Packing an entire household full of stuff is no small task, and for many relocators, the process quickly becomes messy, confusing, and downright stressful. At Ace Moving & Warehousing, we’re here to help you avoid that. It’s our goal to help streamline your entire move — packing included — so you can enjoy a smooth, low-stress relocation.
Below, we’re sharing X helpful packing tips that can help you organize an efficient move. And don’t forget: If you need expert assistance, our movers and packers can take care of the entire packing process for you!
1. Sort and Declutter
As soon as you know you’ll be moving, put decluttering at the top of your to-do list. The fewer items you have to move, the less chaotic and stressful the process will be. So, before you pack a single box, start sorting your things.
Room by room, sort through your possessions and determine what you plan to keep and what you can stand to get rid of. If you haven’t used something in the last six months — save seasonal decorations — chances are you won’t use it in your new home either. Why clutter up your space with unused things?
As you sort through each room, pay attention to the condition of the items you rarely or never use. Are any of them in excellent condition? If so, you may want to consider selling them to help offset the cost of your move.
If you don’t have the time to put together a garage sale or list your stuff online, you can always donate your gently used items to a local shelter or charity. Many charities even offer complimentary pick-up services, which can be helpful if you’re really short on free time.
2. Consider Temporary Storage Solutions
If you’re planning a local move, consider seeking out short-term storage solutions to help keep clutter to a minimum during the packing process. If you own plenty of things you’d like to keep, but that aren’t exactly daily necessities, you can store those things temporarily until you’re ready to pull them out and use them.
If you’re downsizing your living space, renting a storage unit can also give you more time to figure out what you’d like to keep and what you can do without. But before you rent a unit, keep in mind that even in storage, certain things can suffer temperature- or humidity-related damage. These things include:
- Clothing
- Anything made of wood
- Anything with fabric or leather upholstery
- Media items like CDs and DVDs
- Electronics
- Art, photos, and documents
- Electronics
- Musical instruments
If you need to store any of the above items or anything of considerable value, renting a climate-controlled storage unit is in your best interest. Check out our recent blog, The Benefits of Climate Controlled Storage, to learn why.
3. Pack Your Home Room By Room
During the packing process, focus on one room at a time. Designating specific boxes for each room in your home will save you considerable time during the packing process, not to mention lessen confusion over which items are where.
Begin by packing up the rooms you use least frequently. Once you have those out of the way, start packing infrequently used items from the rooms you use more often. Even if you do it several weeks before your move, start emptying closets and storage areas in frequently used rooms. Tackling the process bit by bit can help streamline heavier packing days as your move date approaches.
4. Pack Your Clothes Strategically
Packing apparel can be a time-consuming hassle, but if you approach the process with a bit of strategy, it can be quick and easy. To keep things organized, the first thing you’ll want to do is get rid of any items you rarely or never wear. Once you do that, you’ll likely have far fewer items to pack, which means you’ll save both time and space.
From there, follow our pro tips for packing clothes, which will help you streamline both the packing and unpacking process.
5. Disassemble Bulky and Awkwardly Shaped Items
If you’re not planning to opt for full packing services from your residential movers, it’s a good idea to disassemble as many large or awkwardly shaped items as you can. When disassembled, these types of items are much easier to organize within the truck, which can help eliminate some frustration on your move day.
When breaking down household items, be sure to place any small screws and other hardware in small plastic bags that you can secure to each item with tape. Taking the time to do this will ensure you don’t lose any components necessary for reassembly and will also keep your packing more organized.
Items you should consider disassembling include:
- Bed frames
- Dining tables
- Dressers
- Large lamps
- Sectional or modular furniture
6. Purchase the Right Packing Materials
If you’re packing fragile items, using the proper protective packing materials is the best way to prevent damage during loading, transit, and unloading. Although you can certainly employ a few packing hacks and use materials you already have around the house, take caution. Using household items as packing materials may not be in your best interest for some of your most breakable or valuable things.
So what kind of packing gear should you purchase? Be sure to pick up:
- Packing paper (don’t use old newspaper as the ink can rub off and stain your stuff)
- Bubble wrap, which will absorb vibrations/force while your things are in transit
- Small, medium, and large moving boxes (use small boxes for fragile items since they’re less likely to break or get overpacked)
- Specialty boxes for valuable art and mirrors
- Moving blankets and pads for wrapping items susceptible to dents or scratches
Keep in mind that you can save and reuse several types of packing materials if you’re careful with them while unpacking. Even if you’re trying to keep your move as economical as possible, investing in protective packing supplies is in your best interest. Using the proper materials will help you save money in the long run as your belongings will be better protected from damage.
7. Use Appropriately Sized Boxes
To ensure your boxes are securely packed and your possessions are well protected against damage, always use the appropriate size moving materials. When packing, the general rule is to pack heavier items, such as books, tools, and heavy cookware in smaller boxes. Bigger boxes are better suited to lighter items, such as blankets, pillows, rugs, and towels.
Packing your belongings in this manner will help ensure none of your boxes are too heavy or awkward to carry, so you can be more efficient while loading the truck. More importantly, using the right size packing materials leaves adequate space for protective cushioning between items that are more susceptible to transport-related damage.
8. Know Your Non-Allowables
If you’re hiring a moving company, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the non-allowable items your movers cannot transport. Federal law prohibits professional movers from transporting any type of hazardous or flammable materials, as well as firearms, ammunition, certain cosmetic products, batteries, certain cleaning products, and several other items.
In addition to federal guidelines, your moving company may also follow internal company policies that prohibit them from transporting specific things. If you’re unfamiliar with what your movers can and can’t handle, check out this resource for a full breakdown.
As you gather moving estimates, be sure to ask each company for a comprehensive list of the items they cannot transport so you know what to expect. You’ll need to arrange transportation for anything your movers can’t handle, so it’s best to have this information early on so you can plan ahead.
9. Pack Your Personal Items Last
Save your valuables, important paperwork, and personal items for last. You’ll want to pack these items in your personal vehicle, if possible, to make sure they’re well protected throughout your move. And, because you’ll require a personal overnight bag for your first night in your new home, you’ll need to leave certain things unpacked until the night before your move.
Looking for Professional Movers and Packers in Rochester?
At Ace Moving & Warehousing, we’ve been serving the Twin Cities metro since 1958. We offer a comprehensive selection of moving services to meet the needs of any residential relocation, including full packing services, storage solutions, move planning assistance, and more. When you need professional movers with long-standing repute and service you can trust, we’re the team to call!
To learn more about our services or request a moving quote, feel free to give our team a call at 507-288-3341. You can also get in touch with us by filling out our contact form, and a member of our team will reach out to you promptly.