Packing Hints and Tips

A Guide to Packing for an International Move

We recommend that you leave the packing to the professionals. John Mason’s Export Packing teams are all highly experienced in packing for overseas shipments and have undergone extensive training. As we are specialists in overseas moving, all of our packers are Export Packers. Export packing is a separate craft and requires the employment of different techniques and materials which are suitable for sea and air transit.

Please see below for some packing hints and tips to help you prepare for the moving day:

1. – Decide in advance what you would like to take with you and what you are leaving behind. This is usually done at the pre-move survey stage or before. The surveyor can provide advice on what to take and will advise on prohibited or restricted items in your destination country. Advice on what to take can be found in our guide here: Moving Overseas: Deciding What To Take With You.
2. – You may wish to pack a few personal items yourself. If this is the case, please inform your Move Manager or crew foreman on the day of the move so that they can plan accordingly.
3. – If possible, separate items which are for sea shipment and which are for air shipment. Either place all air freight items in a separate room or in a corner of the room so that items do not get mixed up.
4. – It is a good idea for items which are not being shipped to be placed in a separate area e.g. a room with the door closed.
5. – Do not move your household items into one area, leave items in situ (e.g. pictures on walls, crockery in kitchen cupboards etc.). This will assist the packing team when labelling cartons.
6. – Keep keys and screws to one side. These items will be packed into an ‘odds box’ and kept all together for easy access at destination.
7. – The odds box will be packed last so that it is the first item to be unloaded which will assist when re-assembling furniture.
8. – Ensure that your washing machine drum is secured for transit.
9. – Defrost your fridge / freezer well in advance of the moving date to allow plenty of time for it to be completely dry.
10. – Petrol lawn mowers and strimmers must be completely drained of fuel before shipping.
11. – Put your passports, keys and other travel documents to one side along with your suitcases before the moving day.