Without a doubt, moving to a new location is quite rousing. Are you more worried than excited? Then, you perhaps don’t know where to start. By now, you may have realised that the key to tackling a stressful move lies in starting early. Hire a reputed movers company, contact the utility companies, clean the house, and most importantly pack your belongings.

Unfortunately, packing can feel like an unmanageable workload. Thanks to years of experience, we at Moving Solutions have learnt the art of packing and we are here to help. We have prepared a packing checklist when moving you can follow. Keep reading to learn not only where to start but also tips and tricks to pack efficiently. 

Arrange Packing Supplies 

First thing first, plan how to pack and be prepared with adequate packing supplies. Ideally, this should be included in your pre-packing checklist when moving. While you may have a few boxes lying around here and there, that is never enough. You need to buy a variety of sturdy boxes to securely fit all of your belongings. 

Many people ignore this step as they deem purchasing moving materials as an unimportant chore. However, this is a necessary step for house relocation as it is best to have all the essentials in hand before you start packing. So, what are the essential packing materials you need to grab? Here’s a short list:

You may already have a few of these items at home, so alter your shopping list accordingly. If you have a lot of time, you may even be able to obtain moving boxes for free. For example, you can request grocery shops to donate unused cardboard boxes to you. In general, you will need boxes that vary in sizes – from small to medium. You will also require specialised boxes such as heavy-duty boxes, wardrobe boxes, and mirror or telescopic cardboard boxes. 

Don’t want to shop around for packing essentials? You can consider ordering complete moving house kits over the internet. Even better, outsource tiresome packing duties to reliable professionals and never worry about a packing checklist when moving again. Best of all, belongings packed by professional movers and packers are often insured against loss and damage. 

Packing Tips and Tricks You Must Know

Start Packing Early 

You may be struggling to find out how long the complete packing process will take. There really is no way to know for sure. For, this depends on factors like the number of items to be packed, the size of your house, and agility. However, the sooner you start packing, the better it is. 

Ideally, even if you pack only one box a day, you should be able to pack items in a large house. On the other hand, one month is often enough for leisurely packing belongings in a small house. So, don’t wait to rush through your packing checklist during the final week. Start as soon as possible. 

Tackle Rooms One By One

Despite this being a very important packing tip, many people neglect this. Of course, you can choose to store your items by category. However, most people find storing belongings by room more convenient. This way you can be organised during your packing journey. Plus, this will make unloading and unpacking super easy. 

If you label the boxes by room as well, the movers will know which room to place each box in. Moreover, you can unpack the boxes in order of importance. Start from the top floor and move downstairs. This will prevent muscle strains by the end of the move from climbing the stairs with heavy boxes.  

Start with Infrequently Used Rooms

The same rule applies to packing. Start by packing items on the highest floor and move downwards. Unused items such as seasonal coats, Christmas decorations, garden tools, or other items stored in a loft can be some of the first things you tuck away into boxes.  

Declutter Before You Pack

Take note of items you do not need anymore and add them to the declutter pile. These are belongings you do not want to take to the new house, so there is no need to pack and move such items. You can donate unwanted items or hold a garage sale. You may even post on eBay. Alternatively, you can ask friends and family if they want to keep any of the items you are planning to purge. 

Prepare an Inventory List 

In addition to labelling all the boxes, it is a good idea to have a detailed inventory for a few categories. For example, if you have a huge collection of CDs, books, or trinkets, writing a generalised label may not be sufficient. Adding more information such as genre in the label will help you sort later. 

Stick to a 30 Lbs Weight Limit Per Box

Don’t get carried away and stuff boxes without considering the final weight of each box. The best tip to help avoid moving injuries is to strictly maintain a 30-pounds weight limit per box. Do not overstuff boxes as carrying heavy boxes can lead to severe back pain. Furthermore, if you add too many heavy items in one box, it might get deformed and damaged during the move. 

Store Spillable Items in Plastic Bags

Packing liquid such as detergents and toiletries items is quite critical. First of all, declutter and decide which items are essentials. Next, you can pack the liquids in such a way that they don’t spill during the move. 

Unscrew the bottle caps, place a plastic or ziplock bag over the neck and screw the bottle cap back. If done correctly, you should be able to zip or tie the bags. Finally, you can use scotch tape to further secure the liquid bottles and avoid any spillage. 

Best Way to Pack Clothes: Roll Them 

Frequent travellers would agree that the best way to pack clothes is to roll them. While very practical, it is also an easy way to fold clothes. What’s more, rolling clothes will help you pack more clothes in each of the boxes. Rolling also does not wrinkle clothes, so you do not have to worry about ironing them before unpacking.  

Roll Tubes For Wires and Cables

Hate tangled wires? Then, you should pay special attention to how you are packing wires and cable. Pack each one separately by putting them inside toilet roll tubes. You can use sticky notes to label them and store all the wires and cables in one box. 

Store Your Valuable Items Securely

Moving houses calls for chaos. The last thing you want amid this is to misplace any of your valuable items. Pack all the valuable items such as jewellery or sentimental items together and make an inventory list. You can also rent a safe deposit box at a bank and store your valuables safely. 

Carry all important documents such as passports, birth certificates, and bank statements personally. If possible, pack them into one box and load the box in your car. You might want to hire an office removal service if you have a private practice or a home business. 

The Bottom Line

You can handle the immense workload that packing entails by simply following this packing checklist when moving. So, plan accordingly, get your packing essentials, and start early to make the most out of your moving journey!