Moving Home: A Guide to Packing and Loading

Moving home is usually accompanied by a considerable amount of stress and difficulty. Fortunately, the task of moving from one home to another can be made less onerous by following certain tips for packing and loading household items.

Step 1: Inventory and Van Hire

Before the fun of packing away your worldly possessions can begin, you ought to create an inventory of all the items you intend to take to your new property. An inventory should include all large items of furniture, such as beds, sofas, tables and chairs, in addition to an approximation of how many boxed goods you might bring with you.

Once you have completed your inventory, contact us on 0800-02-353-97 to obtain a free van hire quote.

Unwanted items that are not included on the inventory should be sold or recycled to free up space in your existing property. After you have confirmed your van hire booking with Yellohire and arranged any storage requirements, the task of packing can begin – but not before you consider what materials may be necessary for the job.

Step 2: Materials and Equipment

Planning ahead only works if you stock up on all necessary materials and equipment for packing. As a minimum, you should purchase the following items:

• Strong cardboard boxes
• Scissors
• Packing tape
• Bubble wrap
• Wrapping paper or newspaper
• Permanent markers
• Sticky back labels
• Silica gel sachets

Step 3: Box Small Items

Some time before the moving date, begin packing away small, infrequently used items. Believe it or not, this will save you a surprising amount of time on the big day. Store the boxes in a spare or empty room, with the heaviest and largest boxes at the front (as these will be loaded onto the van first).

N.B. Use bubble wrap around delicate items, which ought to be packed securely. Newspaper should be used only to cushion already-wrapped items as the print can cause ink smudges and stains. Silica gel sachets can be placed in the cardboard boxes to absorb moisture.

Step 4: Complete Packing and Prepare Loading

All items that have to be packed in boxes must be ready for loading onto the van before the moving date. As mentioned above, boxes should be readied for loading by order of size and weight, with the largest and heaviest ready to go first. All boxes must be clearly labelled and fragile items should be given extra protection with towels, blankets, cushions and so on. Zip-lock bags can be used for kitchen utensils and any small items retrieved during the final stage of packing.

Furniture ought to be arranged carefully in the home so that the heaviest and largest items can be loaded onto the van first. Sheets can be used to cover items of furniture and electronic goods such as computers and televisions should be packed carefully in suitable cardboard boxes.

Step 5: Loading

Load the largest and heaviest items onto the van first, ensuring that all items of furniture and equipment are securely and sensibly positioned. Drawers and cupboard doors ought to be tied or stuck down to ensure they do not open during the move.

Boxes should be stacked methodically as described above, with the largest and heaviest at the bottom and the smallest and lightest at the top. Ensure that stacks of cardboard boxes are not able to move around easily by wedging them between items of furniture. Unless the load extends to the back doors, tie rope or straps across the items to ensure they do not slide around on the van.

Finally, after all items have been loaded onto the van, do not forget to drive carefully!

Moving Home: A Comprehensive Guide

Most people are required to move home at some point during their lives and, although the experience ought to prove enjoyable and rewarding, it very often turns out to be a complete nightmare. To accompany our guide to packing and loading, we have provided a comprehensive series of tips to help ease you through the task of moving home.

Step 1: Hire a Van

Removal companies very often do a good job when it comes to moving items from one house to another; however, they do get it wrong on occasions and most firms charge an arm and a leg for the privilege. So why not cut out the middleman and hire your own van?

Yellohire makes the task of hiring a van for your move entirely straightforward. We suggest you complete a basic inventory of the items you need moving and then give us a call on 0800-02-353-97 to obtain a free quote.

Step 2: Set a Moving Date

This one may seem obvious, but sometimes the process of moving from one home to another becomes complicated by various issues. Leave nothing to chance by ensuring that your moving date is fixed, certain and agreed in advance with all relevant parties. Also ensure that the new property is not left unattended for any length of time – you do not want any nasty surprises on the day.

Step 3: Box Small Items

The inventory you completed in order to obtain a van hire quote should prepare you for the task ahead and identify all the major items of furniture and number of boxes you need to move home.

Many weeks before the moving date you should begin to collect together small, infrequently used items from around the home to store in cardboard boxes. Silica gel sachets can be placed inside each box to absorb moisture and the boxes should be stored in a spare room or outbuilding in order of size and weight, with the largest and heaviest boxes nearest the door.

Step 4: Identify and Remove Clutter

Somewhat perversely, part of the moving process involves cleaning the home. Approximately six to ten weeks before the moving date, the home should be scoured for unwanted items. No room should be skipped and no piece of clutter left unchecked.

After searching through lofts, cellars, garages and storage cupboards, any items that have been identified as clutter ought to be separated into piles for charity, waste, recycling and selling. Sorting through possessions in this manner helps to remove clutter, create a fresh start and possibly make a little cash in the process!

Step 5: Spread the Word

It is all very well that you have set a moving date, arranged van hire and started to place your worldly possessions in cardboard boxes, but what good are your plans if nobody else knows about them?

Three to five weeks before the moving date, complete and return a postal redirection form with the Royal Mail – lest you want your private letters to end up in the hands of strangers. Setting up a mail redirection can take up to five working days in the UK, so do not leave this task until the very last moment.

You may also wish to inform your employer of the move, in addition to your bank, tax office, GP, dentist, friends, family and any other company, club or organisation with which you are affiliated in some way or another. Also ensure that rentals and library books are returned on time and collect and label all house keys for the new owners.

N.B. Do not forget to arrange time off with your employer to complete the move!

Step 6: Pack Clothes and Buy Toiletries

Approximately two weeks before the moving date, wash all non-essential clothes (i.e., anything you do not need to wear in a 3-day cycle) and linen, packing away as many garments as possible ahead of the move. Wardrobe cases are especially useful for moving clothes that have been ironed, while suitcases and even bin bags are sufficient for most items.

At this stage, is worth making a trip to the shop for toiletries, ensuring that you have sufficient quantities of toilet paper, hair-care products, soap, shower gel, medicine and other such items ahead of the move. You should also invest in secure bag or box to store valuable possessions such as passports, driving licences, keys, jewellery, cash and birth certificates.

Step 7: Complete Preparatory Steps

One or two days before the moving date, ensure that all items have been boxed and appropriately labelled. Arrange items of furniture in such a way as to expedite the process of loading them onto the van – this usually means arranging the items in a front room of the home, with the largest and heaviest objects nearest the door.

Washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers ought to be disconnected from the mains power and water supply. Fridges and freezers should be disconnected and defrosted, with the doors left open overnight to ensure dryness and to prevent mildew.

Step 8: Moving Day

Awaking early on the day of your move, give your house a final clean and double check that no items have been left unpacked. Ensure that all windows, garages and outbuildings have been locked. Make a note of gas and electricity meter readings and ensure that utility supplies have been switched off.

Having collected your van from Yellohire, follow our guide to packing and loading to ensure a smooth transition from your old property into your new home.

N.B. Do not forget to leave a note for the new owners, placing keys and any relevant documentation in the agreed place – and lock all doors behind you!

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