Your house has been listed on the housing market and you have already won the bid for your new home. In only two months, your new purchase will close and you will finally get the keys to your new home. During this period, it is time to start slowly packing for your move. As you go through your stuff, you have no idea where to start and how you should pack. Let the pros give you some tips on packing.

• Pack room-by-room.
• Carry valuables (jewelry, cash, important documents, stamp/coin collections, prescriptions and medical/dental records) with you on moving day.
• Ask for a packing estimate from your moving company. Let them pack all the breakables (china, crystal, pictures, lamps, electronics, etc.).
• If you are packing on your own, stick to unbreakable items. If you pack it and it breaks, it is your problem, not the movers.
• Most moving companies move furniture with items still in drawers. Be certain there is nothing breakable to spillable in the drawers and use extra packing material (sweaters, towels, etc.) to make sure the contents do not shift during transportation.
• Moving companies will not transport flammable liquids or aerosol containers. Drain fuel power equipment and throw our flammable and toxic items, cleaning products, paint and solvents at your local Waste Management facility. Find out how you can dispose of these items properly.
• Clearly identify your “last-packed, first-opened” boxes so essential items are available once you arrive to your new home.

• A wardrobe box is a great asset on moving. All clothing on hangers can be moved from your closet, to the wardrobe box, to your new closet. Shoes, purses, gloves, and other light-weight items from your closet can be put in bags at the bottom of the wardrobe container.
• Towels, sheets, pillows and tablecloths can be used to cushion breakable items in packing boxes.
• Plates and dishes should be wrapped in packing material and packed on their sides. A generous layer of crushed paper should be placed on the bottom of each box prior to packing dishes.
• Glasses, cups and vases should be stuffed with crumpled packing paper before wrapping individually. Be sure to identify FRAGILE items and label the boxes with FRAGILE visible.
• Do not pack higher than the top of the carton. You have to be able to close and seal the box. Fill in the extra space with packing paper to avoid shifting.
• Pack heavier items at the bottom of each box and limit the weight of each box to 50 pounds (22.7 kg).
• Books are heavy. Pack them on their edges, in small boxes.

• 5 cu. ft. – books and heavy items
• 2 cu. ft. – standard packing box
• 3 cu. ft. – small kitchen appliances
• 4 cu. ft. – lightweight decorative items, linens, electronics
• Wardrobe box – clothing on hangers
• China barrels – dishes and glassware
• Picture boxes – telescoping boxes accommodate most framed art and mirrors
• Lamp boxes – lamps and shades

Planning for a move is as difficult as it is already. Packing makes it an even more tedious task to do. Hopefully with these packing tips, you should be on your way to moving success!