee, milk and sugar, plate, loo roll, hoover). They had a 4-bed house and a double garage packed up and ready to go in half a day.

And they're coming back in January to do it all over again!!!

Don't overthink it - they know what they're doing, let them get on and do their job.

TheJP

Make sure you do your sorting out of things you don't want as they will stick it all on the lorry. I haven't used this service but know of friends that have and they say it takes a lot of the pressure and stress out of it.

Also do the new owners a favour and dispose of the paint, no one realistically wants open half tins of paint that are likely no use unless you have recently painted and the tins are unopened. 

verytired11

TheJP said:

Make sure you do your sorting out of things you don't want as they will stick it all on the lorry. I haven't used this service but know of friends that have and they say it takes a lot of the pressure and stress out of it.

Also do the new owners a favour and dispose of the paint, no one realistically wants open half tins of paint that are likely no use unless you have recently painted and the tins are unopened. 

I have already shown the buyer all the paint and he insists he would like me to leave it!  Very happy with that!