Having to pack all of your household and personal items takes a lot of time and effort. With all of the moving around, sorting, and stuffing in boxes, it’s only normal for you to mess up or forget certain things. This is why you have to be extra mindful and orderly when packing, so that you can be able to smoothly facilitate everything that needs taking care of.
Here is a list of the most common packing mistakes that you should avoid, and tips on how to properly pack your possessions.
1. Not having a plan
Not having a plan is one common mistake that people commit at the beginning of their packing. And it can greatly affect how the whole packing process pans out. You may think that it is easier to just wing it, and simply pack everything as you go along. However, going about randomly will only cause you more stress and wasted time later on. If you do not organise, you may also find yourself with a cluttered home and missing items.
What you should do is carefully plan everything out even before you start your packing. Consider how many boxes and what packing materials you’ll need, what things should go where, and how much work you have to do each day before moving day. If you have everything scheduled and thought out, everything will go on without a hitch. One good tip is to start packing larger items, and things from rooms you don’t really use that often. Then, you can work your way to the smaller items, and essentials that you use on a daily basis.
2. Not using the proper containers and packing supplies
Packing itself can be really stressful. The last thing you would want to happen is to cause even more problems like broken items and torn boxes, because you did not use the proper containers and packing supplies. You want to make sure that the quality of boxes, wraps, and tapes that you use will be able to withstand carrying heavy loads, and being transported to different places. Poor quality materials can easily become undone or broken, which may cause your things to scatter or sustain damage.
You should also look into getting hold of boxes that are specially made for packing breakables, and other items that may be fragile or oddly shaped. Take note, as well, to put heavier items in smaller boxes, and lighter items in bigger boxes. This is so that you can make the best use of your boxes, and ensure they are easy to carry and avoid accidents.
3. Not sorting and labelling your boxes
Sorting your belongings and labelling the boxes they are in does not take much effort, but can really save you a lot of time once you are unpacking. Mixing different items that belong to different rooms will make placing all these in your new home a difficult process. Not only that, but you may also risk misplacing and losing track of your things.
Labelling your boxes and containers is as easy as taking a marker, and writing what the contents are and what room they belong to. This way, you will be able to more easily sort what box goes where, so that they can be delivered to the correct destination in your home. Having dozens of unmarked boxes will only cause much confusion, and you will be forced to have to individually open each box just to find out what is inside.
4. Not packing your belongings the correct way
You have to take note that how you place your things inside their respective boxes is quite important, and should be done carefully. Incorrectly packing your belongings can lead to these items getting broken and damaged. One tip you can follow is to place heavier items at the bottom of the box, while the lighter ones are on top. This is to provide your box stability and prevents lighter items getting crushed under heavier ones.
Fragile and breakable items need more attention when packing. Make sure that you wrap these items using packing paper, bubble wrap, and other padding materials. Also take note that specialty items like refrigerators or televisions should be packed in a different way than your other belongings, and may need extra padding and care when moving. Make sure, as well, that you do not leave any empty spaces in your boxes. Fill in all the gaps with packing paper or padding material. This is to avoid packed items moving around and getting damaged or chipped.
Packing can be a difficult and tiresome task. However, by taking note of these common packing mistakes, you can be able to make everything a whole lot easier and stress-free.