how to pack and move

Getting ready for the big move? While it may be easy to let your mind wander to life in your new home, there’s still an important process you shouldn’t overlook. If you’ve been putting off packing, this comprehensive checklist will walk you through every aspect of how to pack for a move. Whether if it’s glassware, tools, or furniture, these packing tips for moving house will help you avoid potential pitfalls that could leave you with headaches long after moving day.

Preparation is Key

If the thought of packing everything you own leaves you feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. For most people, packing can be an exhausting and tedious process. However, with the proper planning, it can become an enjoyable part of moving.

Each room presents its own challenges, so documenting what you have will help determine not only what you should pack, but also what you can get rid of. Lastly, getting all your packing supplies together will help you work through each room more efficiently.

Create an Inventory List

Creating something as simple as an inventory list is a great way to document all of your belongings. When you move into your new household, give your inventory list a quick scan to determine if anything has been lost, stolen or damaged. If you do find something wrong, you can quickly notify your moving company or file a claim with your insurance.

Determine all items of value (art, jewelry, electronics, and collectibles)Note item name, description, condition and an estimated valueTake photographs of serial numbers

Declutter Your Life

Moving home is the perfect time to take stock of all the belongings in your home. By decluttering your life, you can drastically reduce the number of items that will need packing. In the process, you’ll give yourself a chance to start fresh with an empty floor plan and a sparse wardrobe. Here are just a few ways you can help lighten the load.

Donate to a local charityHold a garage saleList items on eBay, Gumtree, or FacebookThrow away anything you aren’t donating or selling

Find the Right Supplies

You’ll need more than willpower to get through packing your entire apartment into cardboard boxes for moving. By having all the right supplies, you’ll be able to pack more efficiently so you can focus on crossing off other items on your to-do-list.

TapeScissorsLabelsMarkersNewspaperBubble wrapPacking peanuts

A Guide to Packing

Start With a Packing Strategy

You might consider packing by difficulty or by usage, but we recommend using the same system as the professionals — packing by room. By packing one room at a time, the problem becomes more manageable with the added benefit of knowing exactly where to place boxes for unpacking.

Create an inventory list

As outlined above, document all of your valuable belongings.

Label boxes by room and category

In addition to the room name, label each box with the category of the contents (e.g., books or appliances).

Number boxes by count

Note how many boxes you have in total, adding a “count” to each one as you pack. This will help identify any missing boxes when you arrive at your destination.

Add a fragile sticker

Lastly, add fragile stickers to any boxes that require special attention during delivery. The last thing you’ll want is to open boxes only to find your glassware shattered into a million pieces.

Packing Tips and Advice

You’ll want to ensure that your fragile items are packed safely, your tools won’t be damaged, and your clothes are packed efficiently. To maximize your time and space, follow these expert tips when packing each room.

How to Pack Kitchen Items

Pack dishes verticallyUse Styrofoam plates between dishes to avoid breakingCover tops of bottles with saran wrap

How to Pack Glassware

Wrap all glassware with packing paperPlace glasses in moving boxes mouths faced downPlace heaviest items on the bottomPlates and bowls should be loaded on their side

How to Pack Clothing and Shoes

Leave clothing in dresser drawersKeep clothes on hangersFill shoes with multiple pairs of socksFill suitcases and hampers

How to Pack Furniture

Tape nuts and bolts directly to furnitureProtect fabric by wrapping with plastic wrapWrap table legs with bubble wrap

How to Pack Tools

Pack hand tools in original boxesUse towels or blankets to wrap tools with sharp edgesKeep tools near hardware

Hiring Packing Professionals

Many renters are surprised to find out that there are professional packing services available for hire. With years of experience, experts packers will be able to label, organise, and pack much more efficiently than the average tenant. Some of these companies also offer secondary services, such as decluttering, unpacking, and home organisation for when tenants move in. We reached out to The Finishing Touch to get their thoughts on how long it might take a professional packing team to fully pack house.

One of the most common moving mistakes we see is people underestimating how much stuff they have and the time it will take to pack it all. An average three-bedroom house will have around 80 boxes of belongings, not including furniture. This will take our professional teams around 18 hours to pack, and for people who aren’t used to packing, it will take longer.Susan Williams – The Finishing Touch

A Guide to Unpacking

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Unpacking Strategy

You’ve packed, moved and all that’s left is to put everything away. You might be tempted to haphazardly empty all your boxes, but please don’t fall into this trap. Follow this unpacking strategy, and you’ll enjoy your new digs in no time.

Place boxes in a corner

Placing all your belongings in one corner will give you the room needed to unpack, assemble furniture and move around.

Set up a garbage can in each room

As you’re unpacking, you’ll quickly create a mess of bubble wrap, packing peanuts, newspapers and more. Set up a garbage can in each room and you won’t have to make round trips to the bin as often.

Assemble furniture

You’ll want a home for all your belongings before unpacking, so stage your room beforehand by assembling any furniture.

Unpack your belongings

Just as you packed one room at a time, unpack similarly. Remove the contents and flatten each box to avoid clutter and confusion.

Dealing With Mishaps

We all know things go wrong sometimes and you might find that some of your valuables haven’t made the journey intact. If you find damaged items, take action immediately to resolve any disputes.

Notify your removalists – Professional removalists will own up to any issues that have occurred during the move, especially ones that they might’ve caused. In cases like this, they’ll either cover the cost of the items or refund the difference from your move.Claim with your insurance – If you followed our advice by creating an inventory list, documenting serial numbers and have receipts for your belongings, you should be able to claim with your insurance provider.Throw it away and move on – Lastly, some things aren’t worth the stress. If all else fails, embrace the karma, throw the items in the trash and move on with your life.

Now that you’re all ready and packed, read through our moving checklist to find out everything you need to accomplish before, during and after your big move.