Organising Your Packing

It's surprising how long it can take to pack, so make sure you start early - at least two weeks before you're due to move. It will take two of you at least three full days to pack up a 4 bedroom house.

Before you start your packing, try to sort through all your cupboards, attics, cellars and other storage areas, and throw away, sell or donate anything you don't want to take with you. Do this as early as possible, as if you leave it too late, you may just be tempted to pack your junk and take it with you, where it will clutter up your new house.

Packing Materials

Start collecting packing materials as soon as possible - you can get free boxes from supermarkets and other stores, but it would be better for you to obtain proper packing boxes, as they are much stronger. Your removal company might provide you with boxes and other materials, if not, you can buy them from most shipping companies.

Make sure that that your boxes and other containers are strong enough to allow stacking in the van without damaging the contents. Don't over-fill boxes (they should be sealed and flat) and don't fill large boxes with heavy items such as books, as they will be too heavy to lift.

You will need:

• Small boxes for books and other heavy items
• Rolls of strong plastic tape with a dispenser
• Coloured marker pens, coloured tie labels or tape
• Bubble wrap and tissue paper for delicate items
• Corrugated cardboard or thick foam sheeting for packing mirrors and pictures
• Paper for wrapping individual items. You can use newspaper to save money, but it's better to use the plain paper that you can buy from a packing suppliers
• Stretch wrap - this is really useful for protecting large items, such as sofas, tables, dressers and TVs
• You may also need some old blankets or sheets to protect large delicate items such as mirrors and light fittings

Fragile Items

Pack fragile items in tissue or bubble wrap with plenty of padding, and mark boxes 'FRAGILE' in large red letters. You can also buy "Fragile" tape, which will save you from having to write it. Make sure both the top and the sides of the boxes are marked. If you have any really fragile or valuable items, you should transport them yourself in your car.

Marking Boxes and Items

Pack things together that you will need in the same room when they're unpacked - don't be tempted to throw things at random into boxes that belong in different rooms!

Make a floor plan of your new home and colour-code each room (blue for the bathroom, red for the kitchen etc). You can then mark boxes and items with a coloured pen, labels or tape, so movers can easily identify where to put them. Mark boxes on the top and the side, as the top of a box may be hidden when it's stacked. Tie coloured labels to items that aren't boxed, or mark them with coloured tape.

Make sure your removal company has a copy of the floor plan and colour-coding.

General Points

• If you're doing your own packing, there may still be certain items that would prefer the experts to handle. Ask your removals company if you have any questions about how to deal with plants, antiques, fine art, or anything else of particular importance or value
• Take care to pack small, valuable items separately and carry them yourself, as they're usually excluded from liability by insurance companies
• Remember that anything you pack yourself won't be covered by the removal insurance policy
• Check that your home contents insurance covers your belongings in transit and insure your possessions from the day of arrival in your new home