General Packing Tips

• START AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
Every day we have customers call or come into our store that are moving in just a day or two. They meant to start packing weeks ago, but they never got around to it. So, at the very last minute they are overwhelmed by the amount of work they have to do. Things start getting thrown into boxes rather than carefully packed, and the people physically wear themselves out getting the job done.

Not good!

Most people are going to pack a minimum of 50 or more boxes. This represents about 12 hours of work. Get a supply of boxes, paper, bubble wrap and tape and put it out in your garage. Pick one room to start packing, and go to town. We suggest you begin in your garage or extra bedroom, and continue packing in that room until you are completely finished. CAREFULLY MARK THE CONTENTS OF THE BOX, AND WHAT ROOM IT CAME FROM. This helps during the unloading/unpacking process at your new home.

• DON'T PACK TOO MUCH IN ONE BOX
Every day we have customers come in and say, "Sell me the biggest boxes you have, 'cause I've got a lot of stuff to pack". This is a big mistake. The problem with using just large boxes is that they get real heavy and unwieldy. Even the movers can't pick them up, so they have to use a dolly, and sometimes the weight of the items inside the box cause it to rip or tear.

It's recommended that you buy more of the smaller size boxes (the 3.0 cu. ft. is the biggest seller) and pack them lightly. The rule of thumb is that after the box is taped up, it should be comfortable for YOU to be able to pick up and stack in the corner. Also, a full box stacks better in the moving truck, much less likely to "crush" when placed in a stack with other boxes.

• USE PLENTY OF PADDING MATERIAL
Whether you plan to use newspaper, bubble wrap, packing paper, or beach towels, use plenty! So many times we have had customers show us boxes of dishes they had packed, and there is nothing between the plates but 1 piece of paper. You must remember that the box that dish is packed in is going to be stacked, dollied, loaded, transported, unloaded, re-dollied, re-stacked, and finally unloaded. That dish is going to be put at risk many different times, and handled in many ways. Protect it with at least 4 sheets of packing paper or the equivalent! Don't be pennywise and pound-foolish - it's better to over pad than to under pad.

• LET COMMON SENSE PREVAIL
By following the guidelines in the first 3 "tips" you'll find that you are more than ready to tackle your packing task with great gusto. There are always going to be situations that will challenge you (some items won't fit into boxes, odd shapes and sizes will require custom strategies) but don't let this deter you! Simply set those items aside and press forward. If you need some help or suggestions, give us a call. We're here to help!