The 12 Days of Moving: A Survival Guide for Moving House During the Festive Season

Thinking of moving house during the festive season?

A home move is stressful at the best of times.

Moving house during the festive season? That requires a special kind of stamina.

Between the short days, the cold weather, and the pressure to be “settled in for Christmas,” it is easy to feel overwhelmed. But it doesn’t have to be a nightmare before Christmas.

At White & Company, we have been moving families for over 150 years.

We know that a little humour and a lot of organisation go a long way. So, with apologies to the carol singers, here is our 12 Days of Moving Survival Guide to help you keep your sanity intact.

On the First Day of Moving… A Solid Plan of Action

Start with a solid plan. Work backwards from your completion date and download our Ultimate Moving Checklist to stay on track.

Forget the partridge in a pear tree; what you really need is a plan. Trying to wing a move is a recipe for disaster. Sit down with a cup of tea and create a master list.

• The Goal: Write down your completion date and work backwards.
• The Action: Download our Ultimate Moving Checklist to ensure you don’t miss a single step.

On the Second Day… Two Piles for Sorting

Be ruthless with decluttering. Sort your belongings into “Keep” and “Discard” piles so you don’t pay to move items you no longer need.

Decluttering is the greatest gift you can give yourself. As you go through each room, create two distinct piles: Keep and Discard.

• The Goal: Do not pay to move things you haven’t used since last Christmas.
• The Action: Be ruthless. If in doubt, donate it to a local charity shop or recycle it.

On the Third Day… Three Removal Quotes

Always get three quotes from BAR-accredited movers like White & Company to ensure your move is insured and professionally handled.

Not all removal companies are created equal. You need to know you are getting the best service for your budget.

• The Goal: Compare like-for-like services.
• The Action: Ensure every quote comes from a BAR-accredited mover (like White & Company). This guarantees your move is insured, protected, and handled by professionals.

On the Fourth Day… Four Essential Materials

Stock up on the “Big Four” packing essentials: double-walled boxes, professional tape, packing paper, and bubble wrap.

You can’t pack a house with just enthusiasm. You need the right tools.

• The Goal: Protect your belongings.
• The Action: Stock up on the “Big Four”: Double-walled boxes, professional packing tape (not the cheap stuff!), packing paper, and bubble wrap.

On the Fifth Day… Five Golden Rules

Follow the golden rules of packing: heavy items at the bottom, fill gaps to stop shifting, and always pack plates vertically.

Packing is an art form. Follow these five rules to avoid breakages:

1. Heavy items at the bottom, light items at the top.
2. Never overfill a box (if you can’t lift it, we can’t stack it safely).
3. Fill gaps with paper to stop items shifting.
4. Pack plates vertically, not flat.
5. Label absolutely everything.

On the Sixth Day… Six Labels on Boxes

Save time at the new house by labelling the top and side of every box with the room it belongs in and a brief description.

Okay, maybe not six on every box, but labelling is vital.

• The Goal: To know exactly where everything goes in the new house.
• The Action: Label the top and the side of every box with the room it belongs to and a brief description of its contents. Colour-coding rooms with stickers is a pro move.

On the Seventh Day… Seven Cleaning Products

Pack a dedicated cleaning kit to travel in your car, ensuring you have the supplies needed to leave your old home spotless.

When the boxes are gone, you will need to do a final sweep.

• The Goal: Leave your old home spotless for the new owners.
• The Action: Pack a separate “cleaning kit” bucket containing: Multi-surface spray, cloths, bin bags, vacuum, mop, glass cleaner, and air freshener. Keep this in your car, not the van!

On the Eighth Day… Eight Snacks for Energy

Moving burns energy. Keep a stash of biscuits and fruit handy, and don’t forget tea and coffee for the removal crew!

Moving day burns serious calories. Nobody works well when they are “hangry.”

• The Goal: Keep energy levels high.
• The Action: Stock up on biscuits, energy bars, and fruit. And don’t forget the most important fuel of all: tea and coffee for your removal crew.

On the Ninth Day… Nine Utilities to Notify

Don’t forget the admin. Notify nine key providers, including gas, electricity, council tax, and the DVLA, before you move.

The admin is the boring part, but it has to be done.

• The Goal: Ensure you aren’t paying bills for a house you don’t live in.
• The Action: Notify these nine key providers: Gas, Electricity, Water, Council Tax, Broadband, Bank, DVLA, Insurance, and Royal Mail (for redirection).

On the Tenth Day… Ten Minutes of Calm

Moving is a marathon, not a sprint. When things get chaotic, take ten minutes to step outside and breathe.

Moving is a marathon, not a sprint.

• The Goal: Stop your stress levels from boiling over.
• The Action: When the chaos hits its peak, step outside. Take ten minutes. Breathe. It will all get done.

On the Eleventh Day… Eleven Songs for the Road

Start the journey to your new home on a high note by creating an upbeat moving day playlist for the drive.

The drive to the new house is the start of your new chapter.

• The Goal: Start the journey on a high note.
• The Action: Create a moving day playlist. Whether it’s “Driving Home for Christmas” or “I Like to Move It,” choose tunes that keep the family smiling.

On the Twelfth Day… Twelve Hours of Sleep

Don’t try to unpack everything on day one. Set up the beds, order a takeaway, and get twelve hours of well-earned rest.

You did it. The boxes are in. The door is locked.

• The Goal: Recover.
• The Action: Do not try to unpack everything on day one. Set up the beds, order a takeaway, and get some well-earned rest. The boxes will still be there tomorrow.

Make Moving House During the Festive Season Easy

Getting the help of a professional removals company will ensure your belongings are in the best hands.

If you want to ensure your move is as smooth as this list, choose White & Company.

With our expert packing services, secure storage, and nationwide branches, we take the stress out of the process so you can focus on the excitement.

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote and start your countdown to moving day.

Max Peterson

Max is a seasoned writer and blogger in the real estate and home moving sectors, as well as a knowledgeable source of information for expatriates living and working abroad. His detailed insights have helped thousands of people move and live abroad with greater simplicity and ease.