Moving to Brixton: How to Pack a Removal Van
Posted on 29/08/2014
Brixton is an exciting area of London to live, with vibrant night life, a good selection of shops and transport links, and a diverse range of properties available to buy and rent. Located in SW3/SW9, it’s still within the Greater London area, and if you’re moving from another area of London, should not be too much trouble to get to. Before you think about planning your journey however, you need to make sure all your household items are securely packed in your removals van. Even if you are using the services of professional movers, these tips can be handy to know for future Brixton moves.
Get everything prepared
A real time saver is to make sure all your items are packed in an organised way, and clearly marked. Make sure all items from the same room are kept and packed together (all kitchen goods and furniture, all bedroom goods and furniture, and so on). Then, get everything in packing order (biggest things to be unpacked last should go in first), and get everything outside to the van before you start to pack it. Taking a short break before loading can help prevent injury, and give you a breather. Try not to rush if possible! Labelling boxes clearly is going to be key. You will then know exactly what’s going where when you arrive at your new home in Brixton. Generally, it‘s a good idea to follow the same process with unpacking – unload the van first, then transfer the items to the house.
Packing goods – what to use
If a box is old and worn, then it’s likely to buckle under weight and damage your items inside. Try to avoid using boxes that are very old and worn, and especially not ones that have got damp or suffered any other water damage. While you can get strong packing boxes from most removal companies, have a look online too, especially for any deals. You will also be able to find specialist packing supplies for glassware and delicates online, which can be very useful. If you do buy new packing supplies, make sure to try and keep them in good condition so they can be used again if need be. If you are on a budget or don’t want to have to spend money on packing supplies, you can make use of old boxes you might have, or ones you can get from your local grocers, but be on the lookout for damage. You can reinforce older boxes by double taping the seams of the box, but use your judgement – if it looks like it won’t make the journey, don’t use it.
Packing the vehicle
The best way to approach loading your vehicle is to simply do what professional packers would do: pack the downstairs rooms first, making sure the heaviest goods are towards the drivers end of the van. Most removal vehicles will have rigging you can use to further secure your mattresses/goods to the side of the vehicle, so don’t forget to use them. Once you‘ve got your initial heavy goods in, pack all smaller items around them as securely as possible, which will stop things moving around while travelling. Delicates and valuables should be placed in especially secure spaces with as little movement as possible. You can make use of mattresses again here, using them to cushion anything delicate by sliding them between the mattress and side of the van. Bedding and rugs are a great additional way of cushioning your things. From here, simply follow the same procedure with the items from every room, and you should end up with a neat and easy to unpack vehicle.