Packing up possessions.

Running_Horse

A couple of basic questions:

When packing up for moving, do you empty wardrobes and chests of drawers of clothes, or leave full? What is the best way to pack breakables?

Any other useful hints or tips?

floyd

I always empty because it makes it much easier to move plus it gives you an opportunity for a bit of a spring clean of their contents. You would be amazed how brutal you are with sorting stuff out for charity or the bin when you are faced with the thought of re-folding and putting it all away again at the other end!

When we moved, we did it with proper moving boxes, a hire van and some friends and nothing got broken at all. I ordered lots of bubble wrap off EBay, wrapped each glass or vase in a 'sock of bubble wrap then separated them all in the box with newspaper.

Although it may take longer while packing, write an inventory of what goes in each box, guaranteed someone will want something 'vital' and proceed to root through all the boxes undoing all your hard work.

I found it useful to have a big plastic crate filled with 'early essentials' such as a kettle, teabags, lightbulbs, screwdrivers, cups, cutlery, teatowel, kitchyen roll, tissues, pain killers, toothbrushes toothpaste and milk. That way, if you have had enough by the time you get in you can just make the bed and leave it all until the morning

Raver2k7

i usually leave drawers full but take them out of the unit and wrap in cling film! works a treat for DVD/CD racks and cutlery trays too!

paddy's_mum

I found that by getting boxes (usually banana or apple boxes from the local supermarket) and loading the contents of shelves into the boxes a week or two before the move helped enormously. For example, I found a box that would fit each of my pantry shelves, put the cans and packages into it but when cooking, I could just slide the box forward, pick out the can I wanted and then just slide the box back. On the day of the move, just pop on the top and those items are already packed, as it were but you have not made them inaccessible in the meantime. Similarly with the contents of the airing cupboard, wardrobe shelves, pots and pans, under-the-sink, desk drawers, shed contents, etc.

I usually also change the bedlinen a day or two before, then just roll the whole lot up, shove in a brightly coloured, easily spotted binbag and at the other end, just flop the whole lot out and ready to sleep.

I too keep aside a particularly identifiable box, (coloured pink perhaps or with a vivid logo already printed on it) which I pack with the vitals such as a change of underwear, paracetomol/sticking plasters, tea making things, toilet articles, plenty of loose change, mobile phone charger, a complete ready meal (make sure you have access to a microwave or else locate the nearest chippy) and most important of all, a bottle of wine and corkscrew to congratulate yourself at the end of moving day. Good luck and hope that helps.

floyd

paddy's_mum wrote: »

and most important of all, a bottle of wine and corkscrew to congratulate yourself at the end of moving day. Good luck and hope that helps.

Definately agree with that one, we had a bottle of champage with fish and chips as our first meal

pickles110564

We used to do the self move thing but for the last 4 moves have used professionals.
This way it makes what is a very stressful time become a breeze. Also if the unthinkable happens and something gets damaged or broken they have to pay out on their insurance

cattie

The last firm I used to move me told me to leave everything hanging in all wardrobes, even fitted ones as they come in with rails & transfer all hanging clothing straight onto there. If there are wardrobes at the other end they again transfer clothes into these at other end.

I was also told not to empty drawers as they would take the items of furniture as was & use strapping to ensure drawers didn't come open.

This is the first company I've used that operated in this way & the move was the smoothest I've ever experienced with no damage whatsoever, so I shall be using them again.

Breakables I always wrap in bubble wrap. & cushion any gaps in box with old newspapers.