You are here: Getting well ahead for packing up and moving on
Getting well ahead for packing up and moving on
These days, it is estimated that packing up the average family home takes between 50-75 hours. While it might not sound like much, add this into your busy day-to-day lives and before you know it, moving day will arrive and you still won’t be packed.
Coupled with the time it takes to pack, there are some staggering statistics on how much stuff we all own, which can make moving and packing so much more arduous. Recent research from eBay suggests that the average UK home has £2,600 of unwanted items and even as long ago as 2010, research found that the average 10-year-old had 238 toys but played with just 12 daily.
That is potentially a lot of unnecessary packing. There are a few steps you can take to reduce the stress and the amount of things you need to take with you when you move.
Start early
Even if you are in the early stages of having your offer accepted on a house, it is a great time to start thinking about what you have. Create an inventory of things that you want to keep, things you have that need to be dumped and things you have that can be given away.
It is always staggering to see what you have held on to over the years. Start by going room to room (don’t forget the loft and garage/shed), identify items and categorise them as suggested above. Your future moving-day self will thank you for it!
Donate to charity
Avoiding landfill if you can help it, is a great way to benefit the environment and help local charities. The best part about donating to charity shops and collections is that you can chip away at your excess items a little at a time.
Toys, furniture, clothes, cups and crockery can all be donated easily – some charity shops run a pick-up service too so you won’t even have to leave the house.
Buy some boxes
All that stuff that’s in your loft? There is no reason why you can’t start boxing it up straight away. Most items in your loft are up there for a reason – they are either used rarely, or not at all. Having it all boxed up and ready to go takes the pressure off the items that you can’t pack until the last minute.
Most removal companies sell all you need to get packing – boxes, tape, bubble wrap and other packing materials, or if you need it well ahead of moving day, you can buy most things online.
Book a slot at the tip
There are some things that the pandemic has changed for the better. One of these is having to book a time slot at the tip. You can’t leave it to the last minute and just turn up anymore. This is great for helping you get organised for your house move in advance.
When you are booking a slot, make sure you check which items your local tip will accept. Some don’t take larger items like mattresses so a quick look beforehand could save you some time in the long run.
Keep a folder
Along with your contents inventory, keep a folder full of all your house moving documents. You can keep your contact details and documents for energy and broadband companies, estate agents, conveyancers and meter readings all in one place for easy access.
Moving can be a frantic time, so having this information at your fingertips helps to ease a lot of anxiety.
Moving doesn’t have to be as stressful as you think. By getting organised, you can save yourself time and ease the eventual moving day hassle.
To get instant contact details and estimates for Removals visit our "Find Professionals" page
