Start packing the things you don’t use every day at least two weeks before moving day, and earlier if you can; that’s the advice from Which?, and the earlier you begin, the calmer the last week feels. Leave everyday essentials until the final few days, so you can live normally right up to the move.
Counting back from moving day
As soon as you have a date. Have a proper sort out. Which? suggests doing this at least two weeks before the move, and looking everywhere: the loft, under the stairs, spare rooms, outbuildings, the backs of kitchen cupboards and the garden. Everything you sell, donate or recycle now is one less thing to pack.
Two weeks or more before. Order your boxes and packing materials in plenty of time, then start on the rooms and cupboards you use least: books, spare bedding, out-of-season clothes, ornaments and the loft. If you’re packing breakables yourself, Which? suggests doing them first, wrapped well and marked fragile. Of all the rooms, the kitchen is often the hardest to pack, and packing the kitchen in stages keeps it usable until moving day.
The final week. Pack room by room, leaving out only what you’ll use before the move. Label each box on more than one side with what’s inside and which room it’s going to, and keep the heaviest boxes low.
The last day or two. Kitchen basics, toiletries, chargers, bedding for the first night and important papers. Keep these together and travel with them yourself.
How long the packing itself takes
It depends on how much you own. As a guide, Which? says professional removal firms generally take between half a day and two days to pack a home. Doing it yourself, around work and family, can take longer, which is why starting early helps.
Making room while you pack
Packed boxes can soon fill a hallway. You can move boxes and spare furniture into a storage unit as you go, which keeps rooms clear for viewings and day-to-day life and makes moving day lighter. It’s also useful if your completion date moves or there’s a gap between homes.
Our Box Shop delivers boxes and packing materials to your door, and you can also buy packaging in store at our Burton, Bath, Chipping Norton and Dorking sites.
To plan your move, call us on 0800 2545585, or get a price online.
Related questions
- How many boxes will I need?
- How should I label boxes for storage?
- Can I rent a storage unit for a week?
Further reading