How to Pack for a Move in a Quick and Efficient Way

No matter if you are relocating in winter or summertime, with some advice and a good plan in place, you won’t feel the burdens of relocation. You will be able to actually enjoy the benefits of moving and not bother dealing with relocation stress. So buckle up! From boxing up your pots and pans to the best tips for storing Christmas ornaments, we will show you the ways of professional cross-country movers.

How to Pack for a Move – Things to Do Weeks Before the Moving Day

For an efficient and organized move, the key is good planning and starting early. This way, you get to do tasks at your own pace, with no rush, and free of stress. So once you are done with house hunting and you have finally decided where to live, it is time for the second phase of your relocation – that is, to create a plan and packing schedule. How long it will take to pack your home depends on your home size. For example, for a three-bedroom home, it usually takes 5-6 days of intense work. But there are other factors you must consider, such as the number of belongings you have to transport or the hours you’ll be able to dedicate to these tasks every day.

Declutter and Organize a Garage Sale

The first step is to decide what you should not pack when moving. Whether you are relocating from a house to an apartment or the other way around, it would be good to declutter first. Relocating to another state is an excellent opportunity to get rid of belongings you don’t want, need, or use any longer. From damaged dishes and plastic containers without lids to jeans that you haven’t worn for decades. Now you can say goodbye to everything that has been collecting dust in your closet or was always in your way when you tried to tidy up and create order in your home. So comb through all corners of your home and toss everything you know you will never use again. Also, you don’t have to throw away everything. You can organize a garage sale and earn some money or donate unwanted items to local charities.

Make an Inventory List of Things You Plan to Pack and Call Your Cross Country Movers

Now is the right moment to create a list of belongings you plan to keep. Start creating an inventory list even before you contact your cross-country moving company. Once they arrive to give you an in-home estimate for long-distance moving services, this list will help them offer a more accurate quote. Even if you don’t hire them for the packing service, they will still need this list for better estimation and for a more transparent and straightforward approach. They will be able to coordinate the whole process more precisely without any surprises. For example, if you decide to move a piano at the last minute, they may have a hard time placing it into storage units on short notice. To avoid any possible conundrum, create the list first and then book your cross-country moving services.

With the Right Supplies, You Will Protect Belongings With Ease

Once you are done with all the clutter in your home, you will have room for brand new supplies you need for relocation. There are different types of packing materials, but even just the basic ones will be enough to fully protect and secure most household belongings. Here are the things you should purchase:

• Medium-sized boxes
• Bubble and plastic wrap
• Pham sheet and cushioning
• Paper
• Duct tape and duct tape dispenser
• Labels and markers

Why Are Medium Size Moving Boxes the Favorite Choice of Professional Cross Country Movers?

Imagine having to transport your entire library. You might think, “Heck, this is easy, like playing Tetris with books in a box”. Well, you couldn’t be more wrong. If you do that with a large carton, you will end up either without a container (it will tear apart from the weight) or hurting your back. This is the main reason why medium-sized boxes are the best size boxes for relocation. No matter how full they are, their weight can be managed by one person. Check this video for more tips on how to protect books for a move.

Designate One Room to Be the Working Station

As we mentioned, organization is key to a successful relocation, and you cannot be organized if you are cramped in your house with all the supplies and belongings. You will need a working station, a place where you can wrap and box everything up. Clear one room, preferably a garage or basement, and start boxing up there. If all belongings are in one room, this will also make loading on the truck much easier.

Start Packing the Things You Don’t Need First

How long before moving should you start packing? At least one week before. You can start earlier, but one week will do just fine if you have done all the preparations listed above. The best tip on how to pack when moving is to start with the belongings you don’t use that frequently or don’t need at this moment. For example, if you are relocating in summer, deal with winter clothing first. Or pack all your shoes and leave a pair you will use until the long-distance moving company arrives. Go room-by-room and box up everything that is not essential for normal everyday functioning. And once the relocation day approaches, you will box up everything that’s left with ease.

Leave the Kitchen and the Bathroom for Last

Well, you can box up some pots and pans you know you will not use, but you will likely require most of the kitchen items until you move out, so leave them for the last day. Get rid of all the food from the freezer and pantry because food is one of the things movers won’t move. When it comes to bathroom items, leave half-opened bottles of shampoo and other toiletries until the very last day and just throw them away or transfer them to smaller bottles and put them in your bag of essentials.

There Are Rules for Fragile Items You Must Follow

When it comes to packing fragile items, you will have to follow some tips. For starters, if you have to pack glasses, use sectioned boxes to store them. Wrap each item with paper and place it in the box. Make sure you have a cushioning layer on the bottom, between items, and on top of them in the container. Ensure there is no space between the objects in the container so they don’t break from movement.

Prepare a Bag of Essentials

While boxing up your belongings, put aside the belongings you will need during this relocating process and in the first few days at the new place. As you know, moving cross country takes time, and you will probably be out of your home for a couple of days. Prepare a bag of relocation essentials for each family member like you are going on a short vacation. Include your valuable items and documents here, too. On the other hand, if you coordinate everything with the long-distance movers and move into your new house the same day the truck arrives, you can prepare one box of essentials. Here you will put tools, hygiene products, cleaning supplies, and bedding so you can have a comfy first night in your home.

Don’t Forget About Labels

It doesn’t matter what kind of labeling system you plan to implement, it is crucial to have one. You will be swamped by boxes in the days after relocation, and you will have to prioritize boxes for unpacking, too, so you don’t end up with a winter jacket unboxed in the middle of summer. And if you already have an inventory list (the same one we talked about earlier), half the work is done. All you need to do is place a colored sticker next to the items on the list and the corresponding color on the box, and you will know what’s where.

And What About Your Furniture

How to pack furniture when relocating to another state? As you know, there is a great chance your belongings will be in a storage unit for some time. For this reason, you will have to learn how to protect your furniture. The first step is deep cleaning. this way, and you will have fewer belongings to clean once you relocate.

Most reputable cross-country moving companies will disassemble and reassemble your furniture for free as part of their services, so ensure you consider this when searching for movers. Also, if you plan to relocate on your own, ensure to disassemble all the parts that can move or fall during transportation.

Lastly, you will have to protect each part with some plastic wrap if it is fabric or blankets if it is made of wood. Do not apply plastic wrap on wood or leather. It can create a greenhouse effect, and the moisture will damage the item.

What’s the Easiest Way to Pack for a Move?

It might seem that the easiest way to relocate is to put everything in garbage bags and to hit the road. Unfortunately, that’s not true. You will end up with a bunch of bags lying around your floors for months and, more importantly, a bunch of broken or damaged belongings. So the easiest way is the one that will make your life better once you start unpacking.

But it is ok. Organization and packing are not for everyone, and if you feel like you are not up to this task, hire professionals to help you out. Not only will they do all the hard work, but you can even book movers to arrange everything from car shipping to packing. All you have to do is make a call and pick a date. This way, you will have more time to make other arrangements such as picking a place to live, finding a new job, and a new school for your kids or just spend more time with friends and family you are about to say goodbye to.