Are you moving house and need to declutter? Looking to make more space? We’re here to help provide you with some of our top packing tips to make sure your move goes as smoothly as possible.
From amending your home insurance to making the journey up to the loft, there are a lot of factors to consider. Follow the 10 steps below, and you won’t regret it!
1. Check Your Home Insurance
First things first, you should make sure your home contents insurance covers any damage or breakages during the move. Remember to notify your current home insurance provider of your change in property to ensure you’re protected.
This process can sometimes take time to complete, especially with all the documentation required, and if you have a lot of items to insure.
Time should also be spent shopping around for the best deal for your contents insurance, helping save those extra pennies for making your new house a home!
It’s always better to be safe than sorry when protecting your belongings. You can read our full guide on updating your home insurance by clicking here.
2. Start Packing Early
Don’t wait until the last minute! Moving day can sneak up on you, and packing always takes longer than you expect — especially when you find yourself distracted by your phone and realise that large furniture needs dismantling.
Take the time to plan weeks, or even months, before the actual move date. We recommend tackling items that aren’t considered daily necessities first; and gradually, over time, begin packing more and more until you’re left with only the things required—a place to sleep and your TV!
3. Tackle the Loft First
If you have a loft or attic, start there. This is where items which aren’t used much or are only required seasonally (Christmas trees are a big one!).
Work from the top of the house and move downwards. Getting the hardest-to-reach areas sorted early on will make the rest of the packing much easier.
4. Plan Your Packing Strategy
Think about how you’ll pack your belongings. Books are easy to box up but heavy to lift. Fragile items like valuables will need careful wrapping, and some furniture may need to be dismantled.
Have a clear strategy to make things easier on the big day.
5. Gather Packing Materials in Advance
Make sure you have all the packing supplies you need. For delicate or valuable items, stock up on newspaper, polystyrene chips, and bubble wrap. Calculate how many boxes you’ll need, and get a variety of sizes to best suit your situation.
These materials are very important when packing and transporting your more fragile items, such as plates and mugs. We’ve got a full, in-depth guide on how to pack crockery for moving day – click here!
We also recommend blankets and pillows, which can help protect furniture, mirrors, and televisions from scratches.
6. Declutter as You Pack
Be ruthless when packing – now is the perfect time to get rid of items you no longer use. The less you have to move, the better!
Consider hiring a skip or booking a local waste collection service to help you clear out unwanted items. You could also donate to charity, set up a car boot sale stall, or sell items online.
Not only will you have less to pack, but you could also earn a little extra cash to put towards your new home!
7. Pack Hazardous Materials Separately
For safety reasons, pack hazardous materials – like paint, cleaning products, and sprays – into separate, clearly marked boxes. Any flammable or toxic items should also be packed with care and appropriate warnings.
To ensure there’s no uncertainty, we recommend clearly labelling all your boxes, so you know what’s inside and where they belong in your new home.
8. Utilise Self-Storage
If you have a lot of items to move but little space for all the boxes and general mess that can be accrued during the process, we recommend using your local self-storage company.
One of our biggest groups of customers are people who just want some room to breathe during their home move. Moving over a longer period gives them time to move boxes from their home to the unit as they please.
If you want to avoid the hassle of manoeuvring over and around your packed-up items, contact our dedicated team today!
9. Pack an Essentials Box
Unpacking everything as soon as you arrive in your new home isn’t realistic, so pack a box of essentials for your first night. We recommend packing the likes of tea, coffee, snacks, cups, plates, utensils, and a kettle.
Cleaning supplies, overnight bags, toiletries, and toilet paper will also be essential. Keeping a torch, first-aid kit, and small tool kit handy is also a good idea.
10. Keep Important Documents Safe
Gather important documents like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other personal records and pack them together in a safe place to prevent them from getting lost in the move.
If you have a large number of sensitive papers to move, you should consider GTW Storage. We provide a dedicated service for document storage, which can take the work away from you during a hectic home move!