Top tips when moving house

A house move is an exciting time! Whether you’re packing up and relocating to somewhere bigger to accommodate a growing family or moving city (or even country) for a new and exciting job role, it’s something many of us have to organise at some point in our lives.

However, the actual packing and arranging the move isn’t perhaps the most fun part of it all. In fact, for many of us, it can feel pretty stressful.

That’s why we’ve come up with these tips when moving house to make that relocation as simple and stress-free as possible.

Pick up the packing supplies you need

Before you get started, it’s a good idea to pull together everything you need to pack up your belongings. Work from this list:

What you need	Why
Cardboard boxes	Pick these up in a variety of sizes – smaller boxes are great for delicate ornaments and the contents of drawers while larger ones can house electronics and larger decor. You can pick these up for free from friends and family, by saving boxes you receive in the post or speaking to your local supermarket.
Tape	Masking tape is easier to cut when you reach your destination but normal sticky tape is fine too.
Bubble wrap and newspaper	Save bubble wrap from items that come in the post and ask around for old newspapers people no longer want or need. These work great to pack fragile items and stop them from moving around the boxes.
Stretch wrap	You can buy this on rolls and it’s ideal for furniture. Wrap it tightly to protect the sofa or dining table set from scuffs and scrapes while moving.
Vacuum bags	These are ideal when packing away textiles such as curtains, bedding and towels. Simply pop them in the bag, add the vacuum nozzle and watch everything shrink down to half its size.
Permanent marker	Label your boxes by room to make things much easier when you arrive in your new home. Your removal company, or you and whatever family and friends you’ve persuaded to help you, can simply place each box in its assigned room to deal with later.

What to do BEFORE you start packing

Before you open a single box, go room by room and sort through your items. Moving house is the perfect opportunity to de-clutter, plus it means there’s less sorting to be done once you arrive. Here are some tips for when you get round to carrying out this job:

1. Clear out drawers and get rid of anything that’s past its sell-by date or no longer needed- this goes for everything from toiletries to make up to food.
2. Look for things to sell – If you know you’ll be introducing a new decorative theme in the lounge or bedroom that doesn’t work with your current accessories, consider selling these at a car boot or online.
3. Throw away anything that is broken – Even if you’ve always intended on getting it fixed, if you haven’t done it already it’s unlikely you ever will.
4. Have four bags or boxes – one is for rubbish, one is for things you want to donate or give away, one is to keep and the other is to move into another room.
5. Set aside dedicated time – Knowing you have time set aside to specifically declutter can help motivate you. Choose a free afternoon to spend clearing anything you no longer need, ready for that future move.
6. Don’t overfill your bins – It’s good moving etiquette to ensure your bins are empty when moving house, so try and ensure you don’t overfill them if you need to use them during the move. Leave them out on the side of the road to ensure they’re emptied if no one is going to be there.
7. Get your mail redirected – Sign up for the redirection service through Royal Mail, to give you time to change your address with all the important people once you’ve moved. This means all your letters and bills will be redirected to your new address so you don’t miss anything. Discover some more tips on things to do before moving in our blog here.

Top tip: Clothes with the tags still on or unworn shoes are great examples of items you can donate to make space in your new home. Cushions and curtains are also always well received.

Check that everyone is working towards the same moving date

If you need to move out of your current property but your new one isn’t ready then it’s a good idea to rent a storage unit to house your belongings. You may also need to speak to a friend or family member and ask if you can stay with them until things go through.

Being in rented accommodation, for example, can make things tricky when it comes to buying and moving house. Your notice period may not match up with the next person and that means you could be stuck in the middle while you wait for confirmation of your move-in day. Follow this tip and you should be able to leave your current property stress free and with no ties.

How to pack for a house move

You may think it’s just a case of throwing things into boxes but there’s so much more to think about. Here are some tips when moving house when it comes to packing everything up.

• Start early – Start packing up as early as possible and only put away the things you don’t need or use often. This could be the special occasion section of your wardrobe or your ornaments.
• Pack up one room at a time – Don’t try and pack everything all at once, work room by room, cupboard by cupboard until everything is packed. Assign friends and family other rooms to work through and you’ll get the job done even quicker.
• Use textiles to protect fragile belongings – If you’ve run out of bubble wrap, use towels or bedding to protect delicate items you’re packing away.
• When stacking boxes, ensure the heaviest are on the bottom – It may sound like common sense, but it’s still something people miss. Ensure the heaviest boxes sit at the bottom of the pile to avoid crushing anything underneath.
• Don’t overfill boxes – The heavier the box, the more likely it is you could injure yourself. Try to keep boxes at a manageable weight and spread out heavier items across boxes.
• Wrap fragile items up separately – Don’t try and wrap stacks of plates or cups together, wrapping each one individually reduces the chances of breakage during the move.

Tips for moving day

It’s the day you move! Here are some tips to help things go smoothly on the day.

Pack an essentials box

This should feature things you’ll need and want when you reach your new house. Here’s a little list of ideas of what to include:

• Kettle, tea bags and mugs – You’ll need a nice cuppa after all that heavy lifting.
• Scissors – One or two pairs to open up boxes.
• Toilet roll – This one doesn’t require an explanation.
• Utensils – Enough knives, forks and spoons to prepare food and eat with for a couple of days should feature in there.
• Toiletries – What you’d pack to take on holiday, toiletry wise, needs to go in the box.
• Pet essentials – Your pets food, lead and bowl is a must.
• First aid kit – If someone has an accident or gets a headache, you’ll want easy access to the first aid box.
• Kitchen roll and tea towels – Spills happen, have these to hand.
• Baby supplies – Perhaps a whole separate box is required for these but ensure they’re easy to access.

Ask someone you trust to look after younger children and pets

They may want to be with you on moving day but it’s likely they’ll slow down the process. Ask someone, like a family member or close friend, to take care of them for the day. It’s one less thing to worry about so you can focus solely on getting things moved.

Plan your route

No one wants to get lost with a car full of stuff. If you’re moving far away it’s a good idea to get the address and take a look at the routes available. Choose one that you feel comfortable driving and ensure your sat nav or phone app can find it.

Eat plenty

You’re going to be doing a lot of lifting and carrying – ensure you have the energy!

Follow these tips and reduce those stress levels when it comes to that big house move. If you need a storage unit to keep stuff safe during the process, take a look at our available options and get a quote today.