Posted on April 30, 2012 by Ruth

Everything comes together on moving day – all that hard work pays off and you begin your new life at your new property. Ideally, moving day is an extremely happy day, full of excitement and joy. But unfortunately many homeowners endure a stressful moving day that is in many cases brought about by insufficient preparation in the preceding weeks.

To help you prepare successfully, reallymoving.com have put together some essential tips that’ll see you on your way to a happy and joyful moving day and the start of your new life.

Discuss all options with your removals company

Working with a removals company is about more than just getting a removals quote, agreeing a date and waiting for it to roll round. It’s important to effectively communicate with the firm you choose, letting them know any information that may be important when the big day arrives. Do your winding stairs make it difficult to bring large items, such as beds, down from the second floor? Do you have a valuable piano you need moving? If you don’t communicate these details when you get a quote, you may find your removals company turns up without the necessary equipment needed to move your belongings successfully.

Start packing in plenty of time

One of the most common reasons for delays on moving day is incomplete packing. If you’re rushed or stressed you may not be confident you’ve taken everything with you. By starting to pack as early as possible, and doing so in a systematic and sustainable way, you remain confident throughout the packing process. Set milestones and aim to finish at least two days before moving day – this is an easy way to make sure you meet your deadline.

Prepare for tougher tasks

When we consider packing we instinctively think of packing our sofas, tables, books and other common items. But bear in mind there are several tougher tasks that must be considered when packing that often take longer than expected. These include disconnecting your washing machine safely and other white goods, disposing of hazardous materials often found at the back of the shed, and ensuring your computer is unplugged and packed ready for transport. You may not be confident doing some or all of these tasks – arrange help in advance so you’re not stuck on moving day wondering how you’re going to get everything done.

Ask for help

Moving day can hit you very suddenly; before you know it you’ll have your removals company coming in and out of your house, 20 or so boxes to pack up and two kids to get into the car. Having your friends and family around you on moving day is a great way to help the day go smoothly. Even if they aren’t up for heavy lifting, just having a familiar face to play with the kids for 5 minutes so you can grab a cup of tea can work wonders. Reward them with cakes or a nice bottle of bubbly once you’ve arrived at your new property.

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Posted on June 1, 2011 by Ruth

Removals companies will usually request that all your major appliances are prepared before they arrive to start your move.  Some will offer a professional service to prepare your appliances for you.  Although this may seem like a simple task, if its not done properly, then you may find that your appliances don’t work at your new home.  If you are undertaking your move yourself then it’s equally important that you prepare your appliances correctly.

Follow this step-by-step guide for appliance preparation:

1. For your major (and most expensive) appliances to be moved refer to the owners manual if you have a copy.  These will usually contain sections about shutting down the appliance and preparing it for a move.
2. Your fridge should be unplugged from the mains at least 24 hours before you move.  Dispose of all your perishable food.  Once the freezer unit has completely defrosted, carefully clean and dry all surfaces and removable containers to prevent the formation of mildew and odours.  Remove all internal racking or secure it with tape so that it doesn’t shift during the move.  If your unit has an icemaker, disconnect the water line and ensure that it’s completely drained.
3. Your cooker should be thoroughly cleaned inside and out with the racks removed or securely fastened.  If you have a gas cooker, make sure that the gas supply is turned off before you start disconnecting the pipe and be very careful.  Gas pipes can be fragile and need special handling.  If you’re unsure contact your gas supplier and seek advice.  Tape down the knobs and elements on the cooker to ensure that no parts are lost during the move.
4. Dishwasher units need to be emptied and the utensil holder/rack removed and packed separately.  Disconnect from the water supply and mains.  Tape the door closed.
5. Washer and dryer units need special handling, so its good advice to consult the manuals or contact the manufacturer.  Remove all hoses and pack these separately in a box.  Fill empty spaces in the box with bubble wrap or packing paper to prevent damage in transit.  The drum on the washing machine will need to be secured; advice on how to do this is best sourced from the owners manual.
6. For all appliances, unplug each unit and secure the wire and plug to the back using packing tape.  Don’t let wires dangle or come loose.
7. Tape all doors and lids shut.

 

Your appliances should now be good to go!  If you are moving appliances yourself, don’t forget to use some protective covering around the outside to prevent dents and scrapes.  Transit blankets, bubble wrap or plastic sheeting could be used here.  Be when careful when moving and lifting appliances, as most are extremely heavy.  If possible, borrow or hire some handling equipment to assist you, such as a trolley or rubber topped skate.

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Posted on May 18, 2011 by Ruth

You’ve done the preparation and it’s now time to start packing up your kitchen.  Here’s some practical advice for helping you to tackle this job:

Get your packing materials ready

For an average family sized kitchen, you’ll probably need the following materials:

• 5 large boxes – for lightweight and hard to pack items like plastic kitchenware, dish racks, small appliances, baking tins and kitchen linen
• 15 medium boxes – for heavier items like small appliances, packaged food, pots and pans, drawer contents, cutlery and cleaning materials.  Also for fragiles like crockery, glassware, wine, spirits and vases.  These boxes need to be heavy duty with double walled construction for extra strength.
• Packing paper
• Bubble wrap
• Packing tape

Once you have all your packing materials, start by packing items that you don’t use on a regular basis, these could include:

• Vases/canisters
• Wine glasses/tumblers
• Mixing bowls
• Baking equipment
• Some sealed/unopened food items

Focus on the Drawers

Turn your attention to your drawers and shelves.  Start with the messiest, ‘junk’ drawer.  Get rid of old or damaged items that aren’t used.  Pack the cutlery drawer, keeping one set per family member for your essentials box.  Work on cutlery by type and wrap each piece individually with packing paper.  Tape or wrap all spoons, etc. together, so that they can be easily put away when unpacking.

Next it’s the Dishes

Take your time with this step.  It’s worth ensuring that all china is well packed.  Wrap individual plates and bowls with packing paper and stack.  Cups and glasses should also be individually wrapped, placed in boxes lined with gently scrunched paper or bubble wrap for protection.  Seal boxes securely with packing tape and label.

Pots and Pans

Keep one small all-purpose pan for your essentials box.  Pack up all the rest, packing lids separately.  Stack your pots and pans in order of size, with smaller ones fitting into larger ones.  Use packing paper or bubble wrap in between to prevent scratching.  Once up to three or four pots are wrapped and stacked, wrap them all tightly together using packing paper or bubble wrap.  Take a medium sized box and line the inside with loosely scrunched up paper for padding and place your stacked pots within.  Seal boxes securely with packing tape and label.

Finish up the Food Packing

Your food cupboards should now only have the items you wish to take with you.  Start with the smaller items, wrapping and packing your way to the larger ones.  Arrange items in medium sized boxes with smaller items fitted around and in-between larger ones.

Prepare Appliances

This is the last step, which should be done around 24 hours in advance of your move.  Rushed appliance preparation can lead to leaks, broken parts or damaged appliances.  Read the advice in manuals about disconnection and preparing appliances for moving, but if you’re unsure, call in a professional.  Many moving companies will ask for all major appliances to be prepared before they arrive and some will offer a service that prepares appliances for a fee.

A simple step-by-step guide on how to prepare kitchen appliances will be discussed in the next article.  This will help you ensure that your appliances are ready to move when you are!

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Posted on May 11, 2011 by Ruth

Packing up your kitchen may seem a daunting task, with so many small and odd-shaped items, lots of breakables and fiddly appliances to negotiate.  It’s a good idea to sort, select and simplify your kitchen as a starting point.  This type of preparation will mean that the packing task itself will be quicker and less painful!!

First, decide what items need to be packed and eliminate those that don’t.  Think about where you are moving to – how much room do you have, how much cupboard space, worktop space and what’s the kitchen design and décor like?  All these things can help you determine what you need to pack.  Some of your items may be large and cumbersome, expensive to move, but relatively cheap to replace, so consider leaving these behind.

Food items are an area of contention in terms of whether to move them or not.  As soon as you know you are moving try to start eating up all those tinned and frozen foods.  Overall, think about implementing the weight/size versus cost to move ratio.  Small, light and relatively expensive food products such as spices, try to pack.  Unopened packages are worth packing.  Check all expiry dates as you pack.    Use containers for any opened and fragile food items that you wish to pack.  Obviously any perishables should be eaten or left behind, unless you are moving a short distance, in which case you could fill up a few cool bags.

Take a look at all your cleaning supplies, plan to pack any unopened containers.  Opened containers are perhaps best disposed of or carefully secured.

The planning of an essentials box is recommended, so that you’ll have access to the things you’ll need in the first few hours and days in your new home.  This should be the first box you’ll open and should provide you with what you need for basic living while you are in the process of unpacking and organising your home.  Label this box “Essentials” or “No. 1” to indicate its priority for unpacking. 

Here are some suggestions of what to include in your essentials box:

• Washing up liquid
• Dishcloth/tea towel
• Multi purpose cleaner (unopened) / cloth
• Salt & pepper
• Coffee/tea/biscuits
• Kettle
• Toaster
• Jar of pasta sauce / pack of pasta
• Jam / spread (unopened)
• Radio
• All purpose cutting knife
• Scissors
• Saucepan
• Toilet roll
• Small emergency kit
• Torch/ matches/candles
• Plate, cup, knife, fork, spoon for each family member

 So now you’ve prepped the kitchen, catch up with my next blog post which helps you tackle the big kitchen packing job!

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Posted on April 7, 2011 by Ruth

Correx board really is a wonder product.  Its a heavy duty, flexible material that is used  by the removals and construction trades to protect doors, walls, stairs and floors during a moving or renovation project.  The boards supplied by Teacrate Packaging come in sheets sized 1 x 2 metres and they may be cut to suit.

We're quickly discovering that Correx has a great appreciation in the world of Guinea Pigs, with several of our customers purchasing this product for making a home-made Guinea Pig cage.

Teacrate Packaging customer and Guinea Pig enthusiast, Kate Butcher, has kindly put together this DIY guide for the construction of a fantastic Guinea Pig cage using Correx.   Build your own cage

I'd also like to point any Guinea Pig lovers out there to Kate's great website www.rodentswithattitude.co.uk, which provides all sorts of facts and practical advice for Guinea Pig owners, with a forum for discussion of all matters relating to our furry friends.

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Posted on March 24, 2011 by Ruth

Many of our household electronics need special consideration when preparing them for a move.  Here is a step-by-step guide for packing up your electronics properly, so that damage is minimised during your move. 

• In the first instance, refer to the manufactures' guide or user's guide for special moving instructions. If you no longer have a user's guide, visit the manufacturer's website for an online version or to request a copy.
• If any piece of equipment has a toner or ink cartridge, remove it and store it in a sealable bag. Pack the bag in the same box with the piece of equipment that it was removed from. Also remove all CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes or other media from equipment. Pack media separately and carefully to prevent damage. Note: Some computer manufacturers recommend leaving a floppy disk in the A-drive (if you still have one) to prevent drive damage.
• If you have the original packaging, including box, use that to pack the equipment. If you don't, purchase electronic specialty boxes from a moving company or directly from the manufacturer. The manufacturer can sometimes provide you with a "return kit" at no or little cost.
• If speciality boxes or return kits are not available, use a double-walled box slightly larger than the piece of equipment you're moving. Teacrate Packaging supply specialist durable computer boxes of this type.  Also, you may wish to consider using plastic packing crates, which can be hired on-line at rentacrate.co.uk.
• Purchase coloured labels large enough to write on but small enough to secure to equipment connection ports. Coloured, sticky labels are the labels of choice.
• Before disconnecting any wires or plugs, mark the wire or cable and the port you're removing it from with the coloured labels. Colour code the ports and cables so you can reconnect them later. If you run out of different colours, you can also write a number on the label that will match the port and the cable.
• For extra protection, write down detailed step-by-step instructions on how you're dismantling the equipment so you can refer to it later when assembling it. Keep this instruction guide in the box with the equipment.
• Once you have the wires or cables disconnected, use cable ties to carefully secure the cables so they don't unravel. Place the cables and wires into a sealable bag and tape it to the piece of equipment.
• When packing electronics, you should always use antistatic products, such as antistatic bubblewrap. Never use materials that will conduct electricity as this could damage your electronics during handling.
• Remove all parts that can be disconnected. Wrap each piece separately in antistatic bubble wrap and secure ends with tape.  Use a thick layer of antistatic bubble wrap to line the bottom of the box. 
• Place the largest piece of equipment on the bottom. Fill holes with antistatic packing material. Place smaller protected items on top.
• Fill all remaining spaces with antistatic packing material. Make sure nothing rattles or will shift during the move.
• Seal the box with packing tape and mark it "Fragile" and indicate which end is up. Indicate the contents and which room it belongs in.

Note: CDs and software can not tolerate high temperatures. If you have sensitive media, you may want to carry it with you as opposed to moving it on a truck or van. If you are using professional movers speak to them about this issue before you ship.

What You Need:
Manufacturer's Guides
Original Box or Return Kit ; or Double-walled Box /Crates
Antistatic Packing 
Small Colour-coded Labels
Marker
Packing Tape
Cable Ties
Sealable Bags (Freezer or Sandwich Bags)

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Posted on March 17, 2011 by Ruth

The story begins in 1957 in a garage in Hawthorne, New Jersey, with two engineers, Marc Chavannes and Al Fielding.  Marc and Al were trying to make plastic wallpaper with a paper backing. Surprisingly, this product didn’t take off.  They realised, however, that their invention could be used as a cushioning packaging material.  At that time, only abrasive paper products were used for packaging, and they did not suffice for cushioning heavy or delicate items.  Marc and Al raised $9,000 to fund a developmental production line.  They incorporated Sealed Air Corporation in 1960, and today, Sealed Air is a leading worldwide manufacturer of numerous protective and specialty packaging materials with annual revenues exceeding 3 billion dollars.

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Posted on February 24, 2011 by Ruth

Whatever your DIY project, however large or small, the storage and organisation of your tools and materials throughout the job can often be a problem.  There’s nothing more infuriating than losing a particular item at a crucial stage and having to run out to buy another one.  And if your tools and materials are being kept in the home, there’s a strong case for careful storage from a safety perspective.   

This may not be such a big issue to those fortunate enough to own a workshop, garage or shed.  But even if you do have separate outside storage, the use of plastic storage crates to store and transport your job-specific tools and materials to and from your work site is a real benefit.  All your items are kept together and the risk of spillage and mess is vastly reduced.   If you need to take your equipment to another location, such as a friends or relatives home, then storage crates are ideal for use in the boot of a car.  They are easy to lift and carry with moulded handles each side.

Compared to the average cardboard box, plastic crates are by far the superior option for DIY projects.  They are robust, and durable and won’t get weakened by damp.  In storage they can be safely and easily stacked when full or nested when empty, taking up the minimum of space.  Crates and their contents are far less likely to be affected by mildew or mould than cardboard boxes, so they are a good option for storing outdoor items such as cushions and fabrics for garden furniture during the winter months.  The big benefit of plastic crates is that they don’t wear out – they can be used over and over again, which has got to be good for the environment.

Plastic storage crates come in all shapes and sizes.  Considering their average weight when full, the 50-80-litre range is probably suited to the needs of most people.  Crates can be quite inexpensive to acquire with many used, ex-rental products now available online.

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Posted on January 20, 2011 by Ruth

Lessen your environmental impact when moving by limiting the amount of waste that you generate. Packing materials are a big contributor to the environmental impact of a move; however, they are necessary to get the job done. Simply by being aware of the greener options and choices you have when it comes to packing materials you can plan and achieve a greener move and even save some money along the way!

Re-use cardboard boxes

You can re-use cardboard boxes and other packaging materials such as bubble wrap and packing paper. If you have saved the boxes for your larger items, and electronics, then these are ideal as they are likely to come with the appropriate internal packaging to protect the items as well. Check the durability of boxes, making sure that there are no weak spots. Solicit family and friends for their used boxes and materials ahead of your move. There are now a number of online suppliers of used cardboard boxes. If you need to purchase new packing boxes, choose products made from recycled material. Also, look out for cartons that are glued rather than stapled as gluing makes them 100% biodegradable. The higher quality, double walled boxes tend to be much more robust, so these may be re-used after your move.

Re-usable plastic crates

Plastic packing crates or containers present an environmentally sustainable option, as they are 100% re-useable so waste is drastically limited. Reusable containers do not require packing tape, something that can’t be recycled and takes a very long time to decompose. Crates may purchased outright or hired by the week. When hiring packing crates they are normally delivered and collected by the supplier from local depots. Crates are easily stackable with lockable lids, offering durable storage and security throughout your move – perfect also if your belongings are going into storage.

Limit the quantity of packing material used

The less stuff you have to move, the less packing material you’ll need. Achieve this by getting rid of unwanted things before your move. Certain items may be suitable for sale, so e-Bay is a good option here. If you want to sell more locally, posting adverts in your local paper, local online networks, your work notice board, or local shops can be effective. Alternatively, you could hold a garage sale or car boot sale. Other items could be donated to local charities or to friends, relatives or neighbours, who may find the items of use.

Just stopping to think about the waste that you could be creating as a result of your move, and the steps that you could practically take to limit this waste is a good starting point. In the end, the best course of action you can follow for a greener move is to do the best that you can do with the resources that you have.

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Posted on January 6, 2011 by Ruth

With the New Year upon us, its time to take down and pack away the Christmas decorations if you haven't done so already.

Packing and storing decorations correctly is important if you want to stay organised, prolong the life of your decorations and keep down the clutter around your home.

Choose strong cardboard boxes for packing and storing your decorations. Plastic lidded crates or totes are also ideal. Try to retain as much of the original packaging as possible, especially for storing fragile items like glass baubles. Alternatively, use dividers to separate decorations rather than throwing them all loosely into one box. Clearly label boxes on the outside so that you know the contents a year on ... e.g. tree decorations, outdoor decorations, indoor decorations etc.

Have a clear out. If you have more decorations than you actually use then the chances are that you need to get rid of some. Throw away damaged items or ones with missing pieces.

For additional protection while packing boxes use bubble wrap or tissue paper. Used wrapping paper could also be an option. Seal lids down securely with tape.

For effective organisation year on year consider storing other seasonal items such as table linen, candles, Christmas DVDs and CDs together with your decorations. How you sort, label and store your supplies can make a huge difference in whether decorating and preparing your home next year is a stressful or fun activity!

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