Moving house can be stressful, time consuming and tiring. There are legal fees to pay, mortgages to sort out, concerns over whether you are moving to the right place, children to re-school - the list can feel endless. And once you have finalised the house purchase, you have to move everything! Thankfully there are plenty of professional and local removal companies to help you and these tips should make the packing process simpler.
A removal company can help you plan and organise your move and provide the packing materials and boxes you require. But you will find that packing your belongings is a lot simpler if you follow these basic tips.
If you are moving big or heavy items like wardrobes and cupboards then take them apart before day you move. Put the screws in labelled bags so the units can be reassembled in your new house. If you are hiring a van and loading it yourself, load the biggest items first and fit smaller boxes in the spaces between. Tie everything together to prevent items moving around or falling over. If you are moving items like fridges or freezers then fasten the doors shut with tape to prevent them opening when they are being lifted or transported.
The last thing you want to hear when you are moving is the sound of crockery smashing on the floor as you lift up a box. Even if a box looks strong, place masking tape along the bottom before you pack it. Newspaper, scrunched up tissue and bubble-wrap can be used as padding. You can re-use packaging from deliveries and ask friends, family and colleagues to put aside any they may have in the months leading up to your move. This will save you money because you won't need to buy so much packing materials. Shops and supermarkets are a good source of cardboard boxes but check with your removal company as to whether they supply boxes. Some removal companies will provide free boxes if they are returned undamaged after the move.
Over packing your boxes will increase the chance of hurting your back when lifting and make it more likely the boxes will break. It is tempting to pack as much as you can into a box but try to avoid doing this by using smaller boxes. Two smaller boxes will be better than a big box.
If you are not used to lifting or bending then it is very easy to damage your back when packing. This is the last thing you want when you are moving house so start by placing all your packing materials such as scissor, bubble-wrap and tape at a height that is comfortable for you. You can also place boxes on top of tables, chairs or other boxes you have already packed to reduce the amount of bending you have to do. Making an inventory as you go along will help ensure you do not lose anything or leave it behind.
If you have delicate possessions, fill one third of the box with padding. This simple rule will protect your belongings. Label particularly delicate boxes as fragile to ensure whoever lifts them takes extra care. You should wrap all glasses and other breakables individually before packing them in a box. Newspaper can leave smudges on glasses so you may prefer to use another material. As well as padding the top and bottom of fragile boxes, you should also pad the sides and any empty spaces.
Mark each box with the contents of the boxes and which room to move them into. Moving all your boxes to one downstairs room in your new house may seem like the simplest solution at the time but later you will have to unpack them all and move some upstairs. Make use of the removal company on the day of the move to place the boxes in the correct rooms. Many removal companies will provide special boxes for the contents of wardrobes and may offer a specialist packing service.
About Author / Additional Info:
John Strong
Born in Plymouth., UK Living in Exeter, Devon.
http://www.devon-move.co.uk/removals-plymouth
http://www.devon-move.co.uk/removals-exeter
