Relocation Services » Packing Tips

Packing Tricks & Tips Whether you are hiring professional movers to transport your belongings or renting a moving van and moving yourself, there are suggestions which will make your move go easier and sometimes save you money by maximizing the space and number of items that need to be transported.

• Go through all of your belongings and decide what can be thrown away, donated or given to friends or relatives or, have a garage sale prior to the move. Take a good look at the floor plan of your new home. Place furniture ahead of time on the floor plan. If it doesn’t appear that a piece of furniture will fit into the new scheme, it probably won’t. Get rid of it before you move thereby saving time and money of transporting it and then having to get rid of it.
• When gathering empty boxes to pack your belongs in, look for sturdy smaller boxes. One mistake most people make is to try to make use of every square inch in each box. By using more boxes and selecting smaller sizes, you are less apt to over pack making boxes harder to move. It is also easier to fit smaller boxes into every nook and cranny in the moving van.
• Make use of drawers, suitcases, interior of cabinets, even the space in your refrigerator, washer, dryer (if they are going to go with you.) Be careful what you pack in those areas though as items can shift during transit.
• Compartmented cartons are ideal for glassware and small breakable items.
• Visit art stores and picture framing stores for tubes and large flat boxes ideal for pictures, wall hangings, posters, curtain rods, etc.
• When packing heavier items with light items, always put the heavier items on the bottom of the box for better balance.
• Carefully wrap all breakables separately. If using newsprint, wrap items first in tissue and then in newsprint so the ink does not stain delicate breakables. Use washcloths or towels to fill in the spaces. Throw rugs also make excellent padding around breakable items.
• Pack similar items or items which will be placed in the same room together. Try to think about which room the items are going to be placed at the end of the move. Unpacking will go much faster if you don’t have to run from room to room putting away items from the same box.
• Button, pin or secure clothing on hangers and place in cardboard wardrobes to prevent shifting during transit.
• Empty refrigerator and freezer at least 24 hours prior to transit and allow it to dry out to prevent mildew, mold or unpleasant odors.
• Discard perfume, nail polish remover, paint, bleach or anything else that could leak and ruin other items. If they need to be moved, seal well in plastic bags or leak proof containers.
• Empty all gas tanks and fuel burning items prior to transporting.
• Label, label, label. The more detailed your labels on each box, the easier to find items at the end of the move. Label not only what is in the box but also the room it is to be placed prior to being unpacked. A great idea is to use a different colored label for each room.
• Make a final tour opening all drawers, looking on the high shelves of closets, cabinets above the rafters of the garage, and anywhere else missed items could be hiding to make sure nothing has been overlooked.

Items That Should Not be Packed:

• Movers should never be allowed to move valuable jewelry, furs, and silver, irreplaceable photographs, insurance policies, medical or dental records, coin or stamp collections, valuable pieces of art. These items are best transported yourself.
• Never pack anything that could leak, explode or be a fire hazard. Discard all aerosol cans, paint, alcohol, bleach, cleaning fluids, etc.
• Do not allow movers to transport ammunition, fireworks, matches or chemistry sets.
• Transporting houseplants in the family car or better yet, give them to friends, relatives or donate them to a hospital. They may die from lack of light, water and temperature changes.
• Never pack perishable foods.