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Moving

11 replies

TheLittleThingsLikeVodka · 07/07/2018 20:31

I know iabu to post for traffic, but need help!
Moving out of our 2 bed flat and don’t have a clue how many boxes/ what sort of packing materials to buy.

OP posts:
Sparklesocks · 07/07/2018 20:37

How much time have you got?
It’s never too early to start clearing things out to prepare - doing charity shop runs, using up food in the freezer, getting down the tip, finishing half done beauty items etc. Doing little bits at a time helps tackle the big job.

In terms of packing it depends how much stuff you have, and how much you’re willing to take. Do you regularly do clear outs and streamline your possessions, or have you built up quite a lot from the time you’ve been there?

In addition to boxes, those strong ikea bags/supermarket bags for life are good for packing as they take up less space than boxes and you can squeeze them into little places in the car/van etc.
Put heavy books in suitcases as they are easier to transport that way.
Save on space by doing little tricks like packing socks in shoes.
Take a ‘carry on’ - a little case with things you need immediately - medicines, cash, clean clothes etc - saves the mad scramble trying to find those things when you’re unpacking!

TheLittleThingsLikeVodka · 07/07/2018 21:25

Got a month, it’s come as a bit of a surprise.

Have way to much stuff Blush but planning on using this as a reason to have a clear out.

Putting books in a suitcase is a great idea, thanks Smile

OP posts:
Kpo58 · 07/07/2018 22:40

Don't buy too big a box. Pack too much in a cardboard box and either you won't physically be able to lift it or the bottom will fall out.

MaryPoppinsBloomers · 07/07/2018 22:42

We bought loads of the massive nylon bags from Aldi - stronger than boxes, easier to move and a lot cheaper.Wink

trojanpony · 08/07/2018 00:32

Do a declutter of general junk then Start listing stuff you don’t want to take with you on free cycle and eBay

TooMuchSunshine · 08/07/2018 00:42

Go to your local shops they will give you boxes..
I got loads from Iceland. They had n all strong ones.. Then some that had had the multipacks of crisps in so wernt strong but big.. Ideal for soft toys or light things.

Never under estimate how may you'll need.

Get friends and family to collect newspapers to wrap breakables in

MrsFezziwig · 08/07/2018 00:45

No matter what receptacles you use (and suitcases are a good idea) mix the contents (eg half books, half cushions) otherwise you will never lift them,

HeddaGarbled · 08/07/2018 00:51

Are you going to get a removal van or do it yourself? If removal van, it’s best to order some proper removal boxes as they stack together better in the van.

You will need about twice as many as you think you need! Order some now and start packing. Then you’ve got plenty of time to order some more later.

Get mostly medium sized with a few large and small as well. Don’t fill large ones with all books/heavy things - they will be too heavy. So, a layer of books, crockery etc, then top up with bedding, towels and other lighter stuff. The large ones are good for duvets and clothes, small ones for CDs and ornaments e.g.

Bubble wrap is good for packing fragile stuff but several layers of newspaper, tea towels, towels and clothes will also do the job. You will need packing tape for taping up the boxes, often sold with the boxes.

FeistyOldBat · 08/07/2018 03:00

I moved 15 months ago and bought my boxes from Kite Packaging. All the stuff arrived within a couple of days. It was worth the expense because I had a lot of computer equipment and other electronics to shift, and I was moving into rented as I wanted the sale proceeds before I started looking for the new place in earnest. As much as possible went into store.

I also bought a roll of bubble wrap and a huge bag of packing chips, the starch ones not the polystyrene ones. Don't get them wet until after you've unpacked at the other end. If necessary, you can wash them down the sink, no problems, but they also can go in the compost bin if there is such a thing at your new property. I was surprised when I advertised still good packing stuff on Freegle after I'd moved in, and didn't get a response.

The advice on the size and number of boxes to get is good, I had to order extra, and I had too many big ones and not enough smaller ones.

Number the boxes and make a list of what's in which box. Pack stuff according to which room it's going into as far as you can, and label the box and each door in the new house, with the name of the room. For stuff with vulnerable corners – furniture, mirrors, pictures, etc – you can buy corner protectors, mine stayed where they were put, as claimed, I was really pleased with those. If you're taking curtains, leave hooks in and fold the curtains with the hooks inside each curtain.

Pack the drawers of bedroom furniture with whatever usually lives in it plus use up the rest of the space for clothes. Tie twine around each piece of furniture so that it secures each drawer handle and stops drawers coming out in the unlikely event of an accident. This may not work for you, it depends on having furniture with drawers and handles you can tie string around.

Kite's double walled boxes are very good, stronger and more rigid than the thinner ones, better for the fragile stuff, and you'll need a lot of packing tape as well. The fibreglass tape is much tougher than the other kind, but tearing it off a box ruins the box if you're thinking about keeping them for storage. Use a Stanley knife. I bought a roll of tape printed 'Fragile' for the boxes of the electronics.

Take tea, coffee, milk, sugar, kettle and enough mugs for you and the removal men, in your own car. They'll appreciate being offered a cuppa even if they want to get away quickly. Take a torch with you, and have any tools for assembling flatpacks easily available. Put screws for furniture, clothes rails, etc in small plastic bags and tape them well to whatever they're used in.

Do you know which supermarkets deliver to your new address? Put in a grocery order to be delivered the afternoon or evening you move in, but go out to a decent pub for a meal on the day, you'll need it. Smile

Get quotes for moving as soon as you can, you'll have to have a fair idea of the volume you'll be moving, and book your movers as soon as possible.

Google for house moving and packing tips! For telling utilities and others you're moving, there's a website called Am Moving which I used. I did wonder if I would get a load of spam as a result of it, but that didn't happen. It was helpful. They'll talk to you about changing your electricity/gas suppliers and quote you figures for different companies – they get commission on that. I switched suppliers and am paying a lower tariff than I was previously.

It's making me tired all over again just thinking about it! And it's nearly three in the morning, too hot to sleep.

chatwoo · 08/07/2018 03:53

I would always recommend the biggest roll of bubble wrap. You can get them pretty cheaply from eBay. And loads of brown packing tape!

TheLittleThingsLikeVodka · 08/07/2018 17:54

Thank you all :) like I said, wasn’t expecting to be moving, so in a bit of a panic about it

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