boxes for packing

moneylover

Hello, I have a couple of guys coming tomorrow to give estimates for moving us in mid July. Have decided to do our own packing. Can anyone suggest a good site for getting boxes and what size is the most sensible? A friend has said that getting them all same size is most sensible as can stack them. I guess that medium size best as presume cannot be too heavy when have books etc in them. Is Amazon best?
We have to put things in storage for a few weeks then get it delivered to our new house. What is it best to do with clothes - have already filled the suitcases we have.
I know the people coming will make suggestions but want to be ready if their solutions seem a bit expensive. We have already noticed when we got online quotes that some charge twice as much for storage as others. We don't need access to the stuff at all.
For various reasons we have ruled out doing the whole process ourselves but v happy to pack and have plenty of newspaper, bubblewrap and parcel tape.
Many thanks

davidmcn

The only time I've used professional movers, they lent us boxes for no extra charge (and I think sold bubblewrap etc).

princeofpounds

With books, you don't want big boxes at all. Seriously, they become blocks of wood! A mix of sizes is not normally an issue, you just stack like with like.

zeitsev

argos sell moving house packs, depending on how many you need. then you can always sell them on when you're finished.

gone are the good old days of netto putting them out for you if you needed any boxes

ampersand

Strong recommendation - supermarket lidded banana boxes for your books.
They have hand-grip holes at the sides and I've used them for years[deal in them often@ Fairs etc.]
On same mse theme, gather up abandoned, surplus bubble-wrap from fruit&veg. sections, same source. Several places keep it for me.
If you can have your heavier boxes/loads at ground floor level in one room or in a hallway, tant mieux.
#
The story of a Cambridge Don who helpfully packed his lifetime's study and academic library books into tea chests upstairs is not an urban myth. Of course they all had to be unpacked etc.etc..........He has told this against himself to me and others over the years:-)

May your move go well: enjoy making your new house 'home'.

agrinnall

davidmcn wrote: »

The only time I've used professional movers, they lent us boxes for no extra charge (and I think sold bubblewrap etc).

princeofpounds wrote: »

With books, you don't want big boxes at all. Seriously, they become blocks of wood! A mix of sizes is not normally an issue, you just stack like with like.

I very much agree with both of these posts. My movers were happy for me to call in at their office in advance of the move and collect as many boxes as I wanted (and in fact I still have most of them, so next time I need to move I should have a lot of what I need already), and they provided two sizes, small boxes for books (and CDs) and larger ones for everything else.

The movers brought wardrobe boxes with them to take hanging clothes, I'm sure yours will offer the same.

moneylover

wow so quick everyone, like the whole world waiting to answer my questions! All this is great. I will have to buy some of my own boxes anyone for stuff we are taking in a small van to temporary accommodation. Anyone got a good link to a supplier, there are lots around but its such a pain investigating things like delivery charges which they all manage to hide...
I knew that the movers probably wouldn't charge for boxes if just moving but not so sure if tied up in storage. the mobile wardrobes from them though good idea though because they are not that cheap to buy if you need several rails. I have edited my clothes but seem to still have quite a lot!

moneylover

one other thing just thought of, the movers tend to make their money in different ways, the online storage estimates have ranged from £25 a week to £50 a week, I suppose there is a sliding scale according to the space you need...
So great having this forum, haven't moved for 25 years so things have changed. Lots of things related to move are proportionally cheaper, not so stamp duty which now brings in the government more money than the sin taxes (alcohol and tobacco)

Paulmy51

Just a thought but last time we moved I managed to get my boxes from the local supermarkets. Once I'd worked out the sizes I wanted they were really helpful in putting a couple of particular sizes to one side for me.

kerri_gt

Look at freecycle / freegle for moving boxes, you need to move (no pun intended ) on 'offers' but try putting a wanted ad.

Also, my friend used 'easterners' style laundry bags for clothes, can't hang them obviously but my friend used them and found them useful when she moved.

Best advise is if you plan to move boxes yourself, make sure they're not too big, it's amazing how heavy they become.

moneylover

Oh yes, I know those big laundry bags for things am taking with me they are a good idea. anyone seen any eg Poundland? Maybe I need to go to a laundrette.
Have tried Freecycle but live out in the sticks a bit and no luck