How to Pack To Move

Start collecting boxes when you start to Pack To Move a few months prior to the actual move date. Get varied size boxes to use for different rooms. Each time you go shopping pick up a few and save them in your garage or in a separate room. Blankets and sheets will make a good covering for the furniture and save them from getting scratched. At the same time there will be a few less items to pack. Secure them with movers tape or just plain packaging tape, the type you use when you seal a package to mail at the post office.
Start by packing things that you rarely use, and never would miss. Save the rooms that have things in them that you use daily for last.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Boxes
• Sealing Tape
• Magic Markers
• Plastic containers

1. 

   Go from room to room and make sure that everything that belongs in a specific room gets moved into the room it belongs. Pack to move and get a box and mark it with that particular room.

2. Pack to move things in a suitcase so you will have one less box to use, and put aside a box for each person in the family. This will hold items that are needed immediately for each one, like personal belongings, toothpaste, brushes or such.

3. 

   Clean out the kitchen. Toss away all the junk that should have been tossed away a long time ago, and box those things that you use. Make use of those kitchen plastic storage containers to put in all the stuff that you hate to toss out, from the kitchen draws as well as small bottle openers.

4. Begin taking apart any large items.like the lampshades from the lamps, and putting the screws into a plastic baggie. The larger size baggies are great for storing larger items, like hammers, screw drivers that you will need immediately once you move into your new residence.

5. Make sure to keep the box of hardware and tools in the center of a room, so that others in the family who are helping, can easily locate them when they need them.

6. 

   Stack the boxes as soon as you fill them. Make sure you use the magic marker to mark them and then tape them each.

7. Try to keep the boxes stacked in the rooms that they are tagged for. This way, it will be easier to put them in that room when you move in.

8. 

   At the last minute, and as you pack to move, and as the other boxes are being loaded, take the time to double check each room to make sure that there is nothing left behind. If you find items were left in the room, just toss them into an empty box, and mark the box with the contents or the room that you found them in.

9. 

   Load the truck and get on your way!

Tips & Warnings

• Pick up boxes at the supermarket. They have clean boxes.
• Start collecting boxes well before you start moving.
• Many smaller sized boxes are better than extremely large ones.
• Make sure you mark the boxes with the contents packed.
• Use different colored markers for each room. It will be easier to keep them all together, and place them into the correct room later.
• Place each box into the marked room when you move into the new residence.
• When you arrive at your new home, make up the bed first to be ready for sleeping well before starting to unpack.
• Moving is tiring, so be ready to hop into bed at any time. Unpacking can wait.
• Rent a U Haul and move yourself if you have a small amount to move.
• Hire a Moving Company when you have a large move.
• Make sure you understand the Movers contract before you sign.

Resources

• Kill Germs in a Dirty Sponge
• Wash Laundry
• Stop Losing Socks in Washing Machine
• Shut the Garage Door

[GRGR]

on 9/7/2008 Very valuable information and right on target!

[inpulse-ive]

on 6/20/2008 Great article, I like step 2, too.

[MarkDilley]

on 6/15/2008 I like step 2, that is one that I have never done before, but now it is added to the moving repertoire! :-)

[missforty]

on 6/11/2008 Very helpful article. It is SO important to mark those boxes!

[danielzrib]

on 6/10/2008 Sounds like you've done this before! Thanks for the ideas.