All this planning and preparing can leave little time for anything else leaving you wishing you never started it in the first place. However; if you plan properly then you are sure to find that the process is a lot easier, smooth and efficient.

Here are a few important tips to help you pack your personal belongings properly so nothing gets damaged and nothing is left behind.

1. Checklist

Make sure that you write out a checklist of all your items that you need to pack and send with a removals company. This will help you pack your items properly and get rid of items you don’t need.

2. Dispose of unwanted belongings

Don’t pack items you don’t need. This is a great time to get rid of your personal belongings that are of no longer of use. You could take unwanted items to a charity shop or do a car boot sale. This will help cut your moving costs and give you a fresh start in your new home.

3. Pack Things Properly

It is important to categorise your items and make sure you have plenty of packing and moving suppliers to pack all of your personal belongings. Make sure that the boxes are sturdy and of good quality. Use padding materials and cartons so your items don’t get damaged.

4. Look out of fragile items

All your fragile items need to packed properly and given extra care and attention. Make sure your items are looked after carefully. If you are unsure how to pack certain items then why not speak to your removals company who can help you pack your fragile items in the most convenient and effective way.

5. Label and colour code

Make sure that all your boxes are labelled and colour coded so you know whats in them and which room they are going in to make life a whole lot easier when you come to pack your personal belongings.

6. Hire a removals company

And if you really have no motive, interest or understanding then why not consider employing a removals company like Robinsons who can help you pack, and deliver your personal belongings to arrive safely at your new home.

Revealed by the largest database of home movers, the reasons behind this date are down to the fact that its around the time that children are returning to school after a long summer holiday with parents wanting them to get settled before the fast approaching colder months that will soon be upon us.

There are a variety of things to consider when moving home so it is highly important that you keep a checklist of all the things you need to do before, during and after the move.

Research conducted by the Post Office found that

• 42 per cent of people cancel bills and notify suppliers a week or less before moving out.
• 28 per cent only notify their bank and other officials of their new address a week or less before their moving date
• 26 per cent buy furniture before they have moved
• 15 per cent start thinking about how to decorate a whole month before they have moved in.

Hugh Stacey, Head of Post Office HomePhone, explained, “Our findings show a surprisingly large number of people make little or no effort to plan their move in advance, despite it being a huge life event.

“With only two weeks until the busiest day of the year for moving home, if people act quickly there is still enough time to give notice for your land line and broadband to be transferred in time for your move or for a new supplier to get you connected,” he added.

To receive help and advice on the packing and shipping of your personal belongings visit Robinsons removals company today.

When packing your clothes, a great storage solution is to use wardrobe boxes, which will keep them from getting dusty and can be took straight out and hung into the wardrobe.

Loose items like shoes, socks and undergarments can also be packed in normal bags to reduce the weight.

To make all these ideas come to life, a good idea is to contact a removals company to deal with all your moving needs.

It is important, if you are international movers, to contact an overseas removals company to ensure that your personal belongings arrive safely to your final destination.

These days, most people don’t have time for home removals and the stress of dealing with it all can become a major problem.

There are many aspects to moving home which need to be considered such as the packing and shipping of your personal belongings.

Making sure that you don’t misplace a single item can be stressful in its own right, as well as dealing with transferring items, packing things safely, unloading and emptying everything and rearranging furniture in your desired manner; so much hassle in a short space of time.

Hiring a professional removals company can relieve the stress and worry of all these matter whether you need a removals service within the UK or overseas removals abroad.

International movers should make sure that they contact a professional removals company well in advance to ensure their items are delivered on time when you arrive at your destination.

Garden/Shed

• Loosen, lower and turn bicycle handlebars at right angles to save space. Clean all chains and cover the pedals with corrugated card to prevent other items from being snagged or soiled.
• Drain lawnmowers before packing away. Remove the handle from lawnmower and place blade end in sturdy box.
• Drain hoses and pack into a box. Fill remaining space with lawn sprinklers, small garden hand tools, etc small brooms, shovels and other long handled tools together with handywrap.

If you need a helping hand with moving home, contact removals company Robinsons for more information and a free quote.

Dining Room

• Wrap all chair legs and chair arms to prevent scratching. Bundle all armless in pairs, seat to seat, with a folded blanket or other padding between and tie seats together.
• All larger table legs should be taken apart, wrapped and tied together. Place all nuts and bolts into resealable bag and label so you know where they go when it comes to reassembling them. Us a furniture blanket to cover table tops.
• Wrap smaller table tops in a furniture blanket and wrap legs together to prevent scratching.

• All china and glassware should be wrapped separately. A good idea would be to use seven sheets of tissue paper, start from the corner and continually wrap around, tucking in overlapping edges. Make sure everything is completely cushioned to prevent breakage. Mark box FRAGILE-THIS SIDE UP when packing.
• Protect your silver pieces from tarnishing by completely enclosing them in tissue paper and bubble wrap.
• If your silverware is kept in a chest, fill the drawers with tissue paper and bubble wrap to prevent it from moving around during the move.

If you are moving home and need a reliable removalscompany to help pack and send your personal belongings, contact Robinsons removals today.

Lounge

• Pack houseplants in tall boxes to prevent foliage.
• Use protective plastic or bags for your armchair and sofas.
• Wrap your best furniture in bubble wrap or furniture blankets to protect it from dust and mites and from being scratched during the move.
• It would be easier to take your furniture apart but remember to pack all parts together and nuts and bolts stores in resealable bags, labelled so you know how to put it back together in your new home.
• Dissemble lamps and place the bases in the boxes stuffed with packing paper and bubble wrap. Pack lampshades individually into boxes with plenty of packing paper and stuffing. Don’t use newspaper and the ink will run onto your furniture.
• Vacuum all carpets and rugs, roll them up in a plastic cover then secure with handy wrap.
• Tape an X over all mirrors and paintings framed with glass. Wrap with bubble wrap. Small mirrors can be packed into boxes. It is best to put large picture frames and mirrors in purpose-made picture boxes. Make sure you mark GLASS on the outside of the box to prevent it from being mishandled.
• Make sure tv’s and stereos are well padded on both sides.
• Pack CD’, games and DVD’s into purpose built boxes. The same goes for any records you have. Make sure that you mark the box as Fragile.
• Wrap all small ornaments, fragile items in tissue paper or bubble wrap and put into boxes. Pack ornaments in their own separate boxes.

If you need to hire a removals company to move home or office, contact Robinsons removals today. The removals company deal with the packing, storage and delivery of your items to your new home.

Bedroom

• Duvets, pillows and lighter bulky items are best strapped with handywrap and then stored in extra large boxes. You could even put fragile items inside the boxes, but just don’t forget that they are there.
• Take your bedframes to bits. Keep all items together with handywrap and store all nuts and bolts in a self seal bag. Make sure you label each bag and don’t mix it with other furniture as it will be a nightmare to reassemble.
• Protect your mattress with a mattress cover or a large plastic sheet.
• All hung clothing is best stored inside a wardrobe box – simply move the hangers straight into the box. Place shoes at the bottom. Wardrobe boxes can also act as temporary storage units until you find the time to unpack properly. Loose clothing in drawers is best stored in suitcases or suitcase boxes.
• For books, use only book boxes as they get heavy, very fast. Use the sides of the box to slide paper backs down if there is free space. Lay the books flat inside the box to avoid bending the spine.
• Place all curtain rails and blinds in a protective bag and secure with handy-wrap.
• Dressers – Fill the drawers with loose items and cushion with loose clothing. Don’t overfill them as this will make it harder to carry. Seal the drawers with tap or a lock so they don’t open when carrying.
• Any valuables should be kept with you at all times. Jewellery should be placed into small containers making sure that they don’t get tangled up.

In Part Three we will be looking at the lounge and how you can pack your personal belongings properly to ensure a safe and efficient move.

If you are looking for a removals company to help you make that international or national move, contact Robinsons Removals today for more information and a free quote.

Finding the time to deal with your household removals can be chaotic and leave you stressed and unenthusiastic about moving into your new home.

Then there are the other tasks that need to be fulfilled, including notifying your utility services that you are moving, changing addresses at your bank and notifying your landline provider that you need to change contact numbers.

With all this to consider, packing can be boring, a chore and something you would prefer to leave till the very last minute.

If you choose to do the packing by yourself, you should start by packing your belongings in large, durable boxes, to save room and money.

Packing to move home, whether you are international movers or moving down the road, is a perfect way to clear out old and unwanted items which often lay at the back of the cupboard or in the loft.

 A good idea is to send them to a charity shop or do a car boot sale, as someone else may find good use for them.

As the time approaches for you to move into your new home, you should look to book a removals company to collect your stuff to take to your new destination.

If you are looking for an overseas removals service, you should look to book earlier in advance, so they can book the necessary arrangements to get your personal belongings to your destination on time.

Make sure that you notify your local post office to re-direct any mail, until you get round to changing your address details.

As easy as it sounds, there is often many underlying costs that get in the way which may not be apparent on first glance.

Many countries, particularly the desired ones, have tough systems integrated to ensure the people they allow into their country have something to offer their economy back. For example, if you have a desired skill that a country requires, they will allow you into their country on a working visa. Other countries may allow you in if you have family in the country or a sizeable amount of money to invest.  However, some countries only require you to be financially independent and not living off the state.

Doing your homework before moving abroad is essential to ensure your move is as smooth as possible.

Look to answer the following questions; Are your skills relevant to the employment market? Could you require the necessary skills? Is the culture of your chosen country different to that of the UK? If so, could you and your family adjust? Would you miss your family and friends unbearably?  It is so important to be realistic with your answers to ensure this is right for you.

On top of these primary questions, make a checklist of the following areas, making sure you are in full control and have knowledge of all incomings and outgoings before moving abroad.

1. Visas and residency

Check that the visa you are purchasing is correct for the country you are travelling to and what you need it for i.e. working visa.

Each country requires different things so make sure you are aware of what you are asking for.

1. 2. Personal Finance

Make sure that your budgets are planned properly and realistically before you begin to move. Taxation is a complicated area, particularly when dealing with overseas moves, and need to be thought out properly.

For example Canada’s banking system does not recognise ISA’s which are tax-free in the UK, so check these grey areas before diving in.

3. Retirement

If you are looking to retire abroad, then you must make sure that you are aware of what is involved before you flee abroad.

Look at how your pension will be handled and whether it protected in the country you are moving too.

4. Healthcare and medical treatment

Look to see whether the country you are moving to provides medical treatment for you and your family before you move abroad.

Some countries, like the USA, have private health care, while countries such as Canada and Spain offer state health care.

Make sure that if you are on regular medication, you have enough with you between leaving the UK and signing on with another doctor at your new destination.

5. Property matters

Whether you are making a clean break and selling up, or renting your home in the UK while you are away, make sure that you are fully aware of what is being paid and spent by you before you move abroad.

It is essential to seek advice from a lawyer who speaks fluent English to ensure that you know what you are signing and what you are taking on.

6. Removals services

Packing and shipping your belongings is something that should not be done alone and employing a removals company to do the hard work for you eliminates the stress and worries that come with moving house.

It is a good idea to contact an overseas removals company in advance to make sure that the move is as painless as possible.

Firstly check that the removals company you use is accredited to a trade association, such as the British Association of Removers.

Next, ensure that they can provide insurance and what it actually covers.

When given a quotation, look to see whether it includes the destination port charges, destination customs and quarantine charges.

Check to see where your goods will be stored if not shipped within the next 24 hours or have to wait in a country for their next pick up.

Ask for delivery dates and times and ensure that you are kept informed with everything from packing to unpacking of your products.

When looking for a removals company, look to search for a company with plenty of experience. Robinsons is a specialist overseas removals company that can offer a variety of services to aid your move abroad.

With over 100 years experience in the industry, customers can track their personal belongings at any stage of the shipping, purchase insurance to cover their personal belongings, and rest assured that their items will arrive safely and securely within the set time given by staff at international removals company, Robinsons.

In fact there is so much to think about and organise that packing can be a last minute dash with everything hurled into one box, into the van, to arrive at your new house in a complete mess!

Well to give you that helping hand, we have come up with a Perfect Packing Plan so you can organise your personal belongings to arrive in one piece to your new home.

The four part plan will give you all the information you need to get your belongings from A to B so you can spend the rest of your time worrying about the bills, insurance and the kids.

Part One: The Kitchen

• Sharp knives? If you have a knife block keep them all inside and wrap carefully. If you knives are loose wrap separately for your safety and protection.
• Put a pot in a pot! Utilise the space inside your pots and pan with other kitchen appliances so you have less boxes to carry. Invert the lid of your pots and pans, placing the handle down.
• Wrap each of your glasses separately in tissue or wrapping paper. Make sure you write FRAGILE on the box when finished.
• Wrap plates so they stand on their edge rather than placing them one on top of the other. The box will weigh much more. Do this with saucers, side plates and platters.
• Individually wrap dishes and place them on top of the other as you would do in your cupboard. Cups and dishes can be wrapped in 4’s with a layer of bubble wrap separating each dish. Pack the top dish with scrunched newspaper.
• Put bottles of wine and spirits into wine boxes. Any damage to these bottles can cause further problems to other belongings inside the box.
• Pack small appliances into their original packaging. If this is not available then find a box which it will fit inside and wrap it with tissue paper. Further wrap it in bubble wrap to keep it secure.
• Dry out refrigerators and freezers.
• For larger appliances, strip all lose fittings and movable parts and cushion were possible.

Come back tomorrow to see what’s going on in the bedroom!

If packing ins’t really your thing, why not leave it in the hands of removalscompany Robinsons. Professionally trained in packing and shipping peoples personal belongings around the world, Robinsons can take care of your move so you don’t have to.