So the search is over, and you’ve found your dream home in Staffordshire, UK, to move into. That’s brilliant news; it is. The next chapter of your life can begin.
But wait. You’ve got to do the moving bit now, and that can often be as daunting as finding a new home in the first place.
If you’ve been in your current home for many years and brought your family up, you’ll know you’ve probably got hundreds or thousands of things hanging about the place.
From treasured trinkets, family photos, pictures and paintings to cutlery, pots, pans and plates, you’ve got a lot of things to transport to your new home.
So, how many boxes do you need to move house? This is precisely the sort of question the team at one4property always asks! Of course, you need an idea of how many boxes to order or collect from people who have them going spare.
First, it depends on what you’re taking with you. Will you take everything lock, stock and barrel, or can you make a priority packing list?
Isn’t it an excellent opportunity to throw out some knick-knacks, gift some ornaments, make a few pounds from selling things, or donate to a charity shop?
Seriously, think about it. Not only will you declutter, but you could also make some money and save on buying as many boxes as possible.
So once you’ve decluttered, you’re ready to pack away your belongings.
How many boxes now?
If you Google this, you’ll see that the word average is used a lot. There is, of course, the problem in that what does average mean? Are you below or above average? How would you know?
But we must start somewhere; the average age is an excellent rule of thumb (although you must use common sense if you think you’re below or above).
According to the Removal Reviews website, a family of three or four people “with an average amount of possessions” will need around ten small, medium, and five large boxes.
Meanwhile, a family of four might in a three-bed, need 15 small boxes, ten medium boxes and ten large boxes.
However, many packaging websites will help you calculate how many boxes you need and show you that there are differently-shaped boxes too.
We’ve seen boxes designed to act as wardrobes or chests that help with documents. Only you will know if you need specialist boxes.
Don’t forget that you will also need to factor in packaging materials: bubble wrap, tape, string, etc.
Top Tip: You can save money using bed linen or clothes to wrap some items. Newspapers can also be used to fill any spaces in boxes.
Pack from the top down.
We suggest it’s best to choose one room and target that for packing everything first, before moving to a different room. It helps with organization and should keep any mess to a minimum. If you have one, you should also start at the top of the house, in the attic.
Pack heavy items in small boxes.
Another tip is that heavy items such as books should be in smaller boxes – they’ll be easier to handle, and the packages will be more robust. If you fill a large box with many heavy items, you could be storing up trouble.
Start your packing in good time.
One of the critical things you must think about is time. Packing things up can take more time than you anticipate. Not only because you might have a lot of things, but because the chances are you’ll be thinking about the memories those things bring back, remembering holidays and parties and get-togethers. It would be best if you were focused or at least knew what you’re like and factored it into your planning.
Use a professional removal service.
Don’t forget; there is another way. A lot of removal companies will do the packing for you. They can visit your home beforehand for a survey or video survey so they don’t have to travel and come into your property first. They’ll give you an estimate of how many boxes you need to move home, and if it is a service they offer, they can do the packing for you.
If you need some advice, please don’t hesitate to call our team at one4property on 07950795074 or email us at admin@one4property.com, and we will be delighted to offer our words of wisdom.
