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Packing For Moving House

9th of May, 2023

Packing for your house move can be overwhelming. It can be hard to know both when and how to pack your worldly possessions. We have put together some tips to help you;

When should I start packing? 

Many factors come into play when you should start packing. We generally suggest starting to pack up your non-essential items around four weeks before the move date. This is a general guideline and naturally, if you have a larger property, it would be sensible to start packing earlier. Other factors like your social calendar should be considered - if you have a busy period in the lead-up to moving then we recommend starting the packing process earlier.

It might sound obvious, but if you plan to use this time to de-clutter your belongings then this will definitely be more time-consuming. You won't just need to allow extra time for packing, it would be sensible to allow additional time for visits to the recycling centre and charity shops, too.

What will I need to pack?

Start to consider the volume of boxes and packing materials you may require. The average household requires 60 to 100 moving boxes. In most instances, removal companies will supply clients with the required cartons and materials. At MoveStore we supply our clients with industry-standard boxes, strong removal standard tape, professional wrapping paper and bubble wrap if needed. 

Packing

We provide a packing service for clients on request, meaning we will take care of some or all of the below and this will be specified within your quotation. Please feel free to contact us to chat further.

We suggest the guidelines below when it comes to packing:

  • Use removal standard cartons and packing materials.
  • Ensure cartons are full and taped shut.
  • Label the tape on cartons with room or contents. 

Books and Records 

Please use our medium-sized cartons for packing books, records and other heavier items.

Chests of Drawers

Chests can be left filled with linen, clothes and other non-breakable items as long as they are not too heavy. All fragile items should be packed as per the below instructions. 

Fragile items

When packing fragile items, we recommend putting a layer of paper on the bottom of the carton, wrapping each item individually with packing paper and placing heavier items at the bottom and lighter items at the top before finishing with a final layer of paper. Ensure plates and other similar items are packed vertically with layers of paper between them for protection.

Clothes

We can provide boxes on the removal day for the contents of your wardrobe that are on hangers. Please make sure all other clothes are packed separately. Also ensure that all clothes are clean, dry and free of residues as this can promote mould. 

Lamp Shades 

Remove the lampshade and bulb and pack all components into cartons.

Plants

Small plants can be placed inside cartons for transit. We will take care of larger plants on the removal day. Please ensure plants are dry as we will not be able to move them otherwise. It should be noted that whilst our crew take care of your plants they are not covered by insurance.

Appliances 

Fridges and Freezers

Empty and defrost in full prior to the removal. We will not be able to move any appliances that contain residue. 

Cookers

All cookers must be disconnected prior to the removal day. Clean the cookers fully, especially the outside. Remove all loose fittings and pack them separately.

Microwave

Remove the glass base plate and pack it into a carton prior to the removal. 

Washing Machines

Washing machines should be disconnected and drained and the contents removed prior to the removal day. If you have locking bars, please use them. 

Fixtures and Fittings 

All fixtures and fittings must be removed prior to the move day. These include but are not limited to televisions, curtains, curtain poles, artwork, mirrors, light fittings and light shades.  

Have an Essentials Box

Arguably our most important top tip for moving! We recommend keeping an essentials box separate to ensure you have everything you need whilst your possessions are in transit. When our crew conduct a walk-through of your property it would be beneficial to point this out to them to ensure it does not get loaded onto our vehicle. We recommend keeping the following items in the essentials box:

  • Documents that apply to either the property you are selling and purchasing
  • Birth and marriage certificates
  • Insurance and mortgage documents 
  • Passports
  • Keys

It’s important to label the boxes that you require on the first evening in your new property. When delivering our crew will place each box in the specified room and labelling urgent boxes will allow us to help you get settled in as soon as possible. 

We recommend labelling all boxes with the rooms and being more specific with boxes that contain the following;

  • Tea, coffee and your kettle
  • Mugs, glasses, plates and cutlery
  • Baby food
  • Pet food
  • Overnight clothes and bags
  • Bed Linen
  • Toolbox
  • First aid box and medication
  • Toiletries
  • Work clothes

If you would have any further queries or wish to obtain a quotation for packing and removals then please email us at  info@move-store.co.uk or phone us on 0131 210 0425.