Most people find that packing their possessions in a “room by room” manner is the most successful. This is where an inventory will come in helpful as it will indicate the number of boxes that will be required to completely pack the room. It is fairly important to work hard at keeping things separate by the room in which they will be moved to, for example all dining room items should be kept together in boxes marked for the dining room. Often items begin to overlap and this makes for a great deal of extra work when the process of unpacking begins.
Make a detailed inventory of the contents of every single box
packed. Yes, this may take a great deal of time, but it will
make unpacking much easier, and if boxes are lost or damaged
during a move it will make an insurance claim much more efficient.
Use the correctly sized box for the objects and possessions
being packed. A box should never weigh more than fifty pounds,
and the smaller moving boxes are intended for objects that would
be heavy if packed in larger quantities. Most vendors sell small,
medium, large, wardrobe and kitchen packing boxes. Be sure that
boxes are taped well and always marked clearly.
Do not stack boxes more than three high to avoid and toppling
or injury to anyone standing nearby, including unsuspecting
pets who may want to climb up on the boxes.
For breakable goods it is best to invest in unprinted newsprint
and sheets of bubble wrap that will safely wrap the objects,
and specially designed packing boxes that utilize cardboard
sections to keep breakables from encountering one another. They
are usually larger boxes with several layers of the “honeycomb”
materials and are ideal for kitchen and dining room items. These
may add to the moving budget, but they are incredible time savers
and they ensure against breakage.
Don’t pack clothing that is all ready in dresser drawers;
simply leave it in place for moving day. It is a good idea however
to invest in “wardrobe” boxes that make it incredibly
easy to transfer the contents of a closet directly into the
waiting box. There are special containers for more delicate
clothing, such as suits or even wedding dresses, and these should
be used if the condition of clothing is a serious concern.