Moving home is exciting. Packing, unfortunately, isn’t quite as fun. However, if you’ve chosen the right real estate broker, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about contracts and technicalities, leaving you more time to focus on getting your life together in cardboard boxes. This extra time also means you should avoid throwing your belongings into the first box you get your hands on. There’s a bit of an art to effective packing and this blog will give you the tips and tricks you need to be as efficient as possible.
Assess What you Really Need
Before you even think about packing, you should take stock of all your belongings and consider whether you really need to take all of them to your new home. Chances are, you have a lot of old clothes that need donating or toys that your children don’t play with anymore. All these items will do is clutter up your new home, so it’s best to get rid of them before you pay for an extra removal van to carry all those extra boxes.
Label Everything
If you’re currently telling yourself that you’ll remember what’s in all your bags and boxes then you’re making a big mistake. When you arrive in your new home and the moving company is asking you where these boxes go, you’ll be drawing a blank. For the next few weeks, you’ll be unpacking plates in your bedroom and bedding in the bathroom. Invest in a label maker or just a really good black marker pen and scribble on top of every box you tape shut. You don’t have to write a lot, but make sure you note down the room the box needs to go in as well as whether it’s fragile or not.
Use High-Quality Packing Materials
Lots of people buy cheap cardboard boxes because they know they will likely recycle them after they’ve moved. But cheap boxes are more likely to fall apart and leave you with a big mess to deal with in your yard. They also provide less support, so items inside might get broken or squashed. Similarly, buying strong bubble wrap and tape will better protect your items and keep them safe in the moving van.
Don’t Overfill Boxes
While you might want to make the most of the boxes you have, it’s important that you don’t cram too much in one box, as this will make it too heavy. Even if you’re hiring someone to help you with the move, large boxes full of books or ornaments may be too heavy for them to lift. However, you shouldn’t leave a lot of room in your boxes either. Not only is it inefficient, but it also gives your belongings more room to move around and potentially break. Try to fill gaps with lighter items to get the best of both worlds.
Packing does take a little bit of practice, but with a bit of planning and thought, you’ll soon get the hang of it and be well on your way to living in your new home.
