With the end of summer traditionally a popular time for people to move home, many households will soon be confronted with rooms piled high with possessions and no idea where to start. But there is one item you should make sure is easy to get your hands on: your kettle or coffee machine.
Manny Sahmbi, founder of removals company Happy2Move, told Select Van Leasing it should be loaded into the removal van last so it is the first thing taken off at the other end. After a tiring day of carrying furniture and boxes, the ability to make a cup of tea or coffee can be one of the small comforts that makes settling in more bearable.
“Make sure your coffee machine goes into the van last and comes out first, because that’s what you’re going to be looking for!” he said.
The ‘bits box’ you should unpack first
But the kettle is not the only thing that should be at the top of your unpacking list. Mr Sahmbi recommends creating a dedicated ‘service box’ or ‘bits box’ containing all the small items that can easily disappear during a house move, but which you may desperately need when you arrive.
That should include things such as remote controls, cables, your modem and router, as well as other equipment needed to get your new home functioning.
“It’s the last box that goes into the van and therefore the first box that comes back out,” he said. “Inside it, you put all of those important bits and pieces you’ll want straight away - remote controls, cables, the modem, router and anything else you’ll need to get yourself set up.”
The advice means homeowners can quickly get the television working, connect to the internet and find the controls for their appliances without having to rummage through dozens of boxes.
Don't put important documents in the removal van
There are also some things that should not be unpacked from the van at all – because they should never have been put in it. Mr Sahmbi advises homeowners to keep valuables and important documents with them throughout the move.
He recommends putting documents, keys and other important items in a dedicated folder and carrying it in a car or bag rather than placing it in the removal van.
“We always advise people to keep their valuables and important documents with them throughout the move,” he said. “Have a folder containing anything important - documents, keys and whatever else you might need - and keep that with you rather than packing it into the removal van.”
Tackle the essentials
Once the kettle or coffee machine and bits box are out, the priority should be the items needed to make the first night comfortable. Mr Sahmbi recommends clear labelling so boxes can be taken straight to the appropriate rooms.
For example, a box containing bathroom toiletries should be clearly marked as such rather than simply being labelled ‘miscellaneous’.
“The word I see on boxes all the time is ‘miscellaneous’,” he said. “People get lazy with labelling. I’ve even seen members of my own team write something like ‘clothes and misc’, and I tell them they need to clearly write what is actually inside the box.”
His advice is to avoid vague labels and clearly identify what each box contains. That can make it much easier to locate essentials without having to open box after box.
What to unpack first on moving day
Mr Sahmbi's advice means the priority list for the first few hours in your new home should be:
- Kettle or coffee machine – Get the first brew on as soon as possible.
- ‘Bits box’ - Find the remote controls, cables, router, modem and other small essentials.
- Bathroom essentials - Make sure toiletries and other necessities are accessible.
- Important household essentials - Prioritise the things you will actually need on your first night rather than trying to unpack everything.
- Everything else can wait - There is no need to empty every box on day one.
And perhaps most importantly, valuables, important documents and keys should stay with you rather than being buried somewhere in the removal van. Mr Sahmbi says good organisation before the move can make the whole process much easier.
“If you’re hiring movers but doing the packing yourself, good-quality packing materials and properly packed boxes make the whole process much easier and protect your goods while they’re in transit,” he said. “Good packing at the beginning makes the entire move much easier.”
