Top 20 Moving and Packing Tips

Transferring things from one place to another takes so much effort to ensure that everything is kept safe during the whole moving process. There are various factors to consider from the planning stage up to the unloading of all the things at their destination. Just thinking about the time, cost, and effort will give stress to just about anyone. This article will try to help alleviate that stress. By giving some important tips for packing and moving, people will be able to learn some ideas that can make the process more efficient and also guide them in ensuring that their things are kept secure and safe at all times.

The Top 20 Moving And Packing Tips

1.    Create a plan that includes gathering all relevant information of the things that will be moved.

Always start by creating a plan. This is a crucial step since this will show a complete picture of the number of items that will need to be moved to the new location. Also, the sizes and types of items will be determined and can be sorted before they are packed. It is important to know which have to be handled with extra care due to their fragility during the moving process.

2.     Hire the services of a logistics or moving company.

This is one of the most important things that people should always take into consideration. It should be remembered that moving from house to house or office to office is not a simple thing to do. The costs you will incur to have a professional team of moving experts handle the job for you will always be worth less than the total value of the items that will be transferred to the new location. The sum of all the appliances and furniture that will be transported is already worth more than the moving service fees. Also, movers employ multiple workers, use trucks to safely handle the job, and are accountable for the things while they are under the possession of the movers. This alone removes most of the stress from worrying about how to safely transport the things to the new location.

3.     Compare the price quotations between logistics or moving companies.

With the detailed plan that was created at the beginning of the moving process, it is highly advised that the details of the items that will be moved be shared to the logistics or moving company. These details will be used to create a price quotation for the moving services. It is important to inquire from multiple companies so that quotations can be compared.

4.     Only inquire from reputable logistics or moving companies.

This is crucial to remember because there may be companies that offer moving services but do not offer enough credibility that they are competent enough to accomplish the job. First thing to look out for is the length of service a company has been in the industry. Companies that have lasted for longer periods of time may be considered reputable due to the fact that they were able to survive in a competitive industry, which is dictated heavily by customer satisfaction.

5.     Inquire from the logistics or moving company which brands and types of cargo securement devices and tools they use.

This may seem to be too technical when talking with the logistics or moving company, but this is actually an important step. Knowing the type and brand of cargo securement tools and devices that will be used will help determine if the company values safety and security of the items while they are in transit. Research can be done to check if the companies are using heavy-duty devices and tools.

book in advance

6.     Book the moving day in advance.

Sometimes, a logistics or moving company may offer some discounts at certain times of the month. Try to find out more about the days that may cost less. In some cases, scheduling on weekdays will be better as many companies have a lot of bookings during weekends. Companies may charge more on schedules that are aligned at the times when they are busy. Also, booking at least a month in advance will provide enough time to pack up all the things before the movers arrive.

7.     Schedule the transfer of utility services beforehand.

After the date of transfer has been established, it is important to get in touch with the utility providers for water, electricity, cable, internet, and gas. It is necessary to disconnect the utilities from the old house during or after the day of transfer. In addition, utilities should be activated on the new house a few days before the transfer to ensure that things are working fine. Also, water will be needed to clean the new house before moving day.

8.     After choosing the logistics or moving company and determining the schedule for moving day, it would be best to purchase packing materials as early as possible.

The list of items that are included in the transfer will determine which packing materials should be purchased. Having large appliances and furniture may need the use of moving blankets. Moving boxes of various sizes may also be needed to be purchased. To lower the risk of damages, purchasing bubble wraps is also necessary. It is highly advised not to be stingy with the packing materials as these are the only things that will provide protection for the items from getting damaged due to vibrations and other factors they will be exposed to.

9.     Buy thick moving blankets.

Moving blankets are mainly used as furniture padding. Thick moving blankets will ensure that there is significantly more padding that will protect the furniture. Thicker moving blankets are known to cost more. However, even though moving items to a different location will not be happening on a regular basis, it is only cost-efficient that some of the materials that are purchased for the moving process should also be durable enough to be usable after the job is done. A moving blanket is one of these materials. By purchasing thicker moving blankets, this can be considered an investment because these blankets can be used to cover furniture and appliances that are not being used. Also, they can be used to help soundproof rooms by placing them under door frames. These are just some other uses for moving blankets.

10.  Even if the schedule that was set is still a few days or weeks away, it is always recommended that you start packing at the earliest possible time.

It is only smart to start packing the items at the earliest time possible. This can give more time and an opportunity to find more efficient ways to accomplish the packing process. This also helps determine if there is a need to purchase more packing materials. Packing early will prevent any sort of panic due to the lack of time before the movers arrive.

Pack the essential furniture in last

11.  Pack the essential furniture and appliances last.

Since moving day may still be far away, it is not wise to pack the silverware, refrigerator, beds, and the dining table right away. These are considered to be essential and should be packed the day before moving day. It is better to pack the things that are not regularly used on a daily basis.

12.  It is important to create a grouping strategy during the packing stage.

Grouping and sorting out which items go together will be crucial to avoid any accidents. It is never advised to just group random stuff together. Leaving spaces inside moving boxes can give some of the items room to move around due to the vibrations. This is usually the cause why some items get damaged during transit. In addition, it may be best to pack with a room-by-room grouping strategy. This allows for lesser movement of the items. It lessens the risk of getting into accidents moving an item to a different room.

13.  Label the boxes accordingly.

For the items that have been grouped together into specific boxes, it would be best to put details on the box with regards to their location in the house or office and the types of items that were included. Doing this will help for an efficient set up at the new location.

14.  Prepare a checklist of all the boxes and items.

This will help account for all the items that will be transported to the new location. It may be best to put certain markers so that it would be easier to match them against the checklist once they arrive at the new location.

15.  It is important to learn the proper usage of bubble wraps.

Using bubble wraps may seem very simple to do. However, some people do not realize that there are proper ways to use them. The bubbles should always face the items that are being wrapped. This will ensure that the items are protected by the cushion brought about by the bubbles. Another thing that must be remembered is that plastic bubble wraps tend to leave stains on glass-like surfaces. It is recommended that you place a piece of clean paper in between the item and the bubble wrap to avoid leaving any stain marks on the item. Finally, there is a need to wrap the item that has been covered with plastic bubble wrap with tape. The item should be taped all the way around so that the item is completely secured.

pack safely

16.  It is necessary to pack safely.

Safety of the items that will be moved is the top priority. To do this, the items must be kept in packing materials that will not fail once they are in transit. One of the important practices when packing for safety includes adding multiple layers of tape on the bottom of moving boxes to completely seal any openings. This ensures that the items will not suddenly slip under the box through any possible openings. Another rule that must be followed is that boxes should not be filled up to the point that they are very heavy to carry. Even though professional movers have all the tools and manpower available, using too many resources to transport just one box will cause inefficiency in the system. Also, this poses a risk that the boxes may not be able to handle all the weight and may suddenly break during transport.

17.  Pack and move valuable items separately.

It is highly advised that items such as jewelry, cash, legal documents, and other valuable items be packed and moved personally to the new location. These things should not be handled by a logistics or moving company to avoid any issues of losing them. Even though a reputable company will have accountability if some items are lost during transport, it is always important to avoid any hassle of looking for these valuable items.

18.  Ask help from trusted family, colleagues, and friends.

The process of moving to a new house or office should be shared with people that can be trusted. It is always easier if there are other people helping with the packing process. Ideas can be shared while also keeping each other company to prevent boredom from setting in during the process.

19.  Do not keep any of the items that may have no more use in the new location.

People normally save things throughout the years. These things may be lost in certain areas of the house and may be uncovered during the packing process. Some things are worthy enough to be saved and brought to the new location. However, there will be things that may probably have no use in the new location. It is best to just throw these away to open up more space in the new location.

20.  Prepare the destination of the items.

To make the transition faster and easier, the new location should already be cleaned before moving day. This will make unpacking the packing materials much faster since the space is ready to accommodate the furniture, appliances, and other things that were brought in.

Be Wise When Packing And Moving

These tips are meant to make it easier for people to make transferring to a new house our office as seamless as possible. Safety and security are always the top priorities. It is best to leave the moving process to a logistics company that is entrusted by many clients within the province of Ontario. As one of the well-known logistics companies within the province, the Ontario Container Transport ensures that clients will not feel any stress during moving day. You may contact us at (905) 695 1501.

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