Planning

You don’t need to leave everything to the day before the move. Consider what you don’t need to take with you, and dispose of either through charities, car boot sales, online sites or general waste.  Have a think about which items need careful packing and plan ahead and purchase the correct packaging materials, please refer to our list.

Make a priority packing list

Take some time to sift through your belongings and have a clear-out. You can make up a box for charity and if you’ve time, hold a car boot sale or log onto an online auction, then put the proceeds of your sold goods towards some re-decorating or a new carpet.

Please avoid completely filling large boxes, as they could be too heavy to move.

We would prefer you use our own packing cases as they are strong and durable particularly for heavier items.

Thinking ahead

Unless you travel light, you won’t be able to unpack everything in the first day, so it’s worth deciding what you might need easy access to soon after you cross the threshold of your new home.

Pack an ‘essentials’ box for the first night in your new home and carry it with you. Instant access to coffee, tea, snacks, cups and a kettle may be welcome soon after you arrive, in addition removals is very thirsty work and therefore our team and no doubt yourself would appreciate a nice tea or coffee!!. We would also suggest including plates, utensils and a kitchen cloth etc.

Prepare an overnight bag for everyone in the family, and make sure that there is enough toilet paper and toiletries for everyone.

Other useful items that should be kept close to hand are a torch, a first-aid kit including pain relievers, pencil and paper, and re-closable plastic bags, along with a small tool kit.

If possible, finish any laundry well before you move to avoid packing damp clothes. Keep a separate box/bag for dirty washing.

Make sure the boxes containing items you need the least are loaded up first.

Sensible Packing

Spend some time considering how you are going to pack your possessions. Books are easy but heavy, valuables need careful wrapping and will take time, and some furniture may need to be dismantled.

Start early. Packing always takes longer than anticipated, particularly when you start reminiscing over old photographs stored in the attic or you realise that you need to dismantle the wardrobe to get it downstairs.

Begin at the top of the house and move downwards. If you have an attic, it’s a good idea to sort it out first.

Pack one room at a time, clearly labelling each box with details of its contents and the room to which it belongs. Clearly label boxes that contain breakables and also those that are load-bearing and can be stacked in the van.

Keep all boxes for each room together. This will save time unpacking.

It may sound obvious but pack heavier items on the bottom of the box and lighter items on top.

Wrap items individually and place in a box that’s been lined with several layers of newspaper and a sheet of bubble wrap. Any breakables should also be wrapped in bubble wrap. Use or recommended packing paper for the first layer to prevent newspaper print leaving marks. Pillows and blankets are also useful for wrapping valuables.

Pack important documents together, such as birth and marriage certificates, and keep them in a safe place.