Below, we’ll take you through some of our top packing tips, as well as the different methods you could choose for shipping or transporting your belongings.
1. Declutter and store
Before we begin with the packing and shipping tips, there is one important thing we need to address first. When you’re relocating to Spain, it’s understandable that you’re going to want to take most of your stuff with you, including some home comforts and your favourite furniture.
However, this is also a good opportunity for you to have a deep clean and declutter your life. So, before you start packing, stop and look through your stuff and get rid of anything you don’t want or need for your new life in Spain. This can help to drastically reduce the amount of stuff you need to move with you.
Also, consider if there is some stuff you could leave behind in storage if the move isn’t going to be permanent or if you’re unsure how long you’ll be away. You can always get this stuff shipped at a later date if you decide you can’t live without it.
Just be sure to choose an effective storage option. After all, you don’t want your mum calling you three months down the line to ask you to remove all your old furniture from the spare room. So, in some cases, it might be better to pay monthly for a safe and secure storage unit until you decide what you want to do with the stuff you don’t need right away.
2. Choose the right moving method
Once you’ve had a declutter and you have decided what furniture/belongings are going with you and what is being stored or discarded, you should have a better idea of how much stuff you’ll need to ship. This can help you to make the most informed decision about which mode of transport will be best for transporting your belongings. Your options include:
Hiring a van
If you know that you’ll definitely be able to fit all of your stuff into a van (or perhaps even a large car), you might wish to drive your belongings over yourself. You could either hire or borrow a van to help you do this, though if you borrow a van, you need to consider the length of time it will take you to reach your destination.
This method is often best if you have someone who would be willing to drive with you, so they can then drive the van back for you once you’ve unpacked.
Admittedly, this method is not for everybody and will completely depend on how much stuff you have and whether you feel comfortable driving to Spain, but it can be a more budget-friendly option in the long run.
Work with a relocation company
If you want to make the move as stress-free as possible, it is sometimes easier to let someone else do the hard work. In this case, you can employ a relocation company that offers door to door services and tailored packages.
These providers will come to your home and collect your belongings once they are all packed and then deliver these to your new home in Spain. You can arrange the collection and drop-off time to best suit you and this way you can just relax and enjoy the journey over there by yourself, rather than stressing about transporting all your stuff.
Compare sea and air freight transportation
If you’re shipping larger items such as furniture, you might be struggling to decide on the best method. Although air freight is often the go-to for moving abroad, it can actually be a lot more cost-effective to use sea freight instead.
Of course, which method you choose will depend on where you’re moving to in Spain and how easy it will be to get your goods from the relevant collection points when they arrive.
So, it’s worth doing your research to see which will be not only budget-friendly but also the most hassle-free. Sometimes, you might have to pay more for the easier option. It’s also important to remember that if you go directly to a freight company, you might need to hire another provider to get your belongings there or do it yourself, which could end up more expensive in the long run.
Essentially what we’re saying is, whether you choose to drive your stuff, ship it or work with a relocation company, always do thorough research beforehand to find the best option for you.
3. Perfect your packing strategy
And finally, here are the packing tips we promised. The best way to reduce the stress of moving anywhere, let alone abroad, is to pack efficiently. This makes shipping your belongings and unpacking at the other side much easier too. So, with that in mind, here are some of our top packing tips:
- Creating a packing checklist: Keep yourself organised and make sure you’ve got everything ready to go on time by starting with a packing checklist
- Spread the weight: It’s a good idea to think about weight distribution and your goods, so put heavier stuff at the bottom and lighter stuff on top. And remember, whether it’s you or a mover, someone has to pick up the boxes, so don’t make these too heavy
- Wrap fragile items in your clothes: You want to protect all your fragile items, but why not save space by wrapping these in your clothes rather than bubble wrap
- Roll your clothes: For those clothes left, you can save space by tightly rolling them up. This will also help to stop them from wrinkling
- Use all available space: If you’re packing shoes, containers, baskets or anything else that’s empty space, fill these with smaller or more fragile items
- Use vacuum seal bags: Vacuum packing can be another great way to save space and also protects your belongings from dampness or other damage
- Pack your essentials last: Think carefully about the first things you’re going to want access to when you arrive and pack these last. That way, they’ll be near the top and much easier to find
- Organise and label: Finally, it’s so important to organise your stuff, usually packing it up and organising it by room. You can then carefully label every box and bag so you know what’s inside, and you can quickly find what you need when unpacking in your new home in Spain
And there you have it! By following our tips above and choosing the best moving method for you, you can make your move to Spain as enjoyable and stress-free as possible.
Happy moving day!