Pack Like A Pro: Essential Tips For Packing When Moving

One of the most dreaded tasks when moving home is packing. Many of us own thousands of items, and having to sort through all of these possessions can be tedious and time-consuming. A lot can also go wrong if you don’t pack correctly - things can get broken or easily misplaced. Fortunately, there are a few packing hacks that can help to make the process much smoother. Here are just some of those important hacks to help you pack like a pro.

Allow time to declutter

Taking time to declutter first can prevent you from taking stuff to your new home that you don’t want or need. It could also make the moving process quicker and cheaper - less items to move means potentially less journeys and lower moving fees. You could even sell some items you don’t need and make some extra money to help with the move! Start by sorting through items in the biggest clutter zones (such as the attic, garage or bedroom) and work your way around to the least cluttered rooms. You could even pack some belongings as you declutter.

Label boxes clearly

Think ahead to when you unpack - arriving in your new home only to be confronted by 50 unlabeled boxes is not going to be fun. Label the contents of each box so that you know exactly which boxes to prioritize. Include the room that you want the box to be put in (such as ‘bathroom’ or ‘bedroom’) and any warnings (i.e. ‘fragile’). 

Load up on bubble wrap

Bubble wrap will protect items from damage during transit. While it’s essential that you protect fragile items like glassware and mirrors, you can also wrap general furniture in bubble wrap to prevent scratches and dents. Chests of drawers can also be encased in bubble wrap to prevent drawers from slipping out. 

Consider whether to use storage

Storage units can provide a temporary location to store possessions if your new home isn’t quite ready for moving in yet. Maybe you need to decorate rooms first or maybe a buyer/new tenant wants to move in before your new home is vacant. In these cases, storage units can be used to place items in. You can even consider storage pods - these are units that you can pack your items into at your property before being moved outside your new home, allowing you to pack and unpack at your own pace. 

Plan for disassembly/reassembly

Some furniture may need to be disassembled in order to fit it through doorways and corridors or simply to protect it during transit. Allow enough time to carry out this disassembly so that you’re not panicking to dismantle a bed or wardrobe at the last minute. If you can’t find instructions for furniture, consider looking online for instruction booklets or videos, or consider hiring a professional to help you with the process. When it comes to appliances that are plumbed in like washing machines, consider hiring a pro to help you remove these and reinstall them if you’re planning on taking them with you.