OK long story short, we hope to be moving within the next three weeks. For the crunchers info, yes that means that there are no machines in my loft at the moment, in fact I removed the power to the loft this afternoon
Anyway, I digress. It’s packing time :eek: I’ve been through the loft and got half the stuff down so far and boy is there a lot of stuff up there. We are moving pretty local, just to a slighter bigger place with a better garden, better state of house repair, so we are going to hire a LWB with side door for loading and move ourselves.
Going through the motions, sitting thinking of things to do. So those who’ve done it before, who has some little gems, those little nuggets of brilliant ideas to make the whole moving house stress a little easier on family life?
The moving boxes I brought from Staples are filled already and it looks like we’ve done nothing!!! Fortunately I have a friend who does business moves so am hoping he’ll get me some crates during this week.
On another note, if I snap, am short with people please be aware. I’m starting to believe the stuff about stress involved in moving :lol:
So that’s it really, an update - of course still within those stages that due to a rubbish set of laws in the UK, the whole thing could not happen :eek:
On your boxes, write what you have put inside them and what room they should end up in, saves time at the other end. Get lots of nice thick heavy blankets to put over your furniture to save getting a load of scratches on surfaces.
when packing, don’t use flo-pac or any type of filler, use your clothes, they need moving too. Don’t over fill your boxes, ensure you and the wife can lift (and move) any box you pack. label the boxes well, pack the kettle last, (togeather with the mugs, tea coffe milk sugar) if you have long boxes think about weight distribution.
Moving house is the second most stressfull activity.
Divorce is the first!!!
Its all to do with the process of change, no one likes a lot of change they cannot effect or control.
Do the essentials first, beds, food, security, then do the comfort stuff next, beer, chairs ,sofa, tables.
When you get tired, stop, take at least a 15 minute break, discuss whats next to do in the break and carry on.
Keep talking and discussing as the plan will change.
When you stop unpacking for the day, really stop, take a break away from it.
There is nothing like having an arguement when you are tired!!
another winner for Freecycle - a local games shop has mailed me, I can go collect as many boxes from him as I can fit in the car
At the moment I’m working on a philosophy, if I don’t think it’ll be needed, flog it :lol: Saves moving it. The local charity shop and playgroups are also going to be getting a load of the boys old toys from the back of the cupboard. In a bizarre way, it’s forcing a clearout of old stuff. The amount of stuff (paperwork) I’ve found is amazing. Wage slips and bank statements from 2001 :eek: All being shredded and recycled
Just moved twice in the last few months and yep it’s stressfull even for someone like me who used to do it as a living.
Dammo has given some good advice as has Allan about resting,
As for the amount of junk…think i got rid off about 2 skip fulls and i’d only lived there for 2 1/2 years :eek:
Tips? Make sure that if the kids are around during the main part of the move you have stuff to keep them occupied and food/drink easily at hand both for them and yourselves. Chests of drawers, or any other furniture with drawers in, if the stuff in the drawers isn’t breakable or too heavy leave it there and just remove the drawers to put the furniture on/off the van and replace the drawers when it’s on the van/put in the new house…saves on packing/unpacking. Load washing machine, fridge, freezer etc last or if you’re making a few trips do them on the first load. Two reasons for this, it gets the heavy stuff out of the way while you’re still full of energy and you have the fridge installed at the new place to keep your beer cold ready for when you finish.
Apart from that good luck to you and all your family and try to stay calm…epsecially with the kids
Lots of good advice here. Our last move was made much easier by packing a bag that went on the first trip that had drinks, towels, a change of clothes for each of us, bog paper, toiletries, paper plates and cups, plasticware and a few other items I can’t recall at the moment. Basically just a necessities kit.
Good luck with the move. We hired movers, gave a description of our house and the amount of stuff we had, etc. They showed up with a huge truck and we ended up not fitting everything in. They loaded it full, then dropped the lift gate on the back and strapped a load more on. Driving down the road watching our bar-be-que grill bouncing along behind the truck was a hair raiser. I’m afraid my wife is too much of a packrat. We carried over brick, fertilizer, and gravel for the garden.
removal men should be here in the morning, had lot’s of advice from those who tried to do it themselves basically wishing they’d paid a man. It pains me to think that the legals took so flipping long - but that’s a whole different story and it’s time for a few beers for sure :drink:
Important stuff is under my desk in the office or round at friends. Three spare boxes for stuff and crap found when things get moved. Sorted out how the window comes out to get the sofa out :eek:
A definite feeling of calm before the storm, wondering around the house just now I hope they have a flipping big truck !!!
Paying a removal company might seem like money that could be spent doing something else, but having done it both ways, I would never do a DIY move again.
If you have chosen your company wisely, you’ll be able to sit back and watch the organised chaos unfold around you.
I agree with NL. Our move from Plymouth to here was so much less stressful because we got removal men in to do the packing & move Hope it all goes smoothly for you, Beckie & kids DT
Good luck, last time I move 1400 km’s the company paid. I even got the removal guys to pack my boxes. It wasn’t cheap but I spent all my time at the pub waiting for them to finish. Moving is tough;)
Small world…20(ish!) years ago I had digs in Devonport and went to college in Kings Road. Half my family come from around that neck of the woods.[/QUOTE]
Watch out, don’t get Drezha started…they’re a strange lot north of Okehampton…too many sheep and too much time on their hands.:Poke:
My mother’s family lived in and around Plymouth since at least the 18th Century. Some would say that explains my mono-brow and extra digits. :rolleyes:
…Mrs N has just said, that explains a lot about a lot of us here:catfight:
