One of the most complicated parts of moving is deciding your process. Packing to move is only a small part of the process, and there are so many moving parts that affect your timeline and affect your moving day itself. When you decide correctly what to pack first when moving, it affects the rest of your process and helps you start off right. Whether you decide to hire movers to assist you also makes a difference in packing to move. There are many ways to pack that work, but having general moving tips and tricks to guide you can be very helpful!
Start Small
When you are packing to move, there are a lot of moving parts that may seem overwhelming. If you start small and plan ahead, it won’t seem so stressful. There are several things you need to do before you move that can be done several weeks or months in advance. These moving tips and tricks can be done sometimes in one afternoon or over a weekend, so find what works best for you and your timeline!
Keep vs. Donate
One thing you can easily do when deciding how to pack for a move several months in advance is to go through your home and decide what you want to keep and what you want to sell, donate, or throw away. One of the most important parts of moving is taking the things you want, and not getting loaded down with things you don’t need. It can be more expensive to take more things with you, especially if you need a larger truck or more trips back and forth. It is also a great thing to donate the items you don’t need or use. Sometimes you have extra furniture you don’t want, or larger items you don’t need. Don’t bring those things with you, as they will just add expenses and difficulties to your move that you don’t need.
Take an afternoon once a week, pick a room, and go through it to decide. Maybe take a whole weekend to go through the house, then take the items to donate at the end of it. It isn’t difficult to do, and you can help others with your donations. Then you know that everything left in your home is what you want, and it will be worth it to pack it up.
Pack Extra Items
While it can vary in certain situations, usually the items you don’t need on a daily basis are what to pack first when moving. You can pack these in advance, so you won’t have to worry about packing to move, unpacking, and packing again. If you pack what you don’t need for your daily activities, you can get those out of the way as well. For example, if you start to pack all of your clothes, what will you wear while you are packing to move everything else? You could pack up your seasonal clothes or make sure you have enough up until you leave if that works best for you. Knowing what to pack first when moving has a lot to do with knowing what you will need up until the last minute.
Examples of What to Pack First When Moving
These extra items you won’t need every day are usually smaller items, like books, movies, CDs, and other things you might have sitting on bookshelves. Other things you won’t use daily are things like decor, picture frames, and other artwork. These are also things you might want to donate if you want to change them in your new home. You can also pack things that are in storage, or junk drawer items pretty early on. Holiday decorations can easily be packed into boxes, if they aren’t already. Clothes can also be great to pack early, as long as you aren’t packing them too far in advance and you pack the ones you won’t need right away.
Moving Tips and Tricks
Some of the best moving tips and tricks are all about packing, so you can make it easier for yourself. Some of these may seem simple, especially if you are packing on your own. Even small tips can help.
Organize Yourself
Packing can be very difficult, so it is good to have a game plan. Decide when you are going to pack each room of your house. Are you going to take a few days or a week off work to pack and clean your house? Or are you going to take a month and do it in smaller bursts? Make a plan that has as many details as possible, even several months in advance if you can.
Use the Right Boxes
Make sure you know what boxes you should use for each kind of item. Heavy, small items like books should go in smaller boxes. Clothes can go in larger boxes, or even in plastic garbage bags if they don’t need to be folded. Kitchen items can go in bigger boxes, but things like plates should be properly packaged to avoid damage. If you have larger items you can’t put in boxes, wrap them in blankets or plastic wrap to help keep them from getting scratched.
Packing Essential Items
Pack your essential everyday items last. Then, you will easily be able to locate them when you arrive at your location and you won’t have to search through your boxes. It also helps to carefully pack spillable items like lotions, shampoo, conditioner, and others. You can tape them closed or pack them in individual Ziplock bags or totes. It is best to try to keep them from spilling, but also packing them so they won’t damage other items if they do spill.
How to Pack for a Move
If you need help knowing how to pack for a move, consider hiring movers to help you! We can assist you in packing, transporting, and unpacking. We can give you a free quote for our services and help you get moved safely, securely, and as easily as possible.
