We get it. Packing up your entire life to move house can feel like a monumental task. But fear not! If you’re about to relocate, this guide on how to pack for moving house is here to help you navigate the packing process with ease.
From the first stages of preparation to the final touches, we’ve got the tips and tricks to keep your sanity. So, what’s the best way to pack when moving house? Let’s find out.
Get prepped to pack
Packing – where do you begin? And just as importantly, how do you stay on track? Tackling the packing process can feel overwhelming, but with a well-structured plan, you can make it manageable and even straightforward.
Where to start?
Create a timeline: Start by setting a realistic moving timeline. Break down the tasks by week, giving yourself plenty of time to pack gradually. Consider events and busy dates already marked in your calendar, and work your packing schedule around those to avoid taking on too much.
Prioritise rooms: Decide on the order in which you’ll pack up your house. A good rule of thumb is to begin with the least-used rooms, such as guest bedrooms or storage areas, and leave the high-traffic areas like the kitchen, bathrooms and bedrooms until last. If you want to get a headstart on some of the latter spaces, begin by packing up out-of-season clothes, toiletries and accessories you don’t use often.
Set daily goals: Dividing the packing tasks into daily goals is often the best way to pack and avoid burnout. Aim to pack up one room or a specific type of item (like books or clothes) each day.
Prepare an essentials box: This box should contain everything you’ll need for the last few days in your old home and the first few in your new one. Include toiletries, some clothes, medication, documents, enough bedding to get you through the first night, bath towels and basic kitchen items.
Enlist help: Ask friends, family or professional packers for assistance.
Decluttering before you pack
Decluttering helps lighten your load and get more organised. Here’s how to approach it:
Start sorting: Go room by room, sorting items into keep, donate, sell and discard piles. Be honest about what you really need and use. Finding it tough to part with some items? Ask yourself when was the last time you used or wore the particular item. Does a particular item have a purpose for you? Consider how much joy it brings.
Reduce duplicates: If you have two of the same kitchen gadgets, clothing items or electronics, donate one.
Think about your new home: Consider the layout and storage space in your new place. Will that oversized sofa fit? Is there room for all your books? This will help you make decisions about what to keep.
Sell or donate: Consider holding a garage sale or listing items online. For items in good condition, donating to charity is a great option.
Dispose of junk: Do you have stuff that’s broken, outdated or simply no longer useful? It’s time to let it go. That’s what your local tip is for.
Get the gear for your house move
Choosing the right boxes and moving materials is key to a smooth move. Here’s our advice:
- Get yourself a variety of box sizes – small for heavy items like books and large for light, bulky items. Use sturdy boxes for fragile possessions, and consider specialty boxes for items like mirrors. You can repurpose boxes you already have or opt for reusable options, such as recycled boxes or rented plastic bins.
- Invest in quality packing tape. You’ll need it to secure your boxes, and a dispenser will make the job much faster.
- Use permanent markers to clearly label each box with its contents and the room it belongs to. Colour-coded stickers also work well to make unpacking much easier. Got kids? Get them involved with this part!
- For wrapping fragile items like dishes, glassware and electronics, stock up on bubble wrap and paper. Bubble wrap offers better protection, but newspaper can also be effective and is more environmentally friendly.
- Use ziplock bags to store screws, bolts and other small parts that belong to disassembled furniture or electronics. Label the bags and tape them to the item to avoid losing these all-important bits.
- Protect your furniture from scratches and dust by covering it with moving blankets, plastic covers or old blankets.
- Stretch wrap can be used to bundle items together, protect drawers from opening, and keep dust off upholstered furniture.
- Scissors and box cutters are handy for cutting tape and opening boxes.
Furniture sliders will help make moving heavy items much easier.
When to start packing for a house move
You’ve signed on the dotted line and have committed to relocate. You now need to focus on the task at hand. The timing of your packing is key to staying organised. Start about six weeks out, focusing on non-essential items first. As the weeks progress, gradually pack more, leaving daily essentials until last.
Packing in stages is often the best way to avoid the chaos of doing everything last minute. Begin with items you won’t need until after the move, like seasonal bedding, and work your way up to the items you use daily.
Organising your packing process
When it comes to packing a house, you’ve gotta have a strategy. Start by jotting down notes of your personal preferences and schedule plan so that when the time comes, you know what to do. To help you on your way, here are our tips for staying on top of the packing process.
Go room by room
Packing one room at a time helps keep things organised and manageable (and keep your sanity intact!). Start with the least-used rooms and finish with the kitchen and bedrooms.
Let’s label
Labelling is your best friend when it comes to moving. Clearly mark each box with its contents and the room it’s destined for. Consider keeping an inventory to make unpacking a breeze.
Tips on how to pack a messy house to move
Let’s be real – between work, play, kids and everything else, life can get pretty hectic. When you’re busy and tired, some days, the last thing you feel like doing is cleaning and decluttering, which can lead to a little (or a lot) of disorganisation.
If your home is particularly messy or chaotic, start by sorting and grouping items into categories. Following this process will make it easier for you to pack similar items together, reducing the chances of losing things during the move.
But wait! There’s more
We can’t let you go without having a word about safety – something which, unfortunately, can be overlooked during moving. We recommend that you don’t overload boxes and always lift with your legs, not your back. Secure fragile items well to avoid breakages.
Need more help? You’ve come to the right place. There’s no need to rush the packing process. With TAXIBOX, you can pack at your own pace. Have a TAXIBOX delivered to your door, load it up as you go, and store it securely until moving day. This flexibility can make a world of difference.
For more on how to pack and move house, check out these moving house tips. You can also download our printable moving house checklist so you can tick and flick as you go. Too easy!
Time to get packing
Packing up your house doesn’t have to be stressful if you start early, stay organised and use the right tools. Remember that TAXIBOX is here to help make your move even easier. Got to move? Need to pack? Get TAXIBOX!
