Proper packing is the secret to an easy move. You can save a lot of space by doing it right. That cuts down on the time that you spend loading and unloading your moving truck and also reduces the cost of transportation.
Anyone can learn how to pack their belongings the right way, so it is worth taking the time to figure it out before you get ready to move across the country. Here are the top tips from Kip’s Cross Country Movers:
1. Choose Boxes Carefully
Old boxes are fine for moving short distances, but a cross-country move calls for boxes that can hold up to heavy-duty use. They will suffer a lot of wear and tear during the trip, so older ones are likely to suffer leaks.
That having been said, you can still get most of your boxes for free. Most stores will be happy to hand out their used boxes if they have any, and you can often reuse boxes from any recent deliveries to your home. Simply discard any that have any tears, weak points, or other problems and use the rest.
2. Make Good Labels
It is technically possible to get through a major move without labels or other organizational tools, but keeping things neat makes it much easier. Labels are the most convenient option, but not all labels are created equal. A good label is large and easy to see. It also needs to communicate the contents of the box. You can do that with large text, but it is often better to use a color code because people can process color more quickly than text.
There are other factors that go into making a good label, and it is best to keep them all in mind to make sure that yours can do their job.
3. Heavy Items Go in Small Packages
It is important to make sure that you can comfortably lift all of your boxes when you are loading and unloading them. One way to do that is to put all of your heavy items in small boxes. You won’t be able to store many other items along with them, which will keep the total weight of the box under control. Leave the big boxes for holding lots of lighter items.
Doing this will make sure that the weight of every box is roughly equal regardless of their size, which makes them easier to handle.
4. Pack Fragile Items the Right Way
A cross-country move will have a lot of bumps in the road and other problems that might cause fragile items to break. That makes it vital to pack them with care to maximize their odds of survival.
In general, you will want to make sure that your fragile items move as little as possible. That means packing them fairly tightly and making sure that there is padding around them to fill in the gaps. You should also be careful never to overfill a box since it is easy for them to burst open by accident.
Be sure to remember basic packing techniques as well. Heavy items go on the bottom, both in individual boxes and when stacking boxes, so that they don’t crush the lighter ones. Take your time and check everything to make sure you’ve done it right. That will help with any packing, but it is especially important for items that break easily.