Moving house is one of those stressful life chores where one minute you feel like you’re in control, but the next there are boxes all over the place and you’re regretting your life decisions. But don’t panic – take a little look at these six packing tips, and hopefully you won’t feel so stressed!
Start earlier than you think
If you get a head start a couple of weeks before the big move and work through rooms gradually, you won’t feel like you need to do it all in one weekend.
Declutter before packing
There’s no point in boxing up items that you don’t really need. Sort your belongings into what to keep, donate or throw away.
Use the right materials
Strong boxes help prevent damage. Get some good quality cardboard packaging, like this example //capscases.co.uk/services/sustainable-cardboard-packaging/, especially for your fragile things that need an extra bit of TLC.
Label everything clearly
Things like writing the room name and a brief description on each box will really help make sure your items end up in the right place.
Pack a box of essentials
Keeping everyday items separate avoids stress on moving day. Things like toiletries, chargers and a change of clothes should be easy to find.
Be mindful with fragile items
The fragile things you own need careful packing, with padding to stop movement during transit. Pack them securely to avoid the sadness of breaking them!
So, with a bit of forward thinking, your packing and moving will become far more manageable, helping the move itself feel less overwhelming.
Jobs to sort once the date is set
Packing is only one part of the work once a moving date is agreed. If you are renting, give your landlord notice and arrange for the property to be cleaned before you leave. Whether you do the cleaning yourself will depend on how much time and budget you have.
Book a removal company as soon as you have the date, since good firms fill up quickly. Gather all your packing materials early, including plenty of boxes and bubble wrap for breakable items, so you are not hunting for supplies in the final days.
Start with the things you use least, and treat packing as a chance for a proper sort out. There is no point moving items you no longer use to the new house. Anything still in good condition can go to charity, and if you end up with a lot of rubbish, hiring a skip can save repeated trips to the tip.
Choosing a removal firm you can trust
If you are using a removal company, do your research before booking. Check their documentation and insurance so that you are covered if anything is lost or broken, and read testimonials from past customers. These people will be handling everything you own, so a run of poor reviews is reason enough to look elsewhere.
When decluttering, use the rule that if you do not love it or use it, it goes. Selling unwanted items at a car boot sale or online can raise money towards the new home and cuts down the number of boxes the removal team has to move.
As you pack, avoid overloading boxes, which can split or be too heavy to carry safely. Put heavier boxes at the bottom of any stack, use plenty of newspaper and padding around delicate belongings, and label every box clearly. Packing in stages over several weeks, even one box a day for a large home, keeps the whole job organised.
Planning rooms and colour coding boxes
Packing goes much more smoothly once you know where everything will end up. Before you start, work out what will go in each room of the new home. That makes both packing and unpacking more organised, and it matters most for large furniture. If you are downsizing, check that sofas, tables and other big items will actually fit; if you are moving somewhere larger, you may need to budget for new pieces.
Colour coding is a simple way to make sure boxes and furniture land in the right place on the day. Give each room its own colour of sticker, mark everything accordingly, and hand the removal team a floor plan showing which colour goes where.
Garden sheds, garages, spare rooms and lofts can be sorted and packed first, as you rarely need what is in them. Finally, you will probably travel separately from your belongings, so keep valuables, important documents and cleaning supplies with you in the car.