Packing well is the single biggest factor in whether your possessions arrive intact. Mark Ratcliffe Moving's packing service in Eastbourne is built around our signature pad-wrap method — the same approach used by premium international movers — combined with proper export-grade materials and trained, BAR-standard packers. We can pack everything for you, just the fragile items, or supply you with materials to pack yourself.
Most removal companies use bubble wrap, newspaper and standard cartons. We do too — but only for breakables inside boxes. Our real difference is what we do with your furniture. Every dining table, every sideboard, every wardrobe, every bedside cabinet is individually wrapped in a thick quilted blanket inside your home, taped securely and labelled, before it is carried to the lorry. It is only unwrapped once it has been placed in its final position in your new property. The result is far fewer chips, scratches and dings than a standard remover delivers.
We pack absolutely everything — clothing, kitchen, books, ornaments, electronics, art. Ideal if you want zero packing stress, or if you are working full-time and cannot give over a fortnight to wrapping things. Typically completed one or two days before moving day.
You pack the easy stuff (clothes, linen, books) and we handle anything breakable — china, glassware, mirrors, art, picture frames, lamps, ceramics, electronics. This is the most popular option for self-packers.
Higher-spec packing for international moves and long-term storage. We use moisture-resistant pad-wrap, custom timber crates for art and antiques, and we comply with destination-country wood-packaging regulations (ISPM-15 where required).
Optional add-on. Once we have placed your furniture in the right room and unwrapped it, our crew can also unpack your boxes, remove the materials and take the cardboard away for recycling. Especially popular with downsizers and seniors.
The cardboard you use matters. Cheap single-wall cartons collapse under stack pressure and are the leading cause of damage in self-packed moves. We use:
If you are packing yourself, you can buy any of these materials from our packaging shop — collected from our Lower Dicker depot or delivered to your door.
The honest answer is that packing prices depend on volume and fragility — a flat in Old Town with a few crates and a sideboard takes a fraction of the time of a 4-bedroom country home with a wine cellar and antique furniture. As a guide, full packing for a 3-bedroom Eastbourne home typically adds £350–£600 to your removal quote; fragile-only packing roughly half that. Materials are included in the quoted price.
For a precise quote, request a survey — we will give you an itemised figure with no obligation.
When customers self-pack and then ask us why something arrived damaged, the explanation is almost always one of five things. Avoid these and your self-pack will arrive intact:
If you have not used a professional packing service before, the scale of what we wrap can be surprising. Here is what is typically covered in a full pack for a 3-bedroom Eastbourne home:
Every cup, plate and glass. Pots and pans nested with paper between. Small appliances individually wrapped. Pantry contents in sealed cartons. Spices and oils boxed upright. The contents of every drawer.
Books in triple-wall book boxes (heavy, so small boxes only). DVDs and games. Ornaments and photographs individually wrapped in tissue. Lamps with shades separated. TVs in corner-padded cartons.
Hanging clothes go directly from wardrobes into our wardrobe cartons (built-in rail). Folded clothes in standard cartons. Bedding and pillows in sealed bags. Toys and small items in lined cartons.
Toiletries in sealed plastic bags (in case of leaks) within cartons. Medicines kept aside for you to travel with personally. Towels and linens bagged.
Christmas decorations, suitcases, tools, garden equipment, paint and chemicals (handled separately for safety). Lawnmowers drained of fuel and oil. Bikes wrapped and strapped.
Files and folders in lockable archive boxes for confidentiality. Computers and monitors in anti-static bubble. Stationery in dedicated cartons. Photographs of cable arrangements before disconnection.
No. Many customers pack their own boxes and we just move them. But our pad-wrap protection of furniture is included on every full removal — that is what makes the most difference to whether things arrive damaged.
We typically pack one to two days before moving day. For larger homes we may start three to four days ahead. The survey will set a packing schedule that works around your routine.
Yes for lightweight items in solid drawer units. For heavy items or fragile drawers we ask you to empty them so the unit can be moved safely. We will tell you on the day.
We do. Our crews are trained to handle TVs, computers, sound systems and other electronics. Original boxes are best where you have them; otherwise we wrap and crate to manufacturer-equivalent standards.
Full packing for a 3-bedroom home typically adds £350–£600 to a removal. Fragile-only packing is roughly half that. Materials are usually included.
From the blog
Step-by-step packing for china, glass, framed pictures, mirrors, electronics — from BAR-trained packers.
Read article →
Pro-packer technique for china, glassware, art, electronics. The five mistakes that cause most self-pack damage.
Read article →
How our signature method works — wrap in your home, never unwrapped in transit, only unwrapped in final position.
Read article →Call us today for a free, no-obligation quote — or use our online form. Whether it's a one-room move or a full international relocation, we've handled it before.