Pre-pack your items for a smooth transition

As if packing to move wasn’t already enough, it’s also wise to consider pre-packing! Yes, you heard us right. There are many things you can do to make the packing process easier, more organized, and even cleaner along the way. From decluttering to cleaning as you go, below is a list of things you should do before packing or hiring a moving team to pack your items, which in the end, will create an easier packing process.

Start with a 10-minute tidy up. Spend 10 minutes in each room of your home to quickly tidy everything up. Pay close attention to where you put items and where they belong. Do this so when it is time to pack, nothing gets left behind or thrown into the “straggler” box that never gets unpacked at your new home. Don’t spend too much time wiping walls, save the deep cleaning for an empty room.

Narrow it down. Don’t pack your entire house in one day, this will just leave you feeling rushed and overwhelmed. You may find yourself throwing things in boxes just to hurry. We promise you will regret this when you are unpacking at your new home. Begin packing a few weeks in advance and do one room at a time. This will allow the movers to pack the truck in a more organized manner and will save you time and money. Move the packed boxes to the middle of each room so you can access a box if you need to. Clearly label each box and ensure the bottom of the boxes are taped shut to keep your belongings from falling through the bottom.

Label, label, LABEL! Label all of your boxes and be descriptive, you won’t regret it! What room is the box going to? What is in the box? Are the box contents delicate or fragile? All of these questions will be very important to you and the movers during the truck loading and unloading process. You could even use colored labels and assign the task of labeling to your kids. Label the boxes and write important details on them — for example, it would be helpful at quick glance if all living rooms boxes had pink labels, bathroom boxes had blue labels, and so on. You could even color-code the boxes of items that will be thrown out or donated. Just ensure the boxes are labeled on the sides, not the tops.

Donate or de-clutter! Whichever you prefer, just do it. Whether you would like to donate, sell, or just throw out items that you have collected over the years, now is the time to do it. Don’t spend time and money moving things you haven’t used in over a year. Set up a spot in the garage or basement to begin collecting items you prefer to get rid of. Typically, you can call a donation center and schedule a time for them to come and pick up gently used furniture or boxes of donations. You can also schedule a time for a curb side pick up to collect any old furniture pieces you do not wish to take with you.

Where is my phone charger? Have a plan for the last day you spend in your home. Have a designated box in each room for items you can’t go long without. Things such as make-up, tooth brushes, phone chargers, and a change of clothes are typically items to go in these boxes. This will ensure you have what you need up to the last minute. Don’t forget to label it your “last-day” items so they don’t get lost in the shuffle.

Regardless of how you pack and move your home, it won’t hurt to purchase packing supplies. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® locations offer a large assortment of packing supplies to meet our customers’ needs.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is a professional moving company with 30 years of moving and packing experience and is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward during this stressful life event. For more moving and packing information, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our blog.