Moving? Packing? Stress ?!

We gather the essential tips for house moving, free of stressful last time events that might ruin your whole experience.

Moving to a new house can be a delightful experience, but putting your old home in boxes is not so cute, on the contrary, it is very stressful and distressing. Where to start? How to make it? Who can help? Who to hire? What boxes and how many will I need? Where to rent a van? How much does it cost? … Anyway, a big heeeeelp sign is over your head, and we are here to help you. 

So, before you get down to business, read everything and take notes. Let’s do it! Here are a some tips for house moving.

# 1 –  Where to start?

First, you should think about: how? When? And who? Only after you have decided how you are going to carry out the moving process will you be able to handle the move itself. 

– Set a deadline: do you have plenty or little time to dedicate into the moving process? Start planning early rather than late to allow yourself enough time for any set back you might have. 

– Start asking for quotes from various removal companies so that you have time to evaluate the best service that fits your needs.

– Make sure you know what you want, have no time to spare? Hire a removal company that can do the packing for you; this will save you a lot of work. If you choose to do it yourself, make sure you have quotes from packing material. 

– Think about how you will organise the boxes, by colour or with stickers?

– Think about where to start first, something that you will not need at this stage.

 # 2 – Declutter first, and start early!

If you have little time to put towards the moving day, start 1 or 2 months before the date of the moving. (This is a crucial tip for house moving).

Make your move easier – donate, sell and toss out those unused items BEFORE you start to pack. Your wallet (and your sanity) will thank you! Not every item in your home deserves a spot on the moving truck. Why spend extra time and money moving things that you don’t use or need?

# 3 Book a moving truck or moving company as early as 4 to 8 weeks in advance.

Whether you are planning to move from start to finish or hiring a moving company, there are a few key elements you need to take into consideration. 

• Try scheduling your move in the middle of the month, since a lot of people prefer the beginning or the end. This can potentially save you a few pounds. 
• If you live in a building, don’t forget you need to book an elevator.
• Summertime tends to be the busiest time for moving companies, so if you are moving at that time, make sure you book early. 

When choosing a moving company, consider at least 3 to 4 quotes before you sign a contract. Here are a few things to take into consideration:

• What is their estimate for cost and time?
• What type of service do I need? A man and van? Two men and van? A full truck? 
• What insure coverage do they offer? (this is a critical step).
• Do they pack everything? If not, what are their requirements for the packing? 
• Do they know how to handle fragile items? Such as artwork, mirror, piano? 
• Are there any items that are not allowed on the truck?

# 4 – Get your packing material: tape, coloured sheets, boxes, bubble wrap or newspaper.  

Bubble wrap for fragile items its always the best option but you can also use newspaper. You can start collecting them months before the move. Top tip for house moving – use A4 coloured sheets to determine the area where the boxes belong (pink – bedroom, blue – kitchen, etc.).

Getting the right boxes is the next essential item on the list. You will need: 

• Small, large and medium paper boxes (you can get them directly from the removal company or, for example B&Q).
• A good and robust tape (you will need it not only to close the boxes but also to reinforce the bottom if they are heavy).
• You can buy boxes from the company you hire, this will save you time and will be according to their specifications already.   
• Consider buying good quality clear plastic bins for packing items that are likely to remain packed and stored for an extended period (seasonal items, for example). 

#  5 – Label, label, label

Label every box either with coloured paper or stickers. Make sure you label: 

• Boxes according to what area of the house (bedroom, kitchen, living room, etc.). 
• How quickly should it be unpacked? 
• What’s inside?
• Organise priority boxes ( meditation, food, blankets, first aid kit, necessary kitchen supplies).

# 6 – Start packing the attic and the basement first.

Head to your storage places and start there, those areas are going to be the ones you will find more items that you don’t need or use (consider donating them). These are also the areas that you will be packing and leaving them packed the longest. 

Leave the items you use every day for the very end of your packing. These include clothing, toiletries, kitchen and regular use items. 

The kitchen can be a significant challenge, so don’t leave every single item to last. Start packing what you don’t use every day. 

# 7 – Pack up the kitchen and everyday items last.

There are items that you will need as soon as you arrive at your new house, so make sure you pack a surviving kit that you can spot easily. 

You will need:

• Kitten everyday use items 
• First aid kit
• cleaning supplies 
• toilet paper
• tools and hardware 
• toiletries 
• pet food 
• Kids favourite toys
• Medication 
• Towel 
• Pyjama
• Snacks

# 8 – Special packing for irreplaceable items.

Pack delicate or breakable items together and label them as FRAGILE. 

Use bubble wrap and items of clothing or blakets to wrap them up, or you can ask the moving company to pack them for you as they have specialised materials and knowledge on how to keep them extra safe.

# 9 – Take photos

Usually, the removing company will take care of this, but you can also take pictures of all the electronic and items before packing. You can also take photos of the cable display, so you know how to put them pack up in no time. 

# 10 – Take your belongings with you

Make sure you pack a suitcase with small valuable items such as:

• Jewellery 
• Money
• Computer

These are the top tips for house moving that we promise will make your experience stress free!