Essential Packing Tips
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Prepare for Your Move With These Packing Tips & Tricks
Before your movers arrive, one of the most important components is to pack up all the possessions in your home. At Callaghan’s Moving Services Inc., we offer comprehensive full-service packing services in addition to our moving services. We help customers just like you navigate every step of the packing and moving process.
14 Tips to Help You Pack for Your Move
Whether you’re trying to get out of the suburbs and to the city, want to retire to a beach, or have another reason for moving, these simple tips will make packing, downsizing and settling in easier, so you can feel confident and prepared for your next chapter.
1. Take Notes Leading Up to Your Moving Date
Before you plan your move, start an Excel spreadsheet that will track how often you use various items around your house. There’s no reason to bring something with you that will just collect dust.
2. Make Piles of Things to Donate or Sell
Garage sales are a great idea because you don’t have to worry about bringing your unwanted stuff anywhere but out to the driveway. The last thing you want is a storage unit down the road that you have to visit whenever you need something.
3. Measure the New Rooms at Your New Place
For example, you may not be able to bring your sectional couch to your new place. Take down measurements of your oversized items at your home, and of the rooms in the new place to guarantee that your things will fit. Prioritize your multi-functional items.
4. Get Rid of Unneeded Outdoor Tools and Accessories
At a new apartment or condo, there will be no need for your lawn mower or snowblower (for example). Sell unneeded items on Facebook Marketplace, or pass them off to a friend or relative in the area.
5. Digitize as Much as You Can
There’s no need to lug all your file cabinets to your new home. Turn old tax documents into digital files to store on a local hard drive (or in the cloud) by using a scanner or a scanning app. You can do the same with physical photos and children’s artwork. There are even services that can transfer your old VHS tapes onto a thumb drive!
6. Sort Through Books and Magazines
If you’re a book collector or someone who has kept all of their books from college, it might be time to sift through your bookshelves. Books can be donated to your local library or sold to a used bookstore like Half Price Books.
7. Pass Off Family Heirlooms
All the things you hold near and dear to your heart might need a new home, too. Your great-great-grandmother’s china cabinet might not fit into your new place. Consider giving it to a relative, so a new generation or branch of the family can enjoy it.
8. Research the Amenities Included in Your New Community
In some communities, for example, they may have walking trails, a play area for children, a swimming pool and/or a community recreation center. These items were once more commonplace in apartment complexes and condominiums, though newer housing communities often feature some of these amenities as well.
9. Start Packing as Early as Possible to Avoid Last-Minute Stress
Ideally, begin packing non-essential items a few weeks before your move, and gradually work your way through each room.
10. Use High-Quality Packing Materials for a Successful Move
Sturdy boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, packing paper and furniture blankets help ensure the safety of your belongings during transit.
11. Wrap Fragile Items Individually to Prevent Breakage During the Move
Use bubble wrap or packing paper and place items securely in sturdy boxes. Fill any empty spaces with packing peanuts or extra padding to prevent shifting during transit.
12. Label Your Boxes Clearly for Easy Identification and Organization
Labeling your boxes is essential for organization and easy identification during the moving process. Be sure to clearly label each box with both its contents and the room to which it belongs. This practice makes for efficient unpacking at your new home.
13. Save Space and Keep Clothing and Linens Clean During the Move
Use vacuum-sealed bags or large garbage bags. Group similar items together and label the bags for easy unpacking.
14. Pack Electronics and Valuables With Extra Care
Use the original packaging for electronics whenever possible. If it’s no longer available, wrap items in bubble wrap and secure them in sturdy boxes with plenty of padding. Consider transporting valuable items with you for added security.
Let Us Make Your Move Easier
Callaghan’s Moving Services is here to help you move with less stress and more confidence. Let our experienced team handle the details, so you can settle in and start enjoying your new home. Call (708) 529-9797 or request your free moving quote now.
Request a Moving Quote
Request a Moving Quote