How to Pack and Store Your Stuff

4 Packing Tips For A Smooth Local Move

Moving can be a stressful affair if you're doing it for the first time. One of the challenging aspects of moving is packing your belongings. Here is a guide on how to pack for a smooth local move.

Remove Clutter

You need to downsize before you start packing. This makes you more organised and ensures you pack only the necessary items. Visit each room in your house and classify unnecessary items into four categories: sell, donate, discard and return.

If you have items of value that you no longer use, you can sell them online or through a garage sale. Donate used goods that you have no use for to homeless shelters, hospices or local charities. 

If items aren't in good shape, you can neither sell nor donate them. Your best option is to discard them. Lastly, if you have items you borrowed from friends and neighbours, return them before you pack them accidentally.

Plan Your Packing Around Weight and Volume

The key is to fill each box and container before moving. This minimises the number of boxes you'll use and ensures you unload the items in a few trips. When packing, make sure you consider the weight and volume of each box.

Fill up boxes with both heavy and light items. If you have small and large boxes, use the small ones for heavy items like books and dishware and the large ones for lighter items. Remember, when filling boxes with a mixture of heavy and light items, the heavy items should be at the bottom to prevent damage to other items inside.

Labelling

Marking your boxes ensures a smooth transition when you get to your new home. Label the boxes according to their contents and room destination. This will save you a lot of time when unpacking in your new home.

Make sure you number each box and create an inventory list. This helps you track what you have packed and where certain items can be located. An inventory list will help the removalists know where each box or container will be placed in your new home. Furthermore, it makes it easy to note whether there are any missing items.

A Floor Plan

A floor plan is an excellent idea if you want to save time and eliminate confusion when unloading and arranging furniture in your new home. The floor plan should contain details about the number of furnishings and how you want to arrange them in each room of your new home. Tag the pieces of furniture to match the numbers on your floor plan.

You shouldn't make decisions about where to put your furniture on the day of the move. Planning ahead helps removalists know where to place each furniture item and not only saves time but also limits the cost of moving. Remember, many removalists charge on an hourly basis; therefore, having a solid plan reduces their billable time.

Contact a local removalist to get more tips.


Share