| The packing process is typically dreaded by all who have to encounter it. It is also a task that many times is put off to the very last minute. Below are a few tips to help with the packing process.
Finding the Right Box
Be sure to obtain boxes, heavy-duty tape, bubble wrap and other packing supplies well before the move. Keep in mind there are different types of boxes available for your needs. These include file boxes, wardrobe boxes and frame boxes.
- For your closets, you will want to acquire wardrobe boxes. These are ideal for items in your linen closets (blankets, sheets, pillows, towels etc.) as well as your clothes. Wardrobe boxes are especially useful for suits and other apparel that you do not want wrinkled.
- If you have empty luggage, you can use them for packing items like clothes, shoes, accessories (hats, purses). You have to transport your luggage anyway, why not make it worthwhile?
- There is a general rule in packing and moving: use small boxes for heavy items and large boxes for lighter ones. This keeps the heavier things compact and therefore easier to move.
- If you must mix heavy and light items, pack the heavier things on the bottom and lighter things on top. Try to keep boxes at no more than 40lbs.
It is best to get more boxes than you think you will need. It is better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. You will want to acquire the sturdiest boxes you can find, even if they are smaller boxes. Remember, your possessions are valuable, big or small.
Begin Pre-Packing
After you have all your boxes, designate a room where you will store your boxes. You should then begin to pack the items you will not actively use before your move. Be sure these are items you definitely will not need until after your move. For example: paintings, photos, home decorations and books. Packing these items early and first will end up saving you plenty of time and maybe even give you some peace of mind.
The Infamous Checklist
Making a checklist of items you pack is perhaps one of the most overlooked strategies to do when moving. The checklist can be as detailed as you want it to be. For example: You can write down everything that goes in each box, item by item or you can simply write a general category for each box. Just remember, the more specific you are about contents, the less confused you will be when the chore of unpacking comes around.
- In addition to your moving checklist, labeling boxes is a foolproof way to make unpacking easier. Each box should have some indication of its contents on the outside. Much like your moving checklist, the more detailed you are, the less confusion there will be. For example: Instead of writing "Stacy's Things", you could write "Stacy's Books" or "Stacy's Shoes."
- By making your checklist first, it will make labeling of the boxes easier.
- All boxes that contain fragile items, should be clearly marked on more than one part of the box. It is a good idea to mark the top as well as one or two sides of the box with the phrase, "FRAGILE."
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