If you have moved in the past, whether it was locally or long distance, chances are you did your own packing or hired movers to do it for you. Either way, when you are packing items, you want to do the job right, to ensure that your items make it to your new home in the same condition they were before you moved. Our team at Colonial Van Lines wants you to have the best move possible so we came up with a few tips on packing for your next move.
1. Use the right boxes.
Yes, you can use any kind of box to pack your items but not all boxes are the same. Moving boxes, wine boxes or boxes used for fragile items typically are thicker and more sturdy. Boxes like these are ideal for moving and you are better off using these over boxes that are thin and prone to being crushed.
It’s a good idea to inspect your boxes carefully if you are foraging for your own. Make sure they are not warped or showing any signs of tears. It’s not a good idea to use boxes that once had food in them. They could have small amounts of mold or mildew inside that will grow during transit or while they sit in your garage waiting to be unpacked for five months.
2. Pack properly
Using the right box is just the first step of packing for your move, you also have to consider what item goes where. You wouldn’t want to put heavy books in a box with fragile items such as glass cups or porcelain ornaments. Put heavier items like books at the bottom of boxes and try to keep similar items together.
3. Use space wisely
You shouldn’t leave empty spaces in boxes, fill in empty spaces with packing paper, towels or some sort of padding. Not leaving room for your items to shift around during transit reduces the risk of incurring damages during your move. It’s important to pack your items with like items and to use up as much space as you can without making the boxes too heavy. If you ever played Tetris you should be a pro at packing boxes.
4. Label your boxes
We suggest using labels so you can keep track of what items are in what box. Not only will it help you stay organized but it will make unpacking much easier. Here is how the pros would do it:
If you can color coordinate the rooms in your new home, unloading and unpacking will be a breeze. Your helpers or professional movers will know that all boxes with a green label belong in the kitchen and all pink label boxes go in the nursery. It makes the process effortless.
Plus, it is important to label thoughtfully. You’ll want to know the specifics for each box when it comes time to searching for things you need in the new home.
Do you have to label every single item contained? Of course not, but it’s a good idea to follow a system similar to this:
Kichen: Bowls, Plates, Silverware
Kitchen: Small pans, Cooking Utensils, Tupperware
Kitchen: Coffee Pot, Mugs, Kitchen Towels
Oh, and the word fragile, should be written with thick black marker on all boxes containing valuable items.
5. Tape boxes properly
There is a big difference between using scotch tape and packing tape. Packing tape is stronger than scotch tape and it generally lasts longer be sure to use packing tape on the seams, bottoms, and edges of your boxes. Also, feel free to be generous with the tape when you are sealing your boxes so that critters have a hard time crawling in.
6. Get Insurance for the Irreplaceable or Expensive Items
If you are using a professional mover, it is important to inquire about their insurance coverage. Not all coverage is equal, and there may be some items that you want to upgrade full coverage on. Talk to your moving coordinator about any items in question and see what steps can be taken to ensure that your valuables are covered.
For those brave enough to conduct a DIY move, you may have to shop around for insurance on your items. This is a good idea for two reasons:
It will make it less of a big deal when a well-meaning friend drops your TV on his foot. You can ask about injuries as well as protecting your items with potential insurers.
7. Load items carefully into the truck.
There is definitely an art to packing a truck. With a DIY move, you’ll want to ensure that no fragile item boxes are stacked in an unstable way on other boxes. Remember your truck may have to make a quick stop from a top speed and you don’t want boxes to shift or fall in the back of the truck.
If you are second guessing a DIY move because you value your belongings and are not confident in the process of moving we are standing by with professional sales associates to answer your questions and get you going.