Packing tips for long distance move

When it comes to long-distance moves, the packing process is vastly different. Your items need to be able to withstand hundreds of miles of transportation. Then you add in bumpy roads and weather concerns and you get why proper packing is really important. Obviously, the best solution is to enlist packing services from long distance movers Denver, as that will leave you with the most time for other concerns. However, if you are keen on doing it yourself, that is perfectly fine, too! All you need are some packing tips for long distance move that we will provide in this article and some materials. So, let’s start with:

Packing tips for long distance move – A timeline

In order to make this task a lot easier, it is best to introduce a degree of organization. The whole task, if not organized properly, can be quite difficult and stressful. Here is what you can do to make it easier on yourself:

  • Start early (4 weeks before moving)
  • Pack small decorative items (3 weeks before)
  • Pack bonus rooms (2 weeks)
  • Do the kitchen (1 week)
  • Disassemble the furniture and pack the bathroom (1 day before moving)
checklist
Create a checklist at least four months well in advance.

Start early

It is four weeks before your move. Ideally, you need to start boxing up everything that you do not use often. Some of the candidates for this are everything that is in the garage, basement, and attic. You will need to invest some time into decluttering, as well, so it is best to start early and give yourself plenty of time. Of course, if you want to hire Homegrown Moving and Storage Company to do it for you, that is also an option. Professional packing help will free up a lot of your time, that you can use for something else.

Basically, if your time is more valuable than what you are paying the moving company for, it is always better to hire than to do it by yourself. Simple as that.

Packing tips for long distance move – 3 weeks before

This is the time to pack all of your small decorative items. These items may include fine china, paintings, goblets, and so on. They will require the liberal use of bubble packs and will, therefore, use up quite a bit of your time. Give yourself a week to properly handle each and every item in this category. Additionally, you may want to create a pre-move checklist at this point. It will save you a lot of time down the road!

2 weeks before – bonus rooms

Now is the time to pack the bonus rooms. These include a library, dining room, office and perhaps an extra bedroom or two. You can live without the usage of these rooms for a week or two, hence packing them at this time. Obviously, if you absolutely need the use of your library, for example, you should not pack it at this time. Simply move it towards the end of the packing process.

1 week before – the kitchen

You want to start packing your kitchen at this point. Start with items such as extra silverware, glasses, and dishes. The food that you will use during and after the move comes last. Basically, pack everything that you can live without for the next couple of days.

Additionally, this is the proper time to pack all of your non-essential electronics, toys, and games. You can live without those for a day or two.

kitchen
Prepare your kitchen for the relocation 1 week before the move.

The moving day

If you followed the proper procedure, you will not have much to pack at this point, which was the goal all along. All you need to pack are your essential items, such as bedding and some toiletries! You will have other concerns on a moving day and you don’t want for packing to have a large amount of your time.

Packing tips for long distance move – Decluttering and inventory list

While packing, there will be a lot of items that you may not wish to bring with you to your new place. This is a perfect opportunity to identify such items and to see what to do with them. You can donate, sell or even store those items but before you do so, you need to figure out what you’re working with.

The best way to accomplish this is to go through every single room and examine which items are not going with you. It will take some time but it will provide a great base for organizing later on. It is well worth the time, trust me.

Additionally, you will need to create an inventory list of the items that are going with you. This list will come in handy for many purposes, but it is mostly for remembering the arrangement and acquisition of packing materials.

Acquiring necessary supplies

You will need quite a bit of packing material for your move. This is where your inventory list will come real handy. You will need plenty of boxes, packing tape, plastic bags, packing paper, and bubble packs, among other items. You can also try some of the eco-friendly packing options, as well. The main thing is to have everything that you need to pack all of your belongings. If you are unsure about anything, simply contact your moving company and ask them for advice. They will be happy to provide!

While on the subject of boxes, you can’t really use old and shoddy boxes for an interstate move. The boxes need to be sturdy and in great condition. If you are on a budget and can’t afford premium quality boxes, there is always an option of finding free boxes for your move.

boxes
Search for free cardboard boxes in the stores and offices around you.

Free boxes

You can find these at your local grocery stores or other places that deal with them. They usually end up throwing them away and will be glad to donate some to your move. You can also search the internet for people who have extra moving and packing supplies left over. There is a great thread on E-bay forums, with advice on acquiring free packing materials. People move all the time and are left with many supplies that they thought they needed but they did not. These people will, more often than not, be glad to part with their boxes and packing materials for a really good price or even free. Make sure to at least look if there are some in your area.

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