Pack a suitcase – For each member of the family moving, pack a suitcase as if you’re all going on a 3-day vacation, including changes of clothes, medications, eyeglasses, toiletries, etc. Keep the suitcases separated from all the other items to be moved, such as in your car, at your new workplace, etc. so you’ll have everything you need for the first few days without searching through boxes.
Create “Open Me First” boxes – Pick one or two boxes per room as “Open Me First” boxes. Put in them the things you’ll need first at your new location. Then mark the sides of the boxes so you’ll know which ones are which.
One at a time – Wherever possible, work on packing just one room at a time (instead of several all at once) to keep things focused and organized.
Less is more – Use packing as a way to clean out belongings for donations, a yard sale, and/or the recycling center. Aim to eliminate 1/3 of your belongings. You’ll save time and expense.
Off the floor – Instead of the floor, use a completely cleared-off table top or counter in each room for packing boxes. You’ll find you get much more accomplished.
Tracking small parts – When taking apart items to be moved, such as tables, securely tape screws and other small parts securely to the underside of the item. You’ll always know where to look and save time putting things back together.
Save space – Use towels, pillows and t-shirts you’re packing as extra padding around fragile items. It will save room in your boxes.
Criss-cross tape – Tape boxes along the seams where the flaps meet together. Then tape perpendicularly at the center of the first tape, forming a cross.
Stacking – Stack boxes with the heaviest on the bottom, lightest on top to prevent crushing.
The 30-pound rule – Keep each box below 50 pounds absolute maximum and below 30 pounds wherever possible. Heavier boxes lead to injuries, are much more likely to burst their tape or seams and tend to get dropped.
Scale – Keep a bathroom scale in the room you’re packing so you can keep the boxes below the weight limits.
Packing Electronics
A picture is worth 1000 words – Use a digital or cell phone camera to take pictures of how complicated wiring (computer cords, speaker wires) is hooked up. Be sure to use plenty of light and careful focus so the pictures will be clear. Print each picture and put it in the top of the box holding the item. This will make hooking up the items in your new place much easier.
Original is best – Always use the original packaging when available. (I realize that most of us don’t have the original packaging for much of anything, but I thought I would bring it up anyway).
Double boxing – For especially fragile electronics, pack them first in a box with an excessive amount of biodegradable packing peanuts. Then pack that box in a larger box filled with biodegradable packing peanuts. This two-box system seems like a pain but seems to do a better job isolating items from jarring impacts.
No loose ends – Wrap each cord carefully with cable organizers, heavy twist ties or heavy rubber bands. Never throw unwrapped cords into boxes- they get tangled and caught on other items.
Cord labels – Consider getting a label maker and labeling the end of each. Then you’ll know exactly which cord you’re seeing and where each end connects when you put things back together.
The two-inch rule – Use at least 2″ of biodegradable packing peanuts around each side of fragile items.
Box Inventory and Labels
“Fat” is in – Use the thickest, darkest marker you can find for labeling boxes. Pencils, pens, tin or light markers are almost impossible to see even just a few feet away.
Two sides – Label each box on the two broadest sides, opposite one another. That way if a box gets turned, you can still identify its contents.
Abbreviate room names – Start box labels with the abbreviated name of the room followed by a box number, such as “BTH2-6” for “second bathroom, 6th box.” You can then track each box to make sure everything arrived safely.
Label “Open Me First” on boxes where it applies.
Mark “Fragile” where appropriate.
Identify contents – Identify the major contents and where they came from, such as “Medicine Cabinet” or “Linen Closet- Towels and Wash Cloths.”
Box Inventory – Keep a clipboard and write down each box’s room, box number and contents (graph paper is great for keeping things recorded neatly).
Verifying delivery – When unloading, check off each box as it gets unloaded at your new place. Then you’ll know everything arrived safely.
Labels out – Ask movers to stack boxes in your new place with the labels facing out so that you can easily spot a specific box.
