How Early Should You Start Packing for a House Move?

Most people leave packing later than they planned. That is not laziness. It is difficult to judge how long a home will take when half the contents are hidden inside cupboards.

For an average two or three-bedroom property, starting four weeks before moving day is sensible. You do not need to live among boxes for a month. Begin with the things you rarely use: books, spare bedding, decorations, out-of-season clothes and items from the loft or garage.

Two weeks before the move

At this point, pack pictures, ornaments and most of the kitchen. Keep one saucepan, a frying pan, enough plates and mugs, and the basics you use every day. Label boxes by room and add a short description such as “kitchen: baking” or “main bedroom: winter clothes”. That is far more useful than writing “misc”.

The final 48 hours

Prepare an overnight bag for each person. Include medication, chargers, toiletries, clean clothes, basic tools and important documents. Keep the kettle, tea, coffee and a few cups together. Put these items in your car or clearly mark them as “open first”.

If time has already got away from you, a professional packing team can usually make very fast progress because they bring the materials, work room by room and do not stop to decide whether an old cable should be kept.