Pack up

Choosing what to pack when needs careful thought and you should try to tackle one room at a time. Always leave kitchen and bathroom essentials until last and pack clothing according to the season. For example, if you are moving in summer, pack up all your winter clothes first.

Spare bedrooms, garages and studies are all rooms that can be packed up first. Using acceptable packing materials is always worthwhile.

If you elect to pack up your household goods yourself, check with the removal company to make sure the boxes and cartons you plan to use are of an acceptable quality.

Reels of news print, old newspapers, bubble wrap, blankets and bed linen can all be used to safeguard breakables that are packed in boxes, but avoid wrapping items in clothing and curtaining that tends to crease easily or you will find yourself with a great pile of ironing to do at the other end.

Brown packing tape, sturdy boxes, a notepad, a Stanley knife and a thick permanent marker are essential packing items. Pack one room at a time, carefully labelling boxes for easy reference at your new home. Also remember to draw a direction arrow on each box to prevent unnecessary breakages.

When packing a box, place a layer of crumpled newspaper in the bottom, then carefully pack the box and stuff crumpled paper into empty spaces to prevent items from rolling around.

When stacking packed boxes to be ready for collection on moving day, take care to place heavy boxes on the floor and lighter boxes on top. Never over-pack boxes. Consider packing bed linen, curtaining and other soft goods in black bin liners to prevent dust accumulation during the move.

Frasers International Removals offers the following advice to safeguard your possessions against damage that could be caused by fire, explosion or leakage while in transit.

He urges clients to choose reputable removal companies that offer a high standard of service, trained staff and top-class packing material.