Moving day is right around the corner, and it’s time to get organised. Moving is always a very exciting moment in someone's life, whether it’s moving away from their parents for the first time, moving in with a partner or simply a change of scenery. However, one thing that can mar the experience of moving is getting ready for the move. It can be stressful or difficult to try and organise your belongings to get them ready for the big day. But it doesn’t have to be as long as you know the best way to go about it.
Michael Garrett Removals are a removals company specialising in house removals, storage solutions and business moves. We have put together this helpful guide to help you organise your move ready for when moving day comes about to make the experience as streamlined and stress-free as possible.
So read on for our top tips for moving day prep.
Sorting
The first thing to do when starting to get organised for your move is to begin to sort your possessions. A move is a perfect time for a house clearance, so you should decide early on in your move what you would like to keep, what you would like to sell or donate and what you are going to dispose of. One of the most popular methods of doing this is to label belongings accordingly.
Simply buy a packet of stickers in three distinct colours and assign a category to them. These colours will represent keep, sell/donate and waste. Then go around your house, labelling your possessions with the stickers. Think carefully about each item, what function it has and if you really need it in your new home. Try to be as critical as possible, only keeping those items you have need of or mean a lot to you. It might be easier to bring in an impartial 3rd party such as a friend or family member, who will tell you honestly whether an item should be kept or not.
Packing Materials
Nobody wants their possessions damaged during transit, so they must be packed well to prevent any damage from occurring. Before you pack, you need to make sure you’re working with the best packing materials possible. The best and most common packing material is a storage carton box. These are robust cardboard boxes that are easily sealed, keeping your possessions safe from harm during transit, while allowing them to be easily carried for quick and safe loading and unloading. Other materials you will need are bubble wrap and packing paper. This can be used to insulate goods inside boxes, making sure they don’t move about inside the box, crashing into each other and potentially breaking. You’ll also need packing tape of good strength, able to keep the box sealed for long periods. Make sure you either have labels, or a sharpie to write on boxes. Having boxes clearly labelled with what is inside will help on the other end, and can also be used to indicate fragile items inside.
At Michael Garrett Removals we offer the free loan of boxes and packing materials with every move, along with the option to buy materials off of us for later use. Our storage cartons are of amazing quality and specifically designed for moving, so you can rest easy knowing your possessions are packed in the best possible vessels.
How To Pack Items
Now that you have all the packing materials you need, it’s time to pack your items up. If you’re not sure where to start, a top tip is to start with packing things that you don’t use so often. This could be out of season clothes, baking equipment or equipment in the shed. You’ll want to keep working like this up until the day of the move, where you’ll pack your absolute essentials that you’ll be using until the last minute. This is stuff like toiletries, phone chargers etc. When packing items, the worst thing you can do is to just dump it all in a box, seal it up and throw it on a van. This is a great way for things to get broken or to be disorganised and require a lot of sorting in your new home. You want to start by grouping items together. You should pack belongings based on the room they are in, to make it easier on the other side to unpack. Within the room grouping, you should then divide items into groups of similar size and weight. This makes it much easier to pack.
Heavier items should always go in the bottom of a box, so they don’t crush any of the items below them. If items are breakable you should take the time to wrap them up using bubble wrap or packing paper. Try to fill up as much of the space as possible with fragile items, to prevent any movement. You can also do this with non-fragile items, as boxes that aren't full might collapse when they’re stacked. If you have heavy items in a box, make sure to balance them out with lighter items so they’re not too heavy. A box shouldn't be more than about 30 pounds or 13 kilograms. This is because the box could collapse under the weight, or could be dropped by you or a mover because of its heavy weight.
A great tip for packing fragile items is to use box dividers. This provides barriers between possessions that are great for items such as glasses or other small fragile items. Ensure you also use bubble wrap for an extra bit of protection. Once the box is full you should seal it with packing tape. While it may seem like enough to just seal across the top of the flaps, you should also wrap another piece of tape in the opposite direction of the flaps, forming a cross of packing tape. This helps prevent the box from collapsing when stacked. Once sealed, mark the box with its room and contents. You should also write whether it is fragile or not. Knowing the contents and fragility can help you or a mover remain safe while handling the box while also keeping the contents safe.
Packing Services
If you have a lot of packing to do or are worried you will not be able to securely pack your belongings, a great idea is to use a packing service. This is where professionals in packing will come into your home and pack your possessions for you. They know the best ways to pack your belongings up so they are secure.
Then on the other side, you can either unpack your own belongings or let the movers do it for you. You can be as hands-on or hands-off with the service as you want.
Self Storage
Sometimes you need to store your belongings before, during or after a move, especially for larger items such as furniture. You may have a gap between selling your property and moving into your new place, so need to store some of your belongings for the time being. A storage unit is a great way to safely keep your belongings, conveniently kept in storage until you need them again.
Michael Garrett Removals offer storage containers in two different heights, offering 200 or 250 cubic feet of storage. Our containers keep your possessions secure, giving protection from heat and moisture damage. We can also store oversize items that do not fit in a standard storage unit, along with discounts if you require multiple storage units.
House Moving Services From Michael Garrett Removals
If you’re looking for a house removal service from a top-rated company, get in touch today with
Michael Garrett Removals. We'll work with you to design a removals package that suits your specific requirements and budget, leaving you to focus on the fun side of moving instead of the stress.
We’ll ensure all your possessions reach your new home safely and efficiently, leaving you to move into your new home as soon as possible. So if you’re looking for professional and affordable removals services in Devon and across the UK, call us now on 01803 528 582.
We don’t just offer removals, but storage and office moves as well, so
visit our website now to find out more about us and the full range of services we offer.
