Packing Tips

Moving takes time and if you're doing your own packing, which most people will, make sure you give yourself lots of time; at least six weeks before your move date and plan carefully. Careful planning and packing will save you time, money and a lot of hair pulling.

* Decide what will move with you and what will stay behind. There may be items that you don't need anymore or that aren't worth moving or perhaps your move is temporary and certain unnecessary things can be put into storage. No matter what the answer is, decide beforehand what stays and what goes. If you have items already in storage, make sure you take a thorough inventory to ensure you're not moving items you could do without.

* Collect supplies. Try to estimate what you'll need and make sure you have enough on hand. Moving Kits, Boxes and Supplies.

* Pack non-essentials. Start packing items you can do without. If you're moving in the summer, pack all your winter clothes, sports equipment and heavy blankets.

* Label boxes. While you're packing boxes, make sure you label the top and sides of boxes with contents, location of contents in your house and if there are any special instructions, such as "fragile" or "open first". This will assist the movers in putting the boxes in the correct room and will warn them of any fragile items.

* Inventory list.

* Properly label boxes with stickers that instruct the movers on how to handle the contents. Stickers can be bought at an office supply store or made on your own computer.

* Clothes, towels, linens, pillows can be used to keep fragiles safe. Just make sure you mark this on the box for when the box is unpacked. If the person who is unpacking the box is unaware that a crystal vase is wrapped inside a fleece blanket, they could easily uncurl the blanket sending the vase crashing to the floor.

* Make sure you properly wrap all fragile items in several layers of bubble wrap and pack them on their edge (plates, mirrors, picture frames, etc).

* Tape any stray items together into a bundle. Ski poles, brooms, mops, lamp stands, etc... can be taped into one package for easy carrying and storing.

* When moving furniture, make sure you keep all parts together with the item itself. Screws, bolts and other small pieces can be put into a self-locking plastic bag (sandwich bag/freezer bag) then taped to the furniture itself. If you're moving a table, unscrew the legs, tape the legs together then tape the parts bag to the underside of the table top.

* Wrap all scratchable furniture in protective padding. Table tops, coffee tables, headboards, etc... can all suffer from scratches and bruising during the move. Furniture padding can be rented from moving companies or storage facilities. In addition, furniture padding better protect your belongings.