Packing Boxes - Where to buy / recommendations?

[IntelligentPutty]

Hi,

Expecting to move in about 6 weeks (all going well). Need to start packing things away. I think will use vacuum bags for clothing.. (to save space).
BUT.. anyone got any recommendations for boxes?
I was looking on ebay and see some multi packs with varying sizes, and I think that "double walled" will be best.
But maybe some of yuo lovely people have some good suggestions!??

Get a removal company and they will supply the boxes

What are you shifting? We had a lot of books and found that file boxes were the best for them. Even full of paper they are manhandle-able... They stack well too.

Free banana boxes from the supermarket are perfect for books

I asked on my local Facebook page if anyone had moving boxes they wanted getting rid of. I now have all the boxes I need to pack up a 3 bed house!

We packed books in large PVC strong supermarket carrier bags. They stopped us overfilling and were easy to carry. They were about 10 each in Sainsbugs.

For bedding we used the plastic laundry bags ( the plaid design type ), again easy to carry.
The removal packers did the rest.

Sorry, missed the 'p' off 10p!

www.packingboxes.co.uk but I think that their servers are affected by the huge telehouse power outage that is affecting the internet today.

I got loads from a local parenting fb group so it's definitely work asking around.

I bought some from Argos, but most were donated from work and friends. We've done three moves with the same boxes! Never want to move ever again and not sure the boxes would last

Good idea about the fb pages option.
Unfortunately my husband is very "anti" the removal company option and wants to do all the removals himself.. I think he is crazy, and I think I will just have to keep my mouth shut on that subject! So no removal company option..
I'll give that a go first!
And then go on the hunt for some banana boxes!!

Thanks everyone!

facebook, freecycle and supermarket boxes. I struck lucky with freecycle and paid for nothing more than sticky tape and labels, I was even given the packing paper. After the move I put the boxes back on freecycle and they were gone in a day.

FYI it took two weeks almost full time to pack up a not-very full three bed house. Best of luck...

and remember you need to be out when your sale completes. Going back and forth with multiple loads is no longer practical. Consider a storage unit for a few days, maybe?

What's this about completion and having to get out!,!!?, I thought we will have a few hours in morning to clear house..
We are selling to ft buyers does that make a difference. Complete newbie here as last time we moved it was about 15 years ago!!

I bought cheap boxes online and it was a HUGE mistake. The boxes were thin and incapable of being moved far with anything even slightly heavy inside. Also - the tape just didn't stick to them properly it was like they were wax coated.

The boxes I bought from Lok and store were amazing. More expensive but really strong and durable.

Oh also ... completion typically occurs around midday. I've moved house a fair number of times and generally been expected to be out completely, with every single item gone by midday :)

I hope your H has some mates helping him to move stuff......and a big hire van!

Check places like Gumtree and eBay too. We bought our moving boxes second hand plus they had a load of packing paper too and bubble wrap. We then sold them on again after we had used them.

Remember you can only do one trip on completion day - when you have to be out,you have to be out. So unless your DH is licensed to drive a huge lorry - or you only have enough stuff to fill a transit van - you'll probably have to move in stages, into a storage unit.

We considered doing that as my DH was also against paying removal costs. But then when we costed up storage and van hire we realised getting professionals in wasn't that much more, and was SO much easier.

Best decision we made, by a mile. They were quick, efficient and the packing service was worth every penny!

Seen so many posts saying how much better to hire a removal company.. We will see.. I hope it all goes OK, but I really cannot be bothered to argue about it. He did give in a few weeks ago with, well if you don't trust I can do it then you sort it all out.. Maybe I should have done so.. I think he sees it as his mission and responsibility to sort out.. Of course before now hes moved friends from a small flat to another, when renting or similar. Nothing like this..
The plan is to use 1 large van, and 2 transit size vans, and about 3 friends / family.
The house we are moving too is 1-2 mile away, so really not far, I think it will be doable.. but need to start the packing now so that everything is literally ready to go.. and work on dis-assembling any furniture beforehand.
We'll probably end up living in a shell for the last couple of weeks!!

Can recommend packing boxes from Globe Packaging, they sell via Amazon. Very quick delivery. They do good deals on multi-buys of 10 of same size box. Their double wall boxes are very good and strong. They can be stacked and have not crumpled by the weight of the box above. Avoid WER Online, boxes not very good.

We have recently bought over 150 packing boxes as we are doing extensive remodel and the whole house has gone into storage.

Good luck with your move.

On our recent completion, our solicitor asked what time the removal would be finished ( a 2 day job). The money was transferred at 2 pm when the removal firm were just about finished. It was a Tuesday which might have helped, rather than the usual busy Friday!

Pack the beds and sleep on the mattresses, and have mattress bags ready.

Start dismantling all the furniture early. It will take a LOT longer than you think. Also seriously consider packing everything the day before and stopping in a cheap Travelodge the night before completion day. That way you can eat breakfast without worrying about washing up and packing plates afterwards, have showers, that sort of thing.
The travelodge by us was only £39 so it was well worth it. Meant that we were packed and all ready once the money was transferred, and all we had to do was a last clean and Hoover.

We were near the bottom of the chain though, so had to be ready earlier than those at the top.

We went through a decade of moving every 18 months when the kids were small. Here's what I learned.

For ease of carrying, try to get packing boxes that are less than 60cm long. I'm average height/arm span and I just can't manage that comfortably. If there aren't any handles on the box, cut T shapes to make a hand hold. And mix heavy things (books) with light (toys) to reach a manageable weight.

Code your boxes from Z to A (or 100 to 1) visible on all sides because you'll be packing less useful stuff away first. Write a few words along the sticky tape to tell you what's inside. Use towels and bedding for protection instead of bubble wrap.

Hanging wardrobe boxes are useful, light plastic things like toys can be tied up in a tablecloth knotted in the middle and tossed about. Remove any legs from tables, shelves from bookcases etc. and tape them together. Saves on bulk, weight and accidents.

Declutter as much as you can. Run down your supplies and the freezer as soon as possible.
Book a hotel for the first night!