10 Mistakes to avoid when self-packing

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You decided to move and instead of hiring professional movers to help you, you decided to pack by yourself. Self-packing will definitely help you save some money when it comes to your move, but if you realize in the middle of packing that you would actually need to hire professional movers, just type to your Google search ‘Movers near me’ and hire local movers to assist. Usually local moving companies don’t charge that much for movers help to pack your items and there is a lot of moving companies in Houston, so don’t hesitate to do your research. If you want to try to complete this project by yourself, we will help you by listing the most common mistakes when it comes to packing and how to avoid them. 

1. Don’t start with packing if you don’t have a plan

Lot of people think that they should just start with packing boxes without having a clear packing strategy in their head or written down. Packing is the most time-consuming process of a local move, so if you just start with packing up random items around, you will be lost at the end of this process. That’s why you should create a packing timeline for moving. The easiest way is to pack your items room by room. Start with the most difficult one – kitchen. Packing of your dishes is time-consuming and stressful, every item there is fragile and delicate, so you have to be focused and well-rested before you start with this room.  Try to be objective when it comes to time, you shouldn’t expect that you can pack your kitchen in 2 hours. If you start rushing, margin for mistakes will get higher. And that is something you definitely want to avoid. 

2. Don’t skip making inventory list of what you need to pack

Making an inventory list for your moving is must have whether you are performing moving and packing by yourself or you have movers that will help you. Once you make an inventory, it will be very easy for you to decide if you want to leave some items behind. You don’t want to fill out your home with something you don’t need at all. You can always sell those items on a garage sale or even get rid of something. Once you have your inventory list for packing, it will help you with making the plan. On the other hand, you will know if something is missing once your local movers move you to your new home. 

couple calculating costs
make a list of things before you start packing

3. Don’t wait until the night before the move to finish your packing

It is very important to start with your packing in time. You don’t want your movers to arrive and see your items are not even close to being packed. This will make your moving very stressful and that is something we all want to avoid. Once you have your inventory list and the plan, you will know how much time you need to spend in order to pack all of your belongings. The best-case scenario is to have your items packed and ready to go one day before your local movers arrive to your location.

worried woman in bed
good time management is half the job done

4. Don’t think that quality packing material is overrated

One of the main differences between self-pack and hiring professional movers for packing is packing material. If you are doing self-pack, you will probably think that you can save money on packing material, but you shouldn’t do that. Quality packing material is a good investment, because you are making sure that your items are safely packed and that will be safely movers to your new location. If you are not sure what packing material you should use, ask your movers to give you an advice. It might be a little pricier, but you don’t want to lose your valuable memories to save few dollars. 

man taping box
before you start packing, protect your belongings well

5. Don’t forget to pack miscellaneous items from a drawer, cabinets etc.

Professional movers will let you know that you should pack everything from a drawer, cabinets, dressers etc. There are few reasons why movers avoid moving furniture pieces with things inside – you don’t want your items inside the drawer to get damaged and also, movers don’t want to risk their own safety. So, once you are done with packing, go and check all cabinets and drawer one more time. 

items on floor
check the drawers before you start packing

6. Don’t pack anything that is prohibited

You should ask your local movers to inform you what items are not allowed to be moved by movers, so you don’t waste time and effort. Once your professional movers provide you with the full list of goods forbidden for transportation, you will be able to figure out what to do with each individual item before your move-out date. Usually, movers are not allowed to transport flammable, explosive items, alcohol, food, pets… When it comes to plants – double check with your moving company.

moving dolly with box
you should inquire well before you start packing

7. Don’t overpack your boxes

Pay attention when you are packing your boxes. Don’t overpacked them, because they will be too heavy for your movers to carry and also there is a chance that your box can’t hold the items inside and that is how a lot of items can get damaged. If there is some empty space, fill it out with paper or padding material. If you leave empty space, you are risking the safety of the items inside. 

stuffed suitcase
use multiple boxes do not overload one

8. Don’t forget to label the boxes

Are you in the mood to lose hours of post-relocation time searching through piles of boxes to find your bedding? We thought so. This is a mistake you don’t have to make, for sure. Just take a marker pen and mark each packed box with the room, content or handling instructions for your movers (and yourself). You will be grateful to yourself once you start with unpacking.

woman on phone
remember to mark the boxes to make it easier for you to pack

9. Don’t forget to pack your essential bag or box

This is the step that lot of people can easily forget. Bear in mind that once movers start loading your items into the moving truck, you will no longer have access to them until they are delivered to your new home. Essential box is your life-saver. This is especially important if you have a baby or a toddler. Here are few ideas of what you should consider packing up inside your essential box: water bottle, sandwiches, medications, kitchen utensils, spare clothes, basic toiletries, a set of hand tools, toys, food for your dog etc.

items on table
remember to pack the essentials from the drawer

10. Don’t think you won’t need any help with packing

Of all the mistakes to avoid when packing for a move, the assumption that you can pack up your entire home on your own is probably the judgment error that can hurt you the most. It is possible, but if you try to do it yourself it will be stressful and you will need weeks to get ready for your move, which can make you frustrated and this is a new chapter of your life that should start with the smile on your face. That is why you should ask your friends or a family member to assist. 

man and woman shaking hands
professional movers will help you pack and make it easier and save you time

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