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Packing Pitfalls to Avoid When Moving House
There are plenty of potential pitfalls to avoid if you are packing up your own belongings prior to moving house – a recent survey by Go.Compare home insurance showed that around one in seven people admitted that something had got dropped or broken at some point in the process.
Hamiltons Removals stock high-quality packing supplies for customers in Norfolk and across East Anglia. Here we identify some of the commonest problems, and also offer some advice on how to avoid them.
Underestimating the Boxes You will Need
Movers typically underestimate the number of boxes they will need. For a typical three-bedroomed home you are probably looking at in the region of 80 to 100 boxes – and that’s not counting the larger items which won’t actually fit in any carton. It’s better to over-estimate than the other way around.
Overpacking Books
Books are reasonably sturdy, and (relatively) unbreakable, and a nice, convenient, regular shape – so it can be tempting to pile them high in large boxes. The problem with doing this is that the box can be so heavy that it’s impossible to lift! Generally, books (and other heavy items) should be placed in relatively small cartons or boxes so that physically transporting them isn’t a problem.
Not Protecting Fragile Lampshades…
Lampshades can be tricky shapes to pack, and they can also be very delicately made. It’s also very hard to secure them safely while they are in transit. Put them in medium or large boxes and make sure there’s plenty of protective packing material in there too – whether it’s newspaper or bubblewrap. It may be possible to pack smaller shades inside larger ones.
…and Computers and Other IT Equipment
These occasionally get damaged, although a little care and attention should avoid any problems. If possible, pack them in their original boxes – you know they will be the correct shape, and you’ll instantly know what’s inside. If you have discarded the original packaging, use a well-labelled box, and use bubblewrap to protect the device or devices.
Also, make sure you know which leads go where before you disconnect anything. And make sure that any electronics are not exposed to any extreme temperatures (either cold or heat) for a prolonged period of time, as either of the these can cause malfunctions.
Using Bin Bags
It can be tempting to use these for loose items, particularly clothing; however, the items will still move around inside. In the case of clothes, it means you will almost certainly need to wash or iron the creases out of everything once you arrive at your new home – which may be the last thing on your mind.
It’s much better to use wardrobe cartons or layflat cartons. These will keep everything secure in transit, and they are also much easier to pack and transport – and to label – than bin bags.
Not Watching the Walls with Your Furniture
Again, furniture can be heavy to lift, so if you are going to do it yourself, make sure you (and your friends or family) are fit enough and know the correct techniques. Generally, you should bear the weight on your legs, keep your back straight, and avoid twisting where possible.
Wrap the items of furniture up (again, preferably in a bespoke covering) before you start moving them – there are plenty of examples of items being damaged, and walls being scraped (in old and new homes) because sofas, chairs and tables all have sharp edges.
Protection Comes First
It’s also easy to underestimate the amount of bubblewrap and packing paper you will need. This particularly applies to glassware and other valuable items such as artwork, paintings and picture frames.
Again, use a specialist carton where possible, such as a bottle box (which will usually have dividers to ensure the bottles don’t knock into one another) or a picture carton (which will also protect the glass and frame).
Use Hamiltons Removals for Your Packing Supplies in Norfolk
At Hamiltons Removals, we have a range of high-quality packing materials for moving house. All our cartons and boxes are double walled for added strength and shouldn’t collapse, no matter how many items you put in them. And you can also buy your bubblewrap, tape and packing paper online from us too.
Our online shop also stocks a number of bespoke packaging products, including wardrobe cartons, bottle boxes and layflat cartons. We also stock furniture covers for moving home, and Furniguard, a laminated protective export packing material.
Or, you could place the whole packing business in our very safe hands – we have been moving people and businesses for more than 30 years, and we will treat your possessions with the utmost care. We can pack up your items, and also unpack them at your new home. Call us on 01379 855203 if you would like to know more.
Which is the Best Swiss City to Move to?
Switzerland is an extremely popular country to move to. Along with Australia, it has the highest proportion of immigrants in the Western world. Around one in four of the 8.7million people who currently live in the European country were born elsewhere.
But what is the best place in Switzerland to move to? Hamiltons Removals, who can offer high-quality removals to Switzerland, provide some answers.
For the Student
If you’re a student looking to study abroad (either for undergraduate or post-graduate studies) Zurich is probably the standout – the University of Zurich covers all the main subjects. Although the undergraduate courses are mainly taught in German, the Masters subjects are all taught in English.
Although the University has a good reputation, it’s not as good as that of ETH Zurich, which consistently tops international surveys. The ETH (Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule, which translates as Federal Institute of Technology) was founded in 1855 as the Federal Polytechnic School and has become one of the world’s most prestigious science and technology universities.
If the prices of Zurich are expensive, then St Gallen (near the Swiss-German border) should be more affordable – and it has an excellent business school as well.
For the Cost of Living
When it comes to removals to Switzerland, high prices could be an issue for many people, not just students – although this is counterbalanced by an excellent welfare state.
However, if you want somewhere with a lower cost of living, and still want to live in a city, then you could be looking at Winterthur – the Switzerland’s sixth largest city which is less than 20 minutes from Zurich by train, so it may be worth commuting in. Accommodation costs are noticeably cheaper here, and there’s a large expat population too.
However, as with most countries, bear in mind that the rural areas rather than the big cities are cheaper to live in, if moving to a city isn’t a necessity for you.
For the Scenery
If money is less of a problem, then removals to Geneva will bring the advantage of Lake Geneva, pictured, which the city borders – not just for the scenery but the chance for some fun on the water.
Living in Geneva, you will have the option of a ferry trip or a private boat – or more active pursuits such as canoeing, windsurfing and kayaking, although there are restrictions on when and where you can do these.
If mountains and winter sports, particularly skiing, is more of a priority, then moving to Zurich may be a better choice. There are plenty of Alpine ski resorts within relatively easy reach which makes the city a top choice for snow sport enthusiasts.
For the Work
Hospitality jobs are widely available across the country, thanks to the tourism industry. However, competition for higher-paid jobs can be fierce, and it helps if you are highly skilled (and can speak French and German as well as English).
It’s important to remember that Switzerland is not part of the EU, but is part of the single market, so Swiss nationals and EU members may be regarded as more employable than UK residents after Brexit.
If you have a background in finance, insurance and economics, then Zurich has the best job prospects. And, if you have experience in the chemicals and pharmaceuticals field, then Basel has the most thriving sector.
For the Culture
It’s worth considering removals to Berne, because of the historic Old Town which has its own distinct character – the sandstone buildings (which were built to replace parts of the city lost in a 1405 fire) survive to this day. Many of the stone arcades are now a feature of the city’s shops.
Basel has the highest number of museums in the country, including the Kunstmuseum, which houses the largest collection of public art in the country, and one of the oldest in the world.
However, Zurich probably has the biggest and best nightlife, with plenty of bars, restaurants and clubs.
Removals to Switzerland with Hamiltons Removals
At Hamiltons, we can offer domestic and commercial removals to Basel, Berne, Zurich, Geneva and all parts of Switzerland. We can just transport your goods to your new Swiss home, or offer additional services including packing and unpacking, and having your old and new homes professionally cleaned.
If you would like to know more about any of our removal services to Switzerland, follow this link or call us on 01379 855203.