Topics
Guide sections
The pages of this guide fall into four groups, arranged in the order a move usually unfolds. First you plan and sort your things, then you pack them, then you get furniture and appliances ready for the road, and safety runs through all of it: how to lift, carry and load so that nobody gets hurt. Pick the group that is closest to what you need to do today.
A move rarely goes wrong because of one big problem. It is usually weighed down by dozens of small things nobody thought about in advance: a lost screw, an unlabelled box, a tight turn on the stairs.
The guide covers the questions faced by someone moving out of a flat or clearing a country house without professional experience. Niche topics, such as moving musical instruments or antiques, are only mentioned: for those it is better to seek a specialist's advice.
Preparation
How to choose a date, spread the jobs over the weeks, decide what to do with things you do not need and avoid leaving everything to the last evening.
- A move in five steps
A short outline on the home page, from the to-do list to the first hours in your new home.
- Questions about preparation
When to start packing, how many boxes you will need and what to do with things you no longer want.
- Collection for a one-bedroom flat
A reading order for a small move that you can realistically manage over a weekend.
Packing
What to pack dishes, books, clothes and documents in, how to label boxes and why heavy items go into small boxes.
- How to pack a kitchen
A step-by-step article on dishes, glassware and small appliances, with illustrative examples and a list of mistakes.
- Packing terms
Bubble wrap, stretch film, corner protectors and other materials explained in plain words.
- New pages on packing
The publication feed, where separate articles on books, clothes and documents will appear.
Furniture and appliances
Taking flat-pack and cabinet furniture apart, keeping the fixings, protecting doors and fronts, and getting large appliances ready for the road.
- Furniture fixings glossary
Confirmat screws, cam locks, dowels and other small parts that are easy to lose when you take things apart.
- Answers about moving day
What to load first, how to get a wardrobe down the stairs and what to do about the fridge.
- Country house: clearing out for winter
A collection on packing up and taking home garden tools, appliances and supplies before the cold sets in.
Safety
General rules for lifting with care, working in pairs, gloves and footwear, and the items that need special handling in transit.
- Loading terms
What a load's centre of gravity is, how carrying straps work and why you should turn with your whole body.
- Collection on moving with children and pets
How to organise the day so that little ones and pets stay safe and out from under your feet.
- Archive by topic
Every page in the guide with dates and tags for quick searching.
Read next
- Practical
How to pack a kitchen step by step, plus a catalogue of practical moving articles.
- Questions
Short answers on preparation, moving day, helpers and what to do with things you no longer need.
- Collections
Reading paths: a one-bedroom flat, moving with children and pets, closing a country house for winter.
Based on
- Occupational safety rules for loading and unloading work (general provisions)
- Furniture manufacturers' assembly and disassembly instructions (general recommendations)
This guide offers general advice on preparing for a move and handling your belongings with care. Rules for carrying particular items are set by the carriers themselves, and furniture assembly by the manufacturer's instructions, so in any specific case follow those first.