How to Pack Your Items When Moving House

When it comes to moving house, the actual packing up of belongings is often the last thing people think about. How hard is it to put stuff into boxes, right?

Wrong! Properly packing your things will not only save them from getting damaged but will also make moving day and unloading into your new home so much easier.

Here are some top tips on the best way to pack your belongings for a move…

Use TFM’s Quality Packing Materials

All TFM’s quotes include a full range of packing materials, when we carry out an estimate for you we will work out how many boxes you need, what kind of wrapping materials and what size boxes you will need. Then we deliver the right amount to your home well in advance of your removal.

Customers are sometimes tempted to use boxes found out the back of supermarkets, buy their own or use old worn out boxes, doing this will often save money, but it will increase the risk of damage. Weak boxes (like the kind supermarkets use) will collapse and risk not only the contents, but also the goods loaded around that box. They will also not all be a standard size, so we have to allow our staff more time to load the lorry.

Pack Smart

Smart packing is all about the best use of space and time. Choose the area you would like to start packing and get going, do not be tempted to float between rooms, this will add lots of time to each box.

Write on top of each box a short inventory of what is inside and most importantly the room you’d like the box to be placed in at your new home. And lastly, do not pack items you don’t want. Put these items aside separately and either thrown them away, recycle them or take them to a charity shop.

Don’t Waste Any Space

When a box is packed there shouldn’t be any space left, even half an inch of room at the top can cause issues, and our staff will ask you to fill them on the day.

The first issue you will have is obvious; you will run out of boxes. If you have 60 boxes to pack in total, half an inch of space in each one adds up to a lot of wasted space, more boxes means more cost, more volume, and more time.

The second issue with leaving space is movement; the box will collapse and this will not only risk the items in the box, it will also risk everything stacked around the box in the load.

Use the Right Size Box

Our estimator will work out what ratio of large and small boxes you need, but this rule is very easy to follow;

China, glass, light items, linen, towels, toys and games – large boxes
Books, vinyl, paperwork and tools – small boxes
Bedding – TFM heavy duty bedding bags

Using smaller boxes for items that should be packed in large boxes will mean you use twice as many boxes, this will only mean your removal will get more expensive. On the other hand, using large boxes for items that should be in small boxes will risk injury for our staff.

Know Your Fragile

When packing fragile it is all about layers; first a layer of soft cushioning at the bottom, then a layer of fragile, then another layer of soft cushioning, then a layer of fragile and then a layer of soft cushioning to finish the box, this offers the best protection, and makes sure no space in the box is wasted.

When packing your fragile it is important to pack them in the strongest way possible, plates should always be on their side (if packed flat the weight of a whole stack of plates really can get too much for the plate at the bottom) glasses should be packed upside down standing up (laying down on their sides they are weak) and every item should be wrapped in paper, no glass touching glass or china touching china.

If It Fits in a Box, Pack It

Another simple rule, does it fit in a box? If the answer is yes then it will need to be packed into a box. Remember that everything falls under this rule, from ornaments and vases to small pictures and board games. Another common mistake; whilst a lamp may not fit into a box, the shade probably will.

Learn How to Tape

You’ll need a good quality, strong packing tape on the bottom of your boxes as well as the top. Do not over tape; a simple H is adequate to hold the box closed. And remember tape sticks better to tape than to cardboard, so try to link the top and bottom tape up if possible, it’ll stick better this way.

Keep Track of Valuables and Important Documents

Your prized jewellery collection, important documents, solicitors phone number, passport, driving licence… just a few things you should keep with you! Always prepare for the worst, and if there was any issue and you couldn’t get to these items, it could create a real issue. We recommend packing them into one box, all together, then writing ‘do not move’ very big and very clearly on the box and leaving it in a safe, private place.

Ask for Advice

We’ve been doing this for almost 30 years now, so we’ve picked a few things up! If you’re in doubt about anything give us a call, use our knowledge to your advantage, we are always happy to help, our phone number is even on the box, right under your nose!

Or… Choose a Packing Service

If that all sounds a bit too much like hard work, you can always get someone else to do it for you! Here at TFM, we offer an expert packing service carried out by our experienced staff who are highly trained in packing everything from fragile items to valuable works of art.

We can pack up one specific room, two rooms, or even your whole house and garage if you’d prefer, meaning you don’t have to do anything at all. We can even dismantle and rebuild your furniture for you – all you need to do is ask. For more information on our dedicated packing service just give us a call on 0800 907 8484, email us at [email protected], or contact us via our contact page.

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