Take the stress away from moving house
A lot of us find the prospect of a mammoth packing task pretty daunting. Or maybe you’re the kind of person who feels excited? Whichever end of the scale you fall on, we’re here to lend a helping hand. From packing up your belongings to storing them properly – here’s our top tips for stress-free packing.
Get organised
If you’ve left packing to the last minute or are rearing to go: there’s nothing worse than finally getting started only to realise you’re missing some packing essentials. These essentials may seem so basic that you’re wondering why we’re mentioning them – but they’re just that, essential! Without these you run the risk of descending into packing chaos which will be stressful enough now, never mind later when something’s been lost or damaged. So, to keep things smooth sailing be sure to have these essential packing items on hand
- Boxes
- Tape
- Scissors
- Labels
- Padding
- Marker pens
Whatever your packing task throws at you, with these in your arsenal you’ll be able to tackle it and keep things on track.
Invest in quality materials
Listen, we get it. Packing is stressful and hard work – not to mention expensive! We want to help you, so here’s a piece of advice: don’t scrimp on the packing materials.
Costs cut here will cost you double later!
If you want to save yourself time, then get in touch with the packing team here at Giant Storage to buy professional standard packing materials.
Boxes
Not all boxes are created equal, and when it comes to packing, that couldn’t be more true. We recommend buying double walled boxes in sizes that best suit your needs. Remember that extra large boxes may house more items – but they are heavy and difficult to move, so avoid these if possible. Of course, second-hand boxes can work just as well but make sure they are good quality, sturdy, and are relatively free of markings and labels on the outside (read on to find out why this is so important!).
Padding
Newspaper certainly has its place in the packing process – but for larger or more delicate items, it’s worth picking up some purpose-made padding materials. Bubble wrap, pliable cardboard, and packing paper are all great options for securely packing your breakables.
Tape
Don’t be tempted to go for the cheapest tape option. Budget packing tape exists – but it’s budget for a reason and best avoided if you don’t want to find out where they’ve cut costs. Packing tape helps hold boxes together, keeps them sealed, and adds an extra layer of protection to your belongings. Bad quality packing tape runs the risk of coming unstuck and your prized possessions ending up on the floor.
Pack by category
Now you’ve got your packing materials sorted it’s time to start filling boxes, right? No! The secret to successful packing is organisation, and that organisation begins long before you even fill that first box.
Start by sorting your possessions into categories. If the amount of packing to do is small – then feel free to use item-type categories (clothes, personal items, breakables, and so on). If you are packing up your whole house, then the best strategy is to use a room category system. Depending on your house set up this might look like:
- Office
- Bedroom
- Kitchen
- Bathroom
- Livingroom
- Attic
- Garage
Keep these items together, label the boxes clearly, and use a notebook to keep track of what items are in which numbered box.
Of course, no one method is perfect for everyone, and you may find that a blend of item and room categories works best for you. Maybe you want to keep all paintings, photos, and wall hangings together? Go for it! Just make sure that once you’ve come up with your categories you stick to them and always keep your notebook up to date so nothing gets lost.
Pack Properly
By now you have your packing materials ready to go and you’ve decided on categories for all your belongings. Time to start loading those boxes! Packing boxes correctly can be something of an art form. There’s a right way, and there’s a wrong way.
As with many things in life, it’s good to get the heavy things out of the way first – so start with heavier and less fragile items at the bottom of your boxes to act as a base for everything else to sit on top of. As well as adding some structural support, this technique will help you to transport the boxes from one place to another without them tipping out of your arms.
If things are rattling around, add some padding. Even if the loose items aren’t particularly delicate their movement will further destabilise the box and make carrying it more difficult.
A final tip for packing your items properly is the one most often overlooked: can you lift the boxes? If the answer is no, then you’re going to run into problems further down the line. Divide heavy items over several boxes and top them up with your lighter belongings to use space efficiently while saving your back!
Loading your storage container properly
If your carefully packed boxes are heading to a self-storage container, then making sure your container is well-organised is the final piece to the packing puzzle.
Here are some top tips for managing self-storage space:
- Decide which things you want access to, and which can be safely packed away until you move into your new home.
- Load the things you want access to at the end, close to the door, where you can easily get to them.
- Line the walls of your storage unit with all large boxes and bulky pieces of furniture.
Load up the rest of your boxes, making sure to maximise your space by filling any gaps between the larger pieces you’ve already added. - As you load your unit, make sure the numbers you’ve put on your boxes are visible so you know exactly where everything is.
- Leave enough space to manoeuvre through the unit. You’ll thank yourself later if you unexpectedly need something you’ve packed away at the back!
Packing can be a daunting task – but nothing a little organisation can’t help with. If you’re not sure where to start – don’t worry! Salisbury Removals are here to help with a professional packing service and supply of quality packing materials available for collection or delivery. Contact us today to see how we can help!