Preparing to move house or work? Need some advice on how to get ready? Moving house has been voted one of the most stressful days to move, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are 10 top tips that will help you prepare you for your move.

Don’t buy extra boxes, use what you already have

• Save money on boxes by using things you may already have around your home. Empty wicker baskets, laundry hampers and suitcases are just a few of the things that can make a good substitute for packing boxes. (Just make sure the contents aren’t things that can be easily broken).

Use tape and a marker pen

• Before dismantling anything complicated, use tape and a marker pen to mark up the different parts. Using a wardrobe as an example you can identify the different parts by sticking on a bit of tape and then writing something like ‘Top right’ or ‘Middle left’. This way once it’s in bits, you’ll be able to identify each part.

Sandwich bags are more helpful than you may think

• Sandwich bags make a good carrier for all the loose nuts, screws and bolts that you’ll have once items of furniture have been dismantled. This bag can then be taped to part of that furniture so that it doesn’t get lost or mixed up with other loose bits.

Substitute packing materials

• Another way to reduce cost/waste is by substituting packing materials for things found around the home. In some instances blankets make a good substitute for paper/bubble wrap when you’re packing some fragile items. Cushions can also be used to create buffers inside boxes for that extra bit of protection. Some people use newspaper for wrapping their fragiles. But this can leave ink on things you might hold dear. So if you do need to use paper. Its best to stick to proper acid free packing paper.

Put pictures face down

• When packing pictures together, always put the pictures face to face and back to back as they are being packed beside each other. This reduces the chances of any damage to your precious pictures as the backs of them often have sharp attachments.

Place items vertically and together

• When packing kitchen plates or small pictures into boxes, place them vertically and tightly together. This is the most effective way and helps prevent any breakages that can occur from badly packed items. You can also save some of your packing materials such as bubble or paper. Simply alternate between wrapping a plate or picture and then leaving the next one unwrapped. By alternating your goods will still be well protected. But you save time and money in the process!

Write using permanent marker

• When labelling the boxes, write in a permanent marker directly onto the tape. Rather than onto the box itself. This enables the boxes to be re-used a lot easier. As the old labels will come off with the tape. Causing less confusion if you use these boxes for your next move! Saving you money and saving cardboard which in turn is better for the environment. 

Take a picture of your wires

• One of the first things you might want to do after a stressful move, is sit back and stick on your favourite programme. However with people often having multiple devices set up to one TV, you may feel like you need to be a IT Tech to get everything how it was. So before pulling all your wires out of the back of any electronics, take a picture of them. Pulling them out is the easy part, knowing where they’re all supposed be plugged back into can be a nightmare once you’re in your new home. The picture you took can be used as an easy guide. So you will be enjoying your cuppa in front of your favourite soap in no time at all!

Be aware of box sizes/weights

• Be aware of the size of the box you are using for certain items. For example when you are packing books into a box, make sure the box you use is no bigger than a microwave. Otherwise it may become too heavy to pick up and move. Similarly when putting items into a large box, try not to pack in too many heavy things so that it isn’t too difficult to move.

Heaviest always at the bottom

• When filling a box, always start with the heaviest items at the bottom and then the most fragile near the top. This lessens the chance of anything getting broken in transit. 

Hopefully these points have helped you prepare for your move. If you need a hand with your removals in Coventry, or if you want to ask us any questions. Please contact us using the contact us page. Alternatively you can give us a call on 02476 332 889 or email us at info@keeblesremovals.co.uk. Here at Keebles Removals Coventry we have many years of expertise in the removals and storage industry, and we will be more than happy to help!