Gather your packing supplies
From boxes to tie-down straps, it’s important to have all the packing supplies you need before you start packing. Make a list and gather enough supplies for the entire move before starting. That way you won’t have to waste time and money going to the store multiple times.
Get enough moving boxes
The best way to find out how many boxes you need is to go to each room and determine what it will take to pack each one. When figuring out a number, you should also think about the sizes of boxes you’ll need. From small to extra-large wardrobe boxes and wine boxes to guitar boxes, everything you need can be ordered online or bought at your local moving stores.
You can find sturdy boxes of all sizes at your local grocery stores, and they’ll often give them to you for free. Looking into rubber tubs or crates for belongings you’ll be keeping in the attic for an extended period of time is also a good idea to keep everything safe.
Choose reliable packing tape
One thing to remember when choosing your tape is that they’re not all created equal. Low-quality tape often unsticks and doesn’t hold the box together. Make sure to consider the type and adhesion strength. Plus, we recommend using a dispenser so it’s easy to apply.
Before purchasing, you need to determine how much you need. The width and length of the tape is usually listed on the packaging. The width of the tape you find will most likely be between half an inch to four inches and must be wide enough to seal your boxes. We recommend buying more than enough so you don’t have return to the store for more.
Use extra-wide plastic wrap
Plastic wrap comes in very handy when packing for a move. One tip is to leave your clothes in the dresser drawers and wrap them in plastic wrap. This saves you time and money because you don’t have to pack them separately or use additional boxes and tape.
Another tip is to use plastic wrap to bundle items with cords. Everything from lamps to stereos have cords that can become damaged if they’re not packaged properly. By wrapping the cords around the electronics, you’ll ensure they stay where they need to be and don’t get damaged.
Get a variety of colored markers
Labeling your boxes is crucial for organization in your new place. Use several different colored markers to label your boxes according to types of belongings and the rooms they’ll go in. Keep it simple by writing “living room,” “kitchen”, “bedroom #1,” etc., so unloading and unpacking is easier.
Borrow or rent a dolly or hand truck
What you use to move your things is very important for your physical well-being as well as the efficiency of the move. Keep the following things in mind to decide whether you need to rent or buy a dolly or hand truck.
Dollies:
- Transporting heavy loads is easy
- Can move heavier and bigger items
- Easy to move things from room to room or inside to outside
- Easy to use and more stable than a hand truck
Benefits of hand truck:
- Moves smaller items around the house
- Easier to use on steps and over thresholds
- Can be used by children or adults
- Easy to move things room to room or inside to outside
- Less expensive than a dolly
Repurpose your sheets, towels and blankets
Protecting your belongings is important during a move. That’s where moving blankets come in handy. You can use them to wrap furniture to protect it from damage like scratches and dents. But there’s a more economical way to do this. Instead of buying moving blankets in bulk, repurpose your sheets, towels and blankets instead.
On top of keeping your furniture safe, it will also protect your walls and floors from the corners of your furniture when moving everything out of your current place and into your new one. You can also wrap your sheets, towels and blankets around breakables, or stuff them into empty spaces inside your boxes so everything is more secure as you move them to the truck and into your new place.
Have enough rope, bungee cords and tie-down straps
Whether you’re using a moving truck or a truck and trailer to move, ropes, bungee cords and tie-down straps are important. Strap them around your load to secure it from moving, tie down loose items, or keep tarps in place on trailers or in the back of pickup trucks. They also come in handy inside a moving truck to keep heavy items secured in place or when you don’t have a full truck and don’t want boxes moving around the truck.