Booking your Van Unless you're moving a very short distance and can do many hops in your own transport - or if you're moving with a group of people (such as in the Military), or your family has access to a suitable van, its important to book your van as far in advance as possible, to allow you to ensure that you get your van. Buying boxes and containers from hardware stores or supermarkets is a good way to get sturdy, reusable containers for your new house, but may not prove to be cost effective if you've got lots of belongings. Boxes are a good, cheap alternative to plastic containers and can be bought from websites, along with tape and stickers to mark your boxes. So you need another, convenient, cheap option for your furniture. Storage companies are basically large warehouses or lockups that you can rent and range in size from a box room to an area large enough to store a complete house. Storage is great if you're needing to move out of one house before your other hoese is ready or when you've sold your old house but haven't finished arranging the new one. Its perfectly acceptable not to unpack everything in the first few days if you've moved to a new area, you may want to (or need to) explore and familiarize yourself with any public transport, local facilities, or shops in the area. You'll need to go out and buy at least the basics saving the 'big shop' until you've unpacked your kitchen. Your packing schedule should take into account any redecorating or repairs you want to undertake - and should also allow for anything you need to use. These essentials should be packed over the last day, so don't leave out too much - or you'll find it very difficult to finish packing in time. Wardrobes, your garage, and shed can be packed as one of your first tasks - if you don't use your garage and its secure, you could then store any boxes there, or in cupboards. A 400 mile move MAY end up costing you the same as renting a van in the UK a move out of the country may be cost prohibitive, and it may be easier just to sell everything and start fresh when you get there. A long move such as over several hundred miles may also change schooling arrangements, or your job uprooting over a distance of hundreds of miles can lead to new opportunities or the loss better ones back where you were so you have to carefully evaluate what you want from your life, and whether it would be best served by moving to a whole new part of the world.