Top Tips for Successful House Moving
Ok I’m not strictly qualified to write this post just yet as the house move has not yet been successfully completed but have a few choice gems to share from others who have recently relocated their family home and am so pleased I listened to their advice.
1. You can never have too many strong boxes and suitcases. Send messages out via Freecyle and local chums that you need every box, basket, crate, case they can spare. We were lucky enough to have a friend move a few weeks before us so I have been unashamedly inviting myself over to her house to help unpack and as each box was emptied it was flattened and squeezed into my car.
2. Take digital photos while you are packing boxes which look different to the rest (most of mine are exactly the same). So you can scroll through the pictures after the move and recall which set of things are in which box.
3. OVER LABEL each box. My poor chum who has kindly donated her supply of 50+ boxes had the removal firm complete her packing while she was away with the children. She had the annoying problem of having a tower of about ten boxes marked only with ‘KITCHEN’ with no idea where the wooden spoons, casseroles might be hiding. Having learnt from her I am now taking care to itemise with a big fat marker pen (’Blue heavy casserole’, ‘chopping boards’, ‘contents of left hand drawer’)
4. Overestimate how much time it will take you to pack. We started the moment we agreed to rent the new house just 4 weeks ago and although it feels like we have done so much we wil still have to work really hard to get the remaining kitchen items, bedding, bathroom bits and pieces into boxes in time for the removal firm’s arrival early on Thursday morning
5. Have at least a couple of brown tape machines for extra fast assembly and sealing of boxes. Also have plenty of fat marker pens as the house gets really messy and chaotic really quickly and it is very irritating to need to label a box whilst you remember what is in it but then have to run around the house peering over boxes trying to locate one of the marker pens.
6. Create a moving folder which lives in a handy place – keep removal firm phone numbers, letting agent correspondence and this terrific checklist from www.helpiammoving.com
7.Have kids pack a box for themselves so they have easy access to some of their favourite toys while the big unpack is being done.
8. Assume you will not be able to find anything you NEED for a few days and pack all essentials into overnight bags for each member of the family. My lists go something like this:
5 year olds = Favourite snuggly toy, underwear, pyjamas, slippers, dressing gowns, sheet for bed, school uniform for new school, other clothes lunchbags, water bottles, hot water bottles, small book, colouring things, story book.
Baby = Travel cot and sheet, sleeping bag, baby clothes, nappies & wipes, rattles, book, baby food, beaker, baby monitor
Me = Washbag, clothes, underwear, makeup, tin opener, purse, camera, sheet for bed, address book, mobile phone & charger, notepad and pen.
9. Do not pack the kettle, mugs, milk, tea, coffee and squash also buy a tin of biscuits as removals is thirsty hard work.
10. Work on the principle of ‘little and often gets the job done’. Do 15 minutes here, 15 minutes there and gradually everything gets packed in an organised fashion, the old house gets cleaned, all the people who need to know the new address details get notified, monies are paid on time and everything goes well.
Here’s hoping…
November 25th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Heh, my top tip if you have young children is pay the extra to get the movers to pack for you. It’s worth every extra penny to not have to live in chaos.
I would also organise staying with friends/family/local hotel with the kids while hubby coordinates the movers so the children don’t see their old home and room in a state. Don’t go to new house until their new room is set up with at least some of their familiar things. Much less stressful, and far less upheaval for them.
November 25th, 2008 at 11:20 am
@Pewari LOVE these choice tips but alas far too late for this move. Not to worry as I’m sure this won’t be our last house move so will perhaps outsource the packing next time. Luckily the kids do not seem at all fazed by everything being in boxes & we’re all sharing a sense of anticipation and excitement. The upside of doing my own packing is that I have been able to get rid of stuff I no longer need or want via Freecycle, the charity shop and friends. Have also thrown away a lot of rubbish like bundles of old cards, broken things but yes I must admit that having no involvement in the dusty, dirty, physically exhausting, relentless job of packing whilst still feeding & clothing three small people (and two big ones) is VERY appealing!
December 8th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Nice tips. Moving is always a difficult job. This is a good time to throw away your garbage that you are taking care of and that you don’t need any more. My advice is to hire professional movers because it will lighten your burden. When i moved i also hired movers called Box which made my moves a memorable experience. Specially when moving in short period these professionals feel like God’s gift.
February 14th, 2009 at 5:41 am
Great tips. Moving house can be stressful, but not when you come to moving day itself. You will need as much advice and help as possible!
April 15th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Tips on this article are a must when moving. When I relocated a few months ago I used a company called Home Removal Services which provided a great service.
Please check them out, they will provide you with a quote in minute and will carry out the work in no time.