Pack what you use least first. If you will not miss it in the next month, it goes in a box today.
Give yourself four to six weeks
Four to six weeks is enough time to pack a home without rushing. You can find more boxes if you run short, protect fragile items properly and spread weight evenly across boxes. The better you pack, the faster the move goes. Start with the right packing supplies.
The packing order
- Rarely used rooms. Start where most things are decorative or stored: the guest room, the formal dining room, the attic.
- Things you do not use daily. Fine china, trophies, out-of-season clothes, books you have already read.
- Everyday rooms. Work through the kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms, leaving out only what you need this week.
- The essentials box. Pack your most used items last and mark the box “Open Me First”.
Name and number every box
Keep the items from each room together. Then label each box two ways:
- By room: the room it belongs in at the new place.
- By number: counted within that room. Kitchen 1, Kitchen 2, Kitchen 3. Main bath 1, Main bath 2.
The numbers give you a quick inventory. When the truck is unloaded, you know in a minute whether Kitchen 4 made it into the house.
Write on the side of the box, not just the top. Stacked boxes hide their tops.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pack first when moving?
The rooms and items you use least. Ornamental and stored items go first.
What should I pack last?
The things you use every day. Put them in a box marked “Open Me First”.
How should I label moving boxes?
By room and by number within that room, so you can check every box arrived.
Short on time?
We offer full or partial packing, so you can hand off just the rooms you would rather not pack. Request a free quote.