subject: Packing Before The Movers Arrive [print this page] Have you decided to pack your own belongings before the movers arrive? Many people decide to take this route in order to save money or because they want to carefully hand wrap every single item by themselves. Keeping glassware, dishes, furniture, toys, and lamps safe on the road isn't an easy task, but where there's a will, there's a way. If you've decided to be your own packer, there are some steps to take to ensure a safe journey for your stuff.
Sort Everything First
Before packing, it's important to decide what you really want to take with you. Why pack items you won't need at the new address? If you're moving to North Dakota from San Diego, chances are that you won't need those surfboards in a blizzard. If you're moving from a "McMansion" in the suburbs to a penthouse in New York City, you're not going to need to bring your lawnmower and hedge clippers. Sell these items at a garage sale or give them away to a friend so the movers won't have to haul them to the next place.
Purchase Supplies
In order to transport your belongings, you're going to need some proper packing supplies. You can buy these supplies from the movers or from general-purpose retailers. Pick up a variety of sturdy boxes, duct tape, bubble wrap, Styrofoam peanuts, newspaper, permanent markers, and plastic bags. You're going to need all of these items to safely move your stuff. It's better to have too many supplies than too few, because you don't want to run out when you're on a roll during your pack-a-thon.
Into the Boxes
Wrap breakables in bubble wrap and seal them with tape. Before placing anything into a box, cushion the bottom with the Styrofoam peanuts or crumpled up newspaper. Once a box is full, tape it up and label the outside with the contents. Write two things on the label: the room it will go into and what's inside. You don't have to name every single doodad, just general categories such as "dishes." When you take apart bookshelves or remove legs from tables, put the hardware in small plastic bags and securely duct tape them to the piece of furniture. All couch cushions, bedding, pillows, and linens go into large black plastic bags labeled with the contents. For these black bags, be sure you place large sticker labels on them so that no one mistakes them for trash.
Wooden Furniture
Cover wooden dressers, shelves, portable mantles, tables, and chairs with thick blankets or towels to cushion them before the movers arrive. You don't want to arrive to find your dining room set covered with scratches. It doesn't hurt to put an extra coat of furniture polish on them before you wrap them up for an extra layer of protection.
Once you've gotten everything packed up and ready, the movers can show up to do their job. Since they weren't the ones who packed your goods, they won't be able to guarantee your packing job. But if you followed all of these helpful hints, everything should arrive safely.
