If you are planning to move your own home yourself, here are some simple tips to packing and wrapping that will help protect your goods during transit to your new home.

• Wrap each item individually.

• Use sturdy cartons that are designed for household removals.

• Put heavy items into smaller boxes for easy lifting.

• Never overfill a carton. As a guide one person should be able to comfortably lift a packed carton unaided.

• Put heavy things at the bottom of any carton to ensure you avoid crushing other items.

• Pad out space within a carton with crushed white paper to ensure there is no movement within the carton during the move.

• Label each carton carefully so you know its contents.

• Tape each carton closed when it is full.

• Make sure cartons are packed the right way up.

• Never bend at the waist to pick up a carton - bend at the knees and keep your back straight Tape the bottom of a carton before packing it, first fold two opposite flaps then the remaining two flaps over. Use one length of tape along the central seam. Use two further lengths of tape over the edge of seams. Tape the top in the same way.

• Make sure cartons are packed the right way up.

• Always pack the carton to the very top and to both sides, any voids can cause the carton to crush or items to be damaged.

• To close a carton, always fold in two opposite sides followed by the remaining two, never criss-cross.

• Cartons should not be placed on polished surfaces; any dirt and grit impregnated into the bottom of packed cartons can cause scratching of the surface.

• Take care when reopening cartons if cutting the tape with a knife. You would not want to damage the contents.