Moving can be both, an exciting and stressful experience. It can be a big challenge especially if you are planning to move to another city and must transport your belongings even a few hundred kilometres away. No one wants to drive back and forth several times because an item was forgotten. Likewise, no one wants something to be damaged during transport. What should we do to avoid that?

First, get rid of the things you don’t need.

Taking all your belongings to a new place is a genuine logistical challenge. That’s why it’s always a good idea to think and plan about what you need or want to take to the new place. One can accumulate a lot of useless things over time. Such items should be disposed of even before packing.

How to do it? Where to start? Clothes that no longer fit can be given away to friends, family or donated to a charity. In-date food should be eaten out before removal or also given away. What about personal items? It is important to consider whether you will enjoy keeping magnets, framed photos, or memorabilia in your new home. If so, it’s a good idea to pack them up in cardboard boxes and take them with you. If they are nothing more than dusty possessions or kept out of pure sentiment, this is a time to say goodbye to them.

The art of packing small and large items.

Delicate or fragile items should be protected with bubble wrap or paper. String bags will work great for small things. To take up less space, clothes can easily be packed in vacuum bags or special wardrobe boxes.

What about large items? It is best to hire a removal company to transport furniture safely, as proper edge protection is a must. There are many protective materials that a removal company is in possession of, including plastic covers, blankets and bubble wrap. Whether you live in your own apartment or rented one, such a company will efficiently relocate all your belongings and furniture to a new place or a warehouse.

Step-by-step packing plan

You need to get down to the move with your head. It is best to start packing boxes with items you won’t use right away after the move, with things that can wait in the cartons until they are needed. At the very end, pack the items you will need as soon as you arrive at your new place.

Packing can be streamlined. Before you start moving, you should purchase cardboard boxes that can hold all your belongings and won’t bend or break under heavy loads. Stacks of string bags and meters of bubble wrap will also come in handy. Paper towels, garbage bags, scissors and tape are also needed when packing as all items should be properly secured for transport.

Is there a particular order in which you should pack the items?

Is there a packing method that works always and for everyone? Sadly, no, but there are some universal solutions to consider. It is common practice to pack heavy items first and place them at the bottom of a cardboard box, then stack lighter, smaller items on top.

It’s a good idea to pack seasonal clothes and items that aren’t used at the moment but will be useful in a few months, such as skis or a winter jacket if you’re moving during the summer. Additionally, you should consider storing spare bedding sets, rarely used tools, documents that you no longer require, or even books.

After that, take cardboard boxes and start packing things that you use on a daily basis, but you will be able to live without for a few days. Thus, you can pack clothes and leave only a few pieces of clothing out, along with your daily toiletries. Additionally, you can pack food that does not require special storage at this point, like pasta, jars and other pantry items.

‘HELLO’ Box – let’s not forget about it!

As a final step, pack things you will use immediately after the move or while you are still moving. This includes clothing appropriate for the season, underwear, cleaning supplies for the new place as well as a few pots and plates for preparing meals.
Having a ‘HELLO’ box or suitcase filled with everything you’ll need after the move is a good idea. All the essential items will be readily available, so you won’t have to search through boxes for pans or windshield-washing fluid. Moving into a new place and starting a new life will be much easier this way.

Proper box description saves time.

Many mistakes can be made during a move. There are some obvious ones, and there are others you may not even think of. All items arriving at the new house must be labeled! Why?
While you may vaguely remember what each box contains, you must find and unpack all items in the right order to avoid mess.

How to name boxes?

A good place to start is by standardizing the names. For example, pack all the products that were in the kitchen and will remain in it after the move in a box named or labeled kitchen. You don’t necessarily have to describe the boxes as food, pots, or glasses, but with delicate items, like bottles, it’s worth adding a distinctive symbol, such as a crossed glass, so that you know that such a box must be handled carefully.

It is essential that boxes are clearly labelled. Room names should be capitalised. Colour tape is also an option; you can use a different colour for each room. Using this method, you will quickly recognise which room belongs to which. This will make it much easier for you to unpack and settle into your new home.