If you’ve ever moved, you know how daunting and time-consuming packing can be. However, if you’ve ever packed incorrectly, you know that packing the right way could have saved you hours of time unpacking. Ultimately, the goal of packing is to make unpacking as easy as possible because once you get into your new home, you just want to enjoy it. Packing can be stressful, however, and if you overcomplicate the process, you might procrastinate until you’ve ended up throwing your belongings into bags and boxes haphazardly. Make packing easier for your move by learning these common packing mistakes to avoid.
Using Incorrect Box Sizes
Using random-sized boxes for your belongings means you’re not utilizing all of your packing materials correctly. While you should always recycle as many boxes as possible, some boxes make moving more than one item difficult. Instead of packing using the wrong boxes, sort your packing materials and only use the three main sizes for moving boxes. When you use the standard moving box sizes, it’s easier to stack them, which can help you maximize your space in a moving truck.
Making Boxes Too Heavy
It makes sense to fill your boxes as much as possible and put the heavy items together. However, putting heavy items in the same box can make the box too heavy to lift. It could also easily become a safety hazard because your box bottom could break. Instead, evenly distribute your heavy items throughout several boxes and make sure your boxes never weigh more than you’re able to carry.
Not Wrapping Fragile Items
Fragile items like porcelain, china, and platters should be wrapped correctly using bubble wrap and/or newspaper. Wrapping your fragile items is a must because it will give them a cushion during the moving process to minimize the risk of cracking or breaking.
Not Labeling
When packing up your things, it’s always tempting to try to skip labeling to get the job done faster. After all, no one wants to spend hours packing. However, adding labels to your boxes makes it easier to identify which rooms they belong to, which will help when you’re unloading boxes into your new home.
Unfortunately, even when people try to label boxes, they do it incorrectly. Of course, adding the room to the box is important, but you should also list its contents so you’ll know what’s in it even when the boxes are stacked. Correctly labeling boxes will help you understand which items are most important to unpack first.
Instead of spending an hour looking for diapers, toothbrushes, clothes to wear, and whatever other items you actively use everyday, pack and label them in a separate box so you know exactly where to find those important items.
Not Filling Boxes
While you never want to fill a box to make it heavier than you can carry, you should aim to utilize all the space a box has available. Empty space will allow your items to shift in transport, leading to broken or cracked belongings. If you can’t fill all the space in your boxes with actual belongings, try using packing peanuts or newspaper instead.
Using Plastic Bags
Sometimes it’s easier to use a large garbage bag than it is to run out of more boxes. However, plastic bags are only acceptable for clothing or linen because you don’t have to worry about them breaking. Still, you should never put any of your important belongings in a plastic bag because there’s no protection. If you run out of boxes, you can ask your friends and family for any boxes they might have lying around. Local businesses may also give boxes away for free.
Waiting
No one likes packing, so many people wait until the last minute, but waiting too long can get you into trouble. Waiting until the last minute forces you to pack quickly, which means not labeling or organizing your belongings in any way. Additionally, it could cost you more money. If you hire a local moving company, you’ll pay them per hour. This means if they’re forced to wait before transporting your items, you could be charged much more than you were quoted, especially if you’re taking so long they can’t get to their next job on time.
Always start packing at least a week in advance to ensure you have enough time to pack everything correctly. You can keep all of your essential items in a separate box so you know where they are.
Not Hiring a Moving Company
Many people choose to move their stuff on their own because it’s cheaper. However, it also comes with much more hassle and stress. If you’re moving large, heavy furniture, you could hurt yourself. In addition, moving your things into a new home is time-consuming, so you’ll have less time to start thinking about how you want to design your favorite rooms.
When moving to a new home, your goal should be to unpack quickly instead of simply getting all your stuff there. Instead of letting all the responsibilities fall on your shoulders, consider hiring a moving company. A moving company can save you time and hassle because they’ll move all of your belongings for you. They also have insurance, so if anything gets broken, the cost of repair or replacement is completely covered.
Keeping Everything
When you first start packing, you may intend to pack everything you own. Even so, you probably don’t need to take everything to your new home. For example, when packing clothing, you might find clothes you haven’t worn for years, so you probably don’t need them. Take a look around your home before you start packing to determine what you can donate and toss to make packing and unpacking easier.
Final Thoughts
Packing doesn’t have to be time-consuming or stressful. Yet, starting early and having a plan of attack can help you accomplish more and pack correctly to ensure you know where all your belongings are once you move into your new home. Moreover, gather your materials before you start. While it may be difficult to determine how many boxes you’ll need, plan for at least one additional trip to the packing supply store to ensure you can keep all your items safe during transport.
Ashley Nielsen
Ashley Nielsen earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration Marketing at Point Loma Nazarene University. She is a freelance writer where she shares knowledge about general business, marketing, lifestyle, wellness or financial tips. During her free time she enjoys being outside, staying active, reading a book, or diving deep into her favorite music.
