Start four weeks ahead
The most common mistake is starting to pack two days before. The sooner you book the moving date and get boxes, the calmer D-day is. A simple timeline avoids the last-minute rush.
A rough timeline
- 3–4 weeks before: ask for a quote, book the date and sort out what you’re not taking (donate, sell or bin).
- 1–2 weeks before: pack everything you don’t use daily and label the boxes.
- Final days: prepare the “first-night” box, empty the fridge and leave out only the essentials.
What to pack first
Start with what you use least: books, out-of-season clothes, décor, kitchenware you don’t use daily. Leave the kitchen, the bathroom and the clothes you’re wearing that week until the end. That way you live normally right up to the last moment.
Label every box (this changes your life)
Write the destination room and a hint of the contents on every box. On unloading, each box goes straight to its spot and you don’t end up opening ten boxes looking for the charger. Extra trick: number the boxes and note how many there are per room, so you know if any is missing on arrival.
Tip: pack a clearly marked “first-night” box with toiletries, chargers, a set of sheets, some clothes and your phone charger. It’s the first thing you open in the new home.
Gather materials in good time
Boxes of various sizes, packing paper, bubble wrap, cling film, tape and a good marker. Small boxes for heavy things (books) and big ones for bulky, light things (blankets, cushions). If you’d rather not pile up cardboard, we bring the materials and take them away afterwards.
Want us to do it for you?
Tell us about your move in Madrid and we’ll send a clear, no-obligation quote.