It may seem like a simple enough idea – you’re getting ready to move, and you know you’ll need boxes so you head to the store and buy as many moving boxes as you think you’ll need.

Then it happens. The anxiety sets in. The boxes are too small. Or they’re too big. Or you don’t have enough. Or maybe too many. How much bubble wrap do you need to keep your breakables safe? Is it better to really fill that box up or should you leave some space? How much weight can these boxes hold?

Don’t fret! These easy to follow tips can help you keep your possessions safe and your sanity intact!

Know What You’ll Need

The last thing you want to deal with when you’re packing is making endless runs to and from the store because you didn’t get everything you need the first time. Use a checklist to make sure you have everything you’ll need. Here are a few items to help get your mind on the right track:

  • Packing paper
  • Scissors
  • Moving Pads
  • Bubble Wrap
  • Packaging Tape
  • Markers

Use Actual Moving Boxes

You have plenty of shoe boxes and other random boxes lying around the house, and it can be tempting to use them when you move, but by using actual moving boxes, you could save yourself a lot of headaches. Older and used boxes can be less resilient to a move, breaking apart at the worst times. Also, actual moving boxes are shaped to better fit together in a truck, making your move easier and helping ensure your items don’t get banged up in transit.

Don’t Rush

The worst thing you can do is rush through your move. Start planning and boxing things up well in advance. Pack a few boxes a day, but be sure that what you’re packing won’t be needed between the time you box it and the time you move.

Keep Your Rooms in Separate Boxes

Packing and unpacking can be stressful, but if you keep each room of your home in separate boxes, it can ease some of the tension. After all, you don’t want to be looking for the toaster that you packed with the items that go in the attic!

See our videos for more information about the best ways to pack individual rooms

Write the Rooms and Other Important Information on the Boxes

Write the names of each room on your boxes. Make sure that the writing is large enough to be easily spotted. It can also help to number your boxes – Bedroom 1, Bedroom 2, and so on – and keep a list of how many boxes each room in your home was packed in. This way, you can be sure that nothing gets left behind or lost.

Also be sure to mark which boxes contain fragile items. You want to be sure that these boxes are packed with special care, and are not crushed under the weight of other boxes during the move.

Don’t Use Newspaper to Wrap Your Belongings

Sure, the Sunday Free Press has a lot of pages, and after you’ve read it there’s not much else use for it, but by using newspaper to wrap your belongings, you risk the ink bleeding onto items and ruining them. It is safer to use white packing paper.

Bag Smaller Items

The more you pack, the more tempting it is to take shortcuts. You may want to just toss all those little odds and ends into a box and call it a day, but that can lead to a lot of aggravation later. It is better to bag up the smaller items – simple Ziplock bags will do most times – so that they don’t rattle around in the boxes.

Protect Your Belongings from Moisture

If you are packing things up and plan to put them in storage in an environment that is not climate controlled, or are concerned about wet weather during the move, you will want to be sure to protect those items from environmental effects. Use plastic bins when possible, or line your boxes with plastic bags before packing your belongings. Make sure to close the bag tightly before taping up the box.

Don’t Overload Your Boxes

Overloading a box can lead to serious problems. For starters, if a box is holding too much weight, the bottom could give out. You also have to consider the damage that can be done to a person. Lifting overloaded boxes could lead to muscle strain or worse. You don’t want to add medical bills to your move.

When you are buying your moving boxes, check for the maximum capacity limit. Many boxes will have this printed on the bottom.

Load Your Moving Truck Room by Room

By loading the truck room by room, it can save you time when you unload. You will know which room everything goes to, and you can also keep better track of your boxes – remember to have that list handy!

If you have hired professional movers, they will load the truck in this fashion, so be sure that you haven’t mixed boxes from different rooms together.

Premier Relocations is licensed and insured, maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and has earned ProMover and Michigan ProMover certification through the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA). The company annually earns the ‘Super Service Award’ through Angie’s List, for customer satisfaction surveys ranked in the top five percent.

Call Premier Relocations at:
800-863-5161
or request your
Free Estimate for Moving
on our website today!