Our room by room packing guide gives you specific tips and instructions on how to expedite the packing of each room. Quality packing is essential for a successful move.
With our packing tips, your packing will be as though it was done by experts – even if it you do it yourself.
Whether you choose to pack yourself, have professionals do it or pack part of your residence, learning the best way to pack each room is knowledge that you should have anyway. You never know when you may need to pack, and our packing guide is your resource for whenever that time comes.
Do-it-yourself packing is a big job, but it can be a worthwhile way to save money on your relocation costs. With the right materials and a little help in the form of packing tips, you can achieve professional results and maximize the protection of your possessions.
Packing tips are extremely useful when it comes time to box up your household. By packing things appropriately and in an organized fashion, damage can be prevented. Plus, the better you pack, the easier it will be to unpack at your new residence.
First, we recommend you start with professional materials, including :
We have a wide range of boxes and professional packing materials available to help you organize and safeguard your belongings, including:
Use newspaper only for cushioning – never place newspaper against items as the ink will rub off. It can get embedded in fine china, so be wary!
If you decide to do the packing yourself, you will need to have everything properly packed and ready for loading when the moving van arrives. All packing should be completed the evening before moving day. Only essential personal items you’ll need that night, the next morning and immediately at your destination should be left for last minute packing.
Some basic packing tips to keep in mind :
Our professionals will check your packed boxes to ensure safe transportation. If it is their opinion that items are improperly packed or cartons are susceptible to damage, they may ask you to re-pack these items.
When packing a large screen TV and other electronics :
When packing your personal computer, printer, scanner, or other equipment :
You need to transport valuable and irreplaceable items in the car with you rather than on the truck. In addition, there are several other dangerous items that cannot be put on the truck. These include hazardous materials such as explosives, compressed gases, flammable liquids and solids, oxidizers, poisons, corrosives and radioactive materials.
Common examples include :
Other items not recommended for transport on the van include:
Each and every carton must be labeled :
Start with out-of-season items. Next, pack things used infrequently. Leave until the last minute things you’ll need until moving day.
Empty drawers of breakables, spillables, non-transportable items and anything that would puncture or damage other items.
Pack similar items together. Do not pack a delicate china figurine in the same carton with cast-iron frying pans, for example.
Keep all parts or pairs of things together. For example, curtain rod hangers, mirror bolts and other small hardware items should be placed in plastic bags and taped or tied securely to the article to which they belong.
Wind electrical cords, fastening them so they do not dangle.
Wrap items individually in clean paper; use tissue paper, paper towels or even facial tissue for fine china, crystal and delicate items. Colored wrapping paper draws attention to very small things that might otherwise get lost in a carton. Use a double layer of newsprint for a good outer wrapping.
Place a two- or three-inch layer of crushed paper in the bottom of cartons for cushioning.
Build up the layers, with the heaviest things on the bottom, medium weight next and lightest on top.
As each layer is completed, fill in empty spaces firmly with crushed paper and add more crushed paper to make a level base for the next layer, or use sheets of cardboard cut from cartons as dividers.
Cushion well with crushed paper; towels and lightweight blankets may also be used for padding and cushioning. The more fragile the item, the more cushioning needed. Be sure no sharp points, edges or rims are left uncovered.
Pack small, fragile, individually-wrapped items separately or a few together in small boxes, cushioning with crushed or shredded paper. Place small boxes in a single large box, filling in spaces with crushed paper.
Avoid overloading cartons, but strive for a firm pack that will prevent items from shifting; the cover should close easily without force, but should not bend inward.
Seal cartons tightly with tape except for those containing items that must be left open for the van operator’s inspection.
We have developed these packing tips after more then a decade in the moving business. We know the most efficient way to pack, providing you with the best results. By utilizing the proper packing tips, your belongings will not be damaged during transport, and you will have a much easier time unpacking your possessions at your new residence.