Moving is hard. Packing your life up into boxes and loading them onto a truck or in the back of a van is difficult enough, but you also have to find time to visit friends, relatives, and work contacts (or at least send out an email) before you go. And if it's not just one move but several throughout your lifetime? You're going to need some serious packing tips before you take on the job yourself, or even before you hire a Removalist in Sydney or somewhere else to provide you with some assistance.
Fortunately for all of us who are moving long distance or even just across town, there are plenty of helpful hints and tricks that can make packing easier on both our backs and our wallets! From the best types of cardboard for moving to how you can save time and money by doing it yourself, we're here to help you get ready with some useful packing tips. Here are a few packing tips for moving long distances:
1. Create a packing list of items to pack
First things first, you should create a comprehensive packing list so that you know exactly what items are going into your moving boxes. Start by writing down all of the stuff in your house and then cross off anything you don't think you'll need when moving a long distance (or even just across town). Once you've gone through every room and taken everything into account, you can create a separate list of what you want to pack and then organize it by room.
Once that's done, you can organize your packing list more specifically and get more in-depth about what types of items are going where. You can also choose to sell, donate or discard a few items that you do not need anymore. This will help you manage your staff more effectively, and you might also be able to raise a little money by selling items that you no longer need.
2. Start Packing Early
If you have a lot of stuff, then the last thing that you want to do is wait until the week before your moving day to start packing. Just to be more precise about your move, a long distance moving guide can help you out with a moving checklist, tips, and hacks. The more time you give yourself to pack and organize everything properly, the less stressed you'll be on moving day and in general. Especially if it's a long distance move or even just across town, you need this extra time because there are so many details to keep track of and so much stuff that needs to be packed.
3. Make sure that your moving supplies are organized and Accessible
You don't want to be scrambling at the last minute to figure out if you have enough folding boxes right before your move. Instead, make sure that all of these moving supplies are organized and easy to get. This will save you a lot of stress in the long run and organize your stuff properly so that it's easier when it comes time to pack.
Fortunately, there are plenty of options on the market for buying all kinds of moving supplies so that you can easily find what you need in an organized fashion. You can buy boxes and everything else that you need from a reputable merchant.
4. Pack any fragile items first
If you're moving long distance or even just across town, certain household items may need extra special care during the packing process. That's why it's a good idea to pack any particularly fragile items first—and always before you start filling up your other boxes.
Fragile items include glassware, fine china, and antique furniture, of course, and more common items like electronics and personal care products. Electronics are especially at risk for damage because they can break so easily during the moving process.
5. Pack your clothes in a suitcase or duffle bag, not boxes
When you're packing for a long distance move, it's best not to put your clothes in cardboard boxes. That's because you might have to shove other heavy objects on top of your suitcase during moving day, and that will damage clothing if it's packed inside. Instead, pack them in a trunk or duffle bag and keep them off the floor during the move if possible. If you pack your clothes in a duffle bag, then you have less to worry about, and it's more convenient than to fold up the entire suitcase when it comes time to move.
6. Bring the right amount of clothing for your new home
This is especially important for people who are moving long distance. If you're going to a colder part of the country, you don't want to bring all your summer clothes with you and vice versa. By bringing just the right amount of clothing, you'll save yourself from having to make a lot of extra trips when it comes time to pack up and move your stuff.
7. Gather all packing material beforehand
This is a really important step for anyone who's moving long distance. You don't want to be scrounging around in the middle of your move looking for boxes just because you didn't plan ahead; that will only make things harder on yourself and your family. Because there are so many details involved with packing up when it comes time to move, make sure to do it all beforehand so that you're completely prepared. You could even look into arranging the hire of a portable storage and moving solution if you want to minimize the amount of trucks and/or trips that it will take to move your belongings to your new home.
8. Label all boxes with what they contain
This is also a really important step for anyone moving long distance because it will help you quickly unpack everything once you get to your new home. It would help if you labeled all of the boxes with what's inside them so that you can figure out where each item goes in your new place when you're unpacking.
9. Take photos of everything before packing
This will help you quickly unpack when you get to your new home so that you can easily put everything in its place. If you have a digital camera or smartphone with a good camera, then use it to take photos of each room in your house. That way, you'll see exactly where everything goes once the move is complete and you're unpacking all of your stuff.
10. Pack some Food for the moving day
There's nothing worse than being halfway through a long distance move and getting hungry. If you're working hard all day with no food around, then it will just make your move very difficult. So, make sure to pack some snacks or even simple meals like granola bars/pop tarts, fruit, and sandwiches so that you have something to eat during the move. This can also save you some time and money since you wouldn't have to take steps every few hours to take meal breaks
11. Pack Essentials bag for Moving Day
There's no telling what might happen to you on Moving Day. Maybe your truck breaks down, or maybe the moving guys can't make it, so you have to finish up by yourself. So, it's a good idea to pack an "Essentials" bag with critical things for the move. Things like extra cash, snacks, important papers and documents you need during the move, and even some tools for tightening loose screws, making small repairs, and other common moving day problems.
Conclusion
Moving long distance requires some careful planning and packing to make sure you don't forget anything. As a general rule, it's best not to put your clothes in cardboard boxes when moving because they might get damaged if shoved by other heavy objects during the move. Label all of your boxes with what is inside them to unpack everything smoothly after the move. Other things you should consider for Moving Day include packing food, an "Essentials" bag or emergency supplies like cash/snacks/important papers, etc., taking photos of each room in your new home before the move to help remember where things go once you have moved and labeling all items as needed! Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comment section below!