Advice from our moving experts to make your next move smoother, safer, and less stressful.
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Published on May 1, 2023
•5 min read
By Jessica Parker,Staff Writer
Studies show that moving your house is one of the most stressful life events you may ever experience. It is even more stressful than divorce. For this reason, it is important to prepare yourself to try and make your house move as stress-free as possible. If this is your first move you may not be aware of some common packing mistakes that we all make at one time or another when moving our possessions.
If this is the case for you, take a look at our guide which will help you avoid some of the worst mistakes and help you first move to go without a hitch.
Many first-time movers make the mistake of diving straight into a moving project without planning first. Poor preparation can lead to all kinds of problems down the line if you are not experienced.
Firstly, make sure that you have a checklist of all items from each room that you want to pack. This will help you know what supplies for packing you will need.
Your checklist will be your hub of information. Account for everything that goes in and out of your properties either yourself or with help of your packing company.
It is not surprising how much smoother a good labeling system will make your house move. Yet, many people overlook this simple step.
Keep tabs on what is in each box and make sure they are labeled accordingly. Labels on boxes should include both the room name and the items inside.
Don’t forget to include a fragile label if things are breakable. Also, include a label if a box must not be on its side or upside down.
With a good labeling system and a checklist, your moving company should be able to work quickly and efficiently. They can then make sure the right boxes get to the right rooms in the new property.
A common mistake made by inexperienced packers is over-packing. Putting lots of things in one box may seem like a great idea to save time and money on boxes for packing. It’s not.
Too many items in one box will crush items together causing breakages. It will make the boxes more prone to break and could potentially rupture and spill everything on the floor.
Worst of all they leave you open to injury. Trying to pick up a box that is too heavy because it has been overfilled could lead to a serious back injury.
Follow the guidelines on the box as to weight limits. Use a scale and once the limit is reached make sure you use suitable packing supplies to secure the box contents.
Moving day should not also be packing day. Yet, so many people leaving their packing till the very last minute. Don’t get caught out by this trap.
If you leave too many things to do on the moving day itself you are more likely to fall prey to many of the other common mistakes on this list.
Be prepared. Be planned. And most importantly, ensure you are packed the day you need to move.
There is nothing worse than arriving at your new property only to be surrounded by hundreds of boxes and have no idea where to find your toothbrush or clean underwear!
Avoid this common mistake by packing an essentials box. Set aside a small box that contains everything you will need for your first night in your new home. Include kitchen items so that you can cook, as well as some clothes and bathroom items.
Don’t forget the toilet roll! So many new movers get caught out by this on their first night at home.
As bad as overfilling a box, is underfilling one. You need to make sure that the contents of your boxes are not free to move around inside. Any kind of free movement could damage your belongings.
Not to mention that if items come loose inside of boxes during transport they can cause boxes to topple over. This could potentially break other items or even injure someone when the van is opened again.
Take care to pack your less filled boxes with some filler supplies. Paper, bubble wrap, or even clothes can do a great job here. Ensure that when you are packing large items that they are secured with packing supplies.
More often than not you will need more boxes and packing supplies than you think. Most people tend to underestimate just how much they will need.
Make sure you measure and weigh your belongings to get an idea of the size of boxes you will need to accommodate everything safely. Packing boxes will give you an indication of weight limits, do not exceed these.
If you feel inclined to overfill a box then you need to buy another.
If liquids can leak, they will leak. Don’t give them the chance to ruin your other items by oozing out into your neatly packed box.
First, make sure liquid bottles remain sealed inside a plastic bag before you put them into your boxes. Ziplock bags are best for this as you can seal them. Then make sure that they are stored in an upright fashion without too much pressure around them.
Bottles tend to leak most when they are tipped or squeezed, so you need to ensure that you label your boxes sufficiently. This way the carrier knows what to do to avoid a leak.
It is easy to avoid the most common packing mistakes, but it is easier to see where you went wrong once you have the experience of a move under your belt.
Using this guide should help you dodge the worst messes and keep your belongings safe and sound until they get to their destination.