Moving And Packing Tips You NEED To Know Tuesday Jul 18, 2023

Over the past 84+ years, we’ve moved thousands of individuals and businesses, not just in Baltimore, but across the U.S. and the world. The key to success is proper planning. With that in mind, we’ve compiled some helpful moving and packing tips to make your next moving experience a lot less stressful. 

Choose Packing Materials Wisely 

• When selecting boxes, look for strong, corrugated cartons with covers. You may be able to collect boxes discarded by your grocery or liquor store for free.

Pro-tip: Ask ARS about supplying you with specially made boxes for everything, from mattresses to clothing and mirrors. 

• Old newspapers can be saved for use as packing material, but keep in mind that ink may rub off and stain clothing or other items. 
• Here's a list a packing supplies that will come in handy:
• • Plastic bags and labels for easy identification
  • Foam peanuts, styrofoam pellets/popcorn
  • Tissue or craft paper for delicate packing jobs
  • Corrugated paper rolls for figurines and fragile items
  • Gummed tape (1 1/2 to 2 inches wide) and/or strong twine for sealing cartons
  • Markers and labels for identifying contents of cartons
  • Notebook and pencil for carton identification log
  • Scissors and/or sharp knife

How You Pack Is Just as Important as Your Packing Materials

Make a detailed plan of how you intend to tackle packing. Going one room at a time is a great approach. Try to start packing a few days before the actual move, leaving out any items you’ll need to use up until move day. Mark all boxes, designating room and box number. Starting a log to show the number of boxes per room and total of boxes packed is a great way to stay organized. 

Some additional packing tips:

• Be sure to have plenty of “filling” material available.
• Packing tape or gummed tape is better than masking tape
• Pack heavier items toward the bottom of the box and lighter items toward the top, keeping each box 50 lbs or less. 
• Pack heavier items in smaller boxes. 

Special Handling for Electronics

Most homes have a variety of electronics and electrical equipment that will need to be specially handled. Things like computers, game consoles, TVs, stereo sets and more are valuable items and you want to make sure that they don’t get broken or lost. When possible, try to pack these items in their original boxes/packaging. If that isn’t available, go for strong, corrugated boxes and place protective padding on the bottom of the box. For extra security during transport, you can wrap an old blanket or protective pad around the item. If possible, disconnect any cords from the item and wrap/pack it separately (and don’t forget to label them so you know which electronic device it belongs to.

Almost every American will move at least once in their lifetime. To avoid being part of the 59% of people who reported being stressed, anxious, frustrated or dreading their move, it’s essential that you have a detailed plan and a trusted moving company by your side. Get a head start on your packing with these detailed packing tips. There are some unique items that require a professional with experience and a specialized approach when packing. If you’re planning to move, reach out to our expert team of movers at Advance Relocation Systems for a FREE moving quote. We’d be delighted to help!