Moving home is an exciting time, but it’s also incredibly stressful. It’s easy to get bogged down with so much to do and to fear that things won’t run smoothly on the big day. Well, it’s time to stop panicking! Having a stress-free and straightforward move is possible, you just need to have a plan in place. So, to help you out, here are 10 key steps to pack up your home quickly and efficiently and ensure that moving home is a stress-free as possible.
1. Start packing as soon as possible
The first key step towards packing your home properly is to start as early as you can. If you’ve lived in a house for a number of years, then there will be junk packed away in all corners of the building that will need seeing to. Whether it’s a week to go or even a month, make today your day to get things moving.
2. Get rid of some things
The best way to start any packing plan is to get rid of as much as possible. Remember that junk we spoke about in step one? Well, it’s time to throw away, give away or sell as much as you can. There’s no point in taking excess stuff to your new home and it will only slow you down on the day of the move.
3. Get the whole family involved
That’s right, it’s not just your job to move home. If you’ve got kids, then give them responsibility for their own room and another key part of the house. Help them get started by showing them how to pack properly and then let them get to it. Also, enlist the help of anyone else you can, especially for moving day itself.
4. Lay out a plan of action
Once you know you’re moving, draw up a timeline of tasks that need to be done in order to get you ready for moving day. Have strict deadlines in place for when you need certain rooms packed up and ready. You’ll be surprised by how much less stressful moving becomes when you have a clear plan of action in place.
5. Have a packing room
Once you start packing, all of the packing materials like boxes, tape and pens will start to build up and make the house even more cluttered. Instead, set aside a small room or corner of the house to contain all of this equipment. Then, whenever someone needs a new box or roll of duct tape, they will know where to find it.
6. Get the right tools for the job
As well as having all hands on deck, you need to make sure you have all of the equipment necessary to pack and move your belongings. Ask around at local stores and supermarkets for boxes and get your hands on plenty of tape. You’re going to need some sort of trolley for moving large appliances.
7. Know your boxes
When it comes to packing, most people seem to put large, heavy items in big boxes and smaller lighter items in small ones. This is the wrong approach. Instead, to maximise speed and efficiency, you should have larger, lighter items in big boxes and heavier items in small boxes. This makes moving all the boxes and packing them far easier.
8. Carefully label your boxes
So that you know what needs to go where and when, make sure you label all boxes on both sides. This way, no matter which way around the box is, you should be able to see what is in it and know where and when it needs to go in the van.
9. Load the van with precision
Packing your van on moving day is a crucial task, and you need to make sure you do it properly. Take the approach of dividing the van into sections. Start at the back with large heavy items and place smaller things on top until you reach the ceiling. Then, do the same with the next section in front. Repeat this process four or five times until the van is full and filled to the max.
10. Sort your removals firm early on
On the day of the move, there will be a thousand and one things to do, and having a good quality removals company on hand will increase efficiency and speed tenfold. However, top-quality firms book up well in advance so be sure to contact and hire a good company early on.
Here at Ants Removals, we provide an expert removals service to homeowners all across the UK. Our highly trained teams have years of experience spent helping people to pack and move. As such, they know how to do their jobs quickly and in the most efficient way possible. So, if you’re planning your move and are looking for a firm to help you speed things up simply get in contact today to request a custom quote.
