The Perfectly Packed Box

Packing your boxes right will save time and unnecessary heartache. Boxes that are too full, or weak, or not taped correctly may break or need to be re-packed. Luckily, The Man has handled his fair share of dodgily-packed boxes, so he's been able to put together this list of handy pointers, to help make sure your boxes are perfectly packed at moving time:

• Use sturdy boxes. Fill the box to the brim and seal the lid. That way, you can easily stack boxes on top of one another
• Tape the bottom and top of the box securely. This helps give the box strength and prevents it from giving way while being moved. Open-topped boxes are not easy to stack and more at risk of damage to the contents
• Pack bigger boxes with lighter items - they can be too heavy to move otherwise. We've encountered immovable giant boxes full to the brim with books. To avoid this, you want to make sure heavy items like books and records are packed in smaller boxes, so the weight remains manageable
• Spread the heaviest items over a few boxes. Balance these boxes with lighter items like towels or soft toys. Pack the lighter items on top
• Use plenty pf bubble wrap or newspapers when packing fragile items. Your movers will handle the boxes with care, but the contents can still bump around inside the box while in transit if not well-padded
• Write any necessary instructions on the boxes, in particular 'fragile' and 'this side up'. This will assist the movers to handle and pack each box safely.
• Label each box clearly with which room it belongs to. Write on the sides of the box as well, so that the instruciton is visible even when the boxes are stacked
• You may want to consider writing your labels/instructions on the packing tape. That way, when you remove the tape, the boxes are like new for next time around
• Stack your packed boxes in neat piles for the movers to wheel out on their trolleys
• Don't forget to pack a separate box of essentials you may need for the first night at your new house. Include items like toiletries, toilet paper, bottled water, snacks and a change of clothes in case you cannot unpack everything in time

And that's it. You've now been through The Man's box-packing masterclass, and you're ready not just for your move, but to help all your mates out as well. Right?