Packing and moving might seem like a straightforward task, you simply box things up, load them and unload them again at the other end, right? Well, anybody that has moved before will tell you that it can be extremely stressful and unfortunately doesn’t always go to plan which is why it is best to be prepared.
We spoke to some professional Essex estate agents to get their top packing tips, guidance, and advice to help make moving as stress free as possible.
Moving Checklist
Before you get started it’s a good idea to create a moving checklist which you can include all the things listed below as well as budget and key things to book or give notification for. This will help you keep track and clearly and accurately plan what you need to do and when.
Professional Movers
Decide if you are going to use a professional moving company to help you and get them booked, if possible, as trying to find one last minute could prove costly. If you are going to move yourself then be sure to hire a van and ensure that you are going to have help from as many friends and family as possible on the day.
Declutter
What is the point in boxing up, moving and unpacking a load of stuff that you’re simply going to get rid of later? Be brutal and tackle one room at a time, then sell, donate, or discard anything that you don’t want or need to cut down the amount that you need to move with you and give you a fresh start at your new place.
Timeline
This will differ depending on your situation but it’s a good idea to begin the packing process as soon as possible, because it can take a lot longer than you think. Start with places like the loft, garages, sheds, and unused rooms which you can pack away and store the boxes in with little to no disruption.
Try to stay on track and set yourself goals for your timeline so that you have certain rooms done by certain dates or that you pack for an hour a day as your moving date gets closer so that you aren’t up-all-night rushing to get it done a few days before.
Materials
You can buy or source quality boxes from local shops, friends, and family, or request on social media sites where people may offer them for free. You will also need;
- Scissors
- Strong tape
- Packing peanuts, bubble wrap, tissue paper
- Thick felt pens
- Fragile stickers
- Bin bags
Packing System
Having a packing system might seem a little over the top but it will help so much later. What you want to do with each box is;
- Colour code label/pen what room it is for, so maybe it says kitchen in green, living room in red etc.
- Assign a number which is then listed on a notepad with a brief description of what is in that box so for example 7 = dinner plates and bowls, 13 = towels and flannels, 25 = candles and accessories. This will make unpacking on the other end so much easier and help you keep track of boxes.
- Use fragile stickers on those that need them and put them on top of the box where it is clearly visible.
Practical Packing
Some important things to remember when packing include;
- Don’t overpack your boxes as tempting as it might be to fit in as much as you can.
- Use the right size boxes for what you are packing, if the items are heavy then put fewer in smaller boxes rather than lots into bigger boxes.
- Don’t leave empty spaces in the boxes as this can cause things to shift during the move and break. Fill the gaps with packing paper, foam peanuts or even clothing to prevent this from happening.
