What Professional Movers Want You to Know Before You Start Packing

“If you don’t like where you are, move. You are not a tree.” 

– Jim Rohn

But that’s not usually true because most people like or start to like wherever they live. There has to be something really bad with the place to make people move to another one. 

And worries begin when one decides to move. You have to think about what to take with you, how to pack, etc. 

You can get in trouble if you don’t pack your stuff properly. Of course, you don’t know how to do that unless you are a nomad, which most people are not.

Here’s where you need the help of professional movers and packers. They will help you pack your stuff as it should and label the boxes properly.

Hiring professional relocation services might enable you to avoid chaos and anxiety about moving, but still, there’ll be some chaos. To manage that, you need to know some things about moving, even with the help of professional movers.

In this guide, we will discuss exactly that so that you can shift smoothly with ease. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Professional packers can help with the stressful task of moving, but you can still do some things to smooth the process further.
• Start thinking about the process early and choose the right materials for packing.
• Don’t stuff boxes too much that they become heavy, and label them correctly.
• Disassemble furniture before movers arrive.

Movers’ Tips That Make Packing a Piece of Cake

Moving is stressful, and we can’t do much about that stress. The most we can do is to manage that stress so it doesn’t overwhelm us. Minimizing the chaos that comes with moving can do that.

Here we’ll leave a couple of proven tips that will make the entire moving process A LOT more streamlined.

You Think You’re Too Early To Start? You’re Wrong <Buzzer Sound!>

The thing with any stressful work is that the earlier you start thinking about doing it, the more confident you become about doing it, and in turn, the less stressful.

Panicking last minute about moving can lead to your stuff getting missing or even broken. And even though it seems obvious, this actually happens more often than you’d imagine, hence it being the first thing on our list.

Movers can spot a rushed pack job from a mile away, and it ALWAYS leads to chaos and delays. 

When do you think you need to start? Good, start a week before that. 

This way, you’ll stay calm and have the time to be organized. You can declutter in peace and make sure everything is packed well. 

The first thing to pack is the things you don’t use a lot, like decor and books. Daily essentials come last for reasons that are hopefully obvious. 

Pick Materials That Can Handle a Move

You packed your family picture frame in a bathing towel, thinking it a clever trick.

But clever hacks like these can lead to disastrous outcomes as well. You can’t take chances with the stuff that’s close to your heart, can you?

You have to use actual packing materials because those are made to absorb shock and stack securely. Flimsy boxes you got at the grocery store will most likely collapse, and towels? Those can’t protect themselves, let alone breakables. 

Find sturdy boxes and get a roll of bubble wrap. You can also stack wrapping paper for fragile items and, for goodness’ sake, use strong packing tape. Masking tape and duct tape aren’t welcome here. 

Keep Boxes Light Enough to Lift 

Only one book is left, let’s just put it in the same box.

People pack with this mindset all the time and then struggle with carrying that box. And most of the time, carrying a heavy box filled to the brim is nothing but a hazard.

No box should ever be so heavy that you can’t slide it across the floor. If it’s over 50 lbs, it’s too much, and reputable moving companies such as Peachtree Movers won’t hesitate to warn you about this type of problem.

You have to balance the weight, so put heavier items (books, pots, pans, etc.) in a small box. Then, put the box with lighter stuff on top. 

If the boxes can easily be moved, packers can work easily and quickly. 

Label in a Useful Way

You are in a hurry while packing. What you find for labelling is a pencil. You start labelling the boxes with it, naming which area the stuff is meant for. For example, “Kitchen”.

This might seem like a fast and easy way of labelling boxes, but it is not exactly the correct one.

Every box should be labeled on at least 2 opposite sides, and you need to use a bold permanent marker. Also, be specific. ‘Kitchen’ says nothing. But ‘Kitchen – Plates and Mugs’ is a useful label that will help movers place the box appropriately. 

Plus, once you get to your new house, you’ll thank yourself for doing this because you’ll be able to easily find all your stuff. 

The following infographic summarizes the tips to efficiently move:

Get Furniture Ready Before Moving Day

The moment movers arrive, the charges clock in. If they waste an hour taking your bed frame apart, that’s going to inflate your bill for no reason. 

Do all the prep work the night before. Make sure all your surfaces are clear and take apart whatever you can. 

Remove mirrors from dressers because they could detach, fall off, and break mid-carry. We don’t want that. The same goes for drawers. Obviously, you’ll empty them, but also take them out. 

This will help with two things: it’ll make sure they won’t fall out mid carry and get damaged. And it’ll make the entire furniture piece lighter, which helps the packer carry the item safely. If they’re attached with screws and things like that (or if you also take off doors), then make sure you put all the screws/bolts in zip bags. 

If you don’t take off doors, then tape the entire furniture piece so that there are no surprises while it’s being transported.

Conclusion

Embarking on a move with ease is directly related to how little chaos you feel during the process. And you’ll hardly feel any if you pack everything properly and on time. Good packing shows you appreciate your movers and their time, but, more importantly, it means your crystal champagne flutes and your grandma’s porcelain tea set get to their destination in one piece. 

Packing isn’t just about the stuff. It’s about people as well, and with a little prep, even something as stressful as moving can go by without headaches and panic.

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