How to Pack for a Move: The Ultimate Guide

How to Pack for a Move: The Ultimate Guide
How to Pack for a Move Like a Ninja: 17 Smart Tips
Written by Gean Brinker
Removalist Manager & Coordinator

If you are looking for moving house packing tips you are reading the right blog! Here we have taken all the different things you might need to know about preparing for a move, including things like how to pack, packing strategies and more. With this guide, you can have a smooth move on the day and you can lift the stress leading up to it. Consider, if you can, hiring trusted house removal experts. The issues of heavy boxes, awkward items, valuable items and more become more their problem, as that is what they are paid to look after! Another great tip for moving is to download a moving house checklist to get organised.

How to Pack for a Move The Easy Way

There is a lot to think about when coordinating how to pack a house. Before a house move, you can check some garage sale tips to help declutter your home and have fewer things to pack and more cash in your pocket. A big part of it all is knowing actual helpful packing strategies. So while other guides might give you tips on organisation and other things to do around the actual packing, here we have how to pack tips that focus on the following things;

  • The best way to start packing to move house is to first have the right packaging supplies! You have a choice here on whether you use a moving service and their packing supplies, buy some from a company, or look for boxes the old fashioned free way, from big stores that no longer need them! The best way to pack and move needs to have the right kinds of boxes too. If you have a lot of books you need some sturdy boxes to pack them in.
  • When looking at how to pack items for moving you also need to consider your awkwardly shaped items, your fragile items, your really large items, your expensive items. You might want to figure out how to pack moving out so these things are protected. Plastic wrap, old newspaper, bubble wrap can all be useful.
  • A key point in how to pack up your house to move is only moving the things you actually need. If you have things sitting in closets unused, items you no longer want, why put yourself through having to pack and move them. Sell, donate, recycle.
  • The order you pack in is key to your success in how to pack home for moving. If you start early enough you have time to get it done in stages, starting with rooms you do not use. Box up and pack your clothing that is out of season, start getting rid of things room to room, that is the best way to pack for a move.
  • The best packing tips for moving usually encourage you to use professionals. With a reliable moving company, things go a lot quicker, easier and some even offer a packing service you might love! It is certainly one of the more efficient ways to pack for moving.

What to Start Packing First When Moving

What to Start Packing First When Moving

When to start packing to move house and what to pack first depends on how soon you are moving. If you have a few months you have time to pack in stages and plan well. What to start packing when moving is things you are not going to need in those weeks leading up to moving day. The last things you pack are the things you use every day and need. You should also include at that time a moving day box with some essentials for in the new home, your kettle and tea or coffee, important documents, the book you are reading. Anything you will want on that first day and night in the new home.

How long to pack a house is different for each person and also depends whether you move locally or interstate. If you are moving to a location far away, you might want to give away some of your unwanted furniture or throw some old things out. When you are looking at what to do 3 weeks before moving that is the latest date you should leave it before you start packing. Preparation should begin at least 8 weeks before the big day. That is when you figure out where to start when packing to move, choose the spare room for example, or a closet that needs emptying. When doing it with more time, it is the less stressful option and the process should take about two to three weeks. Consider closer to the day having someone look after the pets and kids so you can do a little more if you need to, without other responsibilities you have.

Find the Best Cardboard Boxes for Moving

best cardboard boxes for moving

With a lot of planning to do when it comes to the move, you need to think about choosing the best cardboard boxes for moving your belongings safely. Poor choices of boxes is what leads to items falling out, damaged belongings, injuries to backs and feet and a high level of stress and frustration on moving day. What is good to use for clothing might not be good for your kitchen appliances when you pack up your kitchen. The best packing boxes for moving house are strong, do not weigh a lot, are affordable, eco-friendly, and versatile.

You might also like: Where to Find Moving Boxes

Choosing the Best Size Boxes for Moving

best size boxes for moving

As mentioned there is more thought that needs to go into your packing boxes than you might have thought. One of the things you need to think about is the size of the boxes you need. Different sizes are good for different belongings. An important rule to keep in mind is that heavy items should be packed in small boxes, and light items can go in big boxes. The most commonly used box size is in the medium range so have more of those. Here is a quick overview of the best size boxes for moving;

  • Extra small for collectibles, tools and books
  • Small for DVDs, books, canned food, small appliances, kitchenware and collectibles
  • Medium for office supplies, toys, photo albums, general household items, decor, small appliances and such
  • Large for bulky and light items like pillows, linens, vases, comforters, board games and large dishes
  • Extra-large for comforters and blankets, towels and big cushions and pillows

17 Tips on How to Pack Boxes When Moving House

how to pack boxes when moving house

Here are our 17 best tips on packing boxes when moving (in no particular order).

  1. Pack smaller valuable items like cash and jewelry, somewhere safe and keep them with you rather than putting them with the main items with the movers.
  2. Using a moving company with a good reputation and they can offer tips on packing even moving with fish, or handle the packing for you. No-one is more expert at how to pack boxes for moving house than professionals movers.
  3. Start early enough and you can easily just pack a box a day and then be ready on moving day. Pack things you will not need in the next few weeks.
  4. Clearly label boxes, it might even be worth being more specific than ‘kitchen’, write on the box with the toaster or the kettle in case you need that ahead of other things.
  5. Cleaning the room first before you start to pack up can help get things organised. Remember to purge what you do not need to take with you.
  6. Gather all the packing materials you need so that you do not have to keep going back out. Boxes, tape, clingfilm, old newspapers, bubble wrap, old towels and linens to around larger items to protect them in the moving truck.
  7. Put heavy items in small boxes and light items in large boxes. It is a common issue that people put too many heavy items like books into large boxes and they are hard to carry and often break.
  8. Put heavy items at the bottom and then light things on top.
  9. When putting the boxes on the truck put the heavy ones in first towards the front and the lighter ones at the back to keep the truck balanced.
  10. Gaps in boxes are not a good idea, things slide around and become unbalanced. Fill them in with packing paper or towels.
  11. Unpacking goes more quickly and easier when you avoid mixing up rooms into the same boxes.
  12. When looking at how to pack boxes when moving house use tape to strengthen the boxes, bottom and top. To reinforce that wrap with cling film too.
  13. Do not use newspapers to wrap up your artwork. Put an X of tape on glass photos and pictures to help prevent breaking and wrap in bubble wrap.
  14. When packing glass, dishes, plates and such in paper, wrap them individually and then take 4 or 5 and wrap them together in a bundle..
  15. If you have them, use the original boxes for things like your electronics. If you do not you can get special wooden crates and use something to pad them out.
  16. Set the packed boxes somewhere out of the way so that on moving day you are not tripping over them.
  17. When learning about how to pack boxes for moving house make sure you do not overfill them.

How to Wrap and Move Boxes

wrap and move boxes

Not everyone has heard of using plastic wrap for moving home but it can be one of the best purchases you make. Often a huge problem movers have, and homeowners have, is that boxes split open or get damaged. If you choose to wrap and move boxes you can strengthen the box, better protect what is inside the box, and also protect items in the truck around the boxes. Plastic wrap is also a great way to condense smaller things down like rugs and soft furnishings. Put it around the furniture to stop drawers sliding out, to stop door handles doing damage to things around them. Stop the sliding around that can happen in trucks, especially when they are not full, or not packed with expertise.

Before you get wrapping making sure the things you are wrapping have been cleaned and that things like drawers and cupboards are emptied first. If you intend to pad the item with say some blankets, put the padding on first then do the wrapping. Another person to help is a pretty handy thing to have.

Packing Tips for Large Items when Moving

how to pack large items for moving

Large or heavy items are tricky when it comes to moving and they can cause the most accidents! How to pack large items for moving takes more effort and planning in order to do it right. But that planning keeps the items in good condition and prevents injuries. Heavy items do cost more too when you are using movers as often part of the costs comes down to weight and complexity. What to pack in large moving boxes is actually lighter items. Some tips for large items and heavy items include;

Here are our 10 best tips on how to pack large items for moving.

  1. Use extra strong boxes and use tape (high-quality packing tape) to strengthen them. Consider investing in specialty boxes that are more likely to be able to handle heavy things.
  2. Use thick wrapping to prevent bumping and damage.
  3. Look into bubble wrap, packing peanuts, corrugated cardboard, foam padding and moving blankets.
  4. Avoid old boxes for heavy items, they are going to be too weak.
  5. Larger items that have detachable parts should have them removed or completely secured. Doors should be locked closed, wrapped tightly shut, or removed from cupboards for example.
  6. When removing vulnerable parts from larger items, make sure they are wrapped and placed in a clearly labeled smaller box so you can put it all back together at the new house.
  7. Heavy large but fragile or expensive items like paintings, pianos, and washing machines must be handled carefully. Expert movers will have experience with moving such items. Ensure they have protection layers and do not move around during transportation.
  8. Put the heavy things in first making sure everything is immobilized. If there is still room around a heavy or larger item put in some lighter things around it. Do not make boxes heavier than 50 pounds. Less than that if you cannot manage that.
  9. Make sure everything is sealed well and wrap in plastic wrap or bubble wrap if needed.
  10. Note on boxes which ones need special handling, whether they are particularly heavy, or fragile, so movers whether that is professionals or you and friends, know to take care.

 

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