No one really likes moving, not cats, dogs, plants, or people. Generally, uprooting can be a source of stress. Consider the packing process for moving house like the spine of the whole operation. If you have a good packing strategy, well considered in advance, you will have tamed the moving house beast before you get in the new front door. We have a tried and tested professional packing strategy and can take it on for you as part of our removals and storage services in Southwest London. That way you can focus on details and delegation. Burke and Wills are the vanguard of removals and storage in the area, so we feel equipped to share with you our Ultimate Packing Guide for Moving House.
Contents
- Consider your packing supplies
- Sourcing your packing supplies
- Declutter and donate
- Packing techniques
- Pack one room at a time
- Labelling and inventory
- Survival box for moving day
- Use a floor plan
- Unpack room by room
- Hire a professional team
1-Consider your packing supplies
Gathering your packing supplies in advance is a good idea. At Burke and Wills, we supply heavy-duty cardboard boxes and packing materials available on delivery or for collection in SW8. If you want to assemble them yourself individually, we suggest sourcing these various items.
- Cardboard Boxes, strong and in different sizes
- Packing tape
- Bubblewrap
- Labels
- Marker Pens
- Newspapers
- Towels and old t-shirts
- Plastic bags or Zip-loc bags
For artwork and mirrors, we recommend using telescopic cardboard boxes. In lieu of wardrobe boxes, you can make them yourself from large boxes with a metal rail inserted. To give you an idea of what you may need our Box Shop supplies a large packing kit for 3 beds or more houses. This includes;
- 15 book boxes (12″x18″x18″)15 Standard boxes (20″x18″x18″)
- 10 Large boxes (30″x18″x18″)
- 5 Hanging Wardrobe boxes
- 1 roll bubble wrap (100m)
- 3 rolls of tape
- 1 tape dispenser
- 1 marker pen
2- Sourcing your packing supplies
If you are going to source your supplies separately, you can gradually build up a store of bubble wrap, fabric, and paper as well as boxes. Perhaps you have tape and pens to hand as well, so it is just a matter of sourcing packing boxes. Double-walled cardboard is the box of choice. Set aside somewhere to store your packing supplies so your process is organized from the start. Our student pack and small move-pack could be your answer if you have to make a swift exit and need everything to hand.
3- Declutter and donate
Packing begins after you have a good clear-out. You will want to shed a few skins before emerging at your new postcode. Consider if all your furniture will fit in your new home or if you may need to donate or sell it. Local London charities may come and pick it up for you if you schedule it in advance. Sift through your possessions and purge the unnecessary. Recycle and donate whatever you can at your local recycling centre.
4- Packing Techniques
Did you know rolling is the new folding? Rolling clothes and fabrics is the crease-free way to maximise space when packing. You can seal clothes and items in Ziploc bags when packing to roll them tight. Similarly, roll tubes are great ways to store cables and avoid them turning into spaghetti nests when your eyes are turned. Use bags of zip-locked bagged clothes to fill gaps in packing boxes for padding. Or use old towels and t-shirts saved for this purpose. One key recommendation is not to overfill your boxes. Having super-heavy boxes can really slow you down. Stay under 14 kg per box and you make lighter work of it. Keep your heaviest boxes at the bottom when stacking them.
5- Packing one room at a time
Packing room by room is a good technique to keep everything in order. Start with the least used rooms in the house and work your way to the kitchen. Curtailing the spread of chaos as your domicile unravels is important. The more rooms that remain functional until the last minute, the better. As you build the packing muscle you will get more confident in the process and it will feel less daunting.
6- Labelling and inventory
Label your boxes with their contents and the room they are from or going to. You will want it to be easy to group the relevant boxes in the correct room on the other side. At this stage, you can make an inventory of all the contents of the boxes which will be very useful, particularly if you are storing some. Professional movers will often supply inventories as part of the removal service.
7- Survival Box for Moving Day
While you pack room by room, there should be a few exceptions that come with you in the car and travel by your side. One is your Survival Box. This contains the vital essentials to get you set up on the other side. Popular essentials might be:
- Phone chargers
- Tea/Coffee/Sugar/Milk etc
- Medication
- Toilet paper
- Cleaning materials and supplies
- Bed linen for all family members
- Washbags for all family members
- Towels for all family members
- Speakers or a radio
- Basic DIY Kit
- Pen and paper
- Food for the first day/night
- Crockery and cutlery for everyone
- Pet food
As you pack put these items aside for the survival box. You may want to consider bringing valuable documents with you as well and everything that may be necessary for the next few days.
8- Use a Floor Plan
Make a floor plan of the new property and where you want your furniture positioned. This should give you a chance to consider if it will fit in those places in advance and you can hand it to whoever may be helping to bring your boxes and furniture in. We love a good floor plan and can help our customers establish one so that we can seamlessly install their furniture according to their vision.
9- Unpack room by room
The beauty of the survival box means you can slowly address the larger boxes at a slower pace. With the most essential pieces of the puzzle available, you can begin to set up the kitchen straight away, and then gradually set up a basic framework for the other rooms. Unpacking can take a while so be strategic and avoid opening boxes unnecessarily.
10- Hire a professional team
A professional team will have insurance to cover your valuables in transit, and they will be the best equipped to handle valuables, including pianos, antiques, and fine art. Not to mention the parking logistics that may be involved on the day! Check the reviews of various removal and storage companies and compare their quotes to get a good idea of the playing field. With over 30 years of experience, Burke and Wills are proud to have a customer base grown from referrals. Our reviews will show we offer excellent and affordable service, providing you with the ultimate dream team when it comes to moving day.
