2008orbust

I mean those big ones they fold out and tape up the bottom

i hope to be able to put some smaller ready packed boxes by myself into
theirs - nothing delicate just dvds


also - any tips on packing books ?

fledermaus

Our removals company wanted to see everything that they packed. We had a few boxes of stuff my MIL had given us, but the packers asked us to open the boxes so they could see what was in. They have to note the contents of each box for customs, plus the condition it's in, ie chipped, marked. This is for their use when you unpack at the other end in case anything is damaged. So you need to check that what they write about the contents is accurate.

Books, pack in small boxes or else they are too heavy to lift.

Why not leave it all to the removals people?? After all you will have paid for packing.

2008orbust

point taken - i wouldnt seal the boxes just in with cover closed

i'm fussy with certain things and dont want a big lump to be clumsy

i have no idea of what these people are like so maybe i'm being a bit cautious
and harsh

fledermaus

No, not overly cautious at all. We had plenty of broken stuff so I think you are wise to take care of the stuff you don't want damaged.

2008orbust

i dont have any "valuables" as in vases etc. - just book (lots) and dvds

computer backup discs etc.

think its an organisation thing - if i can roughly do the simple stuff over time
before hand i will - i'm defo sorting the computer hard drives myself - going in a dj aluminium case and a lot of bubble wrap

"e'are m8 - catch !" <-- that them throwing the HDs

fledermaus

We took our laptop with us, and also had back up on a flashdrive, 2 flashdrives in fact. When we came you weren't allowed carry on luggage so we had to send all our personal documents by courier. The laptop had to go in the hold suitcases, hence all the backup drives everywhere.

Brownstar

They are used to packing stuff up, so I would advise not to pack the stuff yourself. We also have loads of books and DVD's, each was wrapped in paper and the packed in the box............all undamaged on arrival

nooka

Our experience was that the English international packers were really excellent. Everything very well packed in a whole variety of specialist boxes, crates etc, using huge amounts of bubble wrap, blankets and other wrapping materials. They were very quick and also careful, and everything was labeled very accurately. The guys we had from New York to Kamloops on the other hand were very careless, but then they were contractors to the trucker, so really under little incentive to do a good job (the UK guys were very disparaging about US packers too - said they used low quality packing materials etc).

I really wouldn't pack anything except the absolute minimum yourself, and check the insurance details because if you pack it yourself and it breaks you may not be covered.

2008orbust

thanks for the info everyone

i plan to only bring the minimum really - no real "treasures"

lots of books i'd consider important
but folders with notes in can be classed as normal and hard to break as it were

few clothes but no wedding dresses

minimum of plates and stuff - virtually nothing

in fact one of the kitchen stuff is needed at all - buy new proper stuff over there

tv - big old 32" crt - i think that will stay in the UK

in fact thats all cheered me up !