Moving house can be one of the most stressful things we can go through. It can be overwhelming how much stuff can be accumulated in one house and it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to packing. Here are some stress-free packing and moving tips.
Collect packing supplies as soon as you can
The first of our moving tips is all about preparation. As soon as you know you are moving or even when you start thinking about moving, start collecting packing supplies. This is a simple tip but it will save you a lot of time and frustration when it actually comes to packing.
Ask friends, local Facebook groups, or local shops to see if they have any spare boxes you can have. If you start asking well in advance, when it comes to packing you will be able to get started straight away and not waste time with last-minute dashes to the shop. A lot of people want to rid of their boxes if they have just moved themselves so it is a win-win situation. You can save a significant amount of money doing it this way as well.
In addition to boxes, ensure you have enough duct tape, old newspapers, bubble wrap, and packing paper and marker pens. They will all be packing necessities. Keep all the packing supplies together so you know exactly where to find them.
Roll Clothes, not fold them
This moving tip is not just perfect when you are trying to fit more into a suitcase when you go on holiday. It’s also great for when you are moving house. It can save a lot of room. Just make sure you don’t make the boxes too heavy.
Keep clothes on hangers
For clothes that are hanging up in your wardrobe, keep them on the hangers, group them into piles, then wrap them in strong bin bags. It doesn’t look the best but saves you a lot of time and space as they can lie flat and means you don’t have to waste time packing the hangers away separately which can take up a lot of space.
Use shoes as extra storage
The third of our moving tips is about creative use of storage. Shoes can take up a lot of room but use this to your advantage. You can use your shoes to place smaller items. Not only does this save room, but it can also help keep smaller items safe during transit.
Use towels and bedding as packaging materials
Make the most of your towels and bedding by using them as padding around other more fragile items. This moving tip can help reduce the number of packaging materials you use and make the most out of the space you have.
Be creative with jewellery storage
Jewellery can be a difficult thing to pack up as the items are often small, fragile, and valuable. You can use a pill box or something with lots of compartments, like DIY storage to keep all of your pairs of earrings. Keep your best to one side and pack these separately so that you can carry these items yourself rather than packing with the rest of your clothes.
Pack an essentials box
This moving tip will make unpacking much easier. From your kettle, to a set of bedding, phone chargers, eating utensils, toilet paper, tools for building furniture, etc, there is a list of essential items that you will need first when you move into your new home. Once you arrive, it can take a while to unpack and you will not necessarily feel up to doing this straight away. So have a box of all of these essential items, so that if you only unpack one box, to begin with, it’s the box with everything you need for the next day or until you have time to unpack properly
Label boxes correctly
When you label boxes, state roughly what's in them and the room you need to put them in. You could also colour code the boxes by room. This moving tip may seem obvious but this makes it easier for anyone helping you unpack know exactly which room it needs to go in. Have a notebook handy and state in more detail what is in which box. For example, label the box with Kitchen 1, then in your notebook explain that this box has x,y, and z in. It will make your life a lot easier when it comes to unpacking. Also always label the boxes on the sides as well as the top, so it is visible which box is which from all angles
Mattress Care
When moving your mattress place a fitting bed sheet on both sides. This will avoid the mattress getting dirty when it's in transit.
Top furniture moving tip
When you have to dismantle pieces of furniture from your old house, keep all the screws, nuts, and bolts in a sandwich bag. Then keep this with the rest of the pieces for that particular piece. This will save you a lot of time at the other end.
Also ensure that any pieces of furniture that you cant dismantle like sofas, have newspaper or bubble wrap around their legs to avoid any damage during moving.
Quick cutlery trick
When packing cutlery, don’t bother taking it out of the cutlery holder. Place the whole thing inside a plastic bag instead to keep everything together and save time when you are unpacking.
Eat your leftovers
Make it a goal to eat as much of the food that you already have in your house before moving day arrives. If you haven't managed to eat it, but you don’t fancy taking it with you to the new house, you can donate it to a food bank who will be so grateful.
Donate, Donate, Donate
This moving tip is all about giving back. When you are packing your house, don’t just do it absent-mindedly. Really think about what you are packing. When it comes to your clothes, are you packing items that you don’t like anymore or haven't worn in years because it doesn’t fit right? Instead of packing it, place it in a separate pile and donate it to charity. It will free up precious packing space, will mean you have less to unpack the other end and it will save you time.
Save on moving costs
This moving tip is important to save yourself some money. Don’t leave it too late before choosing a removal company. Make sure you do your research ahead of time and get a few quotes before you decide. The cost of removal vans and services can differ greatly in both the level of service and the price they charge, so shop around rather than going for the first company you find. Also, try and be as flexible as possible. It can be tricky to get a set moving date but where possible try and make it mid-week to save a substantial amount. The more flexible you are, the best rates you will be able to get.
Pack a picnic
Moving is hungry work and it is easy to forget to eat. So pack a small picnic with water bottles and easy-to-eat snacks. These are great for the car journey as well as when you get to your new home. Also, organise what your evening meal will be before you move. If you are super organised you can, of course, cook a meal in your new kitchen. But also think about pre-ordering from a local takeaway for a convenient option.
Give yourself a deadline
People pack efficiently and quickly often when they are moving house because they have a deadline and a specific moving date. However, once they are in their new home, it can take a lot longer to unpack. Therefore, set yourself a deadline and stick to it. Organising a housewarming is a great way to do this. It will motivate you to have all your boxes unpacked before guests arrive to see your new home.
Whilst some of these moving tips will be common practice to some, there could be some new tips you haven't tried yet. Moving house will always have an element of stress. However, if you can be as prepared as possible in advance, you can make the task of packing and moving that much more achievable and stress-free.
