How to pack for moving house

27th of September, 2022

If you are moving house, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to packing. Here we offer advice and tips on how to pack, gained form our decades of removal experience.

Follow these guidelines to ensure that your house move goes as smoothly as possible.

Our best advice is to start planning and packing early because it nearly always takes longer than you’d expect. Aim to start packing at least 1 to 2 months in advance spending on the size of your house. This will help to ensure that you are not rushing around at the last minute. By planning in advance and decluttering as you go, you will also benefit from having less boxes overall when it comes to your moving day.

Before you start packing

Try to declutter and sort through your belongings. Get rid of anything you either no longer need, or don’t want to take with you. You can then sell these online using eBay or Gumtree, or donate your items to charity. Local Charity Shops will often collect these items from your home, saving you time.

Start gathering moving boxes and packing materials well in advance. You’ll need moving boxes in a variety of sizes. This will make it easier to pack your belongings securely. How many moving boxes? In our experience, we find that the average household in Edinburgh needs around 100 moving boxes to pack all their belongings. Roughly 50-60 small boxes and 40 large boxes. You'll also need some other supplies, such as strong tape, bubble wrap, wrapping paper and self-seal bags for keeping small items together. We can supply all of these and more, so please contact us at Blackhall Moving and Storage in Edinburgh, at your earliest opportunity.

How to pack for moving house

Start packing well in advance. Packing for moving house always takes longer than you think
Begin with Rooms you use less often. If you have more than one floor, start at the top of your house and work down. If you have items in a loft or attic, you can sort through and pack these first.
Pack seasonal items first. For example, if you are moving during summer pack Christmas lights and winter coats first. If you are moving during winter pack gardening tools and summer clothes first .
Pack one room at a time, and keep boxes from each room together.
Make a detailed inventory list. Keep a note of which items are in which box. Even better, use a spreadsheet on your computer or phone as it will be easy to search for any particular item if you need it quickly.
Pack heavy items in small boxes. This way they will be easier to carry.
Don’t overfill large boxes as they can quickly become too heavy to lift
Keep the weight of all boxes to a minimum. No box should cause you to strain when lifting it. Although lighter boxes might mean more trips, they will reduce the risk of injury and breakages, which is much more important.
Use sturdy moving boxes. The last thing you want is the bottom falling out of a full box. We can supply you with all the moving boxes and wardrobe boxes etc that you’ll need, free of charge
Keep all hazardous materials, such as bleach, paint, aerosols etc in a separate box, away from everything else. You might have to safely dispose of these before an international move
Pack all your important documents together and keep them in a safe place. These include birth and marriage certificates, insurance and mortgage documents.

Keep a detailed list of what goes in each box

This can be stored on your computer or phone, or you can stick paper lists onto the outside of boxes. It is a good idea to pack a copy of the inventory list inside the box as well, as a back up - especially for boxes which contain lots of small items

Label your boxes

Write the name of the room on the sides of each box, so you can still read it when boxes are stacked. It might help to number each box to correspond with your inventory list. You can also use a different coloured marker pen for boxes from each room to help identify them - kid love helping out with this!

Roll up your clothes or use a wardrobe box

Rolling up clothes has many benefits. Rolled up clothes take up less space and get less creased than folded clothes. It is a quick and easy method which can save you time and effort. Did you know we can provide you with cardboard wardrobe boxes for moving? These purpose designed boxes have a hanging rail and allow you to hang coats, dresses and shirts etc without the need for folding.

Keep your essentials close at hand

Chances are you won’t be able to unpack everything on your first day in your new home. So it’s a good idea to pack some essential supplies and keep them within easy reach. Either keep them with you or load them last onto the removal van so you can access them right away.

An ‘essentials’ box, containing tea, coffee and your kettle. It’s best to include some food; snacks, canned and dried food - and at least some biscuits! A few cups, plates and cutlery, at least one pan, some utensils and a kitchen cloth. Carry this with you so you have instant access when you need it most.
Don’t forget to keep baby food and pet food handy if you will need these
Pack an overnight bag for everyone in your family. Include a change of clothes and toiletries.
Pack a first aid kit, including pain relief.
Toolbox
Remember to pack work clothes / uniform if you will be working during your moving in period.
Bed sheets, duvets and pillows can be loaded last onto your removal van

How to pack moving boxes

Heavier items should go on the bottom of the box and lighter items on top
Wrap everything individually using clean wrapping paper, followed by newspaper if necessary
Breakable items should be wrapped with bubble wrap
You can sometimes use pillows, blankets, or items of clothing to provide padding and to fill gaps in boxes.

So there you have it. There is no question that moving house is a big job. But with careful planning and early action it doesn’t need to be overwhelming.

Don’t forget that here at Blackhall Moving and Storage we offer a full or part packing service, and all the packing materials that you’ll need. And when it comes to furniture and large electrical items our team will take care of these, wrapping them in specialise removal blankets and furniture covers.

Why not contact us today on 0131 235 2525.