Author: Elaine Ford
Sealing the deal for your new home is about as exciting as it gets. It’s the chance for a fresh start and the opportunity to put your stamp on a completely new property. However, before you can pop open the champagne and raise a toast to your new home, you first need to get your head around how to pack for moving house.
Very few people, if any, enjoy the process of packing, especially the lengthy ordeal of having to pack up everything you and your family own in the whole world into small boxes and plastic bags when moving home.
Unfortunately, though, it has to be done. However, there are ways in which you can make this undertaking a little bit easier, quicker and less stress-inducing.
From using a colour-coded labelling system to picking the right large boxes. Systematically making your way through your home works! Keep reading to discover our top packing tips on how you can effectively pack for moving house and avoid any potential packing disasters.
Start by decluttering – Everybody has items in their house that they no longer want or need. They may have been hidden in a drawer or under a bed for some time and you may be surprised at just how much unwanted clutter you have squirreled away. These items should be thrown away or donated immediately as you do not want to have to pay a removal company to deliver things to your new property that you don’t even want.
Make sure you are thorough with this process and clear out your entire home, including your loft, basement, garden, garage, and any other exterior spaces, and have a very clearly labelled essentials box to ensure that it doesn’t accidentally make its way to the charity shop!
Scrutinise your new floorplan – You may have been provided with a brochure containing a floorplan of your new property when you originally viewed it, complete with the exact dimensions of all of the rooms.
This is a handy document to keep as you can then inspect this plan and use it to help you decide which furniture you can comfortably take to your new home, plus you can check measurements for elements such as curtains, blinds and rugs.
The earlier you undertake this task, the sooner you can sell any items that will not fit or are not needed in your new home.
Make an Inventory List – Our next packing tip is to make a detailed inventory list. You should make a comprehensive list of any of your valuable and smaller belongings that you will be taking to your new home.
This is important for ensuring that nothing gets lost while being transported, as well as helping to work out how many and which type of packing boxes you will need. It can also help you identify how much paper or bubble wrap you need for packing fragile items.
Pick a reputable Removals Company – You can choose to rent a van and carry out your move yourself. However, be warned, this is a tough job, especially if you have a lot of heavy or delicate items to move. Therefore, most people will decide to save themselves from the stress and outsource this job to a local removal company.
As you are entrusting all your worldly possessions to this company, you will want to ensure that you pick a reputable one that has received a lot of positive reviews. If in doubt, ask family and friends for recommendations.
Start Packing – Now, you can actually start packing up your belongings. It is a good idea to purchase high-quality packing materials, including sturdy boxes, bubble wrap and tissue paper, to avoid any breakages. You can also utilise scrunched-up paper to prevent items such as TV and computer screens, mirrors and picture frames from becoming scratched.
You should work your way systematically through your house, starting at the top of the property and completing each room before you move on to the next, as this will help prevent you from forgetting any items.
The most effective labelling system is using colour-coded labels to identify different rooms in your home, such as blue for bathroom items, yellow for kitchen accessories and so on. This will make the unpacking process in your new home a lot simpler.
Other packing tips include:
- Pack heavy items in smaller boxes
- Clearly label boxes that contain breakables or valuable items
- Utilise blankets and pillows for packing delicate items
- Pack important documents such as passports, marriage and birth certificates in one box together
Prepare an overnight bag – You may not want to start unpacking straight away when you arrive at your new home, especially if you have had a long journey. Therefore, you should pack an overnight essentials bag so that you have clean clothes and toiletries on hand without having to start opening securely taped boxes.
In your overnight bag, you may want to include the following:
- Clean clothes
- Nightwear
- Essential toiletries
- A kettle with coffee/teabags
- Snacks
- Plates, cutlery, mugs and a cloth
- A first-aid kit
- A torch
- A small tool kit
It is also a good idea to pack a small bag for the journey that includes any important documents you may need such as the details of your removal company, bottled water and a selection of snacks and in-car mobile phone chargers.
Frequently asked Questions about packing to move house
How should I pack hanging clothes for moving? To pack hanging clothes efficiently, leave them on hangers and group several garments together with a plastic bag tied around the bottom. This method keeps them neat and allows for easy unpacking in your new wardrobe.
Is it advisable to use the same box for different room items? It’s best to pack items from the same room in one box to streamline the unpacking process. Colour-coded labels on boxes can further help identify specific rooms, making the organization in your new home more efficient.
How many cardboard boxes do I need for a typical house move? The number of boxes required depends on the size of your home, but as a general guide, estimate around 10-20 boxes per room. Keep in mind the need for extra boxes for fragile or small items, and don’t forget to label each box with its contents.
What’s the best way to wrap delicate items when packing? Use packing paper or bubble wrap to wrap delicate items individually. To add extra protection, consider placing wrapped items in small boxes and filling any gaps with crumpled packing paper or cardboard to prevent movement during transit.
if you would like more advice, or are considering a move, call our experienced team today.
Author: Elaine Ford
When you’re renting out your property, you want to get things right. After all, it’s your property, and you want to ensure it is going to be looked after and that the rent is going to be paid. It’s a business, and you don’t want any interruptions to occupancy.
Author: Elaine Ford
For many people, buying a bigger house or building an extension is an unaffordable dream, but being short of space doesn’t mean you have to feel squashed in your home.
Author: Elaine Ford
There are several reasons why you might be considering becoming a landlord. Perhaps you’re moving away for work but don’t want to sell your home, or you may have inherited a property from a relative and want to generate a monthly income from it.
Whatever your reasons for becoming a landlord, the following guide will help you answer the question of how to get started.
Being a Landlord is a Business – Many people find themselves thinking that if they had the money, they’ll just buy a few houses to rent out and live a stress-free life off the income.
While this is great in theory, it’s very rarely this straightforward. Being a landlord and owning rental property doesn’t just mean waiting for the rent to flood in each month. There are taxes to pay, tenants to deal with and maintenance costs to consider.
It can be a great source of income, but don’t fall into the trap of thinking it’s an easy way to make a fortune with very little work. It can be just as demanding as running an actual business.
Is your property suitable to rent out? It’s not just a case of buying a property sticking it online and waiting for the first tenant to come along.
Before you consider becoming a landlord it’s important to do some research into the rental market, many towns and cities are rental hotspots with potentially excellent returns, while others may be a bit flat with far less demand for rental properties.
Take a look to see how much other similar properties are being rented out for in the area as this will give you a good indication of your potential returns.
Another thing to consider when it comes to suitability is the condition of your property. If you’re planning to move away and rent your property out then you’ll need to make sure all those little odd jobs and minor issues that you’ve been delaying have been fixed before tenants move in.
The last thing you’ll want when you’ve just moved out is to be taking phone calls about broken fences, unserviced boilers or drafty windows.
Work out your monthly costs – Including void periods – While rental properties can be lucrative, they can also very quickly become a drain on your finances too, so it’s important to take into account all of the costs that you’ll incur before deciding whether becoming a landlord is right for you.
If the property is mortgaged then this will be your single biggest cost each month, and you’ll need to factor in potential void periods where the property is empty.
During these periods you’ll have costs such as Council Tax and Utility Bills to consider, so it’s important that you work out how much all of these expenses will add up to each month.
And not forgetting you’ll need some ‘rainy day’ money put aside for those one off costs, such as a new boiler or windows.
Check if you can rent your property out – Depending on your mortgage agreement, to be able to rent out your property you may need to switch to a ‘buy to let’ mortgage.
Similarly if you bought your property under a Shared Ownership Scheme then it’s unlikely you’ll be able to rent that out without speaking to the Housing Association first either.
Put simply, it’s best to check with your mortgage provider in advance, as you don’t want to run into trouble further down the line.
Consider how you want your property to be marketed – Some of the things you’ll need to consider when marketing your property include clauses for pets, whether to allow smoking or vaping and whether to rent the property as furnished or unfurnished.
You’ll also need to decide whether to rent through a lettings agent or do it privately. Using a lettings agent will mean an additional expense each month, but this option has the advantage of taking a lot of the stress out of dealing with tenants directly and finding tenants yourself, so it will ultimately make your life a bit easier.
Check your legal responsibilities – Last but certainly not least, you’ll need to be aware of the legal responsibilities that come with renting out a property.
There are several criteria that you’ll need to meet, including making sure the property is fit for human habitation, having a gas and electrical safety check carried out every year, having an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) in place and having smoke and carbon monoxide alarms fitted and functioning.
Author: Elaine Ford
Completion day is without doubt the best part of the entire home buying process. It’s on this day that you’ll pick up the keys and take possession of your new home.
Author: Elaine Ford
Be one of the first through the doors – Receive exclusive access to properties prior to them coming live to the market
Perry Bishop offers you exclusive access to new properties before they’re listed on popular portals like Rightmove and Zoopla. Even if you’re just considering a move with no set timeframe, you can gain priority access to these listings.
By joining Perry Bishop’s VIP Buyers Club, you’ll gain access to properties marketed on a ‘low-key’ basis, which won’t be visible on our website or other property portals.
We are excited to welcome all prospective home movers to the Very Important Purchasers buyers club and assist with their next move. Regardless of whether your moving plans are long or short term, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local Perry Bishop team.
We’re here to support you every step of the way, from the moment you start contemplating a move to the day you actually settle into your new home.
Even if you are just thinking about a move, we would love to hear from you.
We care about property, we care about you.
Author: Elaine Ford
When you own a leasehold property, you do not have ownership of the land it occupies. For apartments, possession typically excludes shared areas such as hallways, stairs and the buildings structure.
Author: Elaine Ford
Author: Elaine Ford
At Perry Bishop, we understand that selling your property and finding your next home can be a delicate balance. That’s why we offer a solution – Market Ready!
If you would prefer to start with a gentler approach to marketing, until you have identified a suitable property to move to, you can take advantage of our market ready approach.
We will prepare photography, floorplans, EPC and description to create a brochure ready and waiting for you to commence the marketing when you are ready.
This will save any delays and give you the best chance of securing your onward purchase once you have found the right property.
Whatever stage you are at in your moving house journey, even if you’re only thinking about a move, we look forward to hearing from you. Book your appointment now for expert property advice and an up-to-date valuation.
Get in touch with us today to explore how Market Ready can work for you.
Author: Elaine Ford
- Using modern communication platforms such as WhatsApp
- Leveraging online portals for rent collection and maintenance requests
- Installing smart home technology to increase the appeal of your property
- Using technology-driven security systems to give your tenants peace of mind