 Packing
for Your Move,
Brought
to you by: Shurgard
Storage
Most
movers,
especially the do-it-yourself kind, are
so happy to finally arrive in their new
home that they don't even mind that the
dinner plates are chipped, there's a scratch
on the coffee table or their favorite
lampshade is bruised and battered. But
there's no reason your household goods
should become casualties of the move.
With a little care and planning,
you and your stuff will both arrive in
mint condition.
A little common sense helps. Think of
a stack of dishes in a box on the bed
of a bouncing truck.
No matter how well the sides are padded,
a firm up-and-down jolt could crack the
entire stack.
On the other hand, dishes packed on edge
and surrounded by bubble wrap have a better
chance of surviving the trip unharmed.
Boxes
& Moving Kits
In the long
run, it pays to purchase the right packing
materials. Sturdy boxes, packing tape, bubble
wrap, and packing peanuts can be purchased
at moving companies and truck-rental firms.
Supplement with copious amounts of crumpled
paper, blankets and pillows; even clothing
can serve as a buffer between breakable
objects. Then, pack with a plan.
Packing
techniques
- Pack
one room at a time, labeling each box
with a description of its contents
and
its destination (e.g., kitchen, bathroom).
Be as specific as you can;
it will make unpacking that much easier.
- Keep
the weight of your boxes reasonable. If
possible, put heavy items in small
boxes
to make them easier to carry.
- Don't
apply tape directly to polished or painted
wood finishes. Removing the tape
could
ruin the surface.
- Double-box
fragile items and add plenty of cushioning.
What
you'll need for the first night/day
When everything
is packed and ready to load, make sure the
items you need least
are loaded first. Again,
common sense is essential when loading the
truck.
Place the box containing your best
china on top of the box of encyclopedias
and not vice versa.
Prepare
for the first night in your new home by
packing essential items in a separate bag
and carrying it with you. You may even want
to prepare a simple meal that you can heat
and serve on your first night.
- For each
person in the household: a change of clothes,
a towel, prescription drugs,
a toothbrush,
and other personal items.
- For everyone:
plastic utensils, paper plates, paper
towels, plastic cups, toilet paper, toiletries,
trash bags, a flashlight, first aid kit
including pain relievers, pencil and paper,
snacks, beverages, and re-closable plastic
bags.
- Small
tool kit for re-assembling items that
couldn't be moved whole.
Packing
with good technique and the right materials
can mean an easier move and fewer chipped
dishes.
Find
More Packing Tips here |
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