Packing Tips and Advice for an Easier Move

Home buyers and sellers have one task in common: moving.  While every situation and move is unique, packing your home, regardless of the size, is most definitely a complex job.

Recently, The New York times published an article, with fabulous tips, advice and supplies recommendations that help make any move go smooth.

Get Rid of Excess

Every item you move with you adds to the total cost, which is why it makes sense to cull the things you no longer use. Declutter, donate, and throw out what you don’t use anymore prior to moving.

Use uniform boxes

Ideally, boxes should all be of uniform size, especially if you’re loading into a moving truck or hiring movers. The more uniform the boxes, the easier they are to move and stack; this will save you time and reduce the chance of things breaking during transit. Avoid Packing Heavy

Remember to pack your lightest items (like pillows, blankets, and light clothing) in the biggest boxes. Your heaviest items (such as books and office papers) should go in the smallest boxes.

Boxes and Bins

Consider buying your boxes in bulk from moving suppliers rather than getting them from chain home improvement stores. Moving kits are more cost efficient and the cardboard is usually thicker and better quality.

Wardrobe boxes make it easy to pack all the nice clothing hanging in your closet. And it holds you to the golden moving rule—where possible, everything in a box!

In certain circumstances, it makes sense to use storage containers (plastic bins) to pack things you don’t plan to use right away, including items you’ll store in a garage for months or years after your move.

Eco Friendly Box Alternative

If you want to forego cardboard boxes entirely—either to reduce waste or because you’re worried about water damage from weather—consider crate rentals. You’ll also avoid the endless folding, taping, and breaking down that comes with using cardboard boxes. These companies not only deliver the boxes but also pick them up on a date you set. So, at the end of your move, you don’t have to deal with getting rid of all that cardboard.

Protect your items and furniture

If you’re prepping your own truck or storage container, you’ll want at least a few cheap moving blankets. Throw them over expensive wood items, pad the floor before lowering a mattress or headrest, or tape them around large but fragile objects.

Another go to supply is Stretch wrap. Stretch wrap is a favorite of professional movers for a reason. With stretch wrap, you can quickly bundle things that otherwise wouldn’t fit together into a single cardboard box or standalone cocoon. And it keeps furniture, like dressers or bureaus, from opening mid-lift.

Don’t forget about your mattresses. Ask your moving company whether it has mattress bags. If it doesn’t (or you’re not hiring movers), consider buying a heavy tarpaulin mattress bag. Unlike plastic mattress bags, these are easier to carry without tearing.

Buy extra paper, bubble wrap, and void fill

If you want to pack like a pro, this is where it starts.  Packing paper and bubble wrap are great for protecting plates, bowls, glassware, and any other delicate items. You’ll need more than you think, but when you use either of these, packing up a kitchen is mind-blowingly easy. In a pinch, you can use Newspaper, but it can stain white dishes and pates.

Buy enough packing tape

When possible—especially if you’re packing up several rooms’ worth of boxes—buy the best-quality tape you can: You’ll need approximately one roll of tape for every 15 to 20 boxes. And use a tape gun to seal boxes faster. This will cut some time off the job at hand.

Label Each Box

To know what’s what during a move, you should label every box, bin, and bag. The best way to do that is to have plenty of Sharpie markers on hand. They’re inexpensive, so go nuts—one per person or one in each room, one at the door, and another in the truck.

Get Heavy Duty Contractor Bags

Moving never fails to produce extra waste. And strong trash bags are invaluable for clearing out the various kinds of trash you accumulate when moving.

Unpacking supplies

Packing is only half the job. At the other end of the trail, you’ll be unpacking everything. It’s much easier to open and break down cartons if you use a good box cutter and use light work gloves to protect your hands and fingers.

From “The Best Supplies and Packing Advice for Making Moving Less Miserable”, published on March 7, 2023.