How to Prepare for Packing

When you are preparing your house for a local move you may decide to move some items in your car or van rather than taking the time to pack them. It may take you thirty minutes to pack up your table lamps and their lamp shades, but only ten minutes to carry them out to your car on the day of the move. Keep in mind, however, that you may not get the key to access your new home until mid-afternoon making numerous car-trips with unpacked breakable items infeasible.

If you are going to pack items yourself, please take the time to do it right. Just because it is only heading a couple of blocks doesn’t mean you can just throw it in a box. For your convenience, cartons such as Wardrobe boxes and the odd picture cartons will be supplied at no charge. Be sure to ask us about this free service.

Planning and Organizing

In all aspects of a good move preparation and planning are the key ingredients. To make your packing as efficient as possible, follow these simple steps:

•  Get your packing material; it is ideal if you can pickup enough packing material to get you through the entire job, rather than making frequent, inefficient trips.
•  Prepare an inventory of items that you will need to pack, and identify those items that you will need at your disposal until moving day. Begin packing the less essential items, such as out of season clothing, extra linens, and your good china.
•  On the box, write a brief description of what is inside, along with the room you would like the box to be placed in at your new location.
•  Place packed boxes in a location that is out of harm’s way, yet readily assessable for the movers. All local moves are based on the actual time of our involvement, so the closer the boxes are to the truck the quicker the move.
•  Call our office if you have questions on how to pack a specific item. If you are not happy with the way you packed an item of high monetary or sentimental value, we can give you advice on how to pack it properly.
•  Leave yourself plenty of time to get the job done. For a typical home, you will find it takes twenty five to thirty hours of packing time. You should start your packing two-to-three weeks before the move date.

Carton Descriptions

The key to packing is using a box that is the right size and using sufficient padding around the items being packed. It is very important to tape the bottom and top of the box that you are packing, especially if the box is going to be packed with heavy items such as books or records.

Packing Tips

15 quick tips from the professionals.

  • Try and pack your items room by room. If you pack two or three rooms in one box it makes it very difficult and time consuming when you unpack.
  • With a sufficient amount of padding on the bottom, place heavier items in first. Pack lighter items on top in a new layer separated by paper cushioning.
  • Plates and bowls must be packed tightly together on their edges.
  • Stemware and glasses should be individually wrapped and placed upside down to prevent breakage or chipping along the top.
  • Clearly label each carton with a brief description of the contents and the room location that it will be going to at your new home. Clearly mark the carton with any specific instructions such as “Keep Up”, or “Fragile”.
  • Use sturdy containers for packing. Always seal the top and bottom of the carton with packing tape.
  • Be mindful of the weight of a box when you are done packing it. Try to keep the weight of any given box to about 50 pounds.
  • When dismantling items with a remote or wires, always pack them with the item that they belong to or in a box from the same room.
  • If you have boxes that you will be taking with you, clearly mark them and place them in a separate area and inform our staff that the items are not going on the moving van.
  • If you plan to do your own packing, start well in advance of moving day. This avoids last minute packing rush and strain. Start with the least used items.
  • Be warned that making regular trips to pickup packing material is very time inefficient and can prolong the packing process.  It is ideal if you can pickup enough packing material to get you through the entire job.  We have a complete range of cartons and materials specially designed for your packing needs, and can help you estimate how much you will need.  Unused material can be returned for full credit.
  • Always use clean packing paper. Proper packing paper can be purchased from our office.
  • Do not pack aerosol cans (or any other type of corrosive item such as bleach) in a carton that you would like us to transport for you.
  • Pack liquids in an upright position. Label the carton as “Liquids”, “Keep Up”