Pack Valuables Like a Pro

The most tiresome and chaotic stage of moving house is the packing process. Not even the transportation, nor the lifting and moving itself are as tedious as deciding what you should pack and what you should leave behind. Then the hours of sorting and safe packaging come, and you start to regret all the fine china dining sets. And at this point, you certainly don't appreciate your partner's Star Wars action figures collection. But the toughest job is to ensure the safety of your valuable possessions and of fragile items. You will significantly ease the process if you prepare in advance and have some sort of moving strategy to make the process less overwhelming.

You should start by sorting all of your belongings. A good rule of thumb is not to mix items from different rooms in common boxes. Also, always label your boxes. You might think it's pointless, or that you'll recognise everything later, but the truth is you risk mixing up everything, and wasting time on finding the right box.

After you have sorted your belongings by room, and type (appliances, clothes, books, valuables etc.), you can start the packing itself. Don't make the boxes too heavy, you might risk them breaking, and not to tell the danger for your back when moving. It's best to fill the cardboard boxes without leaving too much empty space between the objects. If you do, you risk everything sliding back and forth inside while you move them. Fill in the space with clothes, or towels if you have to. Also, remember to put the heaviest items at the bottom, and the lightest on top.

When you come to the point of packing valuables, always remember to label the boxes as "fragile", in order to prevent accidents. Use plenty of bubble wrap to cushion glass objects. Make sure the bubbles are left on the outside for better protection. As an alternative, you can use lots of old newspapers, they'll prevent glass from breaking as well. Another good tip is to always put dishes on their sides, and not flat in the boxes.

When you pack electronics and appliances, be careful to choose the most suitable size for the boxes. Again, don't keep back on the bubble wrap, and indicate the boxes contain fragile objects. Also, keep them as far away from moisture as possible.

Be most couscous with art pieces. Never wrap them in bubble wrap straight away. Professional removalists recommend you always wrap paintings in paper first, and put bubble wrap only as a second layer. The reason is, if a bubble pops, it might leave an imprint on the art. Now there is even pop-less bubble wrap which aims for better protection (but takes all the fun away). Buy special crating for art, or ask your movers to use one, when transporting your valued possessions.

Finally, stock on some high-quality pacing tape. Tape the top and bottom edges of heavier boxes, for better support. Put a few layers of tape to ensure the lids are well-closed.