5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Packing

When it comes to moving house, one of the tedious tasks when preparing to move out is packing up – and people are never too happy about it!

Just by looking at all the things that would be moved out from your house may already feel so overwhelming. From the kitchenware to the bed sheets – not to mention all the photographs and furniture. Nevertheless, it has to get done.

Packing things may sometimes cause you a lot of stress whilst you can’t just aimlessly shove your precious belongings into boxes and toss them into a truck or trailer. You can avoid this madness by getting help from professional removalists in Grafton to pack your things the right way.

5 Things to watch out for when packing your things

Let’s take a look at some of the common mistakes to avoid when you’re moving house:

1. Waiting Until The Last Minute

At long last, it’s moving day. But wait, you’re not done packing!

Packing up when it's time to go can cause you a lot more stress than you need. Moving requires a certain amount of time in planning to make sure that your things are safe and unscathed until it reaches your new home.

If you are the type of person who always has the tendency to put-off things until the last minute, you'll fall behind on packing everything. Other than that, there may be other bits of admin that you might miss to do such as redirecting mail and changing your address with your utilities and service providers..

Packing isn’t fun, but it has to be done. Here are a few tips to help you get started on the right foot.

• Plan ahead. It may seem like a good idea to just pick a room and start throwing things into boxes but it’s not. You’re likely going to get overwhelmed and abandon ship before you even really get started.

What you can do is make a list of the rooms that need to be packed up. As you go along, you’ll be able to check things off your list in an organized fashion. Not too bad, right?

• Start packing no less than a month before moving day. Remember, you’re packing up your life from however long you’ve been at your current address. Accumulating all of your possessions didn’t happen overnight – and neither will packing. Along with your list from the previous step, begin tackling your rooms one by one.

• Call your removalist ASAP. You don’t want to wait until a week or less before the move before you reach out to your removalist. Most removalists in Grafton schedule bookings weeks in advance and you run the risk of not being able to find an experienced provider if you wait on this, so call as soon as possible.

Pressed for time on moving day? Consider asking your removalist to help. Most removalists offer assistance if you still need help come moving day.

2. Not Having A Method

As easy as it may seem, you can’t just pack your belongings willy nilly with no set process. You’re going to need a method for the madness. Consider these few tips:

• Sort through and throw out unwanted items. Early on in the packing process, you need to decide on what things you really want to take with you to the new house – not everything is going to make the cut. Moving is the perfect opportunity to get rid of old stuff so you can make a fresh start – it might even help you when it comes to the moving cost. Once you have sorted things out, you may end up needing a smaller truck than you originally thought. Find your local opshop and to help you with de-cluttering!

• Start packing the things you barely use. Are you moving in the summer? Start packing up your winter clothes. Packing up the rooms that you seldom use early on in the process will mean less fidgeting through boxes as you’re still living in your current home – and one less room you have to worry about later!

• Disassemble larger items. If you’re able to, start disassembling larger items. It will not only make them easier to transport, but it can also give you an extra room as you continue to pack other things. Make sure you label these pieces accordingly so you don’t end up with a pile of table legs – and no idea which table they belong to.

• Cushion fragile items. All of your items need to be packed nicely and securely. They will inevitably be jostled around a bit during transit, so making sure they’re well-padded means they’ll arrive in one piece. That antique frame looks better on your mantle without having been glued back together.

• Label everything. There’s nothing like getting to your new home and finding a box of cutlery in the bedroom, bedsheets in the bathroom – or a box of pantry goods in the laundry room! Labels prevent this. It’s also great for the removalists, as it helps them know where to put your belongings, without you having to dictate their every move. This leaves you free to do other things and lets them do their job more efficiently.

• Don’t forget your perishables. When you’re getting down to the last couple of weeks before your move, it’s a good idea to keep grocery shopping on the lighter side. This is especially the case when it comes to perishables. Eggs, milk, refrigerated orange juice – all of these can go bad or be forgotten very quickly at the end of a busy moving day.

Having a method to organize everything will not only help things get packed away faster - but with a lot less stress!

3. Trying To Do It All Yourself

As tempting as it may be to pack all of your items yourself – realistically, you may need some help. Even a family may need some assistance. Ask someone you trust – like a family member or one of your mates to come by and help you put things away.

But before you pass on some of the tasks to someone else, you need to :

• Give everyone a specific list of what room or items they need to pack. By doing this, everyone knows exactly what they’re packing, and they can move more efficiently.

• Make sure they know to label everything. Especially with many hands involved, labelling things helps keep things organized.

• Give them enough packing materials. Things slow down if they run out of tape or boxes, or the marker runs dry.

Your removalist may also be a big help when it comes to packing. Having spent years in the business, they have the experience and can even provide you tips on how to pack up your belongings the best way.

Reaching out to your Grafton removalist early on in the process can make a big difference when you’re moving house. They can come out to you, assess the situation, and give you valuable advice on how to start packing up.

In addition, removalists are also able to suggest which size of a truck you’ll need for the move. This can help you avoid either overpaying for a larger truck than you need or finding out your truck is too small on moving day.

4. Using Inappropriate Packing Materials

Obviously, you can’t pack your bookshelf into a shoebox – unless you do some very light reading. No matter how far the journey is for your items, you’re going to need sturdy materials that can handle all of the maneuverings along the way..

There are many places where you can find cardboard boxes for moving – supermarkets and other stores are full of boxes they don’t need anymore, and they’re usually more than happy to give them to you. Make sure you pick out sturdy ones without holes, weak spots, or tears.

Your Grafton removalist will also have ample packing materials in stock. You can reach out to them for high-quality supplies such as boxes, tape, bubble wrap, mattress protectors, and more.

5. Not Having An Essentials Bag

With all of the hustle and bustle of packing and moving, you’re going to be exhausted by the end of moving day! Without the energy, or let’s face it, desire to unpack anything, you’re going to want your essentials like toothbrush, toothpaste, combs, etc, nearby and easily accessible. But how will you do that if the box is underneath the kitchenware?

To keep your essentials handy and within easy reach, you can pack a separate bag – one that will be travelling with you in your vehicle - that has all of the essentials you’ll need for a few days. Think of it like packing for a holiday.

Items to include are:

• Toothbrush and Toothpaste
• Towels
• Washcloth
• Soap
• Shampoo and Conditioner
• Combs, brushes, and other necessary hair accessories
• A couple of changes of clothes
• First aid kit – hey, you never know.

Conclusion

It goes without saying – one of the most daunting parts of moving house is the packing. It takes time, effort, and good, quality materials to make sure it all goes smoothly. Fortunately, you don’t have to go it alone.

Essentially, packing is one of the most daunting tasks that you need to plan for. From sorting things to sealing these in boxes securely may take time and a lot of effort to make sure that your belongings reach your new home in one piece.

Fortunately, there are reliable removalists in Grafton who are ready to help you with packing. Professional removalists from Frontline Removals have the experience, expertise, and packing materials that can make packing just that much easier for you.

We can come to help you pack on moving day, making sure that all of your items are ready for their journey. Reach out to us today and let us know how we can make this a smooth process for you.