Packing and purging go hand in hand--while you're purging, you will want to be packing, at the same time. If you are executing your move yourself, you are responsible for getting all the packing supplies that are needed. Your community big-box store, self-storage company or the mover you've hired are all good resources for your supplies. If you purchase from your mover, ask if they will take back any unopened or unused boxes, tape, bubble wrap, or paper.
Here is a checklist to assist you:
Small boxes for books, heavy items, toys, appliances, fragile items
Medium boxes for the kitchen, accessories, lampshades, linens, shoes and boots
Large boxes for lamps, window treatments, pillows--items that are bulky but lightweight
Packing tape and tape guns
Newsprint, bubble wrap, packing peanuts or your shredded paper
Markers and labels
Small tools--screwdrivers, hammer, box cutter, scissors
Camera or smartphone
For a more all-encompassing list of tools to make your move easier, click here.
Where to Begin
Last utilized, last boxed is the unwritten for the boxing process—generally speaking, the coffeepot and microwave are the last things to go in boxes. Since you're boxing as the same time as you purge, begin with the low-hanging fruit in chests and cabinets; you can knock out one or two of those in an hour. When you have purged enough for a donation or dump run, do not exit the house until your packed boxes are taped and labelled. You could utilize specific color-coded labels (blue for the kitchen, green for the master, etc.) or use masking tape with a heavy black marker; just be sure you label every side of the box and note if the contents are fragile. A couple of moments spent listing the contents are worth their weight in gold later when you can't locate your shoes in all the boxes marked "master closet".
Organization
Purging helps you get organized, and so does cleaning out the closets, attic, and garage at the beginning of the process. You'll have to fine a storage location for all your packed boxes, and the garage is the perfect place as it's going to be nearby to the moving truck. However, the garage has to be organized for this to work, so tackle the garage project early on—plan on at least a Saturday and Sunday for the garage purge. Once you have got the garage under control, sort your boxes so that the movers can get to them with no problem on moving day; they will load the truck so that the weight is correctly distributed and so that the first things that need to come off are the last put on.
If you're the type of person who hangs on to boxes, you may now congratulate yourself. Electronics are fragile and if you have the original box, you can re-use that. If not, put all cords connected to the device in a box--power cords, modems, power strips, instructional CDS--and label it all. Take photos of the cords before you pack them to make it easier to hook back up at the destination.
Fragile!
It's staggering how many things you use daily are pretty breakable. Dishware, glasses, light bulbs, lamps--all need a little special handling when you're packing them. Wrap dishes and glasses in newsprint, and place the plates in the box on end like records. A layer of bubble wrap protects them even more, and stuff the empty spaces with some sort of shredded paper or packing peanuts. Do not overload the boxes of fragile items, and don't use large boxes for fragile items. Boxes from the liquor store work well for fragile things; they come in odd sizes and may not have tops, so with a box cutter and tape you can customize boxes.
Do not just toss your lamps into boxes, remove the shade and harp and take out the bulb. The bases can be placed in a large box with the harp taped to the base, the shades can nest in another box, and the bulbs need to be packed separately (an ornament box is great for this) and marked fragile.
Next time, we will discuss packing dos and don'ts.
