More Moving Tips And Helpful Resources
If you are packing and loading your belongings yourself, there are specific techniques that are recommended to avoid damaging your goods. First, make sure the boxes you use are sturdy and capable. Wet or moldy cardboard is not a wise choice for moving your items, as these conditions severely weaken the packing material.
For each box that you pack, you want to put heavier items on the bottom. Also, when stacking boxes, you should put heavier boxes below lighter ones. Be aware, though, that if you only pack heavy items in a box, the full box will be very heavy. A box full of books, for example, will weigh more than a box of shoes. This may seem obvious, but it’s also a good reason to use smaller boxes when packing heavier items.
Finally, for glass or other fragile materials, use soft packing material to keep these items from breaking in transit. If you don’t have access to the more expensive packaging materials, paper towels and newspapers serve as nice cushions for your breakable goods. Be sure to use enough of these packing materials, though, to prevent unwanted damage.
There are many online resources available for additional tips on how to pack specific items. If you’re set on packing and moving yourself, research some of these techniques and some of the pitfalls that other movers encounter.
Be sure to have what you need on hand.
Packing properly not only involves lots of time, it also involves money. Do your research for the best deals on things like packing tape, tape guns, and boxes, but remember that by doing the job right you’re protecting your belongings. Skimping on proper packing techniques can end up causing damage to your household goods, and this may end up costing you much more in the long run. Here’s a simple list of what you should have on hand:
Plenty of boxes
Used boxes that are not torn, bent or damp work well, but consider purchasing boxes for some items. New boxes typically range in cost from $1 to $5, but are always less expensive when bought in bulk quantities. For used boxes, ask around an check online resources for free boxes. Make sure that you have plenty of sizes available for the wide variety of household belongings you need to move.
Keep in mind that you may want to have some specialized boxes as well. Wardrobe boxes, long flat-frame boxes for mirrors and artwork, dish barrels made of double-walled cardboard for dishes and other fragile items are good to have on hand.
Remember, it’s much better to have too many boxes than not enough, so gather many more than you think you’ll need. If you purchase boxes, save the receipt so you can return any that you may not use.
Permanent markers
Use these to make detailed labels on the sides of your packed boxes. Don’t label tops because these may be covered by other boxes. Be sure to mark all fragile items clearly to avoid damage.
Dollies and handcarts
These are typically available at most truck-rental companies and cost about $10 a day to rent.
Packing paper
Packing paper (unprinted newsprint) is both economical and versatile. This is the best material available for properly protecting most everything you need pack for your move. Use it for wrapping fragile items and crumple it up for padding. Regular newspaper is fine for extra padding, but because it can leave stains, it should never be used to wrap any household items.
Bubble wrap
Expensive when compared with packing paper, but very useful when packing extremely fragile items, like china and glassware. Bubble wrap is also your best bet for protecting artwork framed behind glass.
Tape and tape guns
Brown packing tape works best for boxes. Duct tape and masking tape never stick well to cardboard, so always avoid packing with them. Have a few heavy-duty tape guns on hand to make taping up boxes a snap.
Mattress bags and furniture pads
A full-service moving company will supply these as part of your total move cost. If you’re moving yourself, you can purchase mattress bags for $3 to $6 each. Furniture pads can be rented for about $10 per dozen from most truck-rental companies.
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