The boxes are the easy part. It’s what goes inside them – and how – that makes the difference on moving day.
After years of loading and unloading homes across Leeds and Yorkshire, we’ve seen every kind of packing job imaginable. The good ones make the whole day faster and smoother. The bad ones – overstuffed boxes, loose fragile items, drawers left full of heavy books – slow everything down and increase the risk of damage. Here’s how to do it properly.
Use the right boxes
Not all boxes are equal. Proper removal boxes are double-walled and designed to be stacked – crisp boxes, supermarket trays and cheap plastic tubs from the pound shop are not. If you invest in decent removal boxes, most can be flat-packed and reused, so they tend to pay for themselves. Banana crates – the kind greengrocers use – are another solid option if you can get hold of them.
Pack boxes completely - but not too heavy
A half-full box collapses under the weight of whatever’s stacked on top of it. Fill boxes to the top, then seal them firmly at both the top and bottom with good quality packing tape. That said, don’t pack for volume without thinking about weight – heavy items like books, records and kitchenware should go in smaller boxes. Large boxes are for light, bulky things like bedding, cushions and towels.
Wrap everything fragile - properly
Bubble wrap and packing paper are non-negotiable for anything breakable. Wrap each item individually, fill gaps in the box with scrunched paper so nothing can move around, and label the box as fragile on the top and all four sides. Fragile labels on the top only get hidden as soon as boxes are stacked.
Disassemble where you can
The simpler the shape, the easier it is to move. A table with its legs removed takes up far less space and is much easier to carry than a table that’s fully assembled. Curtain poles and other long, thin items should be taped together into a bundle so they’re not rolling around the van loose.
Keep clothing and underwear bagged
Drawers often need to come out when a piece of furniture is too heavy to move fully loaded. Keep clothing, especially anything you’d rather not have on display, bagged up inside the drawer or moved separately. It’s a small thing that saves some mild embarrassment on the day.
Last in, first out - plan your kettle
Pack the kettle last. You will want a brew at some point during the day, and hunting through fourteen boxes for it is not the way you want to spend your first hour in the new house.
Moving home in Leeds or across Yorkshire? Get in touch with the Yorkshire Van Man team for a no-obligation quote.
