How many moving boxes do I need?

Yazmina

[QUOTE=easilydistracted;72982433_��_I_found_my_last_couple_of_movers_on_anyvan._People_bid_for_the_work_and_there_are_reviews._Much_cheaper_than_a_general_firm._I_would_not_move_myself_again_far_far_too_stressful!_Plus_you_probably_won't_have_enough_time_to_empty_your_flat_and_move.[/QUOTE]

Interesting. Hubby came across anyvan today and I've got a few quotes. So cheap I though it was too good to be true. Quotes range from £83-143. Also contacted a couple of the bigger companies.

gax23

Yazmina wrote: »

Interesting. Hubby came across anyvan today and I've got a few quotes. So cheap I though it was too good to be true. Quotes range from £83-143. Also contacted a couple of the bigger companies.

If you're SERIOUSLY happy to save a couple of hundred quid by using a non-accredited bloke with a van who won't have removals insurance to move all of your worldly goods, I'm really at a loss for what to say.

A decent removals company is worth its weight in gold. If you've ever done a self-move or had something go wrong during removals, you'll know that.

This is one of those situations where you be a skinflint at your own peril...

StumpyPumpy

A bit late to this thread but we did the same move from a 1 bed flat to a 3 bed house so i thought I'd add our experience. We got a full pack and move service (worth every penny) and as we were moving countries they left us with all the boxes apart from the wardrobe things that held all our hanging clothes.

Once we'd emptied them we put them up on freecycle - so, as already mentioned, try creating a "wanted" before buying any as they often turn up - doing this means I have a good idea of how many they used (or at least how many I gave away on freecycle).

The box sizes used in descending size order were B3:18"x18"x30", B2:18"x18"x20" and B1:18"x10"x12" and, keeping in mind that the removal guys didn't try and fill every last inch of a box, plus we still have a few in the attic even now, we gave away the following:

B3:35
B2:55
B1:20

Yep, that's right - we gave away 110 boxes from a move from a 1 bed flat and still have some left over! We did have quite a lot in the flat but not excessive hoarder type amounts.

Others have said about asking at a supermarket but these days it is a lot harder to get good boxes this way than it used to be (anyone else remember Kwik Save with stacks of boxes behind all the tills?) I think there must be a lot less goods being shipped in proper boxes, I can't remember the last time I saw a proper banana box (the gold standard for strong removal boxes IMO) I'm not saying it isn't worth asking, but you'll probably be lucky to get many useful ones.

I've seen box sellers selling a "3 bedroom moving pack" that only has around 35 boxes of the above sizes - I can't see how that is possible unless you are more minimalist and OCD than Marie Kondo, but the best way to judge is to pack some things up yourself: say, start with 10 boxes and see how much of a dent it makes in your possessions. Time yourself doing it too, so you get an idea of how long it will take you - useful to know before the run up to the big move day.

SP

Niv

Another vote for a removal company, definitely worth their weight in gold.


We packed ourselves, they provided boxes. There was 'a handful' of bits not packed by moving day, they were great at doing those odd bits for us as they went and turned out to fill more boxes than I expected!


Whatever you decide to do, the following should not be ignored:


Get decent tape!