Are you moving house? If so, you’ll need to pack up all your belongings and transport them to your new home. It can be a daunting task, but with these essential packing tips, you’ll be able to get it done quickly and easily!
More than 40 million Americans move home each and every year. That’s a lot of boxes, shuffling of furniture, and exchanges of keys! This might be your first time moving, in which case you’ll want some tips on the best way to pack up all your stuff.
Or perhaps you’ve moved a few times before, and are looking for the packing to be a more stress-free situation this time around. Whatever your circumstances, here are some tips on how to pack your belongings in the best way possible for your house move.
1. Hire Packers and Movers
This is one of the best ways to take the stress out of packing for a move. Offering furniture shipping services too, professional packers and movers will come to your house, pack up all your belongings carefully and efficiently, and transport them to your new home.
They’ll even unpack everything for you so that you can just sit back and relax on moving day.
2. Have a Priority Box
If you’re intent on doing the packing yourself, make sure you have a ‘priority box’ which contains all the items you’ll need on your first day and night in the new house.
This might include things like toiletries, a towel, bedding, clothes for the next day, a kettle, and some cups. Pack this box last so that you can easily find everything you need when you arrive at your new home.
3. Use Strong Boxes
When it comes to packing boxes, using good quality, strong boxes are essential. You don’t want your belongings getting damaged in transit so make sure you invest in some good quality cardboard boxes that won’t fall apart when they’re being moved around.
You don’t necessarily need to buy new boxes for moving home. Look on local listings websites for people looking to get rid of cardboard boxes, or post a question on a local forum to see if anyone has any strong boxes going spare.
You can also ask at local supermarkets and stores.
4. Label Everything
You might think you’ll remember what’s in each box, but when you get to your new home and start unpacking, you’ll quickly realize that it’s not as easy as it seems! To save yourself the hassle, label each box with a description of its contents.
This will make unpacking much easier and quicker. Also, note down which room in your new house you want each box to go to. Whether you do the move yourself or you hire professionals to do it, this will help ensure the right boxes end up in the right rooms.
You’ll be thankful you took these extra steps when it comes to the unpacking stage.
5. Pack Heavy Items at the Bottom
When packing boxes, make sure you put the heavy items at the bottom and the lighter items on top. This will make it easier to carry the boxes and will prevent any damage to your belongings.
Although you should put heavy items at the bottom of boxes, be careful not to fill boxes with just heavy items. You’ll quickly realize these boxes will be difficult to carry and move, and you don’t want to risk injury to yourself or your movers.
Spread heavy items such as books over a few boxes, or get some smaller boxes just for heavy items, as this will limit how much you can put inside.
6. Use Bubble Wrap
To protect your fragile items during the move, make sure you use bubble wrap or packing paper. Wrap each item individually before placing it in a box. This will help to prevent anything from breaking during the move.
If you have a lot of fragile items, it might be worth investing in some special packaging boxes which are designed for moving fragile belongings such as glasses and plates. Remember you could use clothing, towels, and bed linen to help protect fragile items.
This is an efficient way of packing too, as all these items will need to be packed anyway. If you have anything that is particularly valuable or important to you, consider transporting these things personally to your new home in a well-padded suitcase.
7. Don’t Overpack Boxes
When packing boxes, don’t overdo it! Not only will this make the box too heavy to lift, but it also increases the risk of items getting damaged. It’s better to use smaller boxes that are easier to carry and less likely to get damaged.
Plus, if you have a lot of small items, it can be tempting to just throw them all in one big box. But this will make it harder to find things when you start unpacking, so it’s best to sort items into smaller boxes.
8. Use Packing Tape
To make sure your boxes stay closed and don’t come open during the move, use packing tape. This will also help to reinforce any weak areas on the box, such as the corners. When taping up boxes, make sure you use good quality tape so it doesn’t come undone easily.
You don’t want your belongings spilling out of a box in the middle of the move!
9. Use Boxes with Wheels
If you’re moving heavy items, using boxes with wheels can be a huge help. These types of boxes are designed to make moving heavy items easier and they can be a lifesaver when it comes to moving days.
Just make sure you pack these boxes carefully and don’t overfill them. You might not want to use wheeled boxes for all your packing, but investing in a few might be really helpful.