One of the hardest parts of moving house is the packing. Let’s be real – you’ve got a mountain of possessions and it’s all got to be gathered up, put in boxes, transferred safely without breakages and unpacked again at the other end.
It’s enough to put you off from moving altogether.
But don’t worry – we’ve got some great tips for you here to make your packing as hassle-free as possible.
It’s time to declutter your home.
Before you even start to pack everything, it’s time to decide if you really need to keep everything. Moving home is a great time to finally do that huge declutter you’ve been thinking about.
Start with one room at a time – or even one cupboard if you find it easier – and separate everything into keep, bin or charity piles. Have bags with you, so that you can take everything straight to the recycling or the car boot, ready to be dropped off at the charity shop. If you’re organised, you can start putting the ‘must-keep’ items into packing boxes at the same time.
Save on packing materials.
Before you fill your home with cardboard boxes and bubble wrap, take a look at places like eBay or Facebook Marketplace for second-hand moving boxes. If someone else has just moved into your neighbourhood, they are likely to have a pile of boxes they want to get rid of. But before you start saving up all your Amazon boxes, remember that stacking everything in the removal van will be easier if most of the boxes are the same size, so it’s not a case of any old banana box will do.
Although your delicate ornaments are best secured in bubble wrap, you can always use towels and sheets for other, sturdier items that you don’t want sliding about in boxes. You have to pack the sheets anyway, so it’s a cost-effective solution.
Pack the heaviest items first.
It sounds very logical, but as you eye up the huge bookshelf full of heavy paperbacks, you understandably want to leave that job till later. Tomorrow even. But we’re afraid that the books must be packed first, in sturdy smaller boxes.
We recommend smaller boxes because a stack of books get very heavy. But, if you create a pile of small, equally sized boxes, they will form a nice solid base for everything else to stack on top of – like little cardboard bricks.
Save space with rolled clothing.
If you’re an intrepid traveller, you’ll already know that you can fit far more in your backpack if you roll your clothes. It isn’t the best approach to easily creased fabrics, but the majority of your wardrobe can probably be rolled before packing, which will reduce the number of boxes you need.
Don’t pack everything.
If it’s already in a box, or a drawer, why pack it into a different box? If you’re taking the whole dresser, just pull out each drawer, wrap it in clingfilm so nothing falls out – and it’s packed. It save you having to unbox it all at the other end, too.
Label everything. Everything.
Labels are your friend. The more clearly you label a box, the easier it will be when you are searching for the TV remote. As well as summarising contents and which room each box should be moved into, you can also decide if it’s an ‘urgent’ unpack immediately or ‘can be left till next month’ box. After all, unless you are moving in December, you don’t need to unpack the Christmas tree till last.
Use a professional moving company.
It will be cheaper to pack everything yourself – but it will be faster and less stressful to pay a professional company to do it for you. As expert packers, they will have you all wrapped up and ready to move in a day, and the removal van carefully stacked to keep the furniture at the bottom and the china wedged in the corner.
Utilise self-storage as a safe stop-off point.
The benefit of putting the majority of your home into self-storage during your move is that you can sort the essential items first. Put the sofas and beds up, unpack your kitchen and settle the kids’ into their bedroom with plenty of space in your new home, because those less-used items like the books and the lawnmower can wait in self-storage until you have the time and enthusiasm to unpack them.
And, if you’re downsizing, it gives you plenty of time to decide what you want to keep in your new home and what can go on eBay. For further information about how we can support your move, contact us at 0121 250 5055 or info@cookesstorage.co.uk.
Plan your pet move in advance.
There are a few things that you don’t want underfoot on the day you pack the removal van. If you can, leave the children with friends and the animals with the grandparents. If that’s not possible, see if there is a kennel or cattery nearby that will keep your pet overnight for you.
If your pets are more exotic – or delicate – such as an aquarium of tropical fish, it may be an idea to get proper advice from your vet or pet shop on how to transport everything safely. It can be done, but it will take planning.
Pack a box for moving day.
Kettle – and lead. Cups. Coffee, milk and a spoon. A ready-made pot of chilli and a bottle of wine for the evening. There might be a few other items you will want as soon as you arrive in your new home – like the toiletries and a pair of scissors for opening boxes – but we think we covered the essentials.
Plan for your first night in your home, making sure everything is within easy reach. You’ll be a lot happier at the end of a long day. If you need any packing materials, check out our Box Shop for all your moving needs.
Give us a call – we’re ready with your self-storage options.
You might think we’re a bit off course suggesting you use self-storage as a tool during your house move – why unload everything twice – but it’s actually a very popular way of taking the stress out of moving. And with our flexible, low-cost, short-term contracts, you’ll find it’s easier than you think. Just give us a call to find out more.