Whether you read our blog regularly or not, we don't need to remind you that moving is stressful!

Unfortunately, packing is actually the most stressful part. It's not as bad when you get to the new place - you're all excited and it can actually be quite nice to lay everything out, exactly how you want it.

We are professionals when it comes to moving and streamlining the full process. In line with that, here are our top 10 best packing tips to help you reduce those stress levels and that blood pressure :D

Tip 1: Declutter The Space, Start Sooner Rather Than Later

As obvious as it seems, it's still the most effective and best advice we could possibly give: start early. Don't wait until you're a week out from moving day, and certainly don't wait until the day before! You'd be surprised how much this happens.

Start by decluttering the whole house, this can seem like a waste of time - "it's all going to get packed up anyway" - but having a clear space and understanding of how much stuff you actually can really help.

You can also make the most of this process to donate anything you no longer want or need to local charity shops.

We recommend Chestnut Tree House or the Shelter Charity Shop.

Tip 2: Get Some Good Boxes

Possibly, the most important and underrated tip here. You really need good boxes to guarantee minimal breakage and hassle throughout packing/moving.

Especially because you can hire these from companies like ours for pretty cheap - we just reuse them on other jobs while they're still in good condition, so you don't have to pay a fortune to buy loads of boxes which will just take space in your new home when the process is over.

Make sure to use a local supplier for boxes because they can easily pick them up from your new home once you're finished unpacking. Otherwise, some companies will expect you to unpack everything on the day or there will be extra charges for picking up the boxes.

Tip 3: Labelling = Winning

If you aren't the organised type, now is the time to change (even if it's just for a day). Just slap a label on each box stating exactly what's in there (i.e. pots and pans / blankets / bedding / work stuff / personal books). The more detailed, the better.

It's also good to add the room on the label (e.g. sitting room / main bedroom / downstairs bathroom).

Tip 4: Pack One Room at a Time

Don't sporadically pack everything you can find, take it one room at a time and follow the labelling process above.

You can easily get things mixed up and make life a lot harder for unpacking if you just chuck things in boxes and hope for the best.

The best way to do this is one room at a time, but in accordance with the new house. You may have a different set-up or layout in the new place, there may be two sitting rooms on an extra bedroom, for example. So, pack the boxes in line with that, not in line with the current set up at the current house.

Tip 5: Be Overly Protective With Fragile Items

It doesn't matter how much those boxes have cost you, make sure fragile items have enough space to be covered in bubble wrap, clothes, or towels.

Using a few extra boxes to be overly protective and assure your items don't get damaged is the best way to do this.

Tip 6: Don't Overpack Your Beloved Boxes

We basically just covered this for the fragile materials, but the rule applies for all boxes - don't overpack anything.

Ensure that each box has sufficient room to "breathe" and isn't too heavy. The better boxes you get, the smaller this issue gets.

This also means you should listen to the moving company's advice for how many boxes to get, most people wildly underestimate this.

Tip 7: Keep An Essentials Box

When you get to the new place, let's be honest, you're not unpacking everything that same day. Even if you did, it wouldn't get organised that day.

So, it makes sense for you to keep one box aside for toiletries, maybe some food, some bedding, and phone chargers.

Once the long moving day is over, you can rely on that box for a day or two while everything else comes out of the boxes.

Tip 8: Separate Box or Bag For Valuables & Essentials

Keep another separate bag or box (easily accessible) for very valuable items - this box can travel with you, in your car, rather than with the removals company. Maybe you have a nice watch, an expensive laptop, or something special that was passed down the family. It's best to keep this with you just in case.

Tip 9: Use Wardrobe Boxes

If you can get wardrobe boxes from your local moving company, it's well worth it. These are super easy to organise and transport - much better than regular cardboard boxes. We provide them if you're moving in/out of the Eastbourne area.

Tip 10: Let The Professionals Get To Work

We always get on very well with our customers when providing removal services in and around Eastbourne. That said, from experience, we always point out the following: it's best to leave us to it for heavy items, organising the boxes inside the vans, giving advice on how many boxes you need, etc.

Bonus: Packing & Moving Stats around Eastbourne from local professionals