Ultimate Guide to Packing for a Move

Planning a relocation and struggling to figure out the best way to approach packing? Although packing can be a long and tiring task, the good news is that the process doesn’t need to feel like a complete pain.

Interested in discovering the most efficient packing tactics? Keep reading to learn about our nine top tips for a smooth packing process!

How to Pack for Moving

Improving your packing experience simply requires the proper organization and the right know-how, and just like that, you can effectively transform your relocation for the better.

Start with a Plan

First and foremost, be sure to create a plan before you start packing. Although it might not seem like much planning is required for this task, it can actually make a big difference and greatly improve the process.

Begin by determining what order you will pack the rooms in, and decide which items you can start packing in advance versus which ones need to be saved until closer to moving day. Figure out how much time you have until the day of your relocation, and create a schedule of when you want to complete packing each room.

This can keep you on task and help you to spread your packing out into manageable chunks. Taking the extra time to pack can ultimately save you a lot of trouble in the long run.

Declutter Your Home First

Before you start placing your belongings in boxes, you should always declutter your home. This entails getting rid of items you do not want or need any longer, eliminating the extra clutter in your home.

This process not only makes your home a lot neater, but it can save you plenty of time on packing and unpacking – a difference that can be very significant in the overall ease of your move. If you’re looking to eliminate a large number of items, running a yard sale can earn you some extra cash as well, which is an added bonus during your relocation.

Alternatively, you can opt to donate your items to a local thrift store, another excellent option.

Get High-Quality Supplies

As you prepare to pack, acquire a sufficient amount of high-quality packing supplies. Some of the items you will want to obtain include the following:

Sturdy cardboard boxes
Several rolls of packing tape
Permanent markers
Resealable plastic bags
Bubble wrap
Packing paper

These items will allow you to pack your belongings safely and securely with ample protection.

Pack One Room at a Time

Although you might be tempted to jump from room to room as you tackle packing, it’s actually best to approach the task one room at a time. Working methodically through each room can set you up for better organization, as it prevents items from different areas of your house from ending up in the same box.

Keeping items from the same room together is important, as this will vastly improve your unpacking experience as well. Taking these actions that will serve you later down the line in this process can be a huge factor in improving your relocation experience and reducing your stress.

Prioritize Protection

One of the most important aspects of packing is making sure your fragile items are properly protected to avoid any damage in transit. Because of the amount of movement that occurs during transportation, whether it’s in a moving truck, portable storage unit, or a car, it’s crucial to take the appropriate protective measure for your items. Some belongings will need bubble wrap or packing paper, while the larger ones that don’t go into boxes can benefit from the use of moving blankets.

For many items, you can opt to use blankets or towels to wrap them in, as this is a great way to provide effective padding by repurposing items you already have in your home. No matter which route you decide to take, it’s crucial to give your items the protection they need to reduce the risk of damage.

Label Thoroughly

Labeling is an excellent and effective way to maintain organization throughout the packing and moving processes. Each of your boxes should have at least one clearly written, detailed label on the outside, thoroughly listing the contents.

Try to avoid being vague in these labels, as the more detail you provide, the easier it will be to unpack. Additionally, it’s advisable to write the label on more than just one side, allowing you to see what’s in the box from numerous angles.

Another option to explore as you label your boxes is to create an inventory. An inventory will allow you to label each box with a designated number, and the number will then correspond to a list of items. Although this option can be more time-consuming, it’s one of the most effective ways to organize your move and improve your packing.

Distribute the Weight

A crucial part of packing is distributing the weight of your items between your boxes. None of your boxes should be too heavy, as this can increase the chances of the box breaking open upon being picked up.

Be sure to spread the heavy items out between boxes so none of them are too heavy or awkward to properly carry. If you want to fill the empty space in a box without adding weight, put bubble wrap or packing paper to prevent movement without making things too heavy.

Disassemble When You Can

For your furniture, especially the larger items, it’s best to disassemble these pieces as much as possible. Not only will this make the furniture easier to carry and transport, but it can also allow you to pack your moving truck or mobile storage container more compactly.

This will be extremely helpful, as full pieces of furniture can be awkward to fit into a space among all the boxes, so the smaller pieces make the task a lot simpler.

Keep Essentials Separate

This will be extremely helpful, as full pieces of furniture can be awkward to fit into a space among all the boxes, so the smaller pieces make the task a lot simpler.

Get Prepared for Your Relocation!

With these pro packing tips, you can make the experience infinitely easier! Ready to take on the task? If you’re searching for a moving company to help you along the way, count on none other than Oneida Movers, your premier Romulus moving company.

We’ve offered the best of the best in moving and packing solutions for more than 20 years, and we can get your items safely to your new home whether you’re moving locally or long distance. Whatever you need to improve your move, the experts at Oneida can help you!

Interested in working with Oneida for your upcoming relocation? Request a free quote online today, or call us at 905-765-9510!