A huge chunk of preparing for an upcoming move revolves around packing. Let’s face it. Gathering, sorting, and loading everything that you have into box-size portions is not going to be easy. No matter how dreadful and tedious packing sounds, you need to do it. In fact, the sooner you start, the better.
Not sure where to begin? Don’t know the right packing techniques? We can help you! Keep reading to explore some priceless tips to master the art of packing while also tackling the workload productively. For your convenience, we have classified the spot-on packing checklist when moving into sections! Ready to learn some basics of packing? Let’s go!
Getting started is perhaps the most difficult part. By planning what to commence with, you can stay organised and avoid procrastination during such hectic times. Here’s a list to help you plan:
It’s a good idea to start with out-of-season clothes and items tucked away in storage. These are belongings you do not use frequently and may not need to access for the next several months. Plus, many of these may already be in boxes so you will get a headstart.
It is unlikely that you will host any fancy dinners amid this move. This is why China and rarely used cookware are among the first things you can pack. Place these carefully into boxes and label them.
You can also pack decorative items such as picture frames and wall hangings. They do not have any functional use so the best choice is to get them out of the way.
To reiterate, you only want to leave absolute essentials for the final days of packing. This means you can pack extra towels, beddings, etc. beforehand. Keep some basic towels, sheets and blankets for regular use and pack everything else.
Select a few books you might want to be able to access easily and pack everything else. Additionally, you need to transfer the small items scattered all over the house into boxes. These are usually knick-knacks such as jewellery dishes or souvenirs.
One of the first packing-related tasks is to separate items that are prone to damage during the move. More importantly, you need to distinguish things that are prohibited and cannot be included in the shipment. Getting these out of the way can make future packing tasks easier.
Now that you have begun packing already, you might also learn how to do it the right way. One of the best ways to improve packing is to learn how you can organise each of the boxes. Below is a packing checklist when moving you that might help:
Even though quite obvious, it is worth mentioning that you cannot make cast-iron pans with delicate china plates. Separate and protect items like skewers, knives, or heavy equipment to avoid damaging or puncturing other items. What’s more, this will ease labelling and unpacking.
When packing equipment, don’t forget to pack all of its components together. Otherwise, they might get misplaced during the move. Place small hardware such as mirror bolts and curtain rod hangers in plastic bags and seal them.
The ideal way to pack items in boxes is to build layers – heaviest at the bottom and lightest on top. As you complete each layer, you should use crushed paper to fill the empty spaces. You can also add crushed paper between the layers to create dividers.
You must be worried about how to pack your computers, televisions, video game systems, tablets, and stereo equipment. These are worth hundreds of dollars and are prone to theft and damage. The same can be said about small and fragile items. Here are a few tips that will help keep your belongings safe:
The best way to transfer electronics is to transfer them in their original boxes. In case you did not save the boxes, find similar-sized cartons and cushion adequately. It is recommended that you wrap electronics in clean paper or linen to reduce damage caused by dust. For additional protection, you can use sheets, moving pads, or blankets.
Wind all electrical cords and secure them so they do not dangle. You can use colour stickers to help identify cords later. As these are valuable items, do not label the boxes in an obvious way.
Each of these delicate pieces needs to be wrapped individually and put in small boxes. You can wrap your fine crystal, china, and other delicate items in clean and unprinted paper. Alternatively, you may choose to use towels or facial tissue. For added security, you can use newspaper as the outer wrapping.
Of course, you need to secure the fragile items with a two or three-inch layer of crush paper at the bottom of the box. Furthermore, empty spaces must be filled with crushed paper after each layer is completed.
Place the smaller boxes, heaviest at the bottom, inside a bigger carton. Be sure to use empty paper to fill spaces.
Along with other packing basics, it is important to learn when and how to seal cartons. Here are some tips:
Firm-packing the goal! However, you should not overload your cartons. Ideally, each box should be stuffed in such a way that the content does not shift much during the move. The carton cover should close without force.
In general, it is best practice to tightly seal all the packed boxes with tape. The only exception is if a box contains items listed on the United’s High-Value Inventory Form. You should leave these boxes open so the van operator can do a routine inspection.
Sure packing is important, but so is labelling. If you do not label your boxes, unpacking will be a nightmare. Moreover, having an idea of what is inside the box will help movers handle your belongings more safely. Even though you can follow your personalised labelling system, here is a short labelling checklist when moving:
As you finish filling each of the boxes, make a list of all the contents of that box. You can number or code the boxes and then write a corresponding list of contents in a notebook. It might also prove helpful to attach a copy of the list of content on the side of the box.
Moreover, you can assign each box to a specific room in the new home and label accordingly. At the destination, you can label the rooms as well to help movers place all boxes in their assigned rooms. For example, you can label a carton filled with toys as ‘child bedroom’ and also put up the same label on the child bedroom door.
You can add special instructions regarding handling or unpacking of the boxes, you can add these on the box. For instance, you can leave written cues on boxes you would want to unpack first.
By simply following this basic checklist when moving, you can pack more productively. To ease your process, it would be helpful to start packing early. You can check out our pre-packing checklist for more details on that. If you wish to go the extra mile, you may pack a box of first night essentials too.
Overwhelmed by all the tasks that packing entails? Well, you can always choose the easy route! Hire a professional to take care of packing for you. In fact, you may even hire us to take care of the complete move. Call us at 1300 559 616 to discuss your options and get a free quote!
