Monday 12 October 2015

Packing Up and Moving On.

Move house we said...... it'll be fun....... said noone EVER. Oh my god, we do make some crazy decisions. Last year, when we knew that my stat maternity pay would kick in around this time of year and so near Christmas we both said that we'd have to tighten our belts a bit. Hmmmm,  fast forward to August this year and we decided actually we won't tighten our belts we'll instead spend thousands on moving to a new house............seriously, thousands.....it costs a bloody fortune to move house. In previous years we have always done it ourselves (when I look back once we must  have been crazy!). Currently we live in a three storey town house and with 2 kids, 2 cats and 6 years worth of accumulative crap we most definitely needed a professional company to help us with this, we have alot of stuff. It's not just about the furniture and standard things like that, we just seem to have so much, well.....stuff! Just random things that we have kept over the years and I am amazed at what we have thrown out and cluttered already!


When we decided that we would start looking to move we kind of knew what we were looking for, bigger garden (our garden currently is the size of a postage stamp, not really ideal for a hyperactive, three year old who just wants to run around!), a study/office space for my husband when he needs to work at home and also a conservatory or somewhere to be able to separate the children's toys from our 'adult space'. We also just need more space, although the house we live in at the moment has decent space, we just have so much stuff we need more space to store our junk to put our things. 

What I guess I didn't account for was just how hard it would be to pack with 2 kids in tow. I thought it would be a lot easier.........

Alfie thinks it's one big game and keeps using the boxes as seats and slides (seriously) and then trying to climb in them and when I tried to pack a few bits away in his room you would think I was throwing away all of his toys! Elarna on the other hand is still trying to crawl and basically grabbing anything and everything in sight and has taken a particular liking to munching on paper and sucking cable's (hmmmm child proofing definitely needs to step up a notch in the new house!). 

I read a great blog post in our best and worst linky from New Mummy Blog who has recently just moved, with her 9 month old........she has some great tips which I am completely taking on board when we finally do complete. 


We have worked really hard with our finance's etc, etc to keep our current house as (hopefully) an investment property in the future and we have let it out, so we are very nearly landlords (eek!). Huge step for us, we have rented in the past but never been landlords so it's going to be a bit of a learning curve, the main thing that panics us is if the house is without tenants but for the moment we're not focusing on that as we have tenants moving in soon and I'm hopeful that they will stay there for the foreseeable future! It felt so weird seeing the sign up outside, it will be even weirder when we actually move out but we now have to look at this house as a business rather than our home. 

Nearly ladnlords.......arghh!

We have made some fantastic memories in this house, we've loved living here and I will of course be sad to leave but I'm really excited to make some memories in our new place :-) It's weird seeing our life slowly being packed away in boxes (hundreds of the bloody things!).



So to sum things up, I hate packing, it's alot of effort and it's really, very stressful, the process of putting the offer in on the new house and waiting for our mortgage offer to come through has been a long and draining process but the end is in sight and I'm hoping in the next week will have exchanged contracts and we will be in our new home! Eek, fingers and toes tightly crossed. 

Packing sucks!

So I'm after some tips........anyone got any pearls of wisdom to make the move go smoothly and with as less stress as possible?

Best of Worst


MaternityMondays


57 comments:

  1. I think that you are a hero for managing to pack with children in tow! Congratulations on your impending move and I hope that you are very happy in your new home. xx #fartglitter

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  2. All the very best when the time comes. You have my sympathies. We have moved house with a 3 and 9 month old and very much appreciated having friends around to help. I focused on keeping the children reassured, happy and content, whilst hubby managed the moving crew. First job I did, in the new home, was spend time with the children getting their rooms organised - so they'd feel settled - then, over the next fortnight - whilst the children were asleep - hubby and I slowly turned our new house into our home :) I've also done an international move with 3 children... fun and games - and definitely stressful! Wishing you all the very, very, very best x

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  3. Exciting times but stressful too. It will all be worth it when you are in. We moved to Coombe Mill ourselves when the kids were just 4,2 and 6 months old, I would hire a company if we ever move again! I hope all goes smoothly for you over the coming couple of months, Christmas in your new home will be very special. Popping over from Magic Moments

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  4. Good luck with the move, I hope it goes smoothly for you. We have just moved at it is the most stressful thing ever and I was also shocked at how much stuff we have. The only thing I did that seemed to with quite well was give my 2 year old a box to pack his toys in to, he thought it was a fun game and gave me a chance to get some stuff done xx #maternitymondays

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  5. Unfortunately I have very few tips on offer. Other than the most basic of tips such as label what room each box needs to go to. I hate packing and hate unpacking even more. We have moved twice in the past two years and i am always excited yet when it comes to it it's a nightmare. haha! However, once you're in and you look around and realise this is your new home it'll all be worth it. good luck :) #magicmoments

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  6. haha I have no tips but will be coming to you my dear if we ever move!! haha. I would also be going nuts with all the mess but think it will all be worth it in your amazing new house close to friends and family (and closer to me!!! Yaaaaaaay!!!) xx #fartglitter

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  7. I dread the inevitable next move, even though it's years away! (How do we accumulate how much stuff??) It is great getting to put your stamp on a new place though. :)

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  8. the best tip I can give is keep all your important documents together. I've lost our marriage certificate 3 times and my passport!! I have no idea where they are this time. probably together. Good luck. Exciting times ahead #MaternityMondays

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  9. Wishing you the best of luck with the move....I don't really have any tips apart from get someone to have the kids while you do the bulk of the moving....hehehe

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  10. Ooh I have to admit I don't envy you the move Helen, I can't imagine packing everything up with 2 kids, packing for a holiday is too stressful for me let alone packing everything!! I am sure it will be worth it though and you will look back and laugh one day... maybe! hehe xxx

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  11. I've not moved since I moved in with the OH, after a lot of moving around from house shares. I dread to think how long it would take, although it would be a great time to declutter even further. Hope the move goes well #magicmoments

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  12. Good luck with your move. We also had to rent out our house when Rev T's job took us away. You have to treat it like a business / investment and forget it was once your home. Find a good letting agent if you don't want to manage things yourself to handle the repairs, rent collection etc. Rental income is taxable so you'll need to keep excellent records of all the expenses and do a Self Assessment tax return next tax year. (That's the worst bit TBH). #fartglitter

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  13. We are hoping to move early next year - I am dreading it! I am currently trying to declutter as much as possible #magicmoments

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  14. Thank you for the mention! I hope my tips help, I definitely agree a moving company is a must! We had a 3 bed house and a garage full to the brim, along with a loft of 'stuff', some was untouched for 6 years.... We did out some stuff in storage before moving, but not enough!!
    Hope the move goes well, and congrats on becoming landlords! Good luck packing, make sure you get the obligatory kids sat in moving boxes pictures too :-) X
    #maternitymondays

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  15. Moving is such a pain, albeit a necessary one when the time arrives. I can imagine what fun it must be for your little one, he must find it all so amusing ... watching you pack and box. Congratulations on becoming landlords and all the best as you work through the existing memories and move towards building new ones. :-) #MaternityMondays

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  16. That's really cool- what a great investment. Think maybe, perhaps you are slightly mad trying to do it with two tiny kids :-) I would totally be using that box stack as a slide if I was there too.
    This post stresses me out too. We have 4 years of living in Thailand in our fairly large house and have to leave for Europe this summer with 3 suitcases. Think it's going to be a stressful new year....

    Thanks so much for linking up with #fartglitter xxx

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  17. Back again with #bestandworst....did my #fartglitter comment get lost? I remember writing one....I'm pretty sure...
    Anyways still not looking forward to any of this. Should make a start on decluttering but instead will probably just fart around on the internet some more :-)

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  18. We've moved twice with our children and thankfully both time we're pretty stress free! Good luck with the move x #bestandworst

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  19. Moving house is so biter sweet isn't it? Exciting to the points of squealing but so bloody stressful. We moved this summer (ACTUALLY moved on the hottest day of the year. Not stressful at all, nope, not al all...!) Thankfully the girls were in school and I was given a day off to help out. My tip would be if there was anyone to help out with your lovely littlie then you won't feel split in half and can focus a little more. DONT THINK OF COOKING the first night (yet make sure you have a bottle of something cold handy!). Once you're in don't sweat it. I nearly gave myself a hernia because I ran around like a deranged woman chanting 'gotta make it a home, gotta make it a home'! Unpack at your own pace and even try and enjoy finding homes for all your nice things. and most importantly - THIS IS A TEMPORARY STATE. Before long you'll be cosied up in your new home, getting ready for the festive season xx #bestandworst

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  20. Moving with children is a nightmare - you just have to keep the finish line in sight! Good luck!
    #bestandworst

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  21. Oh I feel your pain! We moved last month and only into temporary accommodation so we will be moving again hopefully in March if our house gets built on time that is! Like you say so much stuff gets accumulated SO MUCH! It's all that little stuff that drives us crazy. I moved with 3 kids, a little older than yours though (11, 8, and 5) and 3 cats and 2 dogs. WE had 5 chickens but some friends took those. My advice, get your kids looked after as much as possible during the move and get them something special for their new bedroom to make them feel special and not forgotten with everything going on. Thanks for hosting #bestandworst

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  22. I HATE moving and every time we do it I say 'never again'. On the upside you do get to have a good clear out #bestandworst

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  23. I've already popped over to visit but calling around a second time through #bestandworst

    Happy to be a repeat visitor (aka nuisance) :0) xx

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  24. Firstly congratulations on your new home. Next, are you crazy? lol. Box the kids up and label them "open last" and you should be fine, haha. But in all honesty the best tip is to tell your family "whats said in the move, stays in the move" and you should be fine :o). Oh & lots of chocolate and wine is a must #bestandworst. @peonieandme x

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  25. Moving with children is an utter nightmare! The packing doesn't seem to stop! But once it's done on both sides it's totally worth it. Good luck! #bestandworst

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  26. Good luck! Moving house with kids is never fun, we moved 4 times during the 4 years we've had our daughter! Exhausting!!!

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  27. Moving is stressful but you get there in the end good luck and well done on letting out your old house fantastic achievement and brilliant investment #bestandworst

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  28. I hope your house move goes well. I know how stressful it can all be. Just stay organised and accept help from people who offer. It will all go fine :)

    #bestandwworst

    Gemma xx

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  29. Definitely get a removal company, chuck stuff out religiously, get people to take the kids off you for a day you'll be amazed at what you can achieve! Good luck and once you've moved don't do it again! #bestandworst

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  30. OMG hon I TOTALLY feel you - we moved a couple of months ago....MARE! think I am still recovering and not surprisingly my wine intake has never dropped back down to previous levels. Good luck lovely! #bestandworst

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  31. I hate moving and, in fact, any packing! Good luck with it all! #bestandworst

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  32. Moving is easy! Just walk out the door and leave everything. Okay, not everything, I suppose one must take the kids 😂

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  33. We moved just under a year ago and it's shocking the crap the you have!!I absolutely wanted to die on moving day lol.What is it with those boxes and making them slides - my kids did exactly the same x #bestandworst

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  34. Good luck with your move! Try to throw away as much clutter as possible at the old end so you're only taking with you the things you actually want or need. Stay positive and picture your new home all nice and new and done :) #bestandworst
    Debbie

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  35. Goodness, you're brave!
    My only tip would be:be ruthless in getting rid of stuff! The last thing you want is to have to UN-pack things you could have left behind!
    Good luck!
    #bestandworst

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  36. We moved last year with a 2 year old and I was 6 months pregnant. Definitely recommend getting professional packers in. And then we had professional cleaners in at the new place before we unpacked everything.
    Good luck!!
    Vix
    #bestandworst

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  37. Eeek! Will be watching to see how it goes - the last time we moved, I was about 3 months pregnant (and we brought in professionals as I was too tired/ill and we had SO MUCH STUFF). We're going to have to move again some time in the next six months, and I've been thinking about decluttering and all the costs involved but hadn't factored in a 3yo trying to help... Gulp. #bestandworst

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  38. Find someone to look after your little ones on the eve of the move and for the day of the move, that would be my top advice (if you havnt already sorted this) kids and moving days are not a good mix. #bestandworst

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  39. Hope the move goes OK. It's amazing what you actually find when you have to pack everything up. I've had to pack up my garage, kitchen and dining room whilst we having an extension built and the amount of stuff I just got rid off as I didn't know we've had it for the last 5 years was incredible! #bestandworst

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  40. I have no tips sorry but I wanted to say that it hope everything goes goes well with the move. I HATE moving with a passion. It's so stressful. Last time we moved I was six months pregnant and very hormonal. We live in a three story house now too and it is much bigger than our old house but funnily enough we still have no where to store anything. Our garage is like a junk yard. Good job we don't have a car!

    Visiting from your linky #bestandworst Thanks for hosting :-)

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  41. I feel your pain, I hate the whole moving process, we rent, But just the packing and unpacking drives me nuts, I hate living with stuff in boxes everywhere. Every time I've moved everything has to be unpacked and put in it home by the end of the day so that I can get back to normal. My advice would be to try and do the same....Not easy I know at the best of times and espcially when you have 2 kids. Hope all goes well. #bestandworst

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  42. Ah how exciting (and stressful) for you all, I hope it all goes well in the final stages! I sympathise with all the STUFF, it seems to multiply doesn't it! I used to be a landlord and it's not as scary as it sounds, and it's a good financial decision, even if it feels strange that someone is living in you house! Becky x #bestandworst

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  43. Ah how exciting (and stressful) for you all, I hope it all goes well in the final stages! I sympathise with all the STUFF, it seems to multiply doesn't it! I used to be a landlord and it's not as scary as it sounds, and it's a good financial decision, even if it feels strange that someone is living in you house! Becky x #bestandworst

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  44. Wow moving with two children sounds like hard work. Hope it goes well when it all goes through! #bestandworst

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  45. omg moving...one of the most stressful things ever! Especially with kids!! Good luck and get a nice bottle of wine to drink once you have done it !! #bestandworst

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  46. Back from #bestandworst!
    Hope your packings going well! X

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  47. Seriously Helen, packing and moving sucks big time, even without kids, so all hail you!! Loved that photo of your son framed in the window. Hope everything else flows smoothly..... Anna #bestandworst

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  48. Good luck with the move! It won't be as bad as you think, trust me! x

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  49. Moving can be stressful. We moved with a 3yr old and 7 week old!! We hired a company and I thought they were fab. Having someone who is competent and quick with the packing up really helped. Whilst they were in hubby took kids on playdate out of the house. Really helped. Would also say be organised when you get to the other end and unpack quickly, otherwise things stay in boxes, never to come out again!! Best of luck with the move and becoming landlords (nearly!!)

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  50. How exciting for you and a lot of madness too hahaha - letting out ooooo how very grown up indeed haha. Dont you just feel like your still a teen pretending to be a grown up sometimes? I tots do!
    We want to move next year and have discussed it for ages, but reading this has made me somewhat nervous ahhhh we have like 5years of crap too ha. All the best in the new place! #bestandworst xx

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  51. How exciting. We're moving on Thursday after over 6 months of looking and I'm counting down the days.

    Good luck with the move. xx

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  52. urggg I hate packing too and hope I don't have to again for the foreseeable :) Good luck in your new home hun xx #bestandworst

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  53. I hate packing too...it takes so bloody long and then you have to unpack all your carefully packaged up items! Good luck with the move #bestandworst xx

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  54. Good luck lovely! We have all this to come and I am DREADING it!! #bestandworst xx

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  55. If you are packing up your household items, be organised. Pack similar items together and never overload cartons or packing boxes. Put heavy items like books into small cartons that you can carry without slipping a disc!


    Justin@CardboardBoxesMelbourne

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  56. Packing for a big move with two kids around is a challenge, indeed! Me and my family had to move last year to our new home. We had a kid and a dog to take care of when preparing for the move! It was really difficult, so I understand what it is! :) Good luck and have a great time at your new home! :)

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