Basic Packing Tips
We’re happy to do the packing of boxes for you, but if you’ll be doing your own packing and preparation for the move, listed below are some quick tips to make moving day smooth and simple.
One of the most important factors in determining how long your move will take (and therefore, on a local move, how much it will cost) is how well-prepared you are for the crew when they arrive. Very well-prepared customers will be completely packed, including lamp shades, pictures, and garage items, with all boxes well-taped (top and bottom) and clearly marked on at least two sides with the room they should be delivered to at the new home. No loose items remain on top of dressers or shelves, at the backs of closets, or under the beds. If appliances are going, they’ve been disconnected, thawed, and emptied of contents. Items not going to the new home are either isolated in a particular room or corner of a room, or they’re clearly labeled with a brightly colored sticky note or piece of paper.
Sometimes very ambitious customers do all the disassembly and reassembly of furniture themselves and even “stage” all their boxes in the most accessible location in the house, usually the garage, and then simply have us unload all the boxes into the garage at the new location. (Of course, we’re happy to do the disassembly and reassembly of furniture and bring your boxes to the room in your home where they’ll be unpacked.)
Packing an entire house can be overwhelming. If you are packing household items yourself, here are a few tips.
- Leave clothes in dresser drawers and hang clothes in wardrobe boxes.
- Remove lampshades and lightbulbs and pack in boxes. Label boxes containing lamp shades with the words Top Load Only so they don’t get crushed.
- Reinforce the bottom and top of each box with at least three strips of packing tape.
- Place heavier items in the bottom of the box and lighter items on top.
- Pack boxes firmly from bottom to the very top both to prevent the contents from shifting during your move and to prevent the box from crushing under weight.
- Pack room-by-room, keeping similar items together.
- Use clean, white newsprint paper for padding fragile items like glasses and vases.
- Separate all wood, metal, and ceramic items with paper to prevent scratches.
- Use towels, linens, curtains, etc. to pad around fragile items.
- Seal open packages of spices and foods with tape before packing to avoid spills. (Packing spices together in Ziploc bags works well.)
- Don’t pack already opened bottles of liquids like cooking oils or vinegars — they’re likely to spill and cause damage.
- Place hardware from disassembled furniture in a Ziploc bag and tape inside drawer or cabinet.
- Wrap very small items in bright colored tissue so they won’t get lost.
- Wrap pictures in sheets or blankets and pack in mirror boxes for added protection.
- Plates, stemwre, and records should all be packed on end vertically – not stacked horizontally.
- Make a master list of all household items and personal belongings.
- Number boxes when they are packed and sealed. Label each box and its room destination.
- Write the contents of numbered boxes on your master list.
To make the unload go as smoothly as possible, have a plan already in place for where the large furniture is going and where boxes should be stacked in each and every room. That way, the crew won’t have to mave boxes and furniture mutliple times in the same room, and the unload can proceed as efficiently as possible. Consider labeling the doorway to each room with a sticky note or sheet of paper, and then station someone by the entry door at all times to direct the crew where to go with particular pieces.
Your careful packing and preparation will lead to the most efficient and fantabulous moving day possible. With all your hard work and planning, things will go smoothly, your possessions will be safe and sound, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly we’ll move you from old home to new. If you have any questions about how to be perfectly prepared, please don’t hesitate to call or email.
If you’re feeling a little daunted by the idea of packing up your whole house and wondering how to begin, these videos will give you the tips you need to get started.