The decision to move can provide excitement for the entire family. The decision can also bring stress and anxiety; especially the packing part. Moving household treasures across the state or even across the country does not have to be stress induced situation. With a little planning, the move can be done in smooth manner with all the household items arriving intact. If you are downsizing or moving in with family members, you may be leaving furniture behind, and only shipping household items. If you have a sufficient number of boxes, you can put the boxes on a pallet and ship the pallet via freight. If you only have a few boxes, there are some helpful packing tips located below.
1. Ship, Donate or Throwaway
The best way to start have a plan in place.. Each room can be done separately. Sort items into three categories: ship, donate or throwaway. One of the best parts about moving is getting rid of items that are no longer useful. For example, children outgrow clothes so quickly. Take the time to donate the clothes to a worthy charity. A tax write-off can be given for the donation. Use different color bags or boxes for each of the three categories. If all of the donate items go into white bags throughout the house, it will be easy to segregate these items. Throw away items can all go in black bags, and items to be shipped can go inside cardboard boxes.
2. Find durable boxes.
We do not recommend using boxes from grocery stores that have contained meat or produce. Boxes can be reused as long as the box is sturdy. It is usually less expensive to purchase boxes separately rather than in bundles that retailers put together with various size boxes included in the bundle. You may only need to use some of the boxes that were pre bundled.
Photo By: Andrew Magill
3. Do not skip the packing material.
Find packing material that is right for the item being placed in the box.
- Styrofoam can be used when packing breakable items.
- Packing peanuts can also cushion the item that you are shipping. Boxes are often put on conveyor belts. Be sure that you can place pressure on the top of the box, and that the top of the box does not move when pressure is applied.
- Bubble wrap can be used to keep objects protected from damage during transport.
- Fill the empty spaces in the boxes. The spaces should be filled with quality packing material. Empty spaces can cause items to settle and move around. Items need to be held in place while shipping.
4. Put like items together.
Be careful of the items being placed in each box. For example, a fragile antique lamp should not be packed with books or other heavy materials. While packing, keep in mind these items have to travel together. Keep the fragile items away from the heavier bulky objects as a way to ensure safe travel.
5. Use appropriate size boxes.
The boxes should be the right size for the items being packed.
- Using boxes that are too large for smaller items can increase the amount of cost for shipping.
- The boxes should also be filled appropriately.
- Take time and move around items to maximize the number of contents that can be safely placed in a box.
6. Outside the box.
The outside of the box is just as important as the contents on the inside.
- Use the correct type of packing tape. High quality, durable tape should be used. The tape will have to hold the box in place while traveling. When in shipment, the box can be dropped; no one wants to see items lost in shipment due to the box opening.
- Tape generously.
- Write the address out clearly. The boxes need to arrive to the destination in a timely manner. When writing out an address, use block lettering for easier reading.
7. Do not be afraid to contact a professional.
Everyone wants to save money by doing the packing and shipping. However, packing great grandmother’s antique crystal lamp may be a challenge. Consulting a packing expert who has experience in the pack and ship business. For more tips read "How to Pack your Packages."
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