“Help! My move is coming up, but when should I start packing?” We hear this question every day at Moving.nl. And honestly? We understand your concerns. Starting too early means weeks of living between boxes. Starting too late means sleepless nights. Don’t worry – we’ll help you find the perfect timing for your move.

Before you start packing: What you need to know

You know what's funny? Almost everyone underestimates how much stuff they have. "Oh, I can do that in a weekend," we often hear. Until they open that one closet they forgot about. Let's look together at what your situation requires.

How much stuff do you actually have?

Last week we helped a couple move. “We don’t have much,” they said. Three overcrowded attics later, we had a good laugh together. Here’s what we learned:

Living situation	Boxes (approximately)	Ideal start time	Why?
Student room	40 to 60	4 weeks	Few furniture, flexible planning
Apartment	70 to 90	6 weeks	More stuff, complete household goods
Family with two children	100+	8 weeks	Lots of toys, seasonal items

“Do you know what the secret is? Start with the things you use the least. Then you hardly notice that you are packing!” – Emma, moving expert at Moving.nl

The distance to your new home

Are you moving across town or across the country? That makes quite a difference to your planning. Take a look:

Moving around the corner? You can safely transfer some stuff already. A few tips:

Drive a carload every day
Start with decoration and books
Keep your base at home for a while
Take it easy in between

To another city? Now it becomes a bigger operation:

Plan your moving van smartly
Pack extra carefully
Arrange help for the big day
Make a clear plan

International move? This is a different story:

Check input rules
Start extra early
Arrange your paperwork
Choose what really needs to be taken

Planning and available time

Do you work full time? Do you have small children? Or all the time in the world? We see big differences in how quickly people can pack.

With a busy job: “Impossible to pack during the week”, Linda thought at first. Until she followed our tip: one closet every evening. Ten minutes a day. After three weeks she was halfway there, without stress. Try it yourself:

Take one drawer or shelf every workday
Weekend? Two extra hours
Make it fun with music
Reward yourself for every milestone

With children at home: Make a game of it! Sarah had her kids sort their toys into “now” and “later” boxes. They had the time of their lives and helped out.

How stressed are you?

Stress and moving often go hand in hand. But did you know that good planning can reduce your stress enormously? A customer recently told us: “Since I started following your planning, I sleep again!”

Do you recognize this?

You wake up with thoughts of moving
You keep putting off packing
You don't know where to start

That's normal! But with our approach you tackle it differently:

Create small, manageable tasks
Celebrate your progress
Ask for help in time
Give yourself breathing space

The ideal planning for packing when moving

“When should I really start?” We get this question every day. The answer? It depends on your situation. But we do have a tried and tested step-by-step plan for packing and moving for you.

Moving is the perfect time to declutter

Do you know that feeling? You unpack a box that has been with you for three moves, but you have no idea what is inside. Time to work smarter! At Moving.nl we call this “the big clean”.

Before you touch a single moving box, approach it this way:

Step 1: The hard questions For each item you pick up, ask yourself:

Have I used this in the past year?
Will I use this in my new house?
Does this have sentimental value?
Is it worth moving?

Step 2: Make three piles

Take along: Stuff you actually use and need
Get rid of it: Sell, give away or recycle
Doubt: Maximum one box – no more!

“Since I started using this method, every move has been easier than the last,” says Mark, one of our regular customers.

Practical packing planning per period

8 weeks before the move

This is your starting point! Start with stuff you don't use anyway. We call this the 'bedroom test': if it can stay in your bedroom for three months without being missed, it can go in a box now.

First focus on:

That dusty attic (yes, those Christmas things can go now)
The storage (except for your bike of course)
Books you 'will read someday'
Seasonal items you don't need right now

6 weeks before the move

Now it's getting serious! Time for:

Art on the wall (leave one nice print hanging)
That collection of DVDs (Netflix time!)
Winter clothes (or summer clothes, depending on the season)
Extra crockery and glasses

Pro-tip from our team: “Take pictures of how your stuff looks now. Handy for decorating your new home!”

4 weeks before the move

The big jobs are coming:

Garage stuff (except what you still need)
Sports equipment that you are not using now
Hobby supplies (keep one project)
Additional electronics and cables

Funny detail: We recently had a customer who found 47 chargers. He used three of them.

2 weeks before the move

Now pack the things you use less often:

Extra pans and kitchen utensils
That fancy coffee maker (leave the basics)
Excess towels and bed linen
Cleaning supplies (except the essentials)

Last week before moving

This is the final! Keep only what you really need:

Basic cooking utensils (one pan, some cutlery)
Your favorite clothes
Toiletries
Important documents (in a special folder!)

Tips for packing moving boxes

Here comes our golden tip: “A good box is half the job!” But what is a good box?

The basic rules:

Use real moving boxes (supermarket boxes are too fragile)
Pack heavy items in small boxes
Light items may be packed in large boxes
Label like a pro!

About that labeling: One of our clients used different colors of tape per room. Brilliant! Green for the kitchen, blue for the bathroom – you get the idea.

Outsource to a professional moving company

When to hire a moving company?

Sometimes you have to be honest with yourself. Last week a customer called us in a panic: "I thought I could do it all myself, but now I'm sitting between the boxes, crying." Sound familiar? Then it's time to get help.

A moving company is not a luxury if:

Your back protests at the word 'lift'
Your schedule is fuller than a supermarket on Saturday
You have more furniture than muscular friends
Stress is your biggest enemy

Request a price quote

Before you call right away: prepare yourself well! This is how you get the best price:

Take pictures of large furniture
Count your moving boxes (estimate generously!)
Measure difficult items
Note any special requests

Pro tip: “Request quotes in the middle of the month. Moving companies are often less busy and more flexible with prices.”

Special situations when packing for a move

Urgent move

Help! You have to move within two weeks! Don't panic, we have a contingency plan:

Day 1-3:

Arrange moving boxes immediately
Start sorting and packing at the same time
Focus on large rooms first
Accept that perfection is not possible right now

Day 4-10:

Pack per room
Request time off from work
Rent temporary storage as needed
Get family and friends involved

Last days:

Keep basic supplies separate
Packing the last electronics
Cleaning while packing
Small items in handbags

Moving with children

Moving with children is like juggling while standing on one leg – challenging but not impossible!

Our best tips:

Let them decorate their 'moving box'
Create a play corner that lasts until the end
Pack at night when they are asleep
Reward their help with little surprises

A fun trick from one of our customers: she made a 'treasure hunt' of unpacking. Great idea!

Moving with pets

Of course your four-legged friend doesn't understand anything. All those boxes, that chaos... Quite stressful! This is how you make it easier:

Before the move:

Keep their stuff until last
Keep their favorite toys
Place their basket in a quiet place
Keep to their routine

On moving day:

Take them to family or friends
Or: make one room 'pet-proof'
Provide familiar scents
Give extra attention

Common Mistakes When Packing for a Move

Learn from the blunders of others (and our own). We want to spare you these classics:

The “I'll do that later” trap You know how it is: “I’ll clean out that attic next weekend.” Before you know it, it’s the day before your move. Start early!

The “this-box-can-still-work” error Rita packed all her books in one big box. The box and Rita's back regretted it. Keep it light and handy.

The “somewhere” method “I'm sure it's in a box somewhere!” Label, label, and more label.

And finally..

Moving doesn’t have to be a nightmare. With the right planning and preparation, you can enjoy your new home. Start early, work systematically, and ask for help if you need it.