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July 20, 2021
4
min read

Your Complete Guide To Moving, Packing, And Storage

So you found a new place and you are ready to get moving. But where do you begin, and how do you make sure you get it right and don’t forget anything important? Every person who has moved even once in their lives knows that these are tough questions. You might know what’s going on at first, but soon enough everything gets so messy that keeping track of things becomes nearly impossible.

Get a travel bag packed

With everything, you might need in the next day or two. Think of it as a road trip,most of your stuff will stay in the boxes until you are done the unpacking, so your towels, change of clothes and toiletry should be kept within easy reach. Throw your laptop in there as well, to keep it safe and handy.

Use clear plastic containers

For whichever you expect to need first.If you pack the paper towels, next change of clothes, charger and other essentials in a box that looks exactly like 20 other boxes you are using, you are in for a world of hurt. Finding it all will be really hard.

Glasses, cups and other large breakables

Can be wrapped in socks and t-shirts to keep them safe. This will also eliminate a few bulky bags full of clothing items, a nice bonus!

Label, label, label

Especially if you are going to use a self-storage facility. Stuff that is going to the new place should be labeled by room. Things that you’ll be putting into one of our self-storage units in Langley, Surrey, Mission, Coquitlam should be labeled by type of item, such as “tools”, “dishes”, “toys” and so on. It is hard enough to remember what went into which box when you are moving, let alone when you come back for it a month later to retrieve it from the self-storage.

Sort things out in advance

Arrive at the new place, or our self-storage facility early on, and plan the move there. See how many boxes you are going to put and where. Showing up with a truckload on the day of the move and hoping to just sort things out on the spot usually leads to heaps of trouble, pardon the pun.

Stack the breakables on top

Regardless of where the items are going, the new place or self-storage, make sure to stack the breakables on top. Adding a few cotton pads to your cosmetics pouch or electronics bag will also keep them safer.

Pack your plates in vertical, not horizontal stacks

This one is so obvious, that we are surprised it isn’t done more. It keeps them from breaking.

Leave lightweight stuff in the drawers

There is no need to unload or put things in boxes. Just make sure to wrap the drawer cabinets with cling wrap. This will keep them from sliding open.

Apply the same technique to your closet

With one small adaptation - cling wrap the clothes on the hangers and tape the hangers to the rod before you tape the closet shut. So much easier than packing and unpacking, and leads to less wrinkly shirts and dresses, too!

Keep the screws in sandwich bags

When you take apart furniture or appliances, keep the screws in sandwich bags. This applies to curtain rods, TV wall mounts, wall cabinets and pretty much anything that eventually has you holding a bunch of small parts in one hand and scratching your head with the other. Just sandwich bag ‘em and tape them to the items with which they belong. Use the same method with electronic cables.

Other uses

Many people wonder if there is another use for beer boxes, and there really is. Those handles make them perfect for books! If you have enough time before the move, make sure to put those boxes away so they can serve you one more time.

Keep a reference picture

When dismantling anything complex, take a picture of it when it’s still assembled. This goes for that funnily designed IKEA corner desk and the tangle of cable connections in the back of the entertainment center. Keeping a reference picture will help you put Humpty Dumpty back together again.

Laundry bins, bags, suitcases and baskets lying around

We all have loads of laundry bins, bags, suitcases and baskets lying around. Be frugal, put them to good use and reduce your need for boxes. If any of those are on wheels, use them for heavy things, like canned foods, books or training weights. We hope you are finding this useful. For more information on storage and packing tools.Visit: www.storageforyourlife.com

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