12 Packing Tips for Moving to Your New Home

Declutter Before Packing

Why go through the effort of packing, moving and unpacking items you don’t want? Preparing for your move should include a dedication to decluttering. That means paring down your wardrobe, getting rid of furniture that won’t fit in your new place and donating items you don’t use.

You can even tackle this step as you begin packing. “Start special boxes: some for donation, some for trash, and begin filling them,” wrote Lindsay Dow, content marketing manager for the national moving company Two Men and a Truck, in an email. “It’s important to purge a bit so you aren’t moving unwanted items.”

Box Up Your Belongings Before Moving Day

Waiting to pack until moving day (or even moving eve) is a mistake. “When people wait until the last minute, this process is sped up, and items may not be wrapped or packed as securely as they could’ve been,” Dow says.

Start in the weeks leading up to moving day by packing items you won’t need to access. Slowly seal up boxes until you’re left with necessities, such as toiletries and changes of clothes, in the final days before your move.

Use Standard Moving Boxes for Better Stacking

While you can get creative with your packing materials and use large, plastic storage binsor crates from your local grocery store, the classic cardboard box is recommended.

“For the most part, packing paper or newspaper and standard boxes work the best for general items,” says Mike Dahlman, vice president of operations for moving company You Move Me.

You can purchase moving boxes from big-box stores or even ask friends and neighbors if you can take used moving boxes off their hands.

Use Specialized Boxes to Protect Fragile Belongings

Put TVs and computer monitors in their original packaging if possible. Alternatively, big-box stores sell boxes and foam corners to protect screens or other breakable items.

“The more unique items like artwork, TVs and lamps do require special boxes, which should be used to protect anything fragile,” Dahlman says. “Dishes are one of those items that are at high risk for breakage during a move. There are dish-specific boxes which people with little to no experience packing dishes should consider using.”

But keep in mind that these boxes can be costly and take up extra room in a moving truck, Dahlman says.

Check Your Electronics in Front of Movers

If you’re using a moving company for any stage of your move, be sure you know the limitations of the moving company’s insurance policy. Sheil notes that insurance coverage typically loses its impact after the movers have dropped off your belongings and the job is finished because it’s hard to prove how the damage occurred.

To ensure any damage to your electronics is covered, be ready with your TV or computer screen when the movers arrive. “Have it plugged in, and show them that the screen works,” Sheil says. “When you get where you’re going, plug it back in and show them that it still works or that it doesn’t.”

Pack and Unpack Boxes by Room

The best way to stay organized is to pack room by room and label everything so you know where it belongs once you get to your new home. That way you’re not sorting through clothes while trying to find mugs and silverware.

When it comes to unpacking, Sheil recommends following the same process and spreading it out over time. “Don’t overwhelm yourself,” he says. “Tackle one room at a time, and do one room really well. I have a dining room weekend and a living room weekend. Some people want to knock it out in three days – I am not that type.”

Prepare for Some Rooms to Take Longer Than Others

As you pack room by room, be sure you leave enough time for those places that require more time. For example, “kitchens take the longest to pack since it’s important to wrap your breakable items,” Dow says.

Similarly, expect closets and other storage spots to take longer to pack simply because there are more items tucked away than you’d expect.

Pack Heavy Items in Smaller Boxes

The weight of items like dishes, books and shoes can add up fast. Avoid overloading a box with heavy belongings by shrinking the size of the box you’re using. “The heavier the item, the smaller the box,” Dow says. “Books tend to be heavy, so be sure to use a small box for those. You don’t want to weigh down a large box, making it heavier to move and risk the bottom falling out of it.”

Don’t Pack Liquids That Could Leak

It may sound like common sense, but when you’re in a hurry it’s easy to forget: Liquidsshould be packed carefully. In many cases, they’re best moved in the back seat of your car rather than a moving truck.

“People should not pack or move any liquids or chemicals with anything else, as they can break or leak in transit and ruin other items,” Dahlman says. Federal law also prohibits the transport of flammable or otherwise hazardous liquids such as bleach, paint or propane in a moving truck.