Which are the golden rules of packing for a move?

Before you can start packing for a move, you need to have a few vital questions answered in order to complete the packing process quickly, safely and on time. It is no secret that a score of various moving related tasks accompany each case of a residential move, but the sheer mention of the word packing for a move can go as far as to cause fright and strike panic in most home movers. Packing up an entire home is definitely the most time consuming process during the moving preparations – a pre-move project that can easily go out of hand if a person commits the rookie mistake of underestimating its importance.

To help you have a smooth packing experience, we have prepared a list of the top 5 golden rules when packing for a move. We’re saying packing rules instead of packing tips because we believe that the following fundamental packing principles are much more than just moving advice – they are essential prerequisites that will determine the success of the whole relocation affair.

Golden packing rule #1: Reduce the number of items to pack to their minimum

The first golden rule when packing up your home states that you should take as few household items and personal belongings to your new home as possible. If you happen to doubt the effectiveness of this first packing rule, just take a look of the clear advantages it will bring for you:

• Packing fewer items will save you plenty of precious pre-move time.
• Packing a reduced number of possessions will save you money simply because your final relocation price depends on the total weight of your shipment.
• Packing only what you need will save you extra money because you will end up using fewer packing materials as a result.
• Packing up fewer belongings will guarantee that you won’t have to worry about any lack of sufficient space in your new residence.

And now that you understand better the benefits of packing only what you need and will use in the foreseeable future, it’s time to inventory your entire home and decide that to do with each and every item found in your soon-to-be old house or apartment.

SEE ALSO: How to make a moving inventory

Golden packing rule #2: Do not postpone the start of your packing marathon

One of the most common packing mistakes when moving house is the illogical decision to leave packing for later. The arduous packing process is often underestimated in terms of time needed to complete the task, and that underestimation alone can prove to be too costly in the end. After all, it’s one thing to think that packing up your garage will take 1 day, and an entirely different matter to realize it’s Day 3 and you still haven’t finished preparing your storage area for the upcoming relocation.

The second golden rule of packing states that you should begin boxing up your household possessions as soon as your residential move is confirmed. Procrastination can be a dangerous habit, especially when it comes to the notoriously chaotic event of relocating to a new home. This is why you’re strongly recommended to first create a moving calendar and then include all packing jobs with the high priority they deserve.

SEE ALSO: What mistakes to avoid when packing for a move

Golden packing rule #3: Initiate packing like a pro packer

By following the golden packing rule #2, you should have enough time to prepare your belongings to be transported to your new residence. Now, to start the packing process early is crucial, but even more crucial is to know how to approach the packing challenge ahead of you.

• Make sure you begin to pack from the rooms you use less frequently (storage areas, guest rooms, etc.) and end with the premises that you occupy every single day (bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens). This way, you will keep the most commonly used areas in your home relatively uncluttered, at least until their turns come along.
• It’s always a good idea to first box up the most difficult rooms to pack and then slowly but steadily move towards the ones which should be fairly easy to prepare for transportation.
• While figuring out which household items to pack up with priority, have in mind moving experts’ advice to take care of the large and heavy things you own first (furniture pieces, household/kitchen appliances) and only then move on to packing up your much smaller possessions such as books, clothes, etc.

Golden packing rule #4: Packing safety is your best friend

This packing rule is so important that we can easily classify it as the platinum packing rule when moving to another home. You can use advanced technique to speed up the entire packing process, but if you fail to do it with safety in your mind, then the whole moving task becomes too risky for your cherished possessions and even for your well-being as well.

• Inadequate packing materials. One thing is clear – you’re going to need quality packing supplies in the right amount to keep things running smoothly – cardboard boxes in good condition and various sizes, packing paper and bubble wrap to protect your belongings, and good packing tape to keep things in shape.
• Unsafe packing techniques. Depending on the point of view, a number of packing techniques can be labeled as unsafe, such as not taping box bottoms and sides for extra protection, not placing protective layers of crumpled paper along the bottoms of moving containers, making boxes too heavy, not filling in any remaining space in the boxes, failure to label your boxes properly, and so on.

SEE ALSO: What packing materials for moving do I already own?

Golden packing rule #5: Packing help is there for the asking

You shouldn’t be too surprised to find out that packing turns out to be the most difficult task in your moving calendar. As a consequence, it’s important to understand that the toughest job of your residential move is not something that can be completed by one single person. Viewed and approached as a collective effort, packing up an entire home sometimes proves to be more than one family can handle as well.

The final golden rule of packing for a move states that getting packing assistance is the proper way to approach the most strenuous moving job.

• Non-professional packing help. Reach out to your friends as early as possible so that they can include you in their busy schedules. Do your best to make the packing marathon at least a bit fun – play good music, provide plenty of food and drinks, and bring back some great memories of years long gone.

SEE ALSO: How to get friends to help me move?

• Professional packing assistance. Without a doubt, the best thing for you and your stuff is to hire professional packers who will know exactly what to do and how to do it to maintain speed and safety throughout the process. Get a free estimate to learn how much you will have to pay in order to hire the quality services of a reputable professional moving company.