Packing all of your belongings is by far the most stressful and time-consuming part of moving to a new home. To ensure that the move goes smoothly, and with as little hassle as possible, it is important that you make a packing plan and pack properly. Here are some packing tips to help you through the process.

Start By Organizing Your Home

The first step in packing is to organize all of your belongings so they are in their proper places.   For example, you will want to put all holiday decorations together, all files and documents together, and all tools in their boxes. Then you will be better able to gauge which things you can get rid of, and also be able to pack by room easier.

Get Rid of Belongings with Care

Most of us accumulate a lot of items that we don’t really need or use. Moving is the perfect excuse to rid yourself of all these extra items. However, the process of getting rid of your belongings can be very emotional. To make sure you aren’t getting rid of too much or too little, take your time sorting through items. Start well in advance and do one room at a time. Put the items you don’t want aside in boxes, but don’t seal or get rid of the boxes just yet. Wait about a week or so to see if you suddenly have a need for any item. If so, then you probably shouldn’t be getting rid of it.

Designate Areas for Charity, Sale, Etc.

As you clear space in your home, designate areas where you will put items for donation, sale, and packed items. This will prevent you from accidentally donating items which you should have kept, and also help keep your home in order.

Start Acquiring Packing Supplies Early On

Don’t wait until the last minute to get packing supplies. If you are getting free boxes from stores, then you will need to start gathering them at least 2 months in advance.   Remember, it is not a good idea to use free boxes from grocery stores as these are usually damaged or dirty. Instead, look for free boxes from furniture stores, liquor stores, or online websites.

Make a “Survival Box”

Pack a box with all the essential items you will need during the last few days in your old home and first few days in the new home. This will include items for eating (such as an all-purpose pot, utensils, snacks, and coffee or tea), toiletries, basic cleaning items, bed sheets, and your kids’ favorite toys. Have the movers load this box first so it can be unloaded first.

Use a Color-Coding System for Packing

One of the most important things to do when packing is to label all boxes. You will want to include the contents (unless they are valuable; then it is best not to label them), the room where they go, and special instructions like Fragile written on all sides.   A good moving company will unload boxes in the room where they go. To make this possible, don’t just write the room on the box (which will be hard to read). Instead, get color-coded labels and assign each room its own color.

Digitalize and Backup

If you have CDs, DVDs, document copies, and books, you may be able to cut back on a lot of packing by digitizing these belongings.   Remember to back them up on a hard drive, which you will need to pack separately from your main computer. Even if you don’t digitalize any of your belongings, you will still need to back up your computer anyways.

Use Up Pantry Items

About 1 month before you move, stop buying food and cleaning items which you won’t be able to use up before moving day. Instead, work on using up the products you already do have. Otherwise, you will be left with a lot of items in your pantry and cupboards and have to decide whether to pack them or throw them away. Remember – some cleaning items cannot be brought on the moving truck as they are considered dangerous or flammable!

Make a Packing Schedule

If you don’t make a packing schedule as part of your moving plan, then you will undoubtedly end up scrambling to shove items into boxes on the days before your move. Your packing schedule will vary depending on how much time you have to move and how many belongings you have. However, it may look like this:

1-2 months before move:

• sort through items and get rid of belongings
• get packing supplies
• start packing items you don’t use often, like garage, basement, and attic items

3-4 weeks before move:

• start packing items you use very infrequently, like certain kitchen appliances and seasonal clothing
• get rid of items you will be giving to charities or throwing away
• pack decorations like framed pictures and knick-knacks
• start using up food and cleaning items

2-3 weeks before move:

• pack closets
• pack bathrooms
• do laundry and clean items

1 week before move:

• pack “essentials box” of items you will need for the first few days in your new home
• pack kitchen and pantry
• pack all other rooms
• clean out refrigerator

Days before move:

• pack bedding
• pack any dirty clothing

Need help with moving? Katy Moving Services provides local, long-distance, interstate, and last-minute moving services. Contact us today for a free moving quote.(281) 394-1777