Moving home can be incredibly stressful. How should you make sure you get everything from A to B without breakages or injuring yourself? Removal professionals share the secrets to a smash-free, smooth move.
The more time, the less stress
Manny Sahmbi, director of Happy2Move, a removals company in Slough, says he and his team can pack up the average four-bedroom house in a day. “Possibly even a five or six-bed house, depending on the contents.” For people doing it themselves, he recommends a week for a one-bed, a fortnight for a two-bed and so on.
“Book more than one day off work to move and don’t just leave a weekend to pack,” agrees Hannah Crawford – AKA Han With a Van – who is based in north London and offers “big sister energy” when helping clients with removals all over the UK. “Not only is it going to take you a bit of time practically to get everything packed, actually do the move and then unpack, but if you don’t give yourself enough time, then everything takes much longer to settle down at the other end.” Decluttering and packing to move are two different things, says Crawford: there isn’t time to have a big sort out if moving day is imminent.
Measure up
It is easy to forget to take measurements in advance and then not be able to fit furniture into your new home. “The sofa is a common one,” says Sahmbi. “We take it to the new place and it is too big to fit because of windy stairs or other access issues.” In this situation – and despite running a storage business too – Sahmbi cautions against paying to keep things in a unit: “From my experience, it will end up staying there for years and you’re going to regret it. I always recommend either donating to a friend or a charity shop.”
Become box savvy
Always uses boxes not bags, says Crawford. “The number of times I’ve shown up and people have everything in bags and say: ‘I thought it would be easier to carry.’ They’re not. There is nothing worse than a large bag for life full of assorted, randomly shaped objects. You can’t stack them. You can’t carry multiple at a time.”
It can be tempting to source spare boxes from shops to save money and be more environmentally conscious, but strong moving boxes exist for a reason. “When you are getting boxes from a supermarket, such as crisp packet boxes, they are very thin,” says Sahmbi. “They are usually single walled boxes that crumble once you stack one or two on top and they don’t protect your items very well.”
“You don’t want to pack all of your granny’s mugs all wrapped up into a box, only to pick it up and have it collapse and fall down a flight of stairs. No amount of packing paper and bubble wrap is saving those mugs at that point,” says Crawford.
“We always recommend moving boxes because they are double walled boxes,” says Sahmbi. “They are strong, sturdy and protect your items while they’re in transit.” To save money and be more eco-friendly, look on Facebook Marketplace for local people who have just moved and have lots of boxes to get rid of. Also, find out your removal firm’s eco credentials: Sahmbi’s company buys boxes made from recycled cardboard and reuses as much as possible.
Choose good quality, thick brown tape to seal boxes, says Crawford: “If you can see through it, don’t use it.”
Be realistic
“In the moving industry, there are two types of boxes, a large box and a small box,” says Sahmbi. “Small boxes are generally for heavier, fragile items. Bigger boxes are more for bedding, pots and pans. The bigger they are, the more awkward, so it is important they aren’t overfilled. If a box feels awkward to lift, then it is too heavy.”
“Don’t overload boxes”, agrees Henry Marino-Hacking of Selected Removals in Cambridge, “and don’t leave empty space inside boxes – fill gaps with paper or soft items.”
“Our motto for when people are packing themselves is, ‘if you pack it better, we can stack it better’,” says Sahmbi.
Handle with extra care
Sahmbi regularly moves priceless antiques and artworks, for which he uses packing paper or bubble wrap (eco-friendly alternatives are available). “For specialist items such as fine china we use acid-free tissue paper.” What is best for wine glasses? “The British Association of Removers recommends packing paper, so that is what we go by,” says Sahmbi. This is easy to source online.
When packing crockery, “if you individually wrap everything in bubble wrap it takes up lots of space,” says Crawford. Instead, “line the bottom and sides of your box with bubble wrap, then wrap each individual thing in some packing paper.”
“Label everything,” says Marino-Hacking. “Mark boxes as ‘fragile’ and stack them carefully. If the box has extremely fragile content, mark it ‘top box’. That way, when loading the vehicle, you know not to place anything on top of it.”
Move vertically
Plates are best transported upright, like vinyl, to protect them, says Sahmbi, as are TVs, screens, mirrors and framed artworks. “If you transport them flat, it allows them to flex, which is one of the causes of TV or mirror cracks.”
Avoid odours
“We use plastic wrap or paper bags for mattresses and soft furnishings,” says Sahmbi. “It’s not just about the dirt; these fabrics can absorb moisture and odours in transit. To prevent that from happening, it is always good to make sure that they’re wrapped.”
Have a first night kit
“Pack a suitcase for the first few nights,” says Crawford, “so you’re not sitting surrounded by boxes, wondering if you’ve made a massive mistake, not knowing where your toothbrush is.” Put it in a bag with other essentials such as “a kettle, mugs, tea and coffee, any daily medication, painkillers, loo roll and cutlery,” says Crawford, “so that it is all easily to hand and you’re not searching through 25 boxes.”
Stay secure
To avoid it feeling like a real life game of Tetris, “place heavier items at the bottom, lighter ones on top. Fill every gap so nothing shifts in transit,” says Marino-Hacking.
“Make sure that the heavy, stable items create a base, and then the fragile items are loaded last and secured safely,” says Sahmbi. “Wooden items can be safely wrapped in a blanket to ensure that they don’t get scratched or scuffed when you’re stacking stuff on top.”
If you are doing the move yourself, it is worth investing in packing blankets, ratchet straps and bungee ropes, says Crawford. “Most vans will have extra brackets along the walls so you can attach and hook them up.” If in doubt, watch a YouTube tutorial, and resell them afterwards.
Lift sensibly
“Work smarter, not harder,” says Crawford. “For a heavy box, lift with the knees, keep your back straight, engage your core.” Crawford recommends getting hold of a sack truck – “a small foldable trolley, which is really helpful for levering heavier items”.
Be realistic about what you can carry alone: “Nobody’s going to give you a sticker for lifting the washing machine all on your own,” says Crawford. “Everything that I’ve ever moved, I’ve been smart about it and thought: ‘How do I get this from point A to point B while taking the least amount of weight possible?’ It’s never failed me yet.”
“Lift with your legs, not your back,” says Marino-Hacking. “Don’t try to carry too much at once, and always get help for heavy or awkward items. Moving is not an ideal solo sport, so recruit your friends.”
“To prevent injury, you should never lift and twist at the same time,” says Sahmbi. “If your feet are not facing where the item is going down, stop and reset yourself.”
Tread carefully on stairs
“Wrap furniture in blankets and go slowly,” says Marino-Hacking. “Sometimes it helps to remove legs from items such as sofas or dining tables, or a door might have to come off. Always have a spotter to guide you round tight corners.”
“Have the strongest person at the bottom, regardless of whether you’re going up or down,” adds Crawford. “If you’ve got something particularly heavy, go step by step. Every time you pop it on the next step, have a little break.” Never rush: “Things go wrong when people are determined to get it over with,” says Crawford.
Don’t lose screws
With so much going on, losing a screw or the assembly instructions can feel almost inevitable. “With flatpack furniture, have the original manual to hand, label all parts and keep fittings and fixtures safely in a small bag – you’ll appreciate the effort when it comes to the rebuild,” says Marino-Hacking.
Dress the part
Protect your hands: “A pair of gardening gloves will do the job”, says Crawford, because they are often good for gripping, “which will stop things slipping out of your hands and you’re not going to get blisters.” Likewise wear sensible shoes: “I wear Timberland boots for every job,” Crawford adds. “But just a strong pair of boots will do. Don’t wear sandals.”
Take care of plants and pets
“Plants should travel upright in open boxes; water them lightly beforehand,” says Marino-Hacking. “If you have a heavy plant pot, emptying the soil reduces unnecessary weight for easier transport.”
“For pets, keep them in a quiet room until you are ready to go, then transport them in their carrier,” says Marino-Hacking. “Try to keep their routine as normal as possible.”
Don’t forget …
“People often forget to defrost the freezer or redirect the mail,” says Marino-Hacking. “Be sure to check every cupboard and the loft before you lock up.”
Keep yourself and any helpers well-fuelled, says Crawford. “Go for a big breakfast first, then make sure you stop for lunch and carry snacks and drinks – there is nothing worse than being hungry or super tired and trying to do this kind of stuff.”
Take five minutes to say goodbye to your old home. “I don’t think people are properly prepared for the emotions of moving day,” says Crawford. “When you first arrive, your new home does not feel like home, it is an empty shell with a funny smell. Lots of people feel really desolate on the night they move in; it is a natural consequence of doing a 16-hour day. Have a box of whimsical things or favourite pictures that make you feel at home. Stick a bit of coloured tape on the box and unpack that first to make it feel like your space.”
