How to Pack Household Items for a Move

Start the packing process weeks ahead of when you'll be moving. Remember, when packing, organization is key!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Boxes
• Moving Companies
• Bubble Wraps
• Markers
• Packaging Tape
• Spiral Notebooks
• Markers
• Boxes

1. Set aside items you will need up until the last moment, such as cleaning supplies, children's toys, bedding and pet food.

2. Set aside and plan how you will transport items that can't easily be packed. These include plants and pets.

3. 

   Figure out what supplies you'll need, such as boxes, tape, marking pens and cushioning material such as bubble wrap.

4. Repack items such as computers, TVs and other electronics in their original boxes with their original packing material, if possible.

5. 

   Label boxes on more than one side, including both the box's contents and the room in which it belongs.

6. Pack fragile items carefully.

7. 

   Pack books in small boxes; they're heavier than you'd think!

8. 

   Roll up carpets and rugs and tie them securely.

9. 

   Pack bedding last; use as much as you can for cushioning.

10. Check the basement, the garage, the attic and outdoors for items you might have overlooked.

11. Store, sell or donate anything you aren't taking with you.

Tips & Warnings

• For a fee, most moving companies can supply boxes designed for packing specific items safely - ask about special boxes for items such as china, crystal, mirrors and lamps. Also be sure to ask friends and family and local computer or stereo store for discarded boxes.
• Keep valuables such as legal documents, stock certificates, money, checkbook and credit cards with you.
• Remember your curtains and drapes, unless you have agreed to leave window coverings in the house.
• Do not underpack boxes, which will cause them to be easily crushed in the move. Conversely, overpacking them can cause them to burst and damage your belongings.
• It may be more trouble to move canned and bottled foods than it is to replace them.
• Boxes from the grocery store will be of much lesser quality than boxes from a moving company.

[Ballzy]

on 9/28/2008 Thanks for the information! 5*

on 9/26/2006 The guys at Staples let me have their shipping boxes. This was a huge help when packing big items, like the TV. I would stay away from any boxes that have ever had any food products in them. My college roommate brought an infestation of fruit flies to our apartment after picking up moving boxes from the grocery store!

on 11/22/2005 When packing stuff from a particular room (such as the kitchen), label your boxes (K) for kitchen, followed by a number. For example, make "K1" the stuff you use and need the most. When you arrive at your new home or apartment, you can place all the number 1's in the most convenient places. Less important stuff would get a higher number.

on 11/22/2005 Many moving companies will sell their used boxes to the public at a fraction of the original price! I saved a lot of money when we moved three years ago, and I stored them all in my attic. I am now moving again and will reuse these same high-quality boxes.

on 11/22/2005 Color code your boxes. When you label or number them, use one color per room. That way, even if you don't know what's in the box, a quick look at the color tells you where it goes.