Our guide for customers undertaking their own packing
If you decide to undertake your own preparation and packing, Knightmovers can supply a wide range of packing materials to suit your needs. These include a range of cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, tape, wrapping paper, wardrobe boxes as well as other specialist materials. Call us now on 01341 241766 for our prices , our view our packing supply list and costs here.
Use uniform boxes
It is best to stick to using a couple of size boxes, three at most. This will make stacking a removal van or storage area much easier, since similar size boxes can be stacked on top of one another. Knightmovers can provide a wide range of packing boxes and materials. For a complete list see our packaging order form.
Use the correct size boxes – never too heavy
Use the correct box for the correct contents. There are different size boxes for a reason. It is important not to make boxes too heavy. If you struggle to move a box, the chances are our removal team will struggle too. Books, records and other heavier items should be packed into smaller boxes. Large boxes should be used predominantly for large kitchenware, soft furnishings and lighter bulkier items.
Everything that can go in a box, pack in a box
If you are packing up a property in preparation for a move, it is a good idea to pack everything you possibly can into boxes. This sounds obvious but it is amazing what people forget to pack. Lamp shades, VCR’s and music equipment and under stairs/cupboard contents are most commonly forgotten. Basically if it is small enough to put in a box, pack it. This will make the move run much more efficiently, simplify the stacking process and speed up the job. It also gives you the chance to properly protect these items whilst packing.
Pack sensibly
Place heavy items at the bottom of a box and lighter items at the top. Heavy items at the top of a box can damage items below them. Cushion fragile items well, use bubble wrap or other materials to achieve this. Never lay breakables down: always stand them upright if possible, (i.e. make as tall as possible). Avoid putting anything heavy on top of breakables.
Do not pack boxes over the fold line of the flaps
If boxes are overloaded, it makes it difficult to close the top of the box to make a flat surface. This hinders stacking and is more likely to lead to damage.
Seal all boxes with tape
Every box should be sealed at the top and bottom with a couple of strips of parcel tape along the central length of the box. Please do not be tempted to fold each flap on top of the one before it in a criss-cross fashion. Boxes can collapse this way. Fold each set of opposite flaps together and seal with parcel tape. Remember: Do not interlock the flaps as this weakens the box and can collapse if stacked.
Label all of your boxes
If you are putting boxes into storage or stacking them within a property, and will need to get to certain contents, it may be worth labelling boxes on the side as well as on the top of the box. This will enable you to know what is in them without un-stacking them.
Use original boxes
If you still have the original box for a product, then it is often recommended to use it, especially for a TV where you have the original polystyrene protection. Where you do not have original product packing boxes, don’t worry. Televisions and the like can still be professionally moved and protected by us.
Please DO NOT:
Label boxes with a number and nothing else
Do not be tempted to label boxes with merely a number that is linked to a written list or inventory with numbers against contents. During a substantial unload, this can lead you to have to look up every number on a list before being able to direct the removal team to the correct room with an individual box. This can seriously slow down and impede the unloading process.
Use fruit boxes
Use wine boxes
Use miscellaneous and varied sized boxes from a supermarket
Use boxes that are old or damp