Removal professionals give 15 tips for moving house with minimum stress

Removal professionals in the UK share 15 practical tips to cut breakages, avoid injury and reduce stress when moving house, covering timing, packing, lifting and transport. Plan ahead: Manny Sahmbi, director of Happy2Move in Slough, says his team can pack an average four‑bedroom house in a day, while he recommends DIY movers allow one week for a one‑bed, a fortnight for a two‑bed and so on.

Hannah Crawford (AKA Han With a Van) advises booking more than one day off and warns that decluttering is different from packing and usually cannot be done at the last minute. Use the right materials and label everything. Crawford says always use boxes rather than bags; Sahmbi notes moving boxes are double‑walled and stronger than supermarket cartons.

Choose thick brown tape, don’t overload boxes, fill gaps with paper or soft items, and mark fragile items or “top box” so they are stacked carefully, says Henry Marino‑Hacking of Selected Removals. Pack fragile items and furnishings to prevent damage: Sahmbi and Marino‑Hacking recommend packing paper or bubble wrap (with acid‑free tissue for fine china), transporting plates upright, and wrapping mattresses and soft furnishings to avoid moisture and odours.

Crawford suggests packing a suitcase with essentials for the first few nights – kettle, mugs, medication, loo roll and cutlery – so you are not left searching through boxes.

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