Oct 11

Written by: PeterAdmin
10/11/2011 11:19 AM 

I thought packing for my house removals project was going well but when I recently talked to some of our crews about how long it was taking me to pack they laughed, “We’d have all that done in a few hours” they said of a job that was taking me days…. Which got me wondering why was I so much slower?

Aside from the fact that they are well practiced and could do it with their eyes closed I was spending quite a lot of time “looking” at things. Chances are if you’re moving house a lot of things you pack you might not have seen for a while and the emotional side of having to choose what to take with you and what to dispose of can draw out the process a bit. De-cluttering is a good idea, but I’m not going to pretend it doesn’t take time. Check out our other post on de-cluttering for some tips on how to speed it up. 

If you are not planning on de-cluttering then it will certainly speed up your process by having your Removal Company pack for you. It is worth considering as often the additional cost is not as high as you might think, ask your moving company to give you a cost for both owner pack, full packing services or even part packing options. Not only does this reduce the time pressure on you but also can reduce stress by keeping your items better protected by professional packing. 

If you do choose to pack your own belongings to move house consider the following tips: 

·         Decide if you’re doing ALL the packing or just some. For example you might ask your removal company to pack just your fragile items, this allows you to save money by packing the items that aren’t likely to break at the same time as ensuring your fragile items are protected.

 

·         Use the right materials! Please don’t use fruit boxes etc. from supermarkets! Make sure any boxes you use are sturdy (specially designed moving cartons are often tri-wall to give added strength). Try to get decent packing tape and make sure your boxes are taped well and are not going to collapse. DO NOT cross-fold the flaps on the box instead of taping, there is not enough strength in this method for holding weight over distance.  Try to avoid newspaper as the print can rub off on your belongings.

 

·         Use proper cushioning in your boxes, put a layer of scrunched up paper in the bottom to absorb any impact of putting down. Pack your boxes tight (without making them too heavy to lift) and fill any gaps between loads with scrunched up paper to reduce movement in transit.

 

·         Don’t make your boxes too heavy to lift or that they do not easily close.

 

·         If you are packing plates/dishes pack them on their sides, they will be sturdier.

 

·         Pack an essentials and/or odds box with all the things you’ll need first at your new home (for example drinking glasses, scissors, toilet tissue) or fiddly things that could be lost easily (for example keys, TV remote controls).

·         Carry Passports or valuable Jewellery with you rather than packing in a box. 

 

·         Make sure you’re aware of what items cannot be packed like household cleaners, petrol/oil, paints and potentially harmful products – ask your move manager to advise.

 

·         Leave plenty of time to pack, it may take longer than you think!

 

·         Consider insurance implications of packing your own items – ask your removal company what the insurance cover provides for owner packed boxes.

 

·         Visit our hints and tips pages in our information centre for more ideas!

Good luck with packing for your move, and don’t spend too long looking at the old photos,  save them for when you get to your new home and have more time to unpack leisurely.