Everything about moving and packing is stressful but this stress can be reduced to a minimum if you take control of the situation early on. Although you may wish to do the packing yourself rather than leave it in the hands of the packing company, packing companies can provide you, at a cost of course, with the proper boxes and packing materials. The boxes that are used by packing companies are strong and secure and they are designed to stack properly in the van as loading takes place. Getting boxes and packing from the professionals will pay dividends in the long run.
Perhaps the best tip that anyone can give is to begin the process early. Give yourself plenty of time to not only pack, but to attend to all the things that often are not remembered until the last minute. Create a packing time line, leaving yourself time to deal the unexpected as well.
- Estimate the cost: Perhaps the first thing to do is to invite local packing and moving service to provide you with a quotation. There are some packing companies that feel they can give an accurate quote over the phone based on the size of your current home, this is not possible. Arrange to have the packing company come to your home so you can discuss details and they can accurately gauge what has to be moved.
- Ease the transition: It is important to think of both ends of the move, don’t simply throw things randomly into boxes because eventually you will be faced with emptying them and putting things in their right place in your new home. Use the right boxes, pack them carefully and make sure every box is labeled to show which room it will go to in the new home.
- Don’t skimp on boxes: There is always a tendency to think that a box from the grocery store is every bit as good as any other box; not true. Boxes that are used by movers are made to provide protection for the contents; boxes from the grocery store are not.
- Pack correctly: Pack heavy items in small boxes if at all possible, this makes the box easier to handle and less like likely to cause damage if it is stacked on other boxes.
- Open me first: There will be things you need the moment you arrive in your new home. Make sure these items are marked “open me first” and have them loaded last in the van.
Follow these simple tips and have all the packing done by the time the movers arrive. If everything is ready there will be no unnecessary delay in delivery and it will save you money.
