10 Packing Tips You Must Know When Moving House
10 Packing Tips You Must Know When Moving House
Relocation is a process we never look forward to. You have to contact utility companies, clean your entire home before you leave, hire a moving van in advance, not to mention pack all your belongings. Speaking of packing, it is essential for a damage-free move and it will save you a lot of headaches later when you unpack. So here are ten packing tips you’ll find useful.
#1. Start Packing As Early As Possible
The time it will take you to pack all your items depends mainly on their number. So, for a large house, two months should be enough if you pack one box a day. For smaller homes, one month should be just fine. Of course, this is not an exact number, but you get the idea. But before you start the actual packing you should…
#2. Get Plenty Of Packing Supplies
A great source for free boxes is your local supermarket (or pharmacy). Sometimes you might have to go during a specific time of the day as some grocery shops receive shipments only once a week. Collect both large and small boxes and if you happen to know anyone who has recently moved, ask them if they can give you a box or two. Another option is to buy new moving boxes from a moving company. Doing this has its advantages. Moving companies have different types of boxes suitable for all sorts of items (e. g. wardrobe boxes). They’re specially created to carry your clothes while hanged. Packing tape is easy to acquire at any book store and old newspapers are always lying around, so we trust you’d have no trouble to find these supplies.
#3. Label All Your Boxes
Write the contents on each box with a marker. Write on the sides of the boxes and not on tops as this will make it easier to recognise them if they’re are stacked. It’s also advisable to use a different colour for every room. Ask your children, if you have any, to help you. Kids love drawing and colouring, so what better way to reduce the stress of moving than asking your little angels to draw a few pretty books on some of the boxes? This is just one method of helping your kids cope with the move.
#4. Pack One Room At A Time
This is one of the most important packing tips which for some reason often gets neglected. Doing this will help you stay organised and will later tell the movers, or anyone unloading, which box goes where. Got an attic? Well, there is a good place to start as the items you have there are probably not the ones you use on a daily basis.
#5. Start Packing Items You Least Need
Seasonal items you’re currently not using such as garden tools, coats and Christmas lights are perfect examples. If you’re going to disassemble your cupboards, you might want to know how to properly pack your clothes as well. This will cause a great deal of chaos. Which can be a good thing if you have pets. The best thing you can do to make moving with your cat, or moving with your dog easier is to have boxes and packing materials in the open, so they can explore. First day might be a little weird, but once that’s over, you can officially start packing. While packing and rediscovering some items you had forgotten you possessed, be sure to…
#6. Get Rid Of Items You Don’t Use
Hold a garage sale or give your old unwanted items to charity. There is also Ebay, so your options are plenty. If you have friends helping you with your move, ask them whether they need anything you’re planning to sell. After all, you’re not paying them and they should get something for all their troubles.
#7. Do Not Overfill The Boxes
Try not to exceed the limit of 30 pounds for a box. You might get a back injury or one of the boxes might not be able to withstand the weight. Pack light items in large boxes and heavy items is small boxes. This packing tip alone will save you a great deal of pain…literally.
#8. Put Hazardous Materials In a Separate Box
Any kind of cleaning products such as bleach, glass cleaners and floor polishes fall into this category. You might also want to put a label on the box they’ll be stored in.
#9. Put The Heavier Boxes On The Bottom
Packing tips like this one might be common sense, but they’re still important to mention. By putting your heavy boxes underneath the lighter boxes you ensure no breakable items will get crushed during the move. Boxes full of books and furniture parts are great examples of what you should load first.
#10. Prepare A Box Of Essentials
One of the most important packing tips you will ever come across. The box of essentials should contain items you will need right after your move is over. Start packing it early, so it can be half way full by the time the moving day comes. Leave room so you could later add last minute items. Put this box last in the moving van, so you can later have easy access to it when you’re done relocating. Examples of what your box of essentials should contain: • any kind of snacks, canned or boxed food; • can opener; • eating utensils; • pans and pots; • towels and dishcloth; • toiletries; • baby supplies; • pet food (if you have a pet); • instruction manuals for all your electric appliances remote controls; • first aid kit; • tool box. And so, there you have it. Good luck!