What an exciting time to finally into a new home, right? But are you already done with the packing of your household and personal items? If not, then you’ve come to the right place. We understand how confusing and tedious packing can be. You have multiple rooms with numerous items to check, organize, and put into different boxes.
But with a great amount of patience and effort, packing all your things by the time your moving truck arrives isn’t too challenging at all. Not sure where to start and how to pack your belongings on time? Just follow these simple steps.
Declutter first
Most homeowners don’t necessarily care about decluttering their household thinking that it’s just a waste of time. In truth, doing so can make your packing a lot easier. While you can choose to sell your old unused items, that might take up some time. If you’re opting for a quicker solution, you can choose to either trash or donate the things that you aren’t planning to bring to your new home.
For things you’re planning to donate, you can search for local charities or organizations that are accepting things such as furniture, clothes, toys, books, and even old electronics. Take note though that most of these charities have their own guidelines so make sure to check them first.
Talk to the moving company
Talking to the local moving company you hired is an essential step before you could start packing everything. You can ask them for advice on how to properly pack every item, from big to small and heavy to lightweight. Full-service movers will be more than happy to give you tips or even help you with packing specialty or fragile items.
In addition, some can provide you with partial or full packing options, depending on your need and budget. Other things to discuss with your moving company include the long-distance expertise, add-on service packages, as well as their qualified equipment and drivers. By doing this, you can have a clearer idea of how the entire packing and moving of your stuff will take place.
Make a packing list
After talking to your hired movers, you can now start creating your packing list. First critical things to list down are ones that will be put in your overnight bag, include your change of clothing, deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrush, and other toiletries. This ensures you’d have your essentials in case your other boxes will arrive later than expected.
Got kids? Make sure to also pack an overnight bag for them—just add their favorite toys and stuffed animals. Other essential items that should be on top of your packing list are your bathroom essentials, cleaning supplies, kitchen items, medical kit, and emergency items.
Use the right box types
Most homeowners think that using just about any boxes for all their belongings is enough. But if you’re concern about items, it’s always best to be smart in choosing the type of moving boxes you’ll be using. For instance, for your general items, you can use standard moving boxes and newspaper or packing paper. These boxes are typically available in big-box stores. If you want to get creative, you can opt for crates or plastic storage bins that you can get from your local grocery store.
For fragile items, particularly your computer monitors and television, it’s best to use their original boxes. Don’t have their original packaging? You can buy boxes at big-box stores that have foam corners, which are perfect for breakable belongings. There are also specialized boxes for packing intricate items such as lamps and artworks. Keep in mind though that such boxes can often be costly.
Pack decorative items properly
Expert movers recommend packing decorative items safely before transporting them to the new house. Generally, you can use a bubble wrap or paper to protect delicate items from getting scratched or even break apart during the move.
Some decorative items that require proper wrapping are paintings, framed photos, and other artworks. Avoid using newspaper to wrap these items as the newsprint often leave marks. You can buy specialized cardboard corner protectors for additional protection for your paintings or frames.
Depending on the size of your home and the number of items you have, packing everything may require more effort and time than you’d expect. But fret not because even the most organized person can find it challenging to pack an entire household. If the work still seems daunting to you, don’t hesitate to call your chosen moving company for help.
Meta title: A Homeowner’s Guide to Packing for Your Move
meta desc: Before you get excited about moving into your new home, you should first tackle some packing tasks for a smooth move. Here’s what you should take note of.
