10 packing hacks that will help with your house move.

Every time you move house you swear to yourself that you will never do it again. There seems to be some strange ability of belongings to multiply exponentially which leaves you wondering where it all came from?! Cramming your entire life into boxes, suitcases and bin bags is no easy job. Here we have 10 tips to help you streamline the process.

1. Start early

It may sound like common sense but starting your packing well in advance will be a great way to make your move that little bit smoother. You will inevitably find that you have more belongings than you anticipated so give yourself some time to contend with these.

2. The Grand Plan

It is a quick win to change to energy-efficient light bulbs which are more energy-efficient, (generally 25–80% more than traditional incandescent bulbs) last longer (3–25 times more) and ultimately save you more money in the long run! Also, keep in mind that some of the energy-efficient light bulbs can now be recycled at your local recycling centres, take a look here.

3. Declutter

Ah, the dreams of being a minimalist. Living with the ideals of only keeping what “sparks joy” can be rather challenging but being able to streamline your belongings before packing them will save you time and more importantly space. Try to be ruthless and consider that if you haven’t worn an item of clothing in the last year it might be time to let go. Furniture or clothes that are still in a good usable/wearable condition could be taken to a local charity shop or there are several companies now offering collection of such items from your own home! An alternative would be to earn yourself some extra cash by selling these items which can be done through various selling platforms online. For items that aren’t suitable to donate or sell you should look into appropriate recycling of these items (generally organised through your local council).

4. Set aside valuables

Make sure your valuables items are set aside so you can keep an eye on them and move them to a place of safety come the day of the move. Be aware when carrying boxes in or out of a property to make sure your valuables are being watched or locked away in a safe place, you never know who else may be watching and looking for an opportunity.

5. Label your boxes

Try not to mix rooms within boxes and label your boxes clearly. This will make it easier to know the destination of each box in the new property when you get there. If you have valuable items in a box, be aware not to label this too obviously.

6. Maximise space

Vacuum packs can be a great way to transport bulky items such as duvets or pillows. Simple tricks such as rolling up clothes, storing cables inside loo rolls and filling gaps with soft items can all help to save space and ensure that you are making the most of each box.

7. Be environmentally conscious

Try to reduce your impact on the environment when moving with a few simple changes. Consider visiting your local supermarket for boxes to use fr when moving — these are generally free to take. Wrap fragile items in newspaper instead of bubble wrap or using Styrofoam which is non-recyclable. If you are buying moving boxes, try to get some which come from a recycled or sustainable source and always ensure that you recycle your cardboard boxes when you have finished with them!

8. Have an “Essentials” box for the day

Having a box which has the bare essentials can be handy when you are surrounded by boxes and don’t know where to begin. Pack things that you will likely need such as snacks, phone charger, a tool kit, cleaning items, bedding, change of clothes, loo roll, eating utensils and most importantly … a bottle opener.

9. Don’t exceed your limit

Try to keep boxes below 15kg to protect your back when it comes to lifting boxes. Pack heavier items into smaller boxes and lighter ones into larger boxes to help you manage this. Wheeled trolleys can also be a good help when it comes to transporting boxes from A to B. Make sure you load heavier boxes at the bottom. And finally remember, bend the knees, not the back!

10. Call in the reinforcements

It is worth thinking about the logistics of moving larger items and how you will achieve this. One word: PIVOT. If you have a band of mates that can help, brill, however, some people prefer to leave it to the experts and call in the removal teams. Yes, this is another added cost to moving but will take a lot of stress out of the process as they do this day in day out. It could be the case that they give you a hand just for the larger items such as furniture. Make sure you get some quotes from several companies before committing to one and look and check out previous customer reviews.

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