There is more to moving house than simply throwing all your stuff in the back of a van and hoping for the best. There are several things to take care of as you go, and in order to make your move as easy as possible, we’ve put together some tips to help you along the way.

The first thing you want to take care of is your paperwork – try to keep this all in one place so that when you come to notify people of you change of address you have everything you need to hand. There are a few people and companies that you’re going to want to notify, including your utility companies, your employer, your children’s school(s), you bank, your GP and dentist, and above all, the DVLA and your insurance provider. The last thing you want while on the phone to the bank is to have to rummage around several boxes for that one letter that you know you packed in one of these boxes…

The next thing you want to take care of is your list of what to pack. Make a priority packing list so that you know what to pack and how many boxes you need to pack them in. Do this as early as possible as packing always takes longer than you first think it will. Start small, packing one room at a time starting upstairs and working your way down. This will allow you to keep everything together, and organise things room by room, making life easier.

Professional movers will always load large furniture items first, so make sure that you have easy access to these when your removal company arrives. You should also wrap fragile items like mirrors and pictures in bubble wrap – this is extremely cheap to buy and can save you untold stress at the end of the journey. Glasses, plates, pots and pans should all be wrapped in free acid paper tissue, and big items like TVs should be packed in their original packaging where possible. If you’ve thrown these away, bubble wrap, duvets and blankets all make for great padding during transit.

Remember to check the weight of your boxes periodically – it’s easy to pack a box so full that it’s impossible for one person to lift without the bottom falling out. An easy way to avoid this is to only pack books in small boxes and only use large boxes for light, bulky items.

Remember if you need any help packing, you can always use a professional packing service like we provide here at Bright Movers!