You have decided to do all of the packing for your upcoming move yourself, but do you know basics? Packing isn’t just as simple as throwing items into a box. You need to be sure that you are packing your belongings securely so that they don’t risk be damaged. On top of that you will want to make sure that you have the proper materials and that you clearly label as you go. If you are DIY packing, here are some basic rules of the trade to get you started.

Packing Materials

It may sound silly but having the right packing materials will really go a long way for a successful move. You don’t want to use old boxes that could fall apart if they get too heavy. Here is a list of supplies you will need:

  • Strong, secure boxes of different sizes
  • Foam peanuts or Styrofoam pellets for padding protection
  • Tissue paper or craft paper (avoid using newspaper for it will sometimes leave marks on your items)
  • Markers and labels for identification
  • Scissors and/or knife
  • Packing tape
  • Inventory & Identification log (a notebook where you write each belonging and its box and intended room)

Packing Pointers

  • Pack one room at a time over several weeks. Start with lesser-used areas of the home such as the attic and basement and work your way up to the most used rooms in the house
  • Pack heavier items at the bottom of the box and do not pack heavy large boxes. For example, pack book collections and plate sets in smaller, more manageable boxes.
  • Clearly label everything you pack. This will make the unpacking process easier, as well as the task of directing movers where to place each box in your new home.
  • Do not pack essential items until the day before or of your move. There is nothing worse that needing to dig through boxes that you already packed before moving day.

 You can read more packing tips on our moving tips and tools page. And don’t forget – Excel Moving & Storage offers professional packing services should you decide not to do DIY packing.

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