So you’ve hired a mover and are getting ready to move to a new location. With moving day just around the corner, all that is left for you to do is to just pack everything. But that’s not always as easy as it sounds. At Empire Movers, we’ve encountered countless situations where things went wrong just because the clients didn’t know how to pack their belongings. That’s why we’ve put together this list of packing tips that you must absolutely know when getting ready to pack your items for a big move.
These tips will help you understand how to pack more efficiently and how to better protect your items. Here they are:
1. Get rid of unnecessary items
One of the most common mistakes people make is trying to pack everything. This is a huge mistake, as they almost always end up throwing away a lot of the items they don’t really need. But, by packing them, they waste time and a lot of money.
So, one of the most important tips we could ever give you is to make sure that you don’t move things that you no longer need. Just take a few minutes, go through your things and figure out what you need and what you don’t need anymore. Afterwards, just sell, donate or throw away the things that you don’t need and pack the things that you do.
2. Pack your belongings by room
Once you’ve figured what you’ll be taking with you to the new location, it’s time to start packing. If you want to be organized, then make sure that you categorize everything. And there’s no easier way to create categories than doing it by rooms.
It’s also best to start packing a month before the move. This way, you’ll have enough time on your hands to take care of everything. And it will also be less exhausting.
Just spend 30 minutes or an hour each day for one room, and pack your items into boxes. Everything will go nice and smooth.
3. Label, label, label!
Did we mention that you need to label your belongings. You absolutely must do it. Adding labels to your boxes will ensure that the movers know exactly where to take everything, and it will also allow you to find things a lot faster. It will save you time and money, if you’re paying your movers by the hour.
4. Place personal items in a separate box
These are the items that you may need right away. You probably won’t want to spend time digging through boxes to find them. So just place them in a special, separate box. Again, it will save you a lot of time. And it will also come in handy in case of emergencies.
5. Pack breakables separately
Dishes, records, glasses, all these things are fragile. So take care to pack them in separate boxes. You can even use special moving boxes for them. But, whatever you choose, make sure the breakable items are safe. Use bubble wrap, crumpled newspaper or towels to make sure they won’t move around inside the box and break each other.
Remember! Some of these breakable items, such as wine glasses, need to be packed carefully, with lots of padding. For these items, we have some special tips that you may find interesting and helpful.
6. Buy quality moving boxes.
One huge mistake a lot of people make is thinking that just any box will do. It won’t. If you want to make sure that your items will get to the new location in one piece, you should really take into account buying some quality moving boxes.
These boxes can make a difference. They may cost more, but they will keep your belongings safe. Unlike boxes from grocery or liquor stores, you can be sure that they won’t break down in mid move.
7. Be smart with clothing
Packing clothes can take a lot of time. But it doesn’t have to. Roll the clothes, instead of folding them, or just put them in garbage bags, while still on the hangers. We all have lots and lots of clothes. And these can take up a lot of space. So be smart when packing them. Otherwise they will take up most if not all of the space in the moving truck.
8. Take extra time to protect your furniture
Make sure that you take care of the larger pieces of furniture. They may look sturdy, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t break during a move. Or, if they don’t break, they can get damaged. Usually, these items cost a lot, no matter if you want to replace them or fix them. So it’s better to take care that you avoid any damage that may occur.
9. Don’t pack the following items with other belongings
You can pack most things without thinking twice, but some items need special attention. And we’re not talking about breakables again, but about items that may even be considered hazardous, such as chemicals, tools, painting equipment and others. You may not want to pack these things together with your clothes or furniture. Instead, pack them in separate boxes and keep them away from other belongings.
