Packing tips

[Girlmum89]

We’re due to exchange and complete next month (hopefully!!!) so starting to think about packing. I don’t really know where to begin. Anyone got any tips? Or is it literally just a case of getting everything in a box?

I’ve seen another thread about an essentials box which I hadn’t thought about so I’m hoping MN can give me some other packing tips.

Dont overload boxes.
Start ASAP with books, spare crockery etc.
Label boxes on every side by room and contents (or keep a speadsheet)

Or pay for packers... they are brill.

Pay for mockers. I will never ever move us again. Every box needs to be labelled properly.

Packers!

I second getting packers

We got packers for the main bulk however we did the loft, garage and shed.

Clearly mark boxes, don't overfill, for example books get very heavy, very quickly, so we did half books and then toppy up with any soft things (bedding, clothes, soft toys etc)

Main thing is to try to declutter as you go, don't move stuff for the sheer sake of it (that is why I wanted to do the loft etc)

Pay someone e
We to do it. It cost us about £500 for a large 4 bed house earlier this year. Cheaper than a divorce!

I'd pay for packers next time too, I was nearly crying in my kitchen in the end, so many glasses to wrap.

Definitely pay for packers!

Do the loft, shed and garage first . Use it as an opportunity to get rid of your OH stuff shite

I've had packing labels, decent tape dispenser, big boxes and large laundry zip bags for soft things, clothes, duvets etc.

We've done most of it ourselves, started selling everything we don't want to take on FB and have a storage unit we've been filling for the last month.

@MrsMoastyToasty

Do the loft, shed and garage first . Use it as an opportunity to get rid of your OH stuff shite

Our packers / movers commented that they had never moved so much stuff, I just looked at DH and rolled my eyes. It was nearly all his stuff.

Sell, donate or bin everything you can.
Then pay for the movers to pack.

Pay for packers! Go for lunch come back stress free to a packed house. I'll never pack myself again.

Can I ask what's the benefit of using packers, apart from obviously saving yourself a bit of time?

In my head, if I packed, I'd know what's been packed with what, and can label more accurately?

(Sorry to hijack - we're moving soon too and I've not gone for packers and now doubting myself!)

I've been wondering the same OP. Last time I moved I owned barely anything. This time around, many years later, I have no idea how much things need wrapping, what to do about larger items etc! Is paying for packers an option for you? For us, we are using the opportunity to have a ruthless declutter and doing that as we go so packers off the menu. I recommend this by the way, it is amazing how much tat we have found in cupboards and drawers.

Also come on to say, if you can, pay for packing service. They’re so quick! I did declutter first. They marked on boxes what needs to go where. They left boxes with us before the packing day so I packed some things I specifically wanted to and personal stuff/valuables and things I needed to hand went into a couple of overnight bags.

@pegasussy

Can I ask what's the benefit of using packers, apart from obviously saving yourself a bit of time?

In my head, if I packed, I'd know what's been packed with what, and can label more accurately?

We decluttered first then I wrote on each box what room the boxes were for and on moving day had boxes put in the relevant rooms. Unpacking was a doddle because they'd done everything and it was packed in decent order.

Made moving so much easier and no stress at all.

Advantages of packers
-speed

• they know how to pack things so they don't get broken.
• makes customs declarations easier (which admittedly isn't a problem for most people)

Cons
-they don't care where they pack things. (I've just found DDs missing school uniform in boxes marked ski equipment... the boxes were 90percent ski equipment.)

Fill up your drawers, it seems obvious but we moved and emptied everything and put it all in boxes, the removal men turned up and said why had we not packed stuff in draws, they take the draw full of stuff out load the unit on the truck and put the drawers back in , the boxes took up more room required more storage space and we had all these empty drawers we could have used instead

We've been using StorePak boxes we got from Argos and they've been really good. We got small premium boxes for the heavy stuff like books and crockery, and used their normal boxes in all the sizes for the rest. They've been great but we've used way more boxes than I originally budgeted for, as you'll have more stuff than you think. I watched the free videos on the Pickford website that show how to pack boxes, those videos were really helpful. Be careful of tape burn.. ran my hand over tape too fast when pressing down and got a blister. I should have got a proper dispenser. We started on decluttering the loft first, then went around the house room by room decluttering and packing items we wouldn't be using before the move. I did a get bit over zealous though and had to buy a few items I'd packed (eg string & biro's). I'm saving packing up the kitchen till a few days before we move then will be making everyone eat off paper plates. Good luck with everything.

Declutter as much as you can. I always do my own packing because packers literally pack up everything.

Make sure your removal quote includes taking beds and furniture apart and back together again. Particularly beds.

I always pack and take three things with me in my car. An essentials box for the first night with tea, coffee, wine, mugs, milk, cat food and dishes, loo roll, corkscrew and silverware. A suitcase with a towel each, bed linen for each bed, pyjamas, an outfit each, toiletries, kindle, iPad or favourite toys for the little ones. My work bag has chargers and important documents. In the hecticness of moving your box, suitcase and bag and in your car so easy to get to.

Once we've moved and the beds are up I make them with the suitcase bedlinen before I'm too exhausted.

Then a takeaway and bed!

Packers are worth their weight in gold, but they will pack everything, even rubbish! So make sure you have really got rid of all your crap, don't forget sheds etc. My packers labelled the boxes but there were still some odd mixes as they topped up boxes from other rooms, which is why you have essentials with you - including uniforms and kids books etc.
I'm doing building work so can't unpack a lot of stuff, plus I stayed in Airbnb's for 8 weeks between selling and buying, so I'm still surrounded by boxes and living out of a couple suitcases!

@user1471528245

Fill up your drawers, it seems obvious but we moved and emptied everything and put it all in boxes, the removal men turned up and said why had we not packed stuff in draws, they take the draw full of stuff out load the unit on the truck and put the drawers back in , the boxes took up more room required more storage space and we had all these empty drawers we could have used instead

This is a great tip! Thank you, I’ll definitely be doing this.

We can’t afford packers unfortunately. I doubt we’ll get in by the end of September meaning we’ll have to spend every last penny on the increased stamp duty