Packing to move can be overwhelming! You think to yourself, where to begin? The first thing you need is a positive, determined attitude and the realization that this is the perfect time to declutter! After that’s in place, just follow our recipe for perfect packing. If possible, rope in family and friends to help. They’ll be able to give you not only manual labour but an unbias opinion on whether you should keep or throw that old trinket from that place you can’t even remember.
When to Pack
It’s a good idea to start packing as soon as you have found a new place, perhaps even earlier. Once the decision has been made, you can begin the process of preparing, even before you have hired a removal company. You’ll be grateful for your foresight down the line when time becomes tight and the arrival of the removal van is imminent.
Even if you have the budget and inclination to hire a full removal service which includes packing, moving is the ideal time to declutter, so take advantage and have a good sort out! See our Recycling Guides to find out what and where you can rid yourself of your unwanted goods.
Obviously, you shouldn’t pack things you are still using on a daily basis as the moving date approaches, but there is plenty you CAN sort out and box up well ahead of time, such as books, ornaments, toys, DVDs and artworks.
Organisation
As you sort your possessions you may wish to make three piles. One pile for keep, one pile for binning and the final one for giving. So many items are thrown out unnecessarily when they can easily be given to friends/family/charity. If you do give to charity, make sure you only give clean, quality items. Charity shops are not a place to take your rubbish.
Have all the equipment you will need to hand to make the task of boxing up your possessions easier. Here’s a checklist:
-
- Cardboard Boxes of various sizes (heavy duty corrugated boxes are best). You can order these new online, or save by sourcing them from a local shop or supermarket.
- Bubble Wrap/ shredded newspaper/ shredded magazines for packing fragile items.
- Parcel tape.
- Dark permanent Marker pen
- Bin liners/ black bags
Packing Boxes:
Correct size boxes for different items. Put heavy items, such as books, in small boxes and lighter goods, like linens and pillows, in larger ones. The removal company workers will be grateful, and so will you when it comes to hefting them down the stairs!). Big boxes containing a heavy load are also more likely to break open. You could also put books in a suitcase for easy handling.- Pack the heaviest items in the base of the boxes, and lighter things on the top. The same principle applies if you load your own removal van: put the heaviest goods in first towards the front to ensure a balanced load.
- Fill all the gaps in boxes with items of clothing, towels, bubble wrap or paper. Loose items rattling around in boxes are not only more likely to be damaged in transit, but will also leave the box unbalanced and liable to be squashed under pressure.
- Pack in an orderly fashion, keeping items from the same room/cupboard together in the same box where possible. This makes it quicker to pack and a whole lot easier when it comes to unpacking.
- Labelling boxes. You and your moving men will know where each box should go to. If you are very organised you can number each box and keep an inventory of what is contained in it so as to keep track of exactly what you have. At the very least you need to mark each box with the room it is destined for and a short description of its contents.
- Make sure the boxes are securely taped up. Don’t just tape up the seams on the top and bottom. You may wish to add a few strips of tape to support the edges.
- TV sets need special treatment. It’s great news if you have kept the original box and styrofoam cutouts and can pack your set back in it. If not, fit it into an appropriate size box that is padded with plenty of packing paper and/or bubble wrap, and wrap it carefully in blankets or quilting.
- Crockery and other breakables should be individually wrapped in paper before being packed in a box. Use plenty of packing paper or styrofoam packing peanuts between the items. Dishes can be stacked in groups of four to six with paper sheets between them before wrapping and packing, and should not be packed flat. Bowls and cups can be likewise be stacked in twos and threes and wrapped into a bundle.
Moving Day Eve
If you’ve done things right, then all your possessions should be neatly boxed or bagged up by the day before you move.
- You should have been emptying out the fridge over the final few days, so all that remains will be to defrost it overnight, then make sure it is dry and clean.
- Keep one box aside – preferably a plastic box which is easy to spot among all the cardboard – to use for the moving day essentials. The things you will need first and foremost when you reach your new home/office, while you set about unpacking. This includes things like the kettle, mugs and tea/coffee “makings”. Soap, some clothes, toilet paper, your phone charger, a box cutter, your inventory (if you made one), rubbish bags, paper towels, light bulbs and perhaps a small first aid kit.
- Keep a toolbox handy – especially a screwdriver and Allen keys for re-constituting
- Also useful is to pack an overnight bag with a change of clothes, gown, pyjamas, slippers and toiletries so you won’t have to go searching for these when you’re exhausted at the end of a hectic moving day.
Continue to Advice for a DIY move
Return to Choosing a Removal Company
Return to A Guide to Moving House
Return to the Index of Dentons Guides