Bournes offer a range of packing options to suit your individual requirements - from a full packing service to part packing assistance. You can even do your own packing and we'll just handle the heavy lifting!
Before loading your personal belongings into our removal vehicle, all the small, non-furniture items must be packed into boxes. This not only applies to loose items on open work surfaces (lamps, ornaments, books etc) but also items inside cupboards, drawers and wardrobes (files, papers, trinkets etc). The basic rule is - if it can fit in a box, it should be in a box.
Even the smallest home can easily require 50 or so packing boxes and larger homes can easily use over 300! Packing is a time consuming activity and its easy to under-estimate the quantity of boxes and time required.
Most of our customers select our full packing service, however we are also able to supply a range of quality packing materials for customers wishing to do all or some of their own packing.
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Ideally you should use professional packing cartons, at least double wall construction. Boxes should be an appropriate size for the weight of your items. e.g.
Small boxes - great for books, canned food or other heavy items
Medium boxes - for lightweight items like clothes or toys
Large boxes - for oversize, light items like bedding or lamps
Old fruit and vegetable boxes from supermarkets should not be used - they tend not to have lids and can often be made of thin, single wall card which can tear, split or be crushed when moving your items causing risk of damage.
It's OK to use plastic crates providing they have lids and can be easily stacked.
When packing boxes, place heavier, non-fragile items at the bottom and lighter, fragile items on top. Fill boxes as fully as possible without making them too heavy to lift, and use scrunched-up paper to fill gaps and prevent movement.
Stack plates upright on their sides over a cushion of paper, and wrap them well with paper, bubble wrap, or tissue for protection.
Be sure to seal boxes securely at the top and bottom with strong tape. Avoid crisscrossing the flaps—this won’t hold on heavy boxes when lifted!
Check out our packing to move house videos for lots of tips on how to pack specific items.
For UK to UK moves folded clothes, bedding and linen can stay inside drawers so you don't need to pack them separately (providing drawers can be removed for carrying if the piece is heavy).
All other items (trinkets, paperwork, toiletries and other small items) need to be removed from furniture and put into boxes.
Hanging clothes can stay in your wardrobe. We include wardrobe cartons as standard on all moves and our crews will transfer items into these portable cartons before loading to reduce creasing.
Labeling boxes is one of the most commonly overlooked tasks when moving—but it’s crucial!
Use a marker to clearly label each box with its destination room and a brief description of its contents. Mark any fragile boxes so the crew knows to handle them with extra care, and label boxes with priority items as 'unpack first.'
For more tips on getting labeling right, check out our blog post on labelling boxes when moving house .
Packing often takes longer than expected, so it’s a good idea to start early—especially with everything else on your plate as moving day approaches. Begin with items you rarely use and stack boxes somewhere out of the way.
If you find yourself running short on time, just let us know. We’d be happy to arrange extra packing help in advance. Please note that we’ll need a little notice to ensure we can still complete your move on schedule.
For most moves, we wrap your furniture in woolen blankets to protect it during transport. If you're moving internationally by sea or air, we use specially designed bubblecraft instead, which offers extra protection. We can also use bubblecraft for items with delicate surfaces or any pieces you’re especially concerned about which we will discuss during your pre-move survey.
For particularly fragile or valuable items, we might recommend crating. At Bournes, we have custom crate makers who build wooden crates and internal supports to fit your items perfectly, minimising movement and ensuring maximum protection during transit