Moving houses is a challenging task that can easily feel overwhelming. But if you follow some tips for packing, your work will be cut out for you.

Plan and prepare to pack by purchasing packing supplies, making a packing schedule and checklist, and decluttering. Pack for the move efficiently and smartly, and utilize your belongings.

Read along if you are interested to know more!

Tips for Packing When You’re Moving Houses

We have broken down our packing tips into two categories for your convenience and ease: (i) planning and preparation and (ii) packing.

(i) Planning and Preparation

Packing is no easy feat, but preparing and planning in advance properly, and hiring a good local mover can take most of the hassle away. Here are a few steps you can follow-

1. Budgeting and Shopping

The first thing you need to decide on is your budget. You will need to purchase packing supplies, such as boxes, tapes, ropes, bubble wraps, etc. Set some money aside for those. Similarly, set a day aside to shop for all the necessary supplies. Only purchase what you need; if you have any supplies at home, utilize them properly.

2. Schedule and Checklist

We must admit, packing is somewhat a tedious task. If you are packing too slow, you won’t finish in time. And if you’re going too fast, you can burn out and get exhausted very quickly. Ideally, you should finish packing everything at least one day before your actual moving date.

If you know your moving date, make a schedule to track what to pack and when. Don’t keep all the packing tasks for weekends only. Try to schedule packing as much as you can on weekdays as well. Schedule in a way where you can first pack the belongings you need the least. Try your best to stick to the schedule and make a checklist for convenience.

3. Declutter

Decluttering your belongings will be your biggest lifesaver. The more you declutter, the less you have to pack. Declutter and set aside only what you’re certain you want to take to your new home. For the belongings you have outgrown or have no more need of, you can still put them to good use-

Hand down

You may have outgrown some expensive new clothes or a gift set of crockeries that won’t have room. You can hand these down to your younger siblings, friends, or relatives.

Donate

You can always donate your decluttered belongings to shelters, orphanages, or simply to someone who needs them. Your simple act of kindness may be a blessing to somebody else!

Garage Sale
If you’re unwilling or unable to hand down or donate, you can always hold a sale for your things. This is especially true for furniture, bigger electrical appliances such as refrigerator, television, etc.

Purge
You will find many things that you have no use of, such as worn-out clothes, cutlery, faulty electronic appliances. You need to purge if it doesn’t add utility and let it go.

Declutter Food
Decluttering food is quite a tricky challenge. Often people forget to go through their pantry or fridge and declutter, hence ending up with unusable or rotten food supplies. Try to sort and use up or cook anything you think you cant take with you or may get rotten. Use this as an opportunity to try out new recipes!

(ii) Packing

After all of that comes the actual packing step. We can’t tell you how to best pack your belongings, but we sure can provide some tips to make your packing efficient.

1. Packing Clothes

Packing clothes may seem like a dreadful chore, given that you have to fold everything properly to fit and pack them. But you don’t necessarily need to. If you’re using a dresser, you can simply pull out the drawers and use wraps around them. This way, you save the time of folding and cost on cartons/boxes.

Speaking of boxes, there are particular types of cartons/packing boxes that come with a hanger rod. If you purchase one of those, you can simply hang all the clothes you have on your hanger. These boxes may cost a little extra, but they will save time while packing. You will thank yourself later on for not having to iron so many clothes all over again.

2. Breakable Items

Another way you can put your clothes to use is by wrapping things in them. Use your soft clothes (such as cotton, etc.) to wrap fragile things such as potteries, showpieces made of glasses, awards or crests, and so forth. This way, those vulnerable pieces will be safe, and you can also save some cost on bubble wraps.

3. Maximize the Utility of Your Belongings

While packing, make the best use of what you already own. For example, use crockeries with lids to hold smaller things, such as jewelry, makeup, etc. Wrap your pillows inside your blanket. Use big vanity bags to hold delicates, socks, and so forth.

4. Categorize

It’s best to categorize your belongings before you pack them in the order you’ll place them at your new house. This will help you keep track of packed things and help you when you unpack.

5. Document and Label

Amidst all the chaos, it’s normal to forget where you kept what. So, every time you’re done filling a box while packing, take a picture of it. This will help you keep track of what's inside the box.

Label all the boxes with a permanent marker pen. For complicated gadgets such as television, etc., take a picture of the back to track which cord goes where.

6. Separate Necessary Supplies

While packing, make sure to set aside your cleaning supplies and pack them separately. The same goes for mechanical tools. These will come in handy when you move into your new house.

Bottom Line

Moving houses is a big responsibility and a tiring task, whether it’s a short distance or long. But, you can ease that burden by making some helpful, efficient choices. We hope these tips for packing have helped you feel less stressed. Have any more questions? Let us know!

FAQs

1. When should I start packing for a local move?

Ideally, you should start packing 2-3 weeks before moving. But, you should start planning six to eight weeks before to make it efficient. You should be done with packing at least one day before the moving date.

2. Is it cheaper to move during the holidays?

Yes, it is generally cheaper to move during the holidays. Since moving business is slower during the holiday season, the rates are lower. You can also expect some discounts.

3. What should I declutter first while packing?

Start by decluttering your closet, as it takes the most time. To speed up the process, declutter by type, like clothes, shoes, makeup, jewelry, bags, and so forth.