How to self pack
Suggested Materials Needed:
- Plastic Bags and labels for easy identification
- Foam peanuts, Styrofoam pellets or "popcorn".
- Tissue or craft paper for delicate packing jobs.
- Corrugated paper rolls for figurines and fragile items.
- Gummed tape (1_ 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
- Camera to take photos of items packed in boxes to be placed on side of box to reduce the mystery during unpacking
- Download our moving check list to help you with your move.
Dishes and Fragile Items:
- Cushion the bottom of the box with wades of bundled or rolled up paper/towels or couch cushions, if room allots.
- Wrap each piece individually. Unprinted soft paper is ideal for this purpose.
- Bundle flatware in-groups of three and wrap each bundle.
- Place a few layers of paper between each piece of china.
- Cushion the top and sides with paper to prevent shifting. When you shake the box, you should not hear anything move.
- The steadier the contents, the lower the risk of damage.
- For dishware make sure they are standing on edge in the box.
- Double boxing is also recommended for extreme fragile items, ensure to surround inner box with plenty of cushion
Clothing:
- Make sure your dresser drawers are completely empty.
- Put hanging clothes in wardrobe boxes.
- Use the bottom of the wardrobe boxes for shoes.
Lamps and Electrical Items:
- Wherever possible, pack electronics in the original cartons. If the original boxes are not available to you, pack the items using bubble wrap and make sure that it is packed in a correctly sized box.
- Code wiring with tape for easy installation.
- Stereo: fasten down the tone arm and dust cover.
- Compact disk: Check instructions to secure the laser.
- Personal computer: Backup important files. Insert an old or blank disk in the floppy disk drive. "Park" the hard disk (program often included on diagnostics diskette.)
Moving Tips
- Clear out unwanted goods – hold a garage sale.
- Get rid of flammables – paint, petrol, gas cylinders.
- Empty fuel from mowers, clippers, trimmers and so on.
- Clothes – do you need them all? Charity shops may want them.
- Separate books – disposable, family reading, valuable.
- Check all electrical goods – will they work in the new home?
- Start making up your change of address list.
- Arrange to have mail forwarded.
- Arrange termination date for electricity, gas, oil, telephone and other main suppliers.
- If you are taking electrical goods such as a stereo, see if you still have their original boxes.
- Have rugs cleaned.
- If you have children, separate cherished toys to travel with you.
- Round up personal documentation – marriage/birth certificates, driving licenses and so on.
- Keep passports separate so they are not packed.
- With regards to family pets– make sure vaccinations and documentation are up to date.
- Will your new home be ready? If not, you need to arrange temporary storage.
- Shops, schools, theaters, life styles – it’s never too early to find out about your new home.
- Want to move your car? Please speak to your moving consultant about auto shipping.
- Start running down freezer stocks.
- Arrange your finances – close or transfer bank accounts, savings accounts and so on, if necessary.
Helpful Hints
For furniture from IKEA, Walmart or any particle board materials, it needs to be disassembled because it is not meant to be transported the material is not quite sturdy
- When labeling boxes, do not only label on the top, also label on the sides.
- Pack one room at a time.
- Mark all boxes, designating a room and box number.
- Tape the bottom of every box using packing tape or gummed tape, it is better than masking tape. Tape the top closed tightly. Run two strips of tape along the side and one strip down the center. (If the box is still not strong enough, apply more tape to the sides.)
- Use small boxes for heavier items and larger boxes for light-weight bulky items.
- Wrap small or fragile items individually.
- Stuff the top, bottom and sides of boxes with paper. This prevents shifting, rubbing, and possible breakage.
- Pack boxes to the top, which will help prevent them from being crushed when they are stacked.
- Stuff boxes with fragile items with wads of paper.
- Do not pack items too tightly, however when you shake the box the contents should not move.
- For your ease, number each box and make a list of what is in each box. This will make unpacking process much smoother. You may want to make a note on the box as to which room it belongs.