Tips and Tricks for Moving
House or office Moving in London may sound like an exciting task, especially if you have never experienced it before, but trust us when we say it is incredibly tedious. The most challenging step is to understand where to begin. You have to look at numerous activities such as contacting utility companies, cleaning your home before leaving, hiring the right removals firm, and packing all your things. So, let's begin with the first step: Knowing where to begin.
Make a Plan
Any major task without a plan is bound to be chaotic if not a failure. Without a plan, you will probably miss many things, take more time than necessary, and spend more than you should. The best way to avoid these follies is to get a pen and paper and make lists. You should have a list of everything. Packing supplies, essentials, inventory, useless things, and things you can donate should have a separate list. Make a flow diagram that shows all the steps required to move all your belongings to your new place.
Get All the Boxes You Can
You may have collected a lot of boxes in your house over time. Trust us; you will need a lot more. Moreover, you will need them in various sizes because all your belongings have different space requirements. You should also ensure the boxes are strong enough to protect your things and tolerate handling. Get quality cardboard boxes as well as plastic boxes. The former can be used to pack various things, while the latter can be used for packing fragile or valuable items. If time is not one of your concerns, you can save your packing cost by searching for free boxes. You can visit grocery stores and get free boxes from them. The type of boxes you need include:
- Wardrobe Boxes (can store your entire suit without ruining it)
- Mirror Boxes (also known as telescopic boxes, can be used for storing artwork and mirrors)
- Heavy Boxes
- Medium Size Boxes
- Small Size Boxes
- Large Size Boxes
Packing Supplies
You won't only need boxes of various sizes but also several types of packing supplies. How do you plan to pack your boxes? or protect your fragile items? These supplies usually include:
- Bubble Wrap (for protecting your fragile/valuable things)
- Packing Tape (for securing your boxes)
- Styrofoam (for extra protection)
- Old Newspapers (for wrapping glasses and crockery)
- Stretch Wrap for Furniture (to save your furniture from scratches)
- Marker (for labelling boxes so that you know what type of things they have and for easy unpacking)
- Plastic Bags (for packing a multitude of things)
- Labels (for writing the types of goods)
These days you can even find house moving kits, and you can even get them online. These kits are available according to the type of property you have. You can also hire a packing & moving company to save yourself from all the hassle. House removals company have their own packing supplies, packing staff, and movers. Moreover, professional packers will save you time and pack much better than you. Furthermore, anything packed by them will be backed by insurance against loss and damage.
Begin Packing in Advance
The time required for packing all of your belongings depends primarily on their quantity and your skill level. That being said, there is no definitive rule or method of estimating how much time you would need to complete this job. Make sure you start at least 60 days before your moving date if you have a large house, and small houses may require 30 to 45 days.
The Top-down Approach
If you have a multiple-storey home or a loft, it is highly recommended that you first pack the rooms which are the highest and the furthest. From there, move downwards, packing every room in your path, and this will save time and the hassle of cleaning your rooms again and again.
Time for Some Charity Work
Every home has seasonal items which are not regularly used and which might need replacement after a while. These include Christmas lights, garden tools, and even clothes which do not fit you anymore. Make a list of these things and donate them if you don't need them anymore. Instead of wasting your time packing items, you don't need; you will be responsible for performing an act of charity. If you prefer to sell these things instead of donating them, you can sell them days before moving. Garage sales and online sites such as eBay are best for these purposes.
Make Inventory Lists
Inventory lists can be extremely helpful. Make inventory lists based on the type of item. For instance, if you have a collection of trinkets, CDs, books, etc. Make two copies of the list, paste one on the inventory box, and keep the other one for yourself. You can also type the list or take a picture of the list, that way, you can compare all lists with your smartphone during unloading/unpacking.
Pack Rooms One by One
The best way to make your packing chaotic is to start packing any room and many rooms. Like the top-down approach, we highly recommend dealing with one room at a time. You can even write the name of the room on the box or the name of the person that room belonged to. Packing one room at a time will save you from anxiety and hassle. Furthermore, it will also help you unload/unpack quickly.
Don't Make Your Boxes Too Heavy
Remember, you not only have to pack your items, but you have to move them also. Making your boxes too heavy might make moving difficult for you. Furthermore, the boxes might tear up because of the weight, and you may lose your things. Depending on the size of your items, pack heavy things in small boxes and light ones in large boxes. If you have things which are too heavy for you, invite your friends to help you out.
Use Plastic Bags or Containers for Spillable Items
Spillable items such as detergents, toiletries, liquid cleaners, etc., should be packed carefully in plastic containers or bags. You can also pack them in plastic bags and then store them in cardboard boxes. Zip bags can also come in handy when moving such liquids.
Rolling Your Clothes
Ask a traveller or a camper about the best ways to store clothes, and they will tell you to roll them. Packing your rolled clothes or using them to create cushioning in boxes for protecting your things are both handy tips. Rolling your clothes will reduce the space they require and also minimize wrinkles.
Using Roll Tubes for Packing Cables and Wires
You can use roll tubes for packing your wires and cables, which will protect them from getting tangled and damaged. Use sticky notes to label the tubes, so you know which cables are stored in each tube.
Keep Your Expensive Things Together
Storing the same type of items in the same boxes and keeping those boxes together will save you a lot of hassle. You will not have to worry about leaving a thing or two behind and know precisely where to unpack them. Remember to label these boxes with a detailed inventory list.
Don't Forget Your Documents
All necessary documents, such as account statements, passports, birth certificates, degrees, etc., should be packed together. Ideally, you should already have compiled most of these documents in a folder. Many special folders are available with plastic covers to store all your documents separately. If you don't have one, get them, and keep your documents properly. Take the file along with you in your car when you move.
Filling Empty Gaps
Gaps in boxes will allow your things to move around during transit and handling, and this might result in causing scratches on your items. However, this can be easily avoided by using packing material such as packing paper, newspapers, styrofoam, and even your clothes. The smaller the room you give to things for moving, the more secure your items will be.
Proper Labelling
Labelling can be done in several ways. You can prepare an inventory list of each box and paste it on the box. You can label whose room it belongs to, and you can use different colour markers for different rooms. Make sure to paste the labels/inventory lists on the box's side so you can clearly see which box contains what, even when stacked.
Pack Your Essentials in Separate Boxes
Essentials, in the case of moving, imply what you would require right after moving. For instance, if you are moving to a much colder region, you will need warm clothes. You should pack some snacks if you aren't cooking anything right away. These things should be stored in separate boxes, which should be clearly identifiable so that you don't have to look through hundreds of boxes to find your essentials.