by Sofia Perry (AZ Moving Pros)
Preparing & Packing for a Move
When moving, either locally or internationally, most people want to bring all of their cherished belongings with them. It is understandable, after moving, all of us need to recreate the comfort we had in our old home. But, to do that, we must first find a way to pack and relocate those items safely and efficiently. In most cases, doing that is not as easy as it sounds. Why? Because, when relocating, many things can go wrong - some items may break, some may get lost, etc.
Moreover, many things can happen to you, too - you may get injured or even get a nervous breakdown because you have had enough. But do not worry, we are here to help you out! We will share with you our ultimate room-by-room packing guide for your move. Using these tips and tricks, you will be able to have a much more pleasant packing experience, and hopefully, a much more pleasant relocation. If interested, keep on reading.
Things to Know Before You Start Your Room-by-Room Packing
Before we begin with our room-by-room packing guide, let us first mention some other moving-related things you should keep in mind before you start packing. For example:
Start ahead of time - Packing is a process that will take up a lot of your time. Thus, start preparing for it at least two or three weeks prior to the actual moving day.
Declutter before packing - An absolute must if you want to save money on your move and also save space in your new home. Organize and sort your belongings before you start packing; that is, decide what is absolutely necessary for a comfortable life in your new home and what you can do without. If you have got junk - get rid of it!
Gather proper packing materials - Do not even think about cutting corners on packing materials if you want to have a safe relocation which guarantees that your items will arrive in one piece at your new address.
Know how to pack - Before you start with your room-by-room packing system, make sure you actually know how to pack. Do some online research or talk to movers. Inform yourself about everything from the fact that specialty items require special handling to the fact that proper labeling will save you tons of time.
Packing the Kitchen
Packing the kitchen can be the most significant moving challenge! Why? Because the most fragile items like dishes, cups, glasses, and similar, are located there. But, do not worry, there is a way to pack them professionally. First, gather a lot of packing paper and plastic wrap. Then, wrap each and every fragile item separately before placing it in a box. Also, do not overfill the boxes with kitchen stuff as they are usually cumbersome and can cause the box to tear.
If you plan on relocating kitchen appliances, place them in their original boxes or similar to those. To prevent the devices from moving around (inside the box), fill the empty spaces with some packing peanuts or some crumpled paper.
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Packing the Bathroom
Packing the bathroom should not be that hard because you will probably not be packing your bath or toilet, but only bathroom products like cosmetics and makeup. Our suggestion is to use up as many of those products as possible or give them to somebody who might need them. Things like shampoos, shower gels, liquid soaps, etc., can easily spill in your boxes and damage all of your other stuff around them. However, if you are too keen on bringing your liquid products with you, make sure you seal the leads properly and wrap each item separately in a plastic wrap to prevent spilling.
Packing the Living Room and the Dining Room
Living and dining rooms are very tricky to pack because they are usually full of tons of furniture. That furniture is not only heavy and bulky but also fragile and can easily break. So, before you start packing these two rooms, that is, the furniture from these two rooms, we strongly advise you to disassemble as much as you can. Label what goes where so you won't lose your head once you have to assemble everything back together.
If disassembling and assembling furniture is something you have never done before, it might be a good idea to hire an expert. That can be someone who knows their way around furniture or a professional moving agency.
Packing the Bedrooms
Packing the bedrooms (master bedroom, children's rooms, guest rooms, etc.) does not differ much from packing living and dining rooms. First, pack the smaller items like clothes, books, toys, pillows, linen, etc. Then, move on to disassembling larger furniture pieces.
If you have the time and energy, it would be a good idea to declutter the bedrooms before you start packing them. Bedrooms are usually full of a lot of unnecessary stuff that takes up a lot of space. If you no longer need nor use some items, consider donating, selling, or throwing them away.
Packing the Yard
When packing, don't forget about your yard, or your patio, balcony, or terrace. If you have some outdoor furniture, you should be extra careful as it is very fragile. The outdoor furniture must be cleaned and dried first. Then, make sure you wrap each and every single piece in packing paper and then in plastic wrap. When loading into a moving truck, place it somewhere on top - have in mind that although the outdoor furniture is very bulky, it is usually light and fragile.
Packing the Garage, Attic, Basement, Storage, etc.
If you have a garage, portable storages, or even an attic and a basement that serve as such, you are probably freaking out about packing them. Who can blame you - those areas of our homes filled with loads of clutter. Thus, as mentioned many times before, declutter as much as you can. Go through all the stuff you have in these areas and see what you really need from there. Moreover, check with your truck driver or moving agent about what items are allowed to move. For example, anything that has gas in it (like a lawnmower) is considered hazardous, and moving it is strictly prohibited.
Hopefully, we have managed to make the whole process easier with our ultimate room-by-room packing guide. If this is the case, you can go through the rest of the relocation process much more relaxed knowing that the unpacking will also be easier. All that means that you are a few steps closer to enjoying your new home.