GATHER BOXES

Your local storage shed and hardware store should stock moving boxes. I found boxes the cheapest from Bunnings. The benefit from purchasing from Bunnings is you can return the ones you don’t use.

PURCHASE USED BOXES

Great money saving tip – look on gumtree or your local Facebook buy and sell groups to purchase used boxes.

PURGE AS YOU PACK

Take the opportunity while packing to purge items you no longer use. Sell, donate or throw these items away, don’t take items you no longer use to clutter up the new house. If you don’t have the opportunity to part with them before the move label the box to sell or donate so you don’t unpack it.

COLOUR CODE BOXES

Colour coding boxes so it’s easy to identify which room they belong in.

LABEL EACH BOX

When labelling boxes write which room it belongs to along with the contents on the top and side of the box. By labelling the sides you can easily identify what it in it when the boxes are stacked.

RATE EACH BOX

Give each box a star or number based on the priority it needs to be unpacked. eg 3 stars for high, 1 star for low (can take a few weeks if it needs to).

PLACE BOXES IN CORRECT ROOM

Get the removalists to put the boxes directly into the room labelled on the box, this will help make the unpacking process more manageable.

DON'T WRITE VALUABLES ON THE BOX

We want to trust those helping us move, but you never do know what can happen. If you have a box of valuables going with the removalists don’t broadcast it by writing it on the box, give it a codename eg. Nanna’s Linens.

ROLL UP JEWELLERY

Lay jewellery onto a bath towel, fold over each edge, the roll up towel to help prevent necklaces getting tangled.

KEEP IT LIGHT

Don’t make boxes too heavy, it’s easy to fill them up but consider how much they will weigh, you don’t want the bottom to break away.

WHERE TO START?

Start packing in the kitchen, put heavy items at the bottom of a few boxes, then load those boxes with lighter items.

WRAP BREAKABLES

Use clothes, tablecloths, tea towel and/or towels to wrap around breakables.

WRAP GLASSES

Use socks to wrap around glasses.

WRAP ARTWORK AND/OR LARGE ITEMS

In doonas, quilts blankets etc.

USE PILLOWS ETC.

Use pillows, cushions and stuffed animals to pad things and keep them safe from breaking.

PREVENT PLATES FROM BREAKING

If you have run out of paper try wrapping plates individually so they don’t break, place plastic plates in between .

REMEMBER DISPLAY PLACEMENT

Take photos of display cabinets so you know how to organise it at the new house.

REMEMBER WHERE CABLES GO

Take photos of how the electronics cables are connected to easily know how to reconnect them at the new house.

DON'T LOSE SCREWS

When removing screws from items place them in a zip lock bag and tape it to the piece of furniture it corresponds to so you don’t lose it.

KEEP BOXES ORGANISED

Use plastic grocery bags to keep the contents inside the boxes organised. ie. place items from the top of your bedside table drawer into bag 1, label bag top drawer. Items from 2nd drawer into bag 2, label. This will help you easily unpack and place back into the drawers. This is particularly handy for office drawers too.

TAPE CABLES TO ELECTRONICS

To prevent the confusion of what cable belongs to which electronic, tape the cables or cords to the base of it. I say base in case the tape leaves sticky marks it’s not so worrisome on the bottom of it.

FILL NAIL HOLES

Use white soap to fill nail holes in the wall.

DON'T TAKE CLOTHES OFF HANGER

Use a bin liner to wrap around clothes to easily transport. Wrapping them from the bottom will help prevent losing any clothes that might slip off the hangers.

KIDS TOY BOXES

Wrap small-medium size toy boxes in plastic bags or plastic wrap to save you unpacking the box into another box, wrap with plastic to help keep the items from falling out.

PLACE HEAVY ITEMS IN A SUITCASE

Place books in suitcases they are easier to roll than lift.

FINISH IT ALL BEFORE MOVING DAY

Don’t leave any packing for the day of the move. Have everything ready the night before. I was really surprised that the removalist company managed to pack up our entire house in a matter of 1.5 hours. There was no time for me to anything more than to clean up behind them.