Whether you’re a first time mover or someone with previous experience, packing for your move is always a stressful task. There’s decluttering to do, fragile items to pack safely and then you have to unpack at your new place as well. Considering all these, we have come up with a list of top 10 packing tips, to make your move smoother and easier. We’re starting off with a very important one, and let’s get into the details of it.
1. Plan early pack early
Starting early on your packing and moving plans is one of the easiest ways to ensure a smooth and efficient move. It gives you time to sort your items, get rid of unwanted things and pack your fragile valuables without the last minute rush. It’s good for your stress levels as well. You can pack slowly, work on only a few boxes at a time and keep things manageable.
To stay organised, create a checklist for key tasks like booking movers, finalising paperwork and arranging utilities. A packing schedule can also come in handy. Plan to pack room by room and aim to finish all packing the day before moving.
2. Invest on quality packing materials
Broken boxes and damaged items can make your house move a lot more chaotic than it already is. Investing in quality packing materials is the only way to prevent that. So, make sure you select strong, sturdy boxes that can withstand the weight of items you need to move. A quality packing tape is then needed to seal the boxes. The opening of the boxes must be tightly closed with a strong tape to stop the goods from spilling out.
One more useful material is bubble wrap or foam padding. If you have a lot of fragile items, the best way to move them safely is to use bubble wrap or foam padding. They provide a layer of cushioning and stop the items from bumping against each other.
3. Decide what items are necessary and what will stay behind
The dilemma of what stays and what goes is one of the most discussed topics in moving packing tips. Nobody likes to fill up their new space with broken or unused items. But sorting the house’s items is also not an easy task. The best way to tackle this is to start early. When you start planning early, you have time to weigh your options and make a clear, stress-free decision on what you really need. The rest can be either donated or sold.
When you’re unsure about items, use the 12 month rule. If you have not used any items within the last 12 months, the chances are you will not use them in the future as well. You can also consider leaving behind the duplicates.
4. Prioritise the essentials box
Essentials box is going to be your lifesaver when you’re surrounded by nothing but boxes in your new house. You can consider what to pack in this box based on your moving circumstances. If you’re moving with kids, you will have to prioritise packing their necessities such as food, toys, diapers etc. Same if you’re moving with pets.
However, in a general aspect, your personal items such as toiletries, a change of clothes, medicines and electronic devices would be the most common essentials. Kitchen items such as a knife, basic cutlery, plates, mugs, paper towels, snacks, and bottled water are also useful during the first few days. Additionally, towels, bed sheets, pillows, and garbage bags can come in handy too.
5. Stick to room by room packing
If you ask us, “How to pack for a move”? Our answer would be ‘room by room’. Start from the least used rooms and then gradually move to your everyday used areas. This helps you stay functional in your house while also packing slowly and effectively. The least used areas can be your basement, guest rooms or storage areas. But, you can decide on where to start based on the set up of your house.
When you pack room by room, label the boxes in each room clearly. Keep them stacked in one place so the movers can have easy access. Once at the new place, you can move the boxes to their designated areas and unpack without the hassle of figuring out what box goes in which room. This method helps you with decluttering as well. Trying to declutter the whole house at once can be quite stressful. If you do it room by room, you can stay organised and do it without feeling too overwhelmed as well.
6. Pack to protect fragile items
One other question we always get from our clients is how to pack fragile items for moving? It can be a little tricky, but if you have got the right materials, we can tell you how to do it right. Fragile items mostly include glassware, photos framed with glass and electronic items such as televisions, light bulbs etc. Let’s see what to do when you pack each type.
To pack your glassware,
- Strong and sturdy boxes – Get sturdy boxes that are strongly secured with good packing tape.
- Use bubble wrap – For each and every glass item you plan to move, use either bubble wrap or another cushioning material (paper, paper towel, soft clothes, foam) to keep the items from bumping to each other.
- Pack the heavier items first – Place heavy items at the bottom of the box and keep the lighter ones on top.
- Leave no space in the box – Fill up any space that’s left inside the box after you have packed all of your items. Use cushioning materials. This will steady the stuff inside the box and keep them from moving around during the move.
- Labelling – Fragile item boxes must be clearly labelled of their content. So the movers can handle the boxes with care and place them on top of the other boxes.
To pack your electronics,
- Use the original boxes – What is advisable is to use the original box the item came in. They are made to fit the device and come with fitting foam to hold it steady.
- Get strong and sturdy boxes – If you don’t have the original boxes anymore, go for better fitting, strong boxes that will also have a little space around the device for padding.
- Wrap the devices in cushioning materials – Make sure you use anti-static materials to avoid damages. Bubble wrap or anti-static foam would be ideal.
- Cover the screens – For devices with screens, add a screen cover using a soft cloth or a layer of foam to prevent scratches to the screen. For extra protection, you can cover the device again with cardboard and then wrap the whole device again in bubble wrap.
- Clearly label – Use clear labelling so the movers are aware of the device boxes. Helps them to be mindful before loading the boxes up.
7. Follow efficient, sustainable packing methods
Efficient packing tips for relocation are often overlooked by many packers. Following these methods does not require additional work or cost. It’s all about how you make the most of what you already have.
For sustainable packing, you can use large plastic bins, crates or cases for packing clothes, books and other non-fragile items. This will reduce the number of boxes you have to gather, saving time and money. Use the towels and soft clothes you already have as cushioning for your fragile goods. A combination of both clothes and bubble wrap can keep your items well covered and safe.
8. Label boxes clearly
This one might come out as a no-brainer. But are you doing it right, is the question we plan to cover in this section. Like we mentioned before, label your boxes room by room first. If you can use different coloured markers for this, it would be extra helpful to identify boxes from different rooms. Try to add sub headings to your labels too. For example, instead of simply writing “Kitchen Items” add another line specifying whether it’s cutleries, china set, mugs or glasses. This helps you quickly access what you need without opening all boxes marked “Kitchen Items”.
9. Acquire an insurance for your valuables
There are movers and packers who provide insurance for your valuables from start to the end of the job. This ensures they will be responsible for your things in case they are damaged, misplaced or stolen. If the movers don’t provide insurance, you can opt for an independent insurance. However, this is not required if you are doing the move with Citywide Packers & Movers.
At Citywide Packers & Movers, we stand out from the crowd by offering, as standard, comprehensive insurance that covers your possessions during transit and while they are loaded and unloaded. Unlike many removal companies where this is considered an extra, we include this value-added service without additional charges. It’s one of the reasons we are one of the most trusted movers in Brisbane.
10. Get the help of professional packers and movers
There are various benefits of hiring movers and packers for your move. They are professionals in the industry and will have the knowledge on how to handle large equipment like your fridge, furniture, TV units and other. They also come with the knowledge of handling fragile items and have the know-how on packing all the boxes into the vehicle leaving no room in between boxes. This method ensures the boxes stay steady during transit and also increases the number of boxes you can fit inside one vehicle.
With that we have covered 10 of the best packing tips for moving house that you can use to streamline your moving process. Each house comes with different sizes, items and requirements. So, make sure you go through as many tips as you can and stick to the ones that suit your situation the best. Moving houses itself is already going to add you some level of stress. So, keep it simple and enjoy the excitement of going into a new place.
If you are looking for a trusted professional moving service in Brisbane, Citywide Packers and Movers is here to help.
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