Most people tend to make packing look exciting; however, the fact is that it can be one of the most daunting tasks you’ll have to do while relocating. Packing your entire life in moving boxes involves strategic thought and a lot of hard work. If you are not a pro packer & are planning to take the Do-It-Yourself approach, you will want all the help you can get. Won’t you?

There are two main things that you are most likely to ask yourself while looking at all your stuff:

• First, when do I start with packing all this?
• Second, where do I actually start?

Well, fret not as being one of the top packing companies in Florida; we have some insight into the topic.

When it comes to when exactly you should pack, we suggest you start as early as possible. An average three-bedroom apartment would take around four days completely dedicated to packing with no delays or scrambling around to get your packing tools. Most of the time, people are clueless about how long it will exactly take for them to pack their house, and as a consequence, they run into problems. Though you must always consider the time and effort you can devote to packing every day and proceed accordingly, the earlier you start, the better it is – no matter the circumstances. If you want, you can even start packing months before the moving day. The idea is to leave nothing to the last minute so the possibility of a moving day chaos is totally eliminated. In case you choose to pack months before the moving day, there are a lot of things that can be packed, such as seasonal items, good china that you use only during the holidays, or anything you do not use anymore but cannot get rid of due to the memories associated with them.

Coming on to where you should actually start, well we suggest you start anywhere, particularly with areas that you are not actively using. Doing so will help minimize disruption to your everyday routine. But do not mistake to leave the kitchen to the end as packing this part of your house may take the maximum time. That’s mostly because of the breakables & appliances which need to be packaged with a lot of care and attention to avoid any kind of damage.

Now that you know when & where to start packing for your move, let’s move on to the how-tos.

1. Have a designated packing zone:

Having your packing supplies scattered all over your house can be quite a frustrating view, especially when are unable to find a tape or a marker you really need. In order to avoid confusion or waste your time, it is best to have a designated packing zone so the next time you need something, you don’t have to go searching for it. Claim a counter, corner, or whole empty room, whatever seems feasible as a packing zone.

2. Pack room-by-room:

It is always a good idea to pack a room-by-room. And while doing so, focus on only one area of a room at a time to avoid confusion. Beware of mixing items from different rooms in one box. It is also very common for people to lose or mistakenly throw miniature knickknacks & small items with the packing paper. To prevent this, wrap all such items in bright colored tissue paper so they can always catch your attention easily.

3. Label the boxes properly:

It is extremely important to properly label the moving boxes. You must write on each of them a general description of what’s inside them along with the particular room they belong to. For additional clarity, consider using different-colored markers for each room.

Trust us, you’ll be extremely happy on the moving/unpacking day that you actually put the effort into doing all this.

4. Use high-quality moving boxes:

Before you label your moving boxes, you have to buy some. Like most people, you may want to scour your neighborhood for low-priced or even free cardboard boxes. However, those low-quality cartons are likely to collapse the moment you try to put in them your heavy stuff. So, invest only in boxes that are designed for moving purposes. Not only are these boxes sturdier and more durable, but come with clear instructions with regard to what kind of items they can hold.

5. Use the right-sized boxes:

Choose the right-sized boxes to pack different items. While heavy items, such as books should be kept in small moving boxes, the larger boxes make a better choice for holding lighter items. This works really well for movers by making it easier for them to organize as well as place all the boxes in the moving van or truck. Another useful tip is to pack the heavier items on the bottom & lighter items on top in order to prevent the breakables from damaging.

6. Do not leave empty spaces in the boxes:

When it comes to breakables, you should never place them freely in the moving boxes without extra cushion. Leaving empty spaces in the moving boxes may damage your fragile belongings during the move. So, fill in the gaps using packing paper, foam peanuts, or clothing to prevent your items from moving around in the boxes. You can also consider taping the top and bottom seams, & edges where stress is more concentrated.

7. Don’t pack anything you do not need:

At some point while packing, you will wonder how & why you’ve got so much stuff. When you hit that point, do not be hesitant to get rid of all the items you no longer use or need. Instead of taking them along to your new house where they may not see the light of day like now, you must either donate or throw them away.

8. Resist the reminiscing:

While packing, you may easily come across an old photo frame, a toy you played with as a child, or other items that may take you down the memory lane. But that’s exactly what you to have resist doing. Reminiscing may eat up a lot of your time, which could otherwise be used in packing. If you do not want to see yourself scrambling to finish packing the day before your move, avoid going down the memory lane. You’ll have plenty of time to do this once you reach your new home and sit down to unpack your stuff.

9. Do not undress the dresser:

Clothing is definitely one of the most time-consuming elements of packing. Thanks to your dresser, your clothes are already half-packed and this may help cut down the effort required to pack them. All you have to do is take out the drawers & use protective wrap so they are all set to be moved.

10. Don’t box up everything:

There are some items that should be personally transported instead of being boxed up to be moved in the truck or van. These items include heirlooms, legal documents (passports, wills, etc), and other valuables. You must also know what you cannot pack, such as perishables, chemicals, and hazardous materials.

11. Seal the spill-risks with tape & plastic:

Spill-risks, such as shampoos, soaps, oils, and other liquids must be properly sealed using tape, kept in a plastic bag, and then packed into a moving box which should be clearly labeled. Also, remember to specify on the box which of the sides is up.

12. Pack a moving day survival kit:

There are certain things that you must be able to easily access throughout the moving process. That’s why packing a moving day survival kit with all the essentials is a must. The kit should be the last thing to be packed & the very first thing you should open when you finally reach your new home. The essentials for the moving day survival kit must include important documents, expensive jewelry, toiletries, medicines, phone chargers, cleaning supplies, etc.

We hope the aforementioned tips help you steer your house move in the right direction. If you need help with packing, A1A Movers is here to help!

As one of the most trusted packaging companies in Florida, we can help you with as much as you want. Being in the moving business for over a decade, we understand how stressful a move can get, especially when you have several other things to take care of. The good part is that you do not have to do it all on your own. You can leave it to us to pack as well as move your belongings in the safest and most timely manner to your new residence.

Got more questions? We’ve got the answers! To talk to us or request a free quote, feel free to reach out to us at 786-364-3800 (toll-free)