Moving can be a very exciting time in your life, whether you are moving into your first apartment, buying your first home, moving locally or moving across the country. Despite all the excitement, though, you’ll have to deal with the move itself first, which can be a daunting task if you don’t approach it in an organized manner. Read on for our tips for how to pack like a pro.
- Take Inventory of Your Belongings: Before you begin packing, it is important to have a clear picture of what needs to be packed. Start by going through your belongings and either throwing out, donating or selling anything you don’t need or plan to replace. The less you have to pack, the easier and less expensive the moving process will be. Once you are down to just the essentials, make a list of everything you own and its value, particularly for expensive items, like electronics and jewelry. This will help with insurance claims in the event of loss or damage.
- Keep Everything Organized: Don’t just start haphazardly throwing things into boxes. Try to keep like items together, and use separate boxes for each room. Start by packing items that you are unlikely to need during the packing process, like out-of-season clothing, fine china, and decorative items. Save necessities, like your everyday dinnerware and bathroom essentials, for last. Label everything clearly, not just on the tops of boxes, but on the sides as well. This will make it easier for the movers to unload everything. You may also want to draw up a rough layout for each room and tape it to the wall or door so the movers know where to place your furniture and boxes.
- Make Sure Everything is Packed Securely: Wrap breakable items in white packing paper rather than a newspaper. The last thing you’ll want to do is wash everything while you unpack because the Sunday crossword rubbed off onto your dinner plates. When closing your boxes, seal them with strong packing tape rather than simply tucking the edges in. You don’t want the bottom of a box to fall open while you are carrying it. When packing heavy items, like books or dishes, use smaller boxes so that no box is overloaded.
- Dismantle Furniture: If some of your furniture can be dismantled, take it apart before the move for easier loading into the truck. Put any necessary hardware into a Ziploc bag and tape it to a leg or the base of the furniture so it doesn’t get lost. Carefully wrap any glass tabletops or inserts in bubble wrap to prevent breakage. For cabinets and dressers, remove and pack all items, remove any loose shelving, and tape the doors or drawers closed for easier transport.
- Packing Checklist
Bedrooms
- Bed and bedding
- Clothing, shoes and jewelry
- Dressers, side tables and lamps
Bathrooms
- Floor mats
- Toiletries and beauty products
- Towels
- Cleaning Supplies
- Shower Items
Kitchen/Dining Room
- Everyday dishes and fine china
- Servingware
- Cutlery
- Glassware
- Cooking utensils and equipment
- Pots and pans
- Non-perishable foods
- Dining table and chairs
Living/Family Room
- Sofas and chairs
- Coffee table, end tables, and lamps
- TV console or stand
- Electronics (TV, stereo, video game systems, DVD players, etc.)
- Movies and video game
Miscellaneous
- Rugs
- Decorative items
- Luggage
- Books
- Computers, tablets and cell phones
- Outdoor furniture
- Appliances
- Tools
- Sporting equipment
- Keep in mind that this list is just a guideline and may not include everything that you have in your home. For assistance with your move, get in touch with Cord Moving. We are experts at what we do and can help streamline the process and keep your belongings safe.
