How To Pack Up Your Home Easily

Packing up your home for a move can be pretty intimidating. And, if you are packing up and moving an entire family, it can be downright stressful. You can go out of your mind just thinking about all that needs to be done. Fortunately, I've compiled a list of tips to help you pack your home with ease.

Jump to:

• "Before Moving" tips:
• "Immediate Use" boxes tips:
• "Packing Items Safely" tips:
• "Outside the box" labeling:
• "Packing Delicate Items" tips:
• Receive a FREE copy of "4 Checklists Every Person Needs When Moving" e-book

If you missed last Thursday's post, I talked about how to make your moving process more seamless and less stressful.  I discussed several ways to prepare your move process before taking action on packing and moving.  Here are some of the tips from the last post:

• Purge unwanted items,
• Pack a week's worth of clothing in a carry with your bag,
• Pack essentials for your new kitchen,
• Gather your essential papers and carry them with you, along with many other helpful tips.  

Click here if you missed it.

Packing Up and Moving Tips

I have divided these tips into sections: Before moving, using boxes (Affiliate Link) immediately, packing items safely, and packing delicate items.

"Before Moving" tips:

1. If you have access to the home before you move in, clean the rooms, especially the bathrooms.  Create a list of things you want to accomplish before moving in.
2. Create a packing box list. See our previous post for examples.
3. All boxes (Affiliate Link) should have a lid unless you are planning on taking it with you.
4. Start packing items in boxes (Affiliate Link) from each room that you do not need right away. Starting with attics, basements, garages, closets, and other similar areas will help you with this.
5. Get rid of as much as you can.  Using paper bags with handles makes it easier to donate items to charities.
6. Find a charity that will pick up and schedule a date for them to pick up the items you don't want to move. Click here to view a list of charities.
7. Take pictures of all the cables in the back of TVs and entertainment centers.  Even better, label (Affiliate Link) the cables and pack them in a gallon baggie.

"Immediate Use" boxes tips:

1. Pack a week's worth of clothing in a luggage (Affiliate Link). This is primarily where you are going to go for your unpacking days. Be sure to include items like shampoo, soap, makeup, etc...
2. Use wardrobe boxes (Affiliate Link) for packing clothes on hangers. It will save you time and if you need to pull from it right away, it is ready to go.
3. Use plastic clear containers for the items you need to find and unpack right away.
4. Have paperwork and electronics (including charging cables and extension cords) with you at all times.

"Packing Items Safely" tips:

1. Packing tape is more sturdy than duct tape (Affiliate Link).  ONLY use packing tape.
2. Remember: heavier items on the bottom and lighter items on top.
3. Keep one box of content for a particular room in its own box. If you do wish to mix rooms in a box, write on the side of the box which rooms are in that box.
4. Put plastic wrap over the opening of the liquid bottle and then screw on the lid to help seal the bottle shut for shipping.

"Outside the box" labeling:

1. If the box needs to be carried a certain way, be sure to indicate a LARGE up arrow to show the direction it needs to be stored.
2. Write on each box the content and destination (room) for the box.
3. You can use color coded circles and assign each color circle for a particular room and stick it on the box.

"Packing Delicate Items" tips:

1. Platters (Affiliate Link): Wrap towels and sheets around platters (Affiliate Link). You can use t-shirts for protecting less breakable items as well.
2. Artwork: Get an artwork box that has padding in it.
3. TVs: Keep your boxes (Affiliate Link) for newer TVs.  For older TVs, we have wrapped it in lots of bubble wrap (Affiliate Link) and taped it with packing tape and it held up well when we moved cross country.
4. Books: Use smaller boxes (Affiliate Link) for books since they way a lot if you put several books in one large box.  Try separating the books in several boxes (Affiliate Link) that contain lighter items.
5. Plates and glasses: Use specialty boxes (Affiliate Link) for particularly delicate items like plates, glasses, etc... Plate Moving Boxes and Glasses moving boxes from Amazon (Affiliate Link).com. You can use socks (Affiliate Link) over glasses and wine glasses for extra protection.  Slide protected plates vertically in smaller boxes (Affiliate Link).
6. Clothing in kids chest of drawers: use the inside of the drawers to store light items. Wrap the chest of drawers with Sticky Wrap to keep the drawers from opening in transit.
7. Hanging hooks: Use sandwich bags and label (Affiliate Link) what the content is for.
8. Blankets/pillows: Use large bags that you can vacuum (Affiliate Link) to save space.  Something like this: Space Bags or Vacuum Seal Bag- 13 Bag Variety- 4 Travel, 2 Med, 5 Lrg, 2 XL
9. Piano or other heavy, expensive items: Hire professional movers to transport these items.  They are way too heavy to be handled by a few friends, and their weight may damage your vehicle.

Well, that's it!  I hope this was helpful for you and helps you pack easily. If you'd like a free eBook, please sign up below.

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Receive a FREE copy of "4 Checklists Every Person Needs When Moving" e-book

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Let's continue the conversation. Have you moved recently? What tips do you have for the readers? Please leave a comment below. If you have a question about a particular item that wasn't discussed, please ask and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Happy moving!

Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon (Affiliate Link), and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.