Packing Guide

General

• From the time you decide to sell, put aside the following as you come across them: spare boxes, marking pen, bubble wrap, newspaper and tissue, parcel tap (lots of it) and scissors.
• A tape measure comes in surprisingly handy.
• Use strong boxes and do not overfill them – otherwise they cannot be stacked on top of another.
• Purchase special boxed for dishes, wardrobe and other special items.
• Pack audio-video equipment in their original boxes if possible and label audio leads for easy recognition later.
• If removing screws, tape them to the objects they are removed from.
• Label each box and indicate the following on at least tow sides of the box: (a) Which room it should go in (b) Whether it is fragile (c) If it should be loaded last so it will be unloaded first.
• Name each room in the new property and stick labels with these names on the door of each so the removal men are clear as to which is which.
• Save room by using towels and blankets to wrap fragile items rather than bubble wrap, which take up a lot of space and you’ll only have to dispose of it later.
• Pack books tightly on end in small boxes. If they smell musty sprinkle talcum powder between the pages and wrap the book before packing. Leave stored for a couple of months to eliminate the smell.
• Pack heavy and lighter things together to avoid excessively heavy boxes.
• Have rugs and curtains cleaned during the moving period so they will be fresh fro your new property and will not have creased in transit.
• Pack medicines in a leak proof container.
• Carry all valuables with you.
• Take the kettle, mugs, tea, biscuits, milk, etc in the car with you.

Plants

• Two weeks before the move, prune where necessary to facilitate packing.
• Place the plants in cardboard boxes. Hold them in place with dampened newspaper. Use paper to cushion the leaves and place a fine layer of wet newspaper on top to keep them moist.
• Close the boxes, punch air holes in the top and label “PLANTS – FRAGILE”.
• Keep in a cool dark place and load last
• Unpack the plants as soon as possible after arrival. Remove plants through the bottom of the box to avoid breaking the stems. Do not expose the plants to much sunlight at first. Let them get gradually accustomed to more light.

Pets

• Cats and dogs can be taken in your car. But remember to take food, water, a lead and newspaper sheets to keep your car clean.
• Animals can get car-sick and will require frequent stops along the way if you are moving more than 50 miles away.
• On arrival, put your cat/dog in a closed room (but well ventilated) and let them get used to the new surroundings before venturing further afield. This especially applies to cats, who should be allowed into the rest of the house only after a couple of days, followed by supervised access to the garden after a further week.
• Put something with a familiar scent on it with your car of dog to help them settle quickly into your new home.
• Hamsters, birds and other small animals can easily be transported in your car. To help keep the animals calm and quiet, cover cages with a cloth. Also, make sure they have food and water available.
• It can be very impractical and risky to move fish. Check with your local pet shop for recommendations on moving your specific type of fish.