Top Eleven Tips for Packing Your Belongings
Author: johncherrylp | Posted: 10.12.2011The most time-consuming aspect of moving is undoubtedly packing. No one wants to do it, but if you want to keep your belongings, it is a task that cannot be avoided. Some fortunate souls can afford to hire professional movers to handle the packing for them. However, most people have to do it themselves. As miserable as it is, you can make it more tolerable by implementing eleven basic packing rules.
1. Before you pack any other belongings, pack a separate suitcase for every member of the family that includes enough supplies for three days. Keep these suitcases separate from everything else you intend to move. This way, you will have the necessities you need for the first several days you are at your new place without having to rummage through boxes.
2. Establish boxes that are to be opened first. These boxes should contain items you will need first when you get to your new house. Label these boxes clearly on all sides.
3. Pack a room at a time. Instead of packing items in several different rooms at one time, focus your efforts on a single room. Pack it up entirely before moving onto another one.
4. Separate your belongings into four different categories: things to sell, things to donate, things to throw away and things to keep. Your goal should be to move only about 2/3 of what you currently own. This will make moving easier and cheaper since you usually pay by the pound.
5. Keep your boxes on a cleared table. This will be easier on your back than keeping them on the ground. In addition, they will be easier to see, which will make you more likely to fill them up.
7. Rather than spend money on bubble wrap and packing peanuts, use your towels, t-shirts, and pillows as padding in boxes that contain fragile items. Not only will you be packing these items, but you will be protecting your breakables as well.
8. Tape the boxes securely. Always put tape on each seam and where the flaps of the boxes come together. Then, tape across the top of the box from corner to corner diagonally. This provides more structure to the box.
9. Stack the heaviest boxes on the bottom and the lighter ones on top. This will make sure the lighter boxes don’t get crushed.
10. Do not over-pack your boxes. Keep them under 50 pounds at the most and under 30 pounds when possible. Boxes that are heavy can cause injuries, are more likely to be dropped, and can split at the seams.
11. To meet the weight limits, keep a scale nearby so you don’t pack any overweight boxes.
About Author:
John is a shrewd consumer who writes about personal finance, finding deals, and local consumer home services like: mover Orlando and cheap movers Los Angeles.
John is a shrewd consumer who writes about personal finance, finding deals, and local consumer home services like: mover Orlando and cheap movers Los Angeles.
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