Packing Tips for Your Move

Proper packing ensures your move is efficient and worry-free.

When packing yourself, have everything properly packed and ready for loading the evening before moving day. Leave out only the things you'll need that night, the next morning, and immediately at your destination for last-minute packing.

Basic guidelines to make packing a snap:

• Make a schedule, allowing enough time leading up to moving day
• Pack items in the basement, garage, or attic first - these items usually aren't needed right away
• Stay organized by packing room by room
• Designate work areas in each room
• When a room is completed, sort cartons by light, medium, and heavy - limit your heaviest cartons to 50 pounds each
• Clearly label cartons or items that you do not want to transport on the van

It's recommended that your packer handle the following:

• Marble or glass tabletops, heavy wall ornaments and mirrors 40" x 60" or larger
• Pool table
• Bulky, fragile items like large trophies, statues, chandeliers, etc.
• Major appliances

Here are a few more suggestions for a successful pack:

• Empty drawers of breakables, spillables, non-transportable items and anything that would puncture or damage other items
• Keep all parts or pairs of things together - for example, curtain rod hangers, mirror bolts, and other small hardware items should be placed in plastic bags and taped securely to the article to which they belong
• Pack small, fragile, individually wrapped items separately or a few together in small boxes, cushioning with crushed or shredded paper. Place small boxes in a single large box, filling in spaces with crushed paper
• Put a special mark (the number 1, or the letter A) on cartons you want to unpack first at your destination

Use newspaper only for cushioning; never place it against items, as the ink will rub off. It can even get embedded into fine china, so be careful!