Packing guide for relocation
Relocation demands lot of preparation. One of the key things associated with a successful relocation process is proper packing. Although the moving companies offer packing services too, some people prefer to do their packing by themselves. Here is a brief guidance for those who wish to pack their belongings prior to relocating.
First things first!
Before anything else, you need to get some moving quotations from several potential companies. Get ready with these quotations at least a month before to the actual moving date.
Prepare an inventory of the belongings you wish to pack. Get rid of the unwanted goods; taking all the belongings to the new locations is not a smart move at all.
After filtering the belongings, you should identify the heaviest items and get ready to pack.
Tips for Packing
It is very important to keep your valuable belongings undamaged during the transportation. The main intention of packing should be safety. In this case, you should purchase packing materials that can prevent items crashing against each other. You may either use old news papers or distinguished wrapping papers to wrap individual items like crockery and similar items. However, newspapers are capable of creating prints on some items. That is why wrapping experts suggest using newspapers just as a cushioning agent but not the primary wrapping material.
When it comes to heavy electrical appliances, you might have to use bubble wraps as cushioning agents. These bubble wraps are not that expensive and they are easy to handle. It is not the smartest decision to use domestic tapes on boxes; they can rip apart easily. So, be sure to use industrial grade packing tape. Although these tapes are slightly expensive than the domestic tapes, the protection they can provide is much better. When packing fragile items, you can use old blankets, towels and sheets to provide cushioning. They can reduce the impact significantly and prevent the items from getting scratches.
Make sure that the items are steady
Never allow the items inside the boxes to scatter around. Provide additional cushioning (like rugs or old newspapers) to avoid free space inside the boxes. The loading and arranging process also should be done with a good care. Larger items should be placed at the bottom of the truck or the van, so they will not squash the smaller items. When you obtain the service of a professional moving company however, their staff will ensure to load these items pretty efficiently without leaving you anything to worry about. Additional protection with strong tapes should be provided to avoid boxes moving here and there; you can do it by taping all the boxes together.
Labeling
This is another vital aspect when packing. Use a good, meaningful labeling system for all the packages. It will be convenient for you when unpacking the items. Make sure that disassembled items remain together all the time. Use stickers of tags (or a felt pen).
Last but not least, you need to start the packing process well in advance to avoid last minute rush.