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Tips please on moving house!!

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  • #1

    Tips please on moving house!!

    For those of you who don't know, we've sold our UK house and now all the contents have to go into UK storage or brought over here ( several trips over the year)

    So- I'm just wondering if you have any helpful tips you can pass on to us?
    We'll be coming back to France to an already set up home, so none of the usual urgent unpacking will be needed.

    One tip I've been given is not to write the contents on the box- but to number the box on all sides and the top- and write the contents of each box on a piece of paper which can then be put onto a spreadsheet.
    So if I need spare AA batteries all I need to do is search 'batteries' and the box number will come up. That'd be much quicker than reading the sides of each box won't it!!!
    Any other tips peeps?( or horror stories so I can learn from your mistakes???)
    "Nicos, Queen of Gooooogle" and... GYO's own Miss Marple

    Location....Normandy France
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Think I'd write contents on the sides too - if your computer goes on strike you could have a problem!
    Get more boxes/tape/marker pens/bubblewrap than you think you need as they go astray.
    We were told to seal the bottoms of boxes with tape along the join then two lengths of tape accross the join.
    Also more 'fun' with a radio going and some wine (although this may not help with fragile stuff!)
    Well done and GOOD LUCK!

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    • #3
      Originally posted by vicky View Post
      Think I'd write contents on the sides too - if your computer goes on strike you could have a problem!
      Get more boxes/tape/marker pens/bubblewrap than you think you need as they go astray.
      We were told to seal the bottoms of boxes with tape along the join then two lengths of tape accross the join.
      Also more 'fun' with a radio going and some wine (although this may not help with fragile stuff!)
      Well done and GOOD LUCK!
      Good thinking batwoman!
      "Nicos, Queen of Gooooogle" and... GYO's own Miss Marple

      Location....Normandy France

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      • #4
        Don't write the contents on the boxes unless you and you alone will be moving them. I hate to say it but temptation can be too much for some. Either a hand written list of contents and/or a computer list with a copy on flash drive and a hard copy (belt and braces).

        Don't forget a FULL back-up of any computers you are moving before you unplug them. At least that way you will have copies of everything. - and please I know you are not a foolish person but back-ups don't go on the same hard disk as the one to be backed-up - and yes, I have had to try and help deal with the impossible problem of salvaging information from a crashed hard drive!

        That said, always label china and glass as just that and fragile!

        Packing always takes at least twice as long as you think, so start early.

        Have a good move.
        The weeks and the years are fine. It's the days I can't cope with!

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        • #5
          How exciting!

          We recently moved - my only (and probably obvious) tips is to order a decent selection of packing boxes and materials. Best £60-odd we spent! In hindsight we should have ordered a few more boxes than we did, but our house was deceptive and hoarded more stuff than we realised!

          I know you can collect boxes etc, but to have a store of new, flatpacked, strong boxes in useful sizes, with all the packing stuff/tape/dispenser etc. was SUCH a help.

          We taped all around the boxes too.

          Second tip is that it's not too much of a horror - I quite enjoyed it (although the first boxes I did were way more careful than the last ones), but leave about a day longer than you think you need, or a few hours at least. 'Specially if you DO open some wine!

          Good luck!
          I don't roll on Shabbos

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          • #6
            Our removal people said the boxes we had were great - just the right size, too big and they have trouble with them, and don't over or under fill boxes without packing them well or things get damaged.

            I got mine from an old people's home nearby - the boxes that adult size nappies in are great Flatpacked you can get about 12 in a mondeo boot!

            Also they can move chests of drawers and the like full, so ask first if it's worth emptying them all.
            Last edited by janeyo; 15-01-2010, 01:39 PM.

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            • #7
              You could always invite some grapes over for the weekend so long as they bring some boxes over...........
              sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
              --------------------------------------------------------------------
              Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
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              Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
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              KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

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              • #8
                Brill idea Bigmally I'd be up for that Nicos
                Hayley B

                John Wayne's daughter, Marisa Wayne, will be competing with my Other Half, in the Macmillan 4x4 Challenge (in its 10th year) in March 2011, all sponsorship money goes to Macmillan Cancer Support, please sponsor them at http://www.justgiving.com/Mac4x4TeamDuke'

                An Egg is for breakfast, a chook is for life

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                • #9
                  So jealous just heard that the sale of our house has fallen through and we are half packed. We were suposed to move next week but our buyer just got cold feet!!!! We have lost time and money urgh.......
                  Updated my blog on 13 January

                  http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra.../blogs/stella/

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                  • #10
                    I know its obviously but don't move crap from A to B

                    Obviously not suggesting that you own crap but you know
                    Last edited by broadway; 15-01-2010, 02:04 PM.
                    Cheers

                    Danny

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by stella View Post
                      So jealous just heard that the sale of our house has fallen through and we are half packed. We were suposed to move next week but our buyer just got cold feet!!!! We have lost time and money urgh.......
                      Been there, got T-Shirt Stella.........we were funding 2 houses at one point but were very lucky as we found someone to rent the house we were selling. I do feel for you, that's the english system for you.
                      sigpic“Gorillas are very intelligent, but they don't have to be as delicate as chimps -- they can just smash open the termite nest,”
                      --------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Official Member Of The Nutters Club - Rwanda Branch.
                      -------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Sent from my ZX Spectrum with no predictive text..........
                      -----------------------------------------------------------
                      KOYS - King Of Yellow Stickers..............

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                      • #12
                        Obviously have your new address on the outside of every single box.. just in case. Address loose on a sheet of paper just inside the box is a good idea as well.

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                        • #13
                          Some interesting points!
                          We're doing all the packing and removal ourselves. Hiring a 20m cubed van to bring over some of the more precious stuff- the rest is going into a storage container for a few months as we've not got enough space here as yet cos we're in the middle of renovations.

                          I am a natural horder- which doesn't bode well does it???
                          I'm hoping 10 days should be enough to pack up everything. We have adult kids and friends who will come and help, so it'll be nice to see everyone.
                          I'm heartbroken to be honest, but there we go- that's life.

                          I'm going to prepare a welcome pack for the new peeps- it may help them settle in more quickly/easily- just general info like bin day, a few contact numbers of peeps we've used for various jobs etc. I want them to enjoy the home I've lovingly done up.,
                          Sorry to hear your news Stella- it's such a stressful time isn't it? can the Estate Agent go and talk to the peeps who have just dropped out- they may be able to rescue the situation ( that's what they do over here).
                          I esp like the idea of small boxes- I'll go and collect a pile from the local shop.

                          Keep them coming folks!!!
                          "Nicos, Queen of Gooooogle" and... GYO's own Miss Marple

                          Location....Normandy France

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                          • #14
                            Not for everyone, but, you can save some space if you let curtains, towels etc double as packing materials for the china and glass (assuming it is all going to the same place). Storage furniture, yes you can take it 'full' if not too heavy and contents non fragile.
                            Remember books always take a LOT longer to pack than expected, are heavy, and whatever size of box you put them in they will NEVER fit neatly!
                            For electrical goods (including, indeed especially, computer) if you HAVE got any of the original packing materials, it is probably worth the space to use those boxes etc.
                            Plan the packing of the vehicle too, so that you
                            a) never need to move tons of things to get at what you want next and
                            b) never need to place something heavy on top of something crushable (can be tricky with stuff going into storage, because of reversing order of loading....).
                            Flowers come in too many colours to see the world in black-and-white.

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                            • #15
                              Every time I move, I have a radical clear-out: stick things on eBay and if it doesn't sell, give to charity shops.

                              When I pack, I write the room on the box (top and one side). So, towels go in a box marked "bathroom", plates are marked "kitchen".

                              To make the unpacking less tedious, I hide treats in random boxes: bottles of wine, or choccies
                              All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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