Tips For Moving & Packing!

The more planning you do prior to moving the easier and less stressful the experience will undoubtebly be. 

So where should you start?

• The first thing on any to do list is to have a clear out. Decide what you really need to take and use. Taking less will also mean a lower cost for your removal
• Important documents. Gather all important documents such as drivers licence, birth certificates, passport & other certificates together. Put this in a safe place
• Boxes and materials. If you are self-packing, getting the right materials is key. Make sure you buy strong double walled cardboard boxes. Get smaller ones for ornaments, glasses, crockery and books, and medium boxes for most other items. Boxes from the supermarket are not suitable!  A few large boxes are good for lighter items such as bedding.  Wrapping paper. Essential for wrapping glasses, crockery and ornaments. Remember to put a layer of scruntched up paper at the bottom of the box. Don't stack plates! These should be placed upright. Remember to put some scrunched up paper between the first plate and the cardboard box wall as well as on top of the plates before you seal the box. Plastic tubs with lids also offer good protection and are ideal for things like Christmas decorations, shoes & toys etc. Bubblewrap or similar is ideal for pictures and framed photographs.
• Wardrobe cartons. These are ideal for all your hanging clothes. Start early with all the things you are not using. Using these will also mean no ironing at your new home.
• Start with the loft space if you have one, then the shed or garage or other storage space. If you have a garage, it's a good space to start stacking your packed boxes.
• Box small electrial appliances from the kitchen and hand tools from the garage or shed.
• Blankets. Called removals blankets in the trade, these are inexpesive and a great for wrapping a myriad of items such as small items of furniture like occassional tables, coffee tables, bedside tables, small bookcases etc. You can use tape to secure the blankets, but for an even more secure wrap, using a stretch film around the blanket really protects your items. You can buy all of these wrapping materials on amazon or ebay etc.

• Wrapping other items. Items like garden tools, clothes airers, golf clubs, ladders to name a few can also be wrapped with blankets or stretch film or better still both. Even bicycles can be wrapped this way. And for bicycles, we recommend removing the pedals if possible and loosening and positioning the handle bars so they are parallel to the frame. This also makes them much easier to wrap.
• Plant pots. These can also be placed in a carton remembering to protect them with paper or even some old towels etc you no longer need. For pots with plants still in them, remember not to water them for a few days before moving. This stops mess and makes then lighter and easier to manage
• Televisions. Televisions should always be boxed, ideally in the original one. If you no longer have it, you can buy TV boxes online from Amazon etc. Remember to remove any feet and leads and wrap the entire TV in something soft such as a blanket before putting inside the box. Remember to wrap the remote control and place in the box.