The moving process, boxes etc

ChilliBob

Hey guys,
We're doing our first big 'family move' in a few weeks time (moved before have been without a child, or from parents so could be done gradually).

We live in a fairly standard size three bed terrace house with a loft full of the sort of sfuff you accumulate for a 3.5 Yr old. (a fair bit!

My only experience of moving is commercially with office moved where everyone gets a plastic crate, then there's a few to pack other office bits. 

With a house move, is similar a good idea, or, as we think, does this cost the earth?

If so, do people buy new boxes (card ones), proper 'really useful boxes' (to keep), or try to try to get some from Sainsbury's etc?! - or a mix there of. 

Any real world tips/examples/thoughts much appreciated! 

Falafels

Don't worry about getting plastic crates unless you have a use for them when you're not moving.

When we've moved it's been a combination of collecting boxes from supermarkets, advertising for used boxes on local media - e.g. Freecycle, Facebook - and, if all else failed, ordering them from companies who supply packing materials.

If you've got several weeks to start collecting your boxes you might not need to buy any at all. But start NOW.

House moves are nothing like office moves. In an office there are many constraints around the amount of junk you can collect, which don't apply in houses. You ALWAYS have more stuff than you think you have.

Redwino222

I have been collecting empty boxes for a year - so I am having an Amazon sponsored move!

I have bought a few plastic storage boxes and I will use them for heaving things likes plates etc.  

It is unbelievable how much stuff you accumulate over the years.  I have been decluttering and have thrown out so much stuff.  I need to change my ways - it’s annoying to look at all the useless crap I have bought over the years! 

skm1981

I agree, try posting on local Facebook groups.  Once you've moved and unpacked, you just have a ton of boxes left to get rid of so I'd guess, if people are like me, they'll be more than happy to give them away.

Northern_Dreamer

We've always found the bigger bags for life really handy for moves (the woven ones with canvas straps) especially for things like books. I know they're not as stackable as boxes but they are really easy to shift

YBR

I got a lot of books and packing material from Freegle/Freecycle. For books we asked a bookshop (my husband used to work there) who kindly saved boxes from their deliveries - because they're the right size and sturdy. We had the removals company pack the kitchen stuff and other breakables. I guess with people still buying a lot online you could ask your neighbours for their Amazon boxes etc.

Every box, container, piece of furniture was labelled with what it contained and where it should go, and then all the rooms were labelled so there was no confusion where things should go. I even put sheets on the floor to say where we wanted shelves, table, sofa. That made the unloading and getting in amazingly swift and noone had to stand at the door saying where each thing should go.

oystercatcher

I bought a few cheap plastic crates when I moved here as I thought they would be useful long term and found that they cracked very quickly and became useless! The removal companies can provide cardboard boxes and tape but it's well worth sourcing as many as you can free, checkout how to tape them so the bottom doesn't fall out and be careful when packing heavy things like books as too many can destroy the box, never mind the backs of those trying to move them around !

rach_k

We used a lot of boxes - a mix of bought and donated/collected from workplaces etc, plus a lot of Ikea bags!  The bags were really good for things like clothes, soft toys, bedding and could just be thrown on top of the boxes, once they'd been packed into the moving van.

ChilliBob

Thanks for the tips guys, way more feedback that I expected on a Saturday morning! Seems a combo is the way forward.

The geek in me had visions of non standard boxes getting crushed when stacked and causing a right nightmare! 

nimbo

Personally I’m an advocate for free boxes. Why pay for something you’re going to use once and dispose of????

I do have some plastic boxes and used those too - but again I don’t need 100 plastic storage boxes long term. 

getmore4less

The key is getting enough of the same so they stack.

Fruit/veg/banana supermarket are great as they are not too big,  full of books or other high density still  manageable.
Larger boxes helps to fill if possible to retain strength.

Start packing now.

Don't forget space in furniture, drawers can be filled  loaded back into the units if it gets too heavy.
A wardrobe can take a loads of lightweight bulky items like duvet, toys etc. around any hanging clothes.