Packing Supplies - Moving Boxes - Moving Kits

Packing Tips

1. Packing one room at a time is the best approach, and another important consideration is going to be whether or not you really need all of the stuff that you have. Consider the following approach to moving, and you're likely to find a number of benefits:

  • Do you have "stuff" that you really don't use any more? If so, right before you move is the perfect time to call a local charity to remove these items for you or to sell them either online or with a tag sale. A good rule of thumb that will help you to determine whether or not something is necessary is to ask yourself if you have room for it, if it has sentimental value or if there's a practical purpose for hanging on to it. If the answer to any or all of those questions is no, donating these items is a great way to earn a tax credit and selling them is a great way to help finance your move.
  • Draw a map of your new home and assign each room a number (example: Kitchen 1, Dining Room 2, Living Room 3. Master bedroom 4, ... and so on). Clearly mark each box with the number of the room that it will be unloaded to. Make a copy of the map, then keep one for yourself and give one to the movers so they can easily unload the contents of the trailer into the appropriate room. Of course, if you're renting a truck and doing it all yourself, you'll only need one copy, but identifying the rooms in this way will still simplify the unloading and unpacking process.
  • Movers charge by the hour so pack your items and then move as many boxes as possible to the door that the movers will be using when they take boxes from your home and then out to the truck.
  • Do not pack flammable goods or heat sensitive items like candles, records, audio and video tapes, computer disks, propane tanks, aerosol cans, oil based paints and certain cleaning fluids because the back of most moving trailers is not going to be temperature controlled.

More Moving Tips Here. How to move kitchen items, how to move mirrors, how to move heavier items, the proper way to move your couch, etc.

2. You should have a plan for dealing with important documents and valuable items (insurance papers, birth certificates, stock certificates, passports, fine collectibles and sensitive materials kept on computer disks) before the move:

  • You may consider moving these items yourself so that you can minimize the risk of something happening to them, or, if that's not an option
  • ship valuable items and documents using insured postal services.

3. Be sure that you are keeping the essentials on hand:

  • Make sure that you have paper plates, cups and plastic utensils, as well as napkins and paper towels so that meals are not a problem for you.
  • Keep a can opener, at least one pot for cooking or heating foods on the stove, scissors, utility knife, cleaning supplies, trash bags and a few towels on hand.
  • Instant beverages like instant coffee, tea, bottled water and drink mixes will help to keep you hydrated while you're packing up and getting ready for the move.
  • Keep an emergency medical kit available. Make sure that any current medications that you are taking are packed in it as well as over the counter medications that you may need (pain killers, antacids, etc.).
  • Basic toiletries and toilet paper - in other words your hygiene items.

Packing Supplies - Moving Boxes - Moving Kits


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