Best Packing Tips? We’ve Got Them

Packing is something that seems never-ending, so packing tips always come in handy. You fill one box, wipe your hands, turn around, and there is a room full of empty ones just waiting for the tender touch of your hands. This goes for all types of moving, even with the help of professional movers. Without wasting the packing tape, let’s get into the best packing tips to make your life and move that much easier.

Make A Moving Plan

Deep breath in and start planning a move. Planning is a needed part of packing. You have to know what to pack, how to pack it and some moving hacks to make things easier. Therefore, you should make a list of what you want to take with you as well as start looking around for the ways to pack what you want. Remember that not all things travel the same, and what works for your pots and pans will not necessarily work for your mirror and TV. Considering your packing materials is a must, because the classic cardboard boxes won’t always do the trick. 

Packing a PCS Blinder 

While you are planning and seeing what you want to move in terms of the items. A good piece of advice for a military move, or in general, really, is to make and have a PCS Blinder. This is where you will store all the important documents, as well as keep them safe for the packing, moving and unpacking stage. The documents you should include are:

• Birth certificates
• Marriage license
• Insurance documents
• Contact info for the new base
• Medical records for the whole family
• Passports
• Children’s school reports
• Government-issued and military IDs
• Pet documents or/ and passports

Just to name a few. 

Basically, any document that you deem important is put in the PCS Blinder. Also, make a few copies of the papers, just in case.

And, it is also important to remember to take your weapons card and keep it with you at all times through the chaotic process that is moving. 

The Washing Tip

When you figure out what to pack, now you can start the process with the first part, before you even get the packing materials, being – the washing. You would want to wash items such as shoes, clothes, plates, etc. You would like your items to be clean when you unpack them in your new home. They can be washed when you get there, but you would probably be too tired to do so, certainly if it is a long move. So, wash before you pack.

Donating is Your Friend

While you are going through what to take with, or even while you are in the washing phase, you can consider what to do with the items that you will not need to transit. With these items, you have a few options, such as donating them and selling them. Donating is for items that you cannot sell or have difficulty finding a buyer for. These can be anything, even food – so long as it’s non-perishable.

We recommend eating as much of your food as you can. However, if you cannot, then you can donate any leftover items that are in sealed packaging – non-perishable of course – to any charity, or you can get in touch with Move for Hunger.

Selling is a great way to get rid of stuff while also making some more money to help with the moving process. Regardless, if you are donating or selling, you get the advantage to save money on your overall move. This is because moving companies work out their prices according to the weight. Therefore, the less weight you have, the more you save. But, you would still want to move stuff that is beneficial for you in your new home. Obviously, the choice is yours.

Packing Materials

Look around your current home and see what you can use as packing materials to pack items. These can be suitcases, small boxes, plastic bags, old blankets, laptop bags even. Be creative. It is important to use what you have and use it well. Everything in your home can be used as something to be packed into, or as a packing material in a way. 

Use clothes, socks, and towels as packing materials to envelop glasses and plates. The clean socks can go inside the glasses. And, the towels you can wrap around the items. However, make sure that you do not pack the plates one on top of the other and then wrap a towel around the bunch. You would have to wrap the plates separately so as not to cause them to break.

Either way, be aware of space in your packing items. You would want to fit in as much as you can without making it too heavy that you cannot even lift it up without breaking the bag. Also, make sure that you pack your small items into a small case so as not to lose them or to have them everywhere in your luggage. Having them in one container just makes it easier.

Another packing trick is to wrap drawers as in to take a lot of cellophane and wrap it around the whole drawer a few times. Certainly, do this if you plan to move the dresser to your new home. This can make it great if your dressers are filled with clothes. This means that when the dresser is unpacked in your new home, you can just unwrap the drawers and slide them in. Ready to go, saving you a ton of time.

Packing and Moving Tips

Before you wrap up your drawers, make sure that you take out items that are breakable so that you can pack them separately so that they do not break easily. And, for mattresses, you should wrap a bed sheet around everyone as a way to protect them against dust while on the move.

When packing, put the heavy items at the bottom of the container while the lighter ones go at the top. This will keep the light items from getting squashed by the heavy ones. Furthermore, while you are packing up, you would want to label. This can make it run a lot smoother when you unpack. Therefore, pack up a room at a time, leaving the kids’ room for last. Write in big what box, or container, or bag comes from which room. As well as what exactly is in the containers. You can make a list instead and call the different containers by numbers.

Plus, if you have any hazardous materials like paint thinners, or aerosol cans etc., they should be disposed of in a safe and proper manner. Do not take it with you since it can damage your belongings. Certainly, if it spills.

Pictures to Ease Off The Packing Process

While you are packing up, you would want to make sure that you take photos of the items to make sure that you can check their condition when they arrive in the new home. While no one wants anything to get damaged or scratched, etc., there is always a chance. But, try to decrease these changes by packing as well as you can.

Furthermore, you should also take pictures of the electronics. Such as the TV to know which cable goes into which hole. This is to save you time to set up the TV and view it to relax a bit after the move before the hardcore unpacking.

Pack Travel Kits for Family Members

If you are moving with kids or pets for that matter, you would want to pack a travel kit for them, and yourself. This is what you will take on your travel. It is a kit of essentials such as toothbrushes, soaps, snacks, laptops, chargers etc. that you need to pack. Regarding pets and kids, you would want to make sure that they have their favorite toys with them on the trip.

You can also pack yours and their PJs as well as a change of clothes, just in case it is a long haul. Or for when you arrive in your new home, and you are absolutely exhausted that the idea of looking for your PJs among the well-marked luggage is just not worth it.

Military Moves Discounts

Military families move a ton, so much more than a lot. However, there are quite a few discounts that are offered to them, that you should take advantage of from getting your form of transportation service, getting a no-fee passport, canceling your gym membership and more. You can even check out ACS Lending Closet to borrow/ loan items while your personal stuff comes through. You can also speak to your current and future base to see what discounts you can get being a military family.

Packing and Unpacking During Moving Day

Now you have packed up, organized your PCS blinder, made sure the movers were on route. However, you would want to make sure before the chaos starts that there is a room for your kids and pets to relax in while the movers are moving around your current home.

This can be chaotic, even frightening for young kids and worst so for pets. Therefore, make sure that they are the kids and pets favorite toys in the room. A place for the kids to play or draw etc. As well as the pets’ food and drink bowls. Also, snacks for the kids can help too.

While the moving day process is in effect make sure that the kids’ room is the last to be packed in. This is so they can be the first to go unpacked in the new home. Also, make sure even one does their bathroom business before you get in the transport. And, take the toilet paper and towel with you, just in case you may need it. Plus, both items do not take up space so why leave them behind.

Final (Packing) Tip 

Once all has been moved and done, you can take the chance to go through your current home to say goodbye. As well as to make sure that you did not leave anything behind. You can even give it a clean for the next owners.

Professional Moving and Packing Help

While the above tips are all great, there is something you have to do before you even get packing in the first place. And, that is to organize your move. This part of the process is less fun than packing but it must be done. Moving organizing is made easy with Shyft. It is your go-to personal moving organizer, and a fintech-powered moving marketplace that has moved over 200,000 people in 68 countries. Shyft works with verified moving companies, and can source the best pricing for military moves from moving companies that are well versed in what is required of an intricate and complex military move, including handling sensitive and special items, and ensuring the safety and security of your belongings. 

How does Shyft work? It’s super simple. Just log onto their website, and enter your move details. A personal Move Assistant will contact you and arrange a 30-minute video chat through the free-to-download ShyftNext app. This video chat will ascertain your special requirements, move details and the weight and volume of your move – which is important in determining pricing. You can book this video chat morning, noon, night or on weekends, whenever suits you. 

Your 95% accurate inventory list will be shared with you within an hour of the video chat, and you can change and  add items, or approve the list as is. 

Shyft will get you more than three moving quotes through this process. And, you get to choose who will take on your move. Shyft also has movers that handle military moves so you have nothing to worry about with them.

The best part is that whenever you have a question, concern, etc. you can contact your Move Assistant at any time. This means during the day, at night, over the weekend, whenever. They are on call for you 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Find Professional Packers and Movers with Shyft Marketplace

If you are in the process of buying new furniture for your new home, you can check out Shyft’s marketplace. It is here that you not only furniture but storage, etc. What is more, is that you will get a discount on every item on the marketplace. Plus, items will be delivered directly to your new home.

People that have used Shyft to organize their moves have managed to save about $600. Therefore, you can think of using Shyft as getting an indirect discount. So, add Shyft to your moving mix while planning your packing routine. Happy packing and safe travels with Shyft.