Moving House Packing Tips: How to Pack Effectively Before Your Big Move

The best way to pack for a house move is to work room by room, box the items you use least first and label every box with its destination room and contents. Get this system right from day one and the rest of your move falls into place. Get it wrong and moving day turns into a scramble through unmarked boxes looking for the kettle.

Dan's Removals sees the same packing mistakes on almost every job: people start too late, they mix items from different rooms into the same box and they leave the heaviest, most awkward items until the last possible day. None of this is complicated to fix. It just takes a plan.

Packing works best when you treat it as a room by room project rather than one big task. Start with the rooms you use least (the spare room, the garage, seasonal storage) and finish with the kitchen and bathroom, since you'll need those right up until moving day.

Keep a simple system as you go:

Pack one room at a time and don't mix contents between boxes from different rooms.
Use smaller boxes for heavy items like books and larger boxes for light, bulky items like linen and toys.
Wrap anything fragile individually, then cushion the gaps in the box with towels, clothing or paper — not just the item itself.
Label every box on the top and at least one side with the room name and a short contents list.
Keep a separate "essentials" box for the first 24 hours in your new home (kettle, chargers, toiletries, a change of clothes, basic tools).

This approach also makes unpacking faster, because boxes go straight into the correct room instead of getting stacked in a hallway to be sorted later.

A box that's packed correctly should feel solid when you pick it up, with no shifting or empty space inside. Heavy items go on the bottom, lighter items on top and every gap gets filled so nothing moves during transit.

For fragile items specifically, wrap each piece individually in packing paper or bubble wrap, then place a layer of cushioning at the bottom of the box before you start stacking. Plates pack best on their edge, like records in a crate, rather than flat — this spreads the pressure evenly and reduces the chance of cracking. Glasses and cups should be wrapped and packed upright, never nested inside one another without padding between them.

Example: A typical two bedroom unit might need roughly 40 to 60 boxes depending on how much you own. The requirement may be a mix of small boxes for books and kitchenware, medium boxes for general items and a few large boxes for linen, cushions and lightweight bulky goods. Your actual count will vary, but planning for more boxes than you think you'll need is safer than running out halfway through.

Pack in reverse order of how often you use things. Storage areas, spare rooms and out of season items come first and the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom you're currently sleeping in come last.

A practical order looks like this:

Garage, shed and storage areas
Spare rooms and guest bedrooms
Books, decorations and non-essential items throughout the house
Wardrobes, keeping a few days of clothing aside
Kitchen, boxing up everything except what you'll cook with in the final days
Bathroom and bedroom, packed last, ideally the night before or morning of the move

Working in this order means nothing you need for daily life disappears into a sealed box too early.

Most households in the Northern Rivers should start packing four to six weeks before moving day and start decluttering even earlier than that. Regional moves often involve larger properties, sheds and outdoor storage than a typical city apartment, so give yourself more time than you think you need.

A rough timeline that works well:

Six weeks out: Declutter room by room and book your removalist.
Four weeks out: Start packing non-essential rooms and storage areas.
Two weeks out: Pack the bulk of the house, leaving only daily essentials unpacked.
Moving week: Finish the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, and confirm arrangements with your removalist.

Local factors matter too. If you're moving between towns in the Northern Rivers rather than across the same suburb, factor in a longer loading and unloading window, and check with your removalist about access for larger trucks if your street is narrow or your driveway is steep.

Some items are best left to professionals, either because they're genuinely dangerous to move without training or because damage isn't covered if they're packed incorrectly. This generally includes valuable artwork, antiques, pianos and other large instruments, and anything with a glass top or panel.

Hazardous household items also shouldn't go on the truck at all in most cases. This includes gas bottles, paint, aerosols and cleaning chemicals. Check with your removalist ahead of time about what they can and can't transport, so you're not left working out disposal on moving day itself.

A pre-packing service means a trained team packs your entire house (or just the rooms you choose) before moving day, using the right materials and box sizes for each item. This removes the single biggest time cost of moving and reduces the risk of items being damaged from incorrect packing.

It's a particularly practical option if you're managing a move alongside work, kids or a tight settlement date, or if you simply don't want to spend your evenings wrapping glassware for three weeks straight. Dan's Removals offers pre-packing as an add on to a full move, so you can choose full house packing, a partial service for the rooms that take the longest (kitchen and garage are common choices) or just the fragile and high value items.

Example: A family relocating within the Northern Rivers with two working parents and young kids might book pre-packing for the kitchen, kids' rooms and garage, then handle the simpler rooms like bedrooms and living areas themselves in the lead up to the move. This splits the workload without handing over the whole job.

How many boxes do I need to pack a house? It depends on the size of your home and how much you own, but a two bedroom property typically needs somewhere between 40 and 60 boxes. It's safer to over order boxes than run short midway through packing, since most suppliers will take unused boxes back or you can keep them for future use.

How long does it take to pack an entire house? For an average family home, allow four to six weeks of steady, part time packing rather than trying to do it all in a weekend. Larger regional properties, sheds and outdoor storage areas usually add extra time compared to a standard city apartment.

What should I pack first when moving house? Start with rooms and items you use the least such as storage areas, spare rooms and out of season belongings. Save the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom for last, since you'll need those right up until moving day.

Is it worth paying for a pre-packing service? It's worth it if time, energy or risk of damage are bigger concerns than cost. A professional pre-packing service is especially useful for busy households, fragile or valuable items and anyone who wants to reduce the physical workload of a move.

Can removalists pack fragile items like TVs and artwork? Yes, most professional removalists including Dan's Removals can pack and transport fragile items like TVs, artwork and mirrors using specialised materials and handling techniques. It's generally safer to have these items professionally packed rather than risk damage from incorrect wrapping or box selection.

What items should I not put in a moving box? Hazardous items such as gas bottles, aerosols, paint and cleaning chemicals shouldn't be packed or transported by most removalists. Valuable items like antiques, pianos and glass topped furniture are also better handled by professionals with the right equipment.

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