When moving or relocating, it’s always best to be organized weeks in advance before you actually start vacating your place. For starters, you may want to make an inventory of the things you’ll be taking with you. Use a clipboard to write down each item, including its approximate dimensions and measurements. Based on the inventory, you should be able to determine what kind and how much packing supplies you’ll have to have on hand for your upcoming relocation.
What you can’t fit in and carry in your suitcase and travelling bags, you’ll likely have to box. You can buy boxes and other packing supplies from the nearest local moving retailer or an office supply or mail service store, or even online. Some of these outlets carry Packing Kits and Moving Kits that come in different sizes. These commercial kits come with a pre-determined mix of boxes and related supplies to support various scales of relocation. There’s one for instance for a large household and another one for a single room apartment dweller.
If you have a collection of expensive fine garments, you may want to buy special wardrobe boxes to make sure they are protected from the elements and won’t crease during the relocation. With these specially made wardrobe boxes, you can directly pack your clothes from the cabinet with their hangers on. There are other special boxes you can find at a professional moving retail outlet including those for carrying dishes and other fragile china ware, mirror and framed pictures, musical instruments, sporting equipment, important files and documents, and so forth.
However, if you’re on a budget, instead of buying, you may want to try asking first your neighborhood grocer and liquor store owner for empty or discarded boxes and crates they can spare. Use these free ones, then buy only when you find you need more boxes.
Aside from the boxes, you’ll also be needing some cushioning material for your things and stuff, lke bubble wraps, packing paper and moving blankets. If you’re bringing with you furniture, you may also want to cover them with some sturdy plastic sheets to protect them from moisture and scratches during the relocation. Once wrapped and boxed, secure them with packing tape, binding cords and/or moving straps. Use permanent markers to label and number your boxes, making sure to write down the contents of each box on the inventory in your clipboard.
Once done with the wrapping and the boxing, you’re next step would be to find a suitable moving van or truck you can hire for your relocation. Rental rates vary across companies so it’s advisable to shop around first for the best possible deal you can find. Call or visit the websites of U-Haul, Home Depot and other vehicle rental companies to learn and compare their respective rates, terms and conditions.
