Countless things need to be taken care of to prepare for your long-distance move. This includes an address change of all your accounts to figuring out what furniture will fit into your new home. One of the most critical parts of any move is to make sure that you know the right way to pack up all your belongings.

Packing is usually the worst part of any move. It is stressful, time-consuming, and tedious. However, it is imperative that you are organized and that your belongings are properly protected to avoid damages to any of your valuable goods. Here are a few crucial tips you can use to assist you on how to pack for a move before your long distance relocation.

It is important that you have given yourself as much time as possible to prepare for the move. Try to work out an estimate on time you will need to pack up everything in your home. Then to safeguard yourself, double your estimate. With everything else that needs to be taken care of, you must have more than enough time to pack. This will also ensure that everything is taken care of, well before the moving company arrives to take your stuff away.

Label all of your boxes using a Sharpie marker, with a content list for each box. This will help you when it comes to unloading so that you can give instructions on where each box should go in your new home. Labeling your boxes will also give you an indication on which boxes should be opened first.

Take a photo of each box and the contents inside. This could prove to be invaluable if anything is damaged during your move, and you are forced to enact on the insurance policy provided by a moving company that you hired.

Lower your load

When it comes to a long-distance move, you must be only transporting what you need. When you start packing up, this gives you the perfect opportunity to leave behind what you no longer need. Ultimately this will help you to save energy, more time, and money.

You could have a clothing giveaway, tag sale, or swap with your neighbors or friends. Just make sure you do not acquire too many new items before you move. Another good idea could involve donating any items that are no longer in use to a local charity. There are a host of organizations that are happy to take your well-cared-for clothing and furniture to assist families that need it. If you haven’t used something in more than 12 months, you usually no longer need it. It is also a lot easier to get rid of items when it is going to a cause or to someone that needs it.

Pack all the items that will be needed immediately in your new home into one box.

Categorize your items by keeping items from the same room in the corresponding boxes. Any breakables should also be packed into the same boxes, making sure that each box is well insulated. Use towels or clothes to pack breakables like your glasses or dishes. Make sure that these boxes are marked as FRAGILE.

Pack photographs and pictures together, to ensure they are all in the same place.

Make sure you use all the space that is available in boxes and furniture pieces. Use packed boxes in your bookshelves, and pack your dressers with clothes. Bedding and pillows can be used in your entertainment center. This makes everything tight, which reduces the chances of anything breaking during the long-distance move.

It is also important that all the space inside the truck is used. Any additional space will mean that your items will be bouncing around, increasing the likelihood of breakages. Make sure the moving truck is the right size for all your goods.

Certain items such as glass tables and mirrors need to be packed professionally for maximum protection. Moving companies that specialize in long-distance moves are experienced when it comes to the right methods to protect these fragile, yet larger pieces.

The last step is to come up with your unpacking plan. When it comes to any move, whether it is local or long-distance, make sure you have packed one or two first night boxes. This will include your toiletries, bedding, and items that you will need to prepare meals. From here the next boxes that you should plan to unpack is anything that you know you will need the soonest. This is why it is very important to label your boxes well and to keep lists of the contents inside each of your boxes.