Packing for any reason can be super stressful, but when you’re moving house, packing can seem never-ending. You need to balance work, family and your personal life on the side, and it leaves less time to do the things you love…

But packing doesn’t have to be a difficult, taxing job. Discover our 5 essential packing tips for moving house while being organised, yet relaxed.

Our 5 Essential Packing Tips for Moving House

1. Create a Checklist

While you could just print out any checklist you find online, it won’t be personal to your situation. We still recommend you see what others have created so you can get an idea of what to consider, but try downloading a template or app to create your own checklist – whatever works for you!

Here’s some things from our official moving house and packing checklist:

• View properties and confirm move-in date
• Choose a moving company (hint, hint) and confirm move-out date
• Check metres and contact utility suppliers
• Buy packing equipment (boxes, heavy duty tape, labels, bubble wrap, etc)
• Pack a survival bag/box (clothes, snacks, water, tech, wallet, etc)
• Declutter (sell or donate items – try not to dispose of anything)
• Dismantle and buy furniture if necessary
• Hire a cleaning company
• Buy home insurance (or transfer it)
• Join the local dentist and GP practice
• Arrange baby/pet-sitting for moving day
• Change address
• Tell family, friends and your workplace
• Say goodbye to your old house and get that last photo in

2. You Don’t Have to Pack Alone

This one really depends on you, but packing doesn’t have to be a lonely task. You can still maintain control while having people help you, whether that’s your family, friends or a packing company.

Once you’ve assessed the risks and know what you’re packing, you can allocate tasks to specific people and give them all the equipment they need to get started. Though, we do recommend packing less used items first.

You can keep all the valuables on your own list if that keeps you at ease. Afterall, there’s nothing worse than replacing a broken item that you soon may need…and knowing you’ve already packed the cleaning supplies.

3. Safety Comes First

These next few tips for moving house and packing are important for anyone to consider. It’s an absolute must to assess your situation before packing and lifting heavy boxes. You could be liable for any damage or injury that happens in your home, so ensure that anyone helping has some form of health insurance or is entitled to free healthcare.

Now that the legal bit is out of the way, here are some health and safety tips for packing and lifting:

• Wear comfy clothes where nothing can get caught and your movement isn’t restricted. Wear trainers or hard shoes to break the fall of any escapees.
• Wrap your valuables and sharp items in bubble wrap or packing paper.
• Don’t overpack – adhere to the weight guidelines so your box and items don’t break.
• When moving boxes, bend your knees and lift to keep the balance and weight distribution consistent. Don’t twist your body or lift more than one box at a time.
• If a box is too heavy, use a dolly to roll the boxes to your moving point. This will help you keep the path clear too so you don’t have to keep moving things.
• Rest is important, so remember to stretch, sleep, eat, drink, and repeat. Doing things quickly will not help you in the long run.
• This is an obvious one, but keep pets and children away from packing dangerous or valuable items, and don’t let them lift heavy boxes or items. Similarly, if the task is too hard because of an injury or you’re alone, ask someone for help.

4. Remember to Have Fun

Implementing fun into packing may sound impossible when you haven’t started planning yet, and maybe you don’t even know where to start. Think about the things you find fun on a daily basis and see if they’ll work for packing your home.

Here’s our suggestions in case you’re stuck for ideas:

• Catch up with friends and family while packing
• For each box of decluttered items, buy one new thing to cherish
• Play a game (for example, whoever packs their room the quickest, declutters the most items, has the most boxes, and/or the best box decoration gets a reward)
• Play your favourite music
• Think back on all your childhood memories (indulge those embarrassing photos!)
• Decorate the boxes (this could be a great way to declutter craft items)
• Have everyone choose their favourite takeaway
• Reward yourself when you’ve finished packing each box
• Throw a moving out (or moving in) party

5. Don’t Let the Stress Get to You

We’ve already discussed the health and safety factors of packing and lifting heavy items, but rest really is important. It’s not just about understanding the protocols, it’s also about making your life easier. We never want anyone to be stressed, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. Take regular breaks to reduce stress and anxiety.

Try not to look at the things around you or what you have to do. Instead, use this time to focus on the things you love. Could you catch up on that book or go out for a meal? Don’t feel bad about treating or rewarding yourself, or even spending more money than you usually would.

Giving up on the gym for a month or don’t want to eat healthily? That’s okay! You can get back to that life when you’re settled in your new home. For now, think of yourself as your alter ego who eats takeaway pizza on the floor and doesn’t worry about upsetting the neighbours because of noise.

Conclusion

We’re sure these tips for packing and moving house have completely changed your mind about the stress of moving. As long as you’re prepared and follow safety protocols, you can take on any moving challenge. 

At Bassy’s Removals, we offer a packing service for moving house. If you are worried about moving antiques, our friendly removals team will ensure your belongings are respected while moving them into your new home.

Now that you know the secret of packing, contact us today to start your journey.