Packing Tips When Moving Home

Moving to a new house is very exciting, but it’s also hard work! Unfortunately, there are many requirements you must fulfil before you can relax in your lovely new home. For instance, contacting your utility companies, cleaning your entire home, hiring removals and packing up all of your belongings.

Here, we will talk about the latter – packing!

Very few people enjoy packing, you must be meticulous, and it can be very time-consuming. Today, we will offer you some tips that will allow you to pack as straightforwardly and cheaply as possible. Purchasing moving boxes and other packing materials will most likely be an additional necessary cost when moving to a new house. However, if you are low on funds or you simply do not want to spend money, you may be able to obtain a few free boxes from your local shops and supermarkets. Most places that sell goods will have heaps of cardboard boxes in their stock rooms. These boxes will only go into recycling, so the stores should not mind giving them away for free. We suggest that if you ask at supermarkets, that you ask very early in the morning or late in the evening, whilst shelves are being restocked.  Do not stress, there is no need to feel awkward; many shelf-stackers are most likely asked about boxes daily.  Try to acquire fruit and alcohol boxes, these are made to carry heavy, fragile items. Also, try to get an array of boxes sizes, suitable for all of your items. For any mirrors or artwork, we suggest that you get telescopic cardboard boxes (boxes with lids – just like shoe boxes, but larger) – however, these may not be obtainable in supermarkets.

If you do not fancy asking for boxes at a supermarket or other stores, the next best cost-free option would be to check websites and apps like Gumtree, Freegle and Freecycle. Alternatively, if you do have a budget in place for packing and you want to be as careful with your items as possible, you can book with a packing service from certain removal companies. These services will make life so much easier for you, they provide professional packaging of all sizes for all items and offer insurance against damage and loss. Most importantly – they aren’t excessively expensive.

The clock is now ticking towards your move. The amount of time that it takes to pack of all your items will, of course, depend on how much you have got.  Be aware that packing takes a lot a lot longer than most people think!  We consider that a large home could take as much as two months to pack if you are pack one box per day. Remember to not make your boxes too heavy – around 30lbs/13kg is probably heavy enough!  If some boxes end up heavier than others, place the heavier boxes at the bottom and lighter ones at the top of any piles, and right HEAVY on them.

If you need to transport any spill-able items, tie them up in plastic bags and tie/zip the bags securely.  If an item spills, and they are on top of the pile in the removal van, they could ruin lots of other items. Be aware that removal companies will not take certain items including bleach, pesticides, batteries, fluorescent tubes as so on.  Make sure you understand your specific removal company’s requirements if you are using one.

Begin by packing items that you know that you will not need between now and your move.  You may go on to decide that some of these items are no longer needed as you rarely use them. Perhaps donate them to charity shops or give them away to friends.  To help cover the costs of removals and boxes, you can hold a garage sale or a car boot sale. There are also online selling options on apps like Shpock and websites like eBay.

We recommend that you pack certain belongings in certain rooms and make a list to keep on top of what you have already packed. For example, all the new house’s dining room, garage and kitchen items will be placed in the current house’s dining room.  Write the name of each room on each box – or perhaps colour code each box.  This will help you and the removal companies on the day of the move. If you have lots of particular items, for example, a large book collection, rather than just labelling boxes “Books”, it is wise to write a complete detailed inventory.  You can do this easily on programs such as excel and Google sheets.  This way you will be sure not to lose anything along the way!

Store all of your valuables in one place/room. This way you can keep a constant eye on them. Very important items such as birth certificates, passports etc. do not need to be included in the boxes or removal van – you can transport them in your car.  Other items that should just go in the car with you are your essentials. Items like coats, debit cards, cash and of course… snacks!

We would like to finally remind you to be mindful about your pets. Moving can be very stressful for your pets and big changes can negatively affect them. Allow your pets to watch you and sniff around boxes as you pack. Do not spring any surprises on them, keep them in the loop!

We hope that reading this helped you and that you picked up some tips.  We wish you all the best with your move.

Happy packing!