How to packfor your move.

Good materials are the difference between calm packing and stressful packing. Buy or rent proper moving boxes — supermarket boxes rarely hold up for books or china. We recommend two sizes: standard for most things and book boxes for heavy items.

Complement with packing paper, bubble wrap, packing tape, marker pens and a sturdy pair of scissors. For the wardrobe, wardrobe boxes with a hanging bar are invaluable — clothes stay on the hanger straight into the new wardrobe.

Start 3–4 weeks before the move with what isn't used daily: books, ornaments, seasonal clothes, holiday decorations and the storage room. Then comes the wardrobe, living room and bedroom. The kitchen and bathroom are packed last — often the morning before moving day.

Need an overview of the timeline — see our moving checklist week by week.

Glass, china and electronics need special care. Wrap each item individually in packing paper or bubble wrap and fill any empty space with crumpled paper — things should not be able to move inside the box. Heavy items always at the bottom, light on top.

Paintings and mirrors are taped with a large X over the glass (catches any cracks) and wrapped in bubble wrap. TVs are best packed in their original box if you still have it.

A well-labelled box saves hours in the new home. Write on two sides (not on top — they're often covered in the stack) with the room the box belongs to and a few words about the contents. Use colour coding: one colour per room.

Mark the box with the most important kitchen and bathroom items as "Open first" — it should be the first one out at the new address.

Beds, dining tables, bookshelves and kitchens should be disassembled the evening before the move. Put screws in a zip bag taped to the furniture itself — that way nothing goes missing. Empty drawers and wardrobes completely; not even clothes should be left inside during a lift, they easily break.

For private moves, disassembly and assembly are included with us — let us know in the quote so we count time for it.