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House packing and moving tips

Catherine21_2
Posts: 14 Forumite
Hi hoping to exchange and complete in the next couple of weeks and also hoping to move ourselves. Anyone got any tips?
Where cn I get decent cheap packing paper and boxes etc etc.
Any help appreciated....
Catherine
Where cn I get decent cheap packing paper and boxes etc etc.
Any help appreciated....
Catherine
0
Comments
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For cheap boxes, any supermarket will give you them especially if you ask the manager in advance.
Margaret0 -
Catherine21 wrote:Hi hoping to exchange and complete in the next couple of weeks and also hoping to move ourselves. Anyone got any tips?
Where cn I get decent cheap packing paper and boxes etc etc.
Any help appreciated....
Catherine
Get a big roll of bubble wrap from ebay, i recall we got 100 metres for about £12.
Sounds a lot but you would be suprised how much you can use.
We moved before xmas and never broke a thing0 -
My best tip I got from here, was make your beds first, don't wait until you are ready to drop as you wont be feeling like making it then!
Best of luck, please report back as we are hoping to move soon0 -
Hello Catherine
I have moved a few times and have only ever packed myself, the most recent being a year ago. In hindsight I wish I had thrown more out - I have far too much stuff that I didn't use there and don't use here. As I was moving to a different country I used a mover to ship my stuff, so of course paid for moving stuff I shouldn't have brought with me. I don't think this applies to you, but all the same this is a great opportunity to chuck things out and only have your loveliest possessions with you in your new house.
I spent a fortune on boxes - the supermarkets etc seem to have to send them somewhere for recycling. I didn't think of asking the manager, so good tip that. The only places I could find to buy boxes were those self-storage places like Big Yellow but unfortunately not what you'd call cheap.
Put a sticky label on each side of each box and detail on the labels what is in that box. Yeah sounds a bit much I know, but this was very useful - you can stack the boxes up any old how and still be able to find stuff even if it takes a while reading the labels. Also note which room they should go into so they can be taken right there.
When packing the boxes spread the heavy stuff out among all the boxes eg don't fill a box full of books then another with just clothes....the book box will be too heavy to carry - spread the load and make it easy on your back. Heavy stuff in the bottom so that boxes aren't top heavy and keel over.
Have a couple of boxes to go in the car - into this put your kettle, tea/coffee, UHT milk, toilet roll, some light bulbs (just in case), food for yourselves which can be eaten cold or with boiling water eg pot noodles, cupasoups, some bread, phone number of pizza hut, a few plates, cutlery, cups, washing up liquid, soap, shower gel, change of clothes for the next day, towels, bedding. Believe me you will need a cup of tea and some food when you arrive at your new house and last thing you'll want to be doing that night is rummaging around for soap, clothing and sheets.
Try to run down the stocks in your fridge and freezer as much as possible. Anything left can be put into a padded bag you can get from the supermarket for frozen food, or if you've got one use one of those insulated box things that people use for picnics. If you're taking your fridge or freezer with you then defrost it a couple of days before you go. I have been told that it is imperative that fridges and freezers be transported in an upright position - something to do with the gases leaking. They should also be left for 8 hours (or something ridiculous) in their new position before being turned on again so that the gases settle.
With plates, bowls etc I just put newspaper between each one and wrapped stacks of 6 or 8 items in bubble wrap. Then pad the box with scrunched up newspaper so that the breakables are in the middle of lots of padding.
If you have any pets maybe consider putting them in kennels/cattery the day before and getting them back the day after the move.
Start packing early...if it's weeks before you're going to move then I'd start right away, it always takes far longer than you'd imagine.
Replace any long life light bulbs with ordinary supermarket ones (yes I am a skinflint but they cost a fortune!).
I hope that helps! Best of luck in your new home.0 -
SnowyOwl
Excellent advice. We won't be moving for a while but I'm printing off your great tips for future consultation.'Puritanism: the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy'.
H L Mencken0 -
My handy hint for the day is to wrap glasses and plates in your tea towels. No need to buy any packaging and no black smudges from newspaper print!Bubblesunshine0
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I'd have to agree with Snowy Owl; don't take what you don't need. We put a lot of our stuff in storage (free by the way), but a lot of it's still there. Nearly three years later!
Although it isn't money saving, we also hired the moving van the night before, so that we could pack all but the beds in, and it meant we could clean the house a lot better.
But a friend of mine only packs fragiles when she moves. The rest goes as is. The dressing tables are left full of clothes etc, she just removes the drawers then replaces them when she gets to her new place(s)Same for wardrobes.
The last thing she loads is the beds and, like someone else said, the kettle and teapot etc.
I can only think of a couple of things more stressful than moving house so good luck0 -
We need to store some furniture and noticed Snowy Owl that you got your storage for free?? Any chance of letting me know where? Or does anyone have any suggestions for reasonable storage costs? Need to store double bed, 3 single beds, 2 double wardrobes, 2 chest of drawers, dining table and 5 chairs and a large(ish) cupboard. I'm in the north west by the way.
Thanks.0 -
Some good tips there - thanks! I am hoping to move in June, only going three streets away so we are moving ourselves. I have already started boxing up non-essentials and am sorting out some stuff for a car boot sale.
vig0 -
karenj wrote:We need to store some furniture and noticed Snowy Owl that you got your storage for free??
Hi Karenj
Wasn't me but Sofa-Sogood who has the free storage.
Snowy Owl0
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