6 Tips for Packing Items Safely and Securely During a House Move in London
Moving in and around London isn’t the easiest thing in the world. Parking is rarely straightforward; the streets are busy even outside of rush hour; and you’re probably already dealing with the stress of costs, deposits, and official documents. Here are six quick tips to make a stressful day smoother.
Prepare early
Everything’s more stressful when you leave things to the last minute, whether it’s packing for a holiday, planning how you’re going to host a party, buying a plane ticket for a work trip… whatever it might be. And of course that applies to moving homes. Try not to cram everything into the final weekend before your moving day. Get ready early, spread the chores out, and benefit from the (relative) lack of stress. Then maybe some parts of moving day might be enjoyable – at the very least you can look forward to the moment you sit on the sofa, put your feet up, and look around at your new home.
Look ahead at the transport links
Each area of London is different, though the tube generally covers the city very well. Have a look at what Transport for London (TfL) offers in the area you’re moving to (and between your current home and the new place, if you’re not using your own vehicle on moving day). That’ll make both moving day and the first few days and weeks more straightforward. Your journey to work might be completely different (hopefully easier). You might’ve never heard of a tram before and suddenly they’re the easiest option. Getting this planning out of the way will remove one thing from the back of your mind. The Citymapper app is extremely useful: it’ll show you the easiest routes (tube, on foot, bus, etc.) and sometimes save you money.
Don’t say no to professional help
Some people might be able to move on their own without a problem – maybe you’re a professional mover yourself, or you love a long, hard workout and don’t mind lifting endless boxes, or you’ve helped a bunch of friends move in the past. But most people (nearly everyone) can benefit from some help. Professional movers in London have decades of experience, have seen every kind of move (from local to international), and are fully insured. You can get a quick quote online, and also benefit from several months of storage if your new place doesn’t quite have the room you need.
Think about your internet
This might not be a big problem, or a problem at all, if you know that you’ll have a decent amount of mobile data to see you through the month. But if your work depends on a solid internet connection, or you stream movies every night, for example, make sure your internet is sorted before you move. If you know that wi-fi might not be sorted for a week or so after moving, it might be worth adding data to your plan (or starting next month’s early, if your provider offers that option).
Do the sightseeing early
If you’ve not lived in London before, or visited much, get the sightseeing out of the way early. Go to the National Gallery, see the London Eye – whatever’s top of your list – because soon the crowds and hustle and bustle might wear you down. Enjoy the novelties and all the wonderful culture before the risk of becoming another grumpy Londoner!
Use proper packing materials
Back to the more practical stuff: use high quality packing materials. Don’t try to reuse stretched and creaking cardboard boxes to carry heavy books, your TV, games consoles, and so on. If you use a moving company, often they will pack for you, but if you’re going at it alone, ensure there’s no breaking boxes that make the day more complicated!
So the main takeaways? Prepare early, consider getting help moving, and if it’s your first time in London, enjoy the sights.
