Getting everything you own from one home to another can be difficult to orchestrate. So, rather than just play it by ear and hope everything gets done in time, it’s a good idea to make a solid plan for how to move well in advance of relocation.

There are plenty of reasons to pack up your belongings and find new digs. Is your family growing? Are you in search of lower rent or moving to live in a better home? Has a new job or job transfer landed you in a new city?

No matter the reason for the change of scenery, these moving and packing tips to make the moving process smoother.

• Clear out unwanted goods – hold a garage sale.
• Get rid of flammables – paint, petrol, gas cylinders.
• Empty fuel from mowers, clippers, trimmers and so on.
• Clothes – do you need them all?
• Charity shops may want them.
• Separate books – disposable, family reading, valuable.
• Check all electrical goods – will they work in the new home?
• Start making up your change of address list.
• Arrange to have mail forwarded.
• Arrange termination date for electricity, gas, oil, telephone and other main suppliers.
• If you are taking electrical goods such as a stereo, see if you still have their original boxes.
• Have rugs cleaned.
• If you have children, separate cherished toys to travel with you.
• Round up personal documentation – marriage/birth certificates, driving licenses and so on.
• Keep passports separate so they are not packed.
• Want to take the car? Check on import regulations and the duty payable.
• With regards to family pets– make sure vaccinations and documentation are up to date.
• Will your new home be ready? If not, you need to arrange temporary storage.
• Shops, schools, theaters, life styles – it’s never too early to find out about your new home.
• Start running down freezer stocks.
• Arrange your finances – close or transfer bank accounts, savings accounts and so on, if necessary.

Packing Materials

Use only strong, corrugated cartons with covers. We can supply you with specially made cartons, for everything from mattresses to clothing and mirrors. The added protection of mover-provided cartons may avoid damage that results from the use of poor-quality packing materials. Your alternative is to collect boxes discarded by your grocery or liquor store. Save old newspapers for use in packing, but remember that ink may rub off and stain clothing or other items. *WARNING: Insect eggs and insects such as roaches can travel in food boxes. Keep this in mind when getting boxes from food stores. Here’s a list a packing supplies that will come in handy:

• Plastic bags and labels for easy identification.
• Foam peanuts, Styrofoam pellets or “popcorn.”
• Tissue or craft paper for delicate packing jobs.
• Corrugated paper rolls for figurines and fragile items.
• Gummed tape (1 1/2 to 2 inches wide) and/or strong twine for sealing cartons.
• Markers and labels for identifying contents of cartons.
• Notebook and pencil for carton identification log.
• Scissors and/or sharp knife.

Packing Pointers

Before actually packing-up, you need to have a game plan. For example:

• Pack one room at a time. This will help you when it comes time to unpack.
• Pack a couple of cartons a day, starting well ahead of the move.
• Mark all boxes, designating room and box number. Make a carton identification log to show the number of boxes packed per room, and the total number of cartons packed. It’s a good idea to leave space in your log for a special comments section to note carton conditions or location of high value goods. Notify your mover of any high value items.
• Be sure to have plenty of “filling” material available.
• Be sure that the bottoms of all cartons are secured and will hold the weight of the contents.
• Packing tape or gummed tape is better than masking tape.
• Pack heavier items toward the bottom of the box and lighter items toward the top. Try to keep a per-box weight of 50 pounds or less; it makes moving a lot easier. A general rule to remember on carton size — the heavier the item, the smaller the carton.

Packing Dish-ware

• Select a medium-sized carton (or mover provided dishpack) and line the bottom of the carton with crumpled packing paper.
• With packing paper stacked neatly in place on a work table, center one plate on the paper.
• Grasp a corner on several sheets of packing paper and pull the paper over the plate until sheets completely cover the plate. Stack a second plate on and, moving clockwise, grasp a second corner and pull sheets over the second plate.
• Stack a third plate. Grasp remaining two corners, folding two sheets of each corner (one at a time) over the plate.
• Turn your wrapped stack of plates upside down onto your packing paper.
• Re-wrap the entire bundle: start with one corner of packing paper and pull two sheets over the bundle, cover bundle with next corner, then the third corner; and finally, the fourth.
• Seal the bundle with packing tape.
• Place the bundle of dish-ware in a medium-size box so that the plates are standing on edge
• Use this process on all saucers, bread and butter dishes, and other dishware. When packing smaller dishes, you may choose to stack in greater quantity.

Packing Cups

• With packing paper in place on the work table, position one cup six to eight inches from one of the corners.
• Now pull the near corner of the paper up and over the cup.
• Nest a second cup directly on top, with handle to left (second cup should “nest” itself in packing paper folded over the bottom cups).
• Pull the two side corners up and over, one at a time, and tuck corners inside the top cup.
• Hold the bottom and top cup in position and roll cups to the remaining corner. Fragile mixing bowls may be rolled in the same manner.
• Delicate cups, like china, should be wrapped one at a time. Antique glass or china should be stuffed with crumpled tissue and wrapped one at a time.

Packing Glasses and Stemware

• Stuff glasses and stemware with crumpled tissue or packing paper before wrapping.
• Lay on the corner of packing paper and roll it one or two full rotations (depending on size); pull sides of packing paper up and over glass/stemware and continue rolling to the far corner.
• Corrugated paper rolls or cellular boxes may be used for added protection.
• Place glasses and stemware toward the top of your box. Heavier items (dish-ware, pitchers,etc.) should be placed toward the bottom of the box.
• Delicate glassware and stemware should be placed in an upright position, not on its side. No matter what you’re packing, you should use crumpled packing paper in between each layer to assure a snug fit wherever there’s a gap. All boxes with “fragile” items should be marked accordingly.

Specialized Packing Tips

The list of individual household items is endless. Most can be packed by following our packing pointers. Here are some additional packing tips for major items. If you want a more comprehensive list of how to pack special items, drop us a line.

• Bureau Drawers: Don’t overload. Too heavy a load can cause damage. Remove firearms and any items that might break or leak. Firearms, along with serial numbers, must be registered with your van line representative before the move.
• Canned Goods and Other Non-Frozen Food: Pack upright with no more than 24-30 cans per carton. Don’t attempt to move perishables. Wrap glass containers and boxed foods individually and pack in small cartons.
• Frozen Foods and Plants: Because of the delicate and perishable nature of these items, your mover is prohibited from accepting these packed items when your shipment is being transported more than 150 miles and/or delivery will not be accomplished within twenty-four (24) hours from the time of loading. Frozen food shipped within these guidelines must be packed in a freezer which at time of loading is at normal deep-freeze temperature.
• Clocks: Remove or secure pendulum in large clocks. Grandfather clocks should be prepared for moving by expert servicemen.
• Drapes and Curtains: Hang drapes over crossbars in wardrobe cartons, or pack folded in clean cartons. Remove curtains from rods, fold and pack in cartons or bureau drawers.
• Flammables and Combustibles: Flammable liquids and aerosol cans must not be packed. Changes in temperature and pressure can cause them to leak, or even explode. For your own protection, you should know that if you pack these items and they cause damage to your shipment or others, you, not your mover, may be held liable.
• Lamps and Lampshades: Remove bulbs, harps and shades. Roll up cord. Pack lamps with bedding or wrap separately and place upright in clean, tissue-lined carton. Wrap harp and finial (decorative knob) with packing paper and tape to inside wall of carton that contains shade. Wrap shades in tissue, not newspaper. Place upright in large, tissue lined cartons.
• Medicines: Seal caps with masking tape. Wrap and pack upright in small cartons. If needed during travel, carry with you.
• Mirrors, Paintings and Pictures: Tell your agent about valuable paintings for special care. Wrap small mirrors, pictures, paintings, and frames and place on edge in cartons. Place large pictures and paintings on edge in heavy cardboard containers. Large wall or dresser mirrors will be taken down by the movers and placed in special cartons. For added safety, place tape diagonally across mirror to protect better against damage. Do not place newspaper directly against paintings.
• Personal Computers and Video Recorders: Pack valuable electronic equipment in original cartons when available. Otherwise, use strong, corrugated cartons and place protective padding on the bottom of the carton. Wrap an old blanket or protective pad around the item and place it in its carton. Place additional padding between the carton and the computer or video recorder. Wrap cords separately, label to identify usage and place in a plastic bag away from delicate surfaces. Non-detachable cords should also be wrapped. Place cords between the padded computer or video recorder and the carton. Be sure your personal computer is “parked” and ready for transport.
• Silverware: Wrap each piece in cloth or low sulfur content paper to prevent tarnishing. Use an old blanket or moving pad as a wrap to prevent scratching the silverware chest.
• Tools: Drain fuel from power tools (do not ship Flammables under any circumstances). Pack tools in small, strong cartons. Wrap separately if valuable.
• Waterbed Mattresses: Drain all water from the waterbed and, grasping internal baffle systems with external vinyl, fold mattress 20 inches at a time. Adjust folds to avoid making creases across individual baffles. Consult your owner’s manual for special instructions concerning the care and transportation of your mattress. Do not place your mattress in a carton with sharp or pointed objects.
• Cars and Motorcycles: Cars and motorcycles shipped on the moving van should be drained nearly empty of fuel. Motorcycle batteries should be disconnected. Automobile antifreeze should be ample to protect against severe cold in winter.
• Barbecue Grills and Propane Tanks: Wrap grates and briquettes separately in a newspaper (or place all briquettes into a grocery bag) and place parts in a carton. Pad carton with paper to reduce movement of contents. Propane tanks must be drained before the move. Consult your local gas grill distributor for the safest method.