Moving house: what supplies do I need?

When it comes to moving house, the list of "things to worry about" is almost endless. From the stresses of swapping keys to the faff of packing and sorting, there's always something happening and it all seems to go at the speed of light.

Needless to say, with a house move weighing heavy on your mind, it's easy to forget a few essentials. That's the last thing you need when you've still got half a house to pack up!

Don't worry – we've got you covered. Here are six must-have supplies for moving house, as well as a few handy tips to help you make the most of your move.

Six essential supplies for moving house

1. Boxes

Talk about stating the obvious, right? The thing is, when you're stressed out, the obvious things can be the easiest things to miss. When you're juggling 10 tasks at once, putting in an order for extra-large cardboard boxes from Amazon can quite easily slip your mind.

We recommend bulk buying to save on costs and ordering numerous different sizes. Not only will this help keep everything in order, but it can also make things much easier when unpacking at the other side.

Make sure you recycle your boxes correctly when you're done. Or, better yet, give them away so they'll be reused. Try posting 'FREE BOXES' on your local social media group – you'll soon be the most popular person in town!

2. Sticky tape 

No, we're not talking about the flimsy stuff you use to wrap Christmas presents. We're talking about extra-sticky parcel tape. With all those boxes knocking about, you're going to need a boatload of strong tape.

Nothing screams "unorganised" quite like arriving at your new home and realising you forgot to seal your boxes, so now all your belongings are spread across the van…

3. Labels

Believe it or not, some people move house and don't label boxes. We know – it's crazy.

Labels make everything so much simpler. Imagine this: you've just moved in and, instead of cooking, you've ordered a good old takeaway. However, they sent a bottle of pop rather than cans, so that can mean one thing and one thing only – you're going to need glasses.

Searching through mountains of unlabelled boxes just to locate glassware is hardly the height of fun. But, unfortunately, if you forget labels, this could soon be a very frustrating reality!

4. Cleaning supplies

This particular tip is relevant for both the house you're leaving and the house you're moving into.

It's a great idea to buy yourself a healthy supply of cleaning products. We're thinking surface spray, floor cleaner, bleach and glass spray – because there's nothing more annoying than moving into a house, only to realise it was desperate for a deep clean before you whipped out your bedding and cushions.

This gesture will also be appreciated by the people moving into your old house. After all, it's an extra job off their list!

5. Sandwich bags

House moves and flat-pack furniture go hand in hand – unfortunately!

It's always the same story. You're balancing a bed frame on your knee while holding a screwdriver in one hand and the Ikea instruction manual in the other. Now where did you put that screw? You could have sworn you put it down a second ago…

Avoid all the bother. Label a sandwich bag with the item you're dismantling and place all screws and bolts into that bag. You can then use your sticky tape and stick it to the furniture. This way, not only are all your screws and fittings together but they're also attached to the right piece of furniture. 

6. A helping hand or two

Moving house needs more than just hard work and planning. It needs lots of help – and lots of hands!

Make sure you've warned your friends and family of the date you intend to move. That way, you've got a few helping hands when you need them most. 

Four tips for a stress-free move

1. Move large furniture first

Moving the biggest items first is a good idea. Not only can you then put everything in the correct room, but when you start bringing your boxes in, you'll know you won't have to rearrange things 100 times so you've got room for your sofa!

2. Redirect your mail

This is one of those jobs that's easy to ignore. Don't think, "I'll do it later". Get it sorted as soon as possible and you'll have one less thing to worry about.

Royal Mail has a handy postal redirection service, so it's quick and easy to reroute your mail to your new home.

3. Check bin collection days

This is a tip we'd like to shout from the rooftops!

Moving house creates a seemingly endless amount of rubbish. And there's nothing more frustrating than packing your bins to the brim, only to find out you've just missed collection day. 

Finding out your bin days could be the difference between a trip to the local tip or the end of your drive – you decide!

4. Hire a van

Packing, labelling and sorting are all well and good. But how are you going to get your belongings from house A to house B?

If this is something you've not considered, we highly recommend getting in touch with us at Metro Vehicle Hire. Our helpful team will be delighted to assist you in organising the perfect van for your big move.

We'll be able to advise on the size of the vehicle you need, the duration of hire and – most importantly – the price.

Metro Vehicle Hire offers competitively priced car and van hire in Newcastle, Gateshead and the northeast. Any questions? Don't hesitate to get in touch.