Packing, Moving and Storage Tips
Whether you're moving your belongings to a new home or into storage, we have helpful tips for all 3 steps of the process:
Moving?
Don't forget to switch everything over to the new address:
- Arrange with the post office for a change of address and automatic forwarding.
- Change address on licenses, insurance, health cards, at schools, etc.
- Arrange for the transfer of your telephone, utilities and cable.
1. Get organized
It will help you save time and effort if you get organized before you start:
- Buy packing supplies
- Sort, Prioritize, and Plan for quick access
- Keep an inventory list and a list of Serial Numbers
- Some items need to be prepped before they're packed
- Have most of your packing done before you book your transportation
Sort out what you don't want to keep
No point in carting stuff you don't really want anymore. Start a pile of anything you want to get rid of. You can add to it as you go along.
Throw out garbage, recycle recyclables, and dispose properly of any hazardous household chemicals.
For the rest, you can...
- have a garage sale
- sell it by classified ad in the newspaper
- sell it by classified ad online
- donate it to a local charity
- pass it on to a friend
- give it away to a stranger
Prioritize
The first items to pack and move aside are things you don't use everyday (seasonal items, books, extra dishes, etc.).
Things you use all the time, on the other hand, are best packed last and unpacked first.
Plan for quick access
Think ahead about what items you might need sooner than the rest, and keep them packed
in boxes that are quick and easy to...
...access
(if in storage)
or
open first
(if moving):
Quick access for storage
If you're packing for long-term storage but there are some items you will need to retrieve during that time, keep them in separate 'quick access' boxes that you can place within easy reach.
Label the boxes clearly as to contents and quick access priority.
Here are some of the things you might want to bring out of storage temporarily at some point:
- Christmas/holiday decorations
- seasonal sports equipment
- business files
Quick access for a move
If you're packing for a move, you'll want to keep some items packed in special 'open me first' boxes. Once at your new home, you might not be finished unpacking before it's time to eat or sleep, so you'll need quick and easy access to enough necessities to tide you over. Make a packing checklist of what you want to keep aside. For example:
- at least one of each: drinking glass, plate, bowl, spoon, fork and knife
- energy booster snacks
- flashlight or light bulbs if you haven't already ensured they're in place at the new location
- hairbrushes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, towels
- nightclothes, sheets, pillows and blankets
- toilet paper!
You might even stretch your definition of what's a "necessity" and include some comfort items.
For example, if you're in the middle of reading a book, don't pack it with the books, pack it in one of the
'open me first' boxes. You might need it to relax at the end of the long moving day!
Here are some other things you might consider including in your 'top priority' boxes:
- tea kettle or coffee maker and enough mugs for everyone there, plus tea/coffee, sugar,...
- any special stuffed animal friends your little ones can't do without
- some games or activities to keep the kids busy when they tire of helping unpack
Keep an inventory list
To keep track of what you pack and in which box, make an inventory list as you go along, with a number and brief description for each box.
Label the box on all sides with a basic description and the same number as on the list.
Keep the list separate from the items being moved or stored.
Record serial numbers
Also make a list of any serial numbers on electronics and anything else that has them.
You may also want to make a video recording or photographic record of all your valuables.
This is good to have for home insurance purposes even for items that you're not moving or storing.
Keep the list and/or record or recording in a safe place that's not part of the move:
- in a safety deposit box,
- locked in your office desk or workplace locker, or
- at a trusted friend's or relative's house.
If you don't have such a place, keep it on your person during the move.
Prep it before you pack it
Certain items need to be prepped before they can be stored — treated for rust protection, drained of fuel, cleaned, disassembled, etc.
We've included such preparation instructions on our page on special packing tips.
Preparation also includes things like backing up computer data.
Give yourself plenty of time to take care of any prepping before packing.
Book your transportation
Make sure you have most of your packing done before you book:
Free Move-in truck
When the 'Free Move into Storage' courtesy truck arrives, you'll have a limited amount of time to get your belongings loaded, so you don't want to be spending that time rushing with last minute packing.
BigBox Mobile
With the Big Box, it's best to book two weeks in advance, so you'll want to keep some things unpacked if you need them for your daily living during that time.
However, you'll have 24 hours to load the Big Box once it arrives, so that should be plenty of time to finish both your packing and the loading before the container is picked up the next day.
Next page: General packing tips
