Packing for a move is a huge undertaking. There are lots of moving parts to think about. But if you break down the process into manageable steps, it will be a lot less overwhelming. Let’s take things one step at a time, shall we?
The first thing you’ll need to do is to put the essentials aside. What does this mean? Well, there are certain things you are going to need during your first few days at the new house, before everything else is unpacked. Be sure you have enough clothes and toiletries for a few days, as well as things like toilet paper, paper towels, a note pad and other things you may need on the first day after the move. Place all of your essentials into a suitcase and have it ready. Then you can move on to packing the rest of your belongings without having to worry about accidentally packing something you will need right after the move.
Next, you’ll need to start sorting. Sort like items with like items. In other words, gather up all of your bedding and put it together. Put towels together. Dishes together. Books together, etc. This way, when you go to unpack in your new house you won’t have to hunt around through your boxes to find what you are looking for. All of one type of item will be together!
One of the best things you can do for yourself during your move is to label. Label everything and be specific. Don’t just label the boxes with “bedding,” for example. Write, “sheets and pillows for master bedroom” so that you know not only what is in the box but also in which room the box needs to be placed at the new house. This will help immensely when it comes to unpacking in an orderly fashion.
It’s a good idea to keep your boxed “room specific.” In other words, even though you have gathered dishes all in one place and packed them into a box, if you have books that belong in the basement and those that belong in the bedroom, pack those items in room-specific boxes. All of your dishes will likely be stored in the kitchen, so they will inherently be packed into the same box. Pack each family member’s clothes in the box(es) with the rest of the things from their bedroom. This will make unpacking easier because you won’t have to zig-zag across the house to deliver items as you unpack them.
Finally, don’t pack the boxes too full. Things like books are very heavy, and packing the boxes overly full can make them very heavy to lift safely. Instead, separate the books into several boxes and top up the boxes with lighter-weight items such as clothing.
Need more packing tips? Websites such as byebyemovingottawa.com can be valuable resources for information you’ll need when it’s time to get ready for your move.
