Ramsey Douglas

Packing Tips & Advice

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It sounds obvious, but good packing is the single most important thing you can do to prevent your items being lost or damaged during transit, and we have tried to provide some helpful advice and tips to help ensure that your items are as well protected as possible for transportation. Some of it is pretty basic but we hope you find the following useful.

It´s never too early - once you have some idea of your moving date - make a start!

Items that you don´t use on a regular basis, and `out of season´ clothing and bedding can be packed well in advance. Literally go through each room, and pack away items that you know you won´t use before your move.

This is also a good opportunity to have a `really good sort out´. Be ruthless. There´s no point in taking the trouble to pack and transport anything that you don´t really have to or want to.

At this stage, also think about selling unwanted items - the extra cash will perhaps pay for new items for your new home. Think about the size and storage capacity at your new home - and downsize accordingly if necessary. Again there´s no point in packing and transporting goods that will just remain boxed or packed away because you no longer have room for them.

Boxes boxes boxes - there are so many to choose from - but which for what?

As a general rule, you usually get what you pay for, so make sure you have good quality boxes to start with. Cheaper boxes will be less sturdy and more liable to be crushed, especially if they are being stored for any length of time. If you still have any original boxes, such as TV or Video etc. - use these again. Good, strong boxes are worth their weight in gold - and they can always be used again.

Get a selection of different sized boxes for different things. For example, you will need reasonably small boxes for books and heavier items and larger boxes for lighter and more bulkier items. Don´t use boxes that are so big they have to be tilted when carried through doorways, and if at all possible, get boxes with pre-punched carrying handles - it makes life so much easier.

You can also get boxes specifically designed for glassware, with dividers, or for CD´s etc. Think about getting wardrobe boxes for clothes. These boxes come with hanging rails and are tall enough to hang clothes straight from the wardrobe - ideal for those items of clothing you don´t want to fold and pack into boxes. Otherwise, use suitcases and holdalls - just like packing for a holiday. Roll items where possible and stuff smaller items of clothing inside shoes and boots etc. Don´t be tempted to use `black bags´ for clothes and linen. Even `industrial strength´ bags will undoubtedly tear apart allowing dirt and possibly moisture onto your belongings.

When packing boxes, try to mix lighter items in with heavier items - lightest items on top - and remember if you can´t lift them, we won´t be able to either! The local supermarket is always a good outlet for some of your boxes - but we would recommend that you purchase some good quality boxes too and there are many companies to choose from, most of which will be happy to advise you on what you need.

You will also need good quality tape to secure the boxes - sellotape won´t be strong enough - and a tape gun will prevent lots of cursing as you keep losing the end and getting tape stuck to your fingers!

We know that all of your possessions are extremely important to you, but please don´t write FRAGILE on all of your boxes. We assure you that all your goods and boxes will be transported with the greatest of care, however we do need to know specifically which boxes contain glass, china and crockery etc. and we won´t be able to tell if you have marked everything as fragile.

Our final tip on boxes, is to number them all as you pack and keep a seperate list of exactly what is in each box.

China, Crockery and Glass - Save all your old newspapers!

Or invest in some wrapping paper and bubble wrap - whoever invented that stuff must be worth a fortune!

The art of packing these delicate items is to keep them seperated so they can´t rub or smash against each other, and yet quite tightly packed so that they don´t move at all whilst in transit.

Get a pile of wrapping paper or whatever you are going to use ready , cut to size - about 2´ 6´´ by 1´6 ´´ - and laid on a firm surface. Have your first cardboard box ready to pack into once wrapped. Then systematically go through each cupboard, drawer etc. placing each item onto the top of the pile of paper and wrapping indivudually to suit. You can pack the most delicate items in several layers of paper if necessary, and be sure to wrap handles and lids seperately. Start with the largest items and once wrapped place into the box. Try to wrap smaller items as you go to fit into any nooks and crevices in the box, to ensure a snug fit. You can also use small items of clothing or linen etc as extra protection with the boxes. Once packed, the box should feel fairly solid with no moving pieces at all.

Be sure to mark the box FRAGILE - on all sides - and indicate which way up it should remain. If you are using boxes with dividers, we would still recommend wrapping items well before placing into the box.

The bulky stuff - Furniture, Pictures, Mirrors etc.

Although all your items of furniture will be fully blanket wrapped for transportation, we would recommend protecting any delicate edges, corners or tops etc. with bubble wrap and cardboard for extra peace of mind.

Also tape closed any drawers or doors that are liable to swing open and protect any delicate knobs, handles or castors - or remove them completely if possible. Although it is possible to transport items of furniture with goods inside drawers and cupboards, we would recommend that you only pack very light unbreakable items this way and always tape the drawer or door so that it can´t be opened, as it is likely that the item of furniture will be tilted at some point during transportation.

Make sure you use masking tape as opposed to wrapping tape on furniture to prevent any damage to delicate surfaces and to minimise marks being left.

For large fragile items such as TV´s, if possible use an original box. Otherwise, use lots of bubble wrap and make sure you write FRAGILE TV on the wrapping. Also ensure any remote controls are taped to the TV and that cables are rolled up and taped to the packing too.

Protect large pictures and mirrors with bubble wrap and cardboard - and anything with glass should be marked FRAGILE. If you have several medium sized pictures, wrap them individually, and then tape them together, fronts inward for extra protection.

All white kitchen goods should be empty and dry with any cables and plugs securely taped to them.

Sofas and Beds - invest in covers - they make perfect rubbish sacks after unpacking too !

It is unavoidable that sofas and mattresses will be handled during transportation, and so to ensure they arrive the same perfect colour, take the trouble to protect them by using readily available sofa and mattress covers.  These covers are also ideal protection against rain - not so likely in Spain but very useful in the UK! Alternatively, remove any loose covers and cushions and pack seperately. Also remove any castors from sofas and chairs - so they don´t get knocked off - they will also be much easier to fit through doorways, and if you have dismantled a bed, keep all the screws and keys safely somewhere seperate for re-assembly.

Accessories and Implements - how to pack the `awkward items´.

Any long or `loose´ items, such as curtain poles, flat packed shelf units, brooms and garden tools etc. can be taped together for security, and ironing boards should be taped closed. Any equipment that folds down should also be closed and secured for transportation. There is no easy answer to packing awkward items - and some items can´t be packed at all - but just make sure that you secure any loose or removable parts, and protect any vulnerable parts with bubble wrap and/or cardboard.

If you have a particular item that you´re not sure how to pack - just ask us for advice.

And finally .....

Labelling - you should make sure your name is written on every single item.

This is doubly important if your goods are being transported as a `Part Load´ or as part of our `Depot to Depot´ service. All you need to write is your surname using a black permanent marker either on self adhesive labels or directly onto boxes etc. Don´t forget to label absolutely everything - including the wheelbarrow, kids bikes and lawnmower - and have some `spares´ to hand for any last minute additions on removal day too.

Keep an inventory of all your goods - it will be an extremely useful reference for you.

We do hope you find our advice helpful - if you have any other packing queries at all - please ask us - we´re here to help.

(00 34) 952 115 322