Anyone with moving experience knows it: packing takes up most of the time in the whole moving process. With the right approach, though, it is perfectly manageable. Here are our 10 best packing tips.
1. Start as early as possible
To avoid having to rush or accidentally forgetting something, it is best to start at least 2 months before the moving date. Begin with items you rarely use and work your way towards your everyday belongings.
2. Throw out unnecessary clutter
The easiest way to pack is to make sure you only take the essentials. Do you really need that old television or that pile of clothes you no longer wear? Donate or sell whatever you no longer need to friends, family or a charity shop.
3. Pack a survival box for the first few days
Put together a separate kit with clothes, toiletries and basic essentials for moving day and the day after. Add extension leads, batteries, disposable cutlery and basic tools too. Label this box clearly so you can find it straight away.
4. Make sure you have enough packing material
You can never have enough tape, bubble wrap, markers and boxes. Buy or collect these in advance. Do not forget to have a tape gun and a label maker ready to hand either.
5. Label boxes with fragile contents
Make sure boxes with electronics, crockery and works of art are clearly labelled as "fragile". That way the movers know they need to handle these boxes carefully.
Pack room by room and label accordingly, so the moving company can put everything straight into the right place and unpacking goes much faster.
6. Wrap china and glassware individually
Never stack delicate items without individual protection. Cover the bottom of the box with bubble wrap and wrap each piece separately. That way you prevent pieces from knocking against each other during transport.
7. Leave no empty space in boxes
Make sure no free space is left in a box. Room to move leads to damage on the way. Fill empty gaps with old clothes, towels or packing paper.
8. Pack room by room and label accordingly
Pack the belongings of each room separately and label the boxes with the name of the room. That way the moving company can put everything straight into the right place and unpacking goes much faster.
9. Put heavy items at the bottom of the box
Heavy items belong at the bottom of the box. Lighter belongings go on top. That keeps the boxes stable and stops you damaging your lighter possessions under the weight of the heavier ones. The same principle applies when loading the moving van.
10. Consider professional help for valuable or fragile items
Do you have a grand piano, a valuable painting or antique furniture? Then consider calling in a moving company with experience of this kind of transport. Your valuable possessions will then be moved safely and insured.