One of the weird things about moving house is that one day it’s a few months away, then suddenly it’s later this week. It’s a strange quirk of time that no-one can explain, but you can combat it by preparing early. One important thing to have ready is a lot of storage containers of all shapes, sizes and materials.
You need boxes of different sizes
The reason you need boxes of different sizes is so that you can keep your removals guys safe and in good shape. For heavier items like crockery, books and so on, you should use smaller boxes so that each “lift” is within safe weight limits. For lighter, less dense items like toys and bedding, you can use bigger boxes.
Then there’s the wardrobe boxes – long and tall – so you can hang your dresses and suits in them. You don’t have to iron at the other end, then!
See-through containers
For items that you’ll need within the first day or so in your new home, you should use see-through storage containers so you can easily access your cafetiere and your favourite shower gel.
For small, fiddly items like electrical leads, the screws and fittings from furniture and things like fuses or connectors, then sturdy, labelled and transparent Ziploc bags are ideal. There’s nothing worse than opening bag after bag when you’re tired, hungry and in a panic, because you WILL drop and throw things. Especially if it’s dark. It’s the law.
Colour-coded boxes
Moving can be tough on children. They worry that their precious possessions will be lost in transit, or damaged, or discarded. They can also feel very much out of control, especially when their grown-ups are getting more and more stressed by the day. It’s a really good idea, then, to buy some cheap, coloured boxes and bags for them to pack their things into. Your removals team will make a fuss of these boxes in particular (if they’re halfway professional, anyway), and having their own packing project to take ownership of helps children to feel more in control.