Packing for your move

If there's one crucial aspect of moving that ensures everything goes smoothly, it's the packing. While Albany offers a packing service, some clients prefer to pack themselves to save on costs. However, it's essential to seek advice. Packing for a move is not like packing for a trip or clearing a room for decoration; you're relocating the entire contents of one home to another. I've shared packing advice before, but it's worth reiterating for new clients who are doing it themselves.

Getting Started

The first step is to actually begin. It's easy to procrastinate, but getting the necessary boxes (see advice below), tape, and labels for each room is vital. It may seem obvious, but Albany Removals has encountered clients who have done very little packing or started the day before the move. This creates significant problems as packing takes time. Incomplete packing adds time and costs to the move. Anything not packed by the time we need to move to the new property cannot go in our lorries and must be transported in the client's cars.

Expert Packing

We've seen some truly expert and efficient packing over the years, and hats off to those who have managed it. However, not everyone has the same skills. Some clients, including my partner , have been overwhelmed by the process (lucky she had me to do it).

Below, I've provided some advice to help, but make sure you start early in the moving process Some things can even be packed weeks or even months in advance. If you're finding it difficult or it's taking too long, seek help. Even if you didn't originally book Albany Removals for packing, we might still be able to send a team to assist you. Just give me, Peter, a ring. Don't leave this too late though, as we might be booked up. Alternatively, friends and family can be a great help.

Packing Tips

Avoid using carrier bags, bin liners, or IKEA bags. While perfect for their intended purposes, they are not suitable for house removals. The problems with these bags are:

*They break and expose their contents.
*Open bags spill easily.
*They are difficult to label.
*They are challenging to load efficiently and securely into the removal lorry.


Boxes

Use double-layered boxes designed for removals. These are fit for purpose and will protect your possessions during the move. Avoid using:

*Supermarket single-walled boxes, as they are not sturdy enough for removals.
*Open fruit crate boxes, as they have the additional problem of being open.
*Open boxes and single-walled boxes have a high risk of breaking and collapsing.

We have to stack boxes in the lorry, so packaging needs to cope with the weight and integrity of the contents and the weight of other boxes. Open boxes and bags can't be stacked, wasting space in the lorry and hindering the planned move.

Make sure you don't overload the boxes, especially with books. Albany Removals team are strong and fit, but if the the boxes are too heavy they risk injury.

Ensure all breakables are individually wrapped for added protection. Look for the blog providing advice on wrapping breakable and delicate items.


Albany Removals can supply appropriate packing materials, including double-walled boxes, at a reasonable price. Just give us a ring.


Labels

Label all your boxes with their contents and the room they belong to. Don't assume we know where everything should go. Proper labeling ensures a speedy and efficient unload into your new home. It's frustrating for everyone if the removal team constantly has to ask where to place boxes and furniture. Clients often don't know either, so labeled boxes make your search for belongings and unpacking much easier.

Furniture also needs labeling so the Albany Removals team can get it off the lorry and into your room without delay.

Your labels should be:

*Visible; sometimes it's useful to have more than one on larger boxes and items.
*Clearly state which room the item belongs to. If there are multiple rooms, like bedrooms, specify which one.
*Adding an inventory to the box or just under the lid can help when unpacking or looking for specific items.

Over the years, I've received many calls from people who thought something was left in the lorry, only to find it later in a box they hadn't checked. At the end of each removal, we sweep out the lorry, so we're confident nothing is left inside.


If you're packing and dismantling yourself, make sure it's all completed before the moving day. We arrive around 8:30 to start loading the lorry/ies. Packing is a time-consuming job and cannot be done on the day of the move. If it's not completed when we arrive, it can create many problems and incur considerable additional costs, which we all want to avoid.

At Albany Removals, we aim to support you through the entire moving process. If you have any queries or concerns, just give us a call. To take the strain out of packing, leave it to us. We can supply quotes for removals and packing, including all the boxes and labels.