7 Must-Do Steps for a Stress-Free Move

Is moving day getting close? Here is how to get ready. These seven steps will help you manage a stress-free move and have everything in the right place at the right time.

1. Choose the right box sizes

Use small boxes for heavy items such as speakers, books, cutlery and tools, so the boxes do not break and are easy to carry. Use bigger boxes for light, bulky things such as pillows, bed sheets, cushions and sports equipment.

2. Use separate boxes for separate rooms

A common mistake is packing things from two or more rooms in one box. When the movers unload at your new home, nobody knows which room the box belongs in, and you end up carrying things up and down the stairs yourself.

3. Pack carefully

Packing takes time, patience and common sense. Leave no empty space inside a box, or the contents will shift when it is moved. Put heavy items at the bottom and light items on top; never put plates on top of glasses. When the box is full, tape it shut properly so no flaps are loose.

A removals van and labelled boxes

4. Label the boxes

Give each box a number and write on it the room it goes to and what is inside. Your movers will know exactly where to put it. Keep a notebook with a list of every box, so you can find a particular item quickly and check that no box is missing.

5. Prepare food in advance

On your first day in a new home you will be busy unpacking, not cooking. Prepare lunch or dinner beforehand and keep disposable plates and cups to hand, so you need not unpack the dishes straight away.

6. Wrap fragile items

Have plenty of packing paper for plates, glasses, cups and bowls. Stack four or five plates, wrap the stack in paper and pack it in the box on its edge, not flat. Do the same with glasses, cups and bowls.

7. Protect expensive items

Your television, fridge, stereo and microwave are among the most valuable things in your home. Wrap them in packing paper and cushions and leave padding around them, so any knock dents the box and not the appliance. Double-box your television and put it on top of the other boxes, so nothing presses on the screen.

Conclusion – These steps are useful when moving home or sending a large number of items by courier. They will help your move go to plan.