Professional Packing Tips
How to Make Packing Work for You
When you're packing for a move, you might want to ask yourself it you should pack it yourself or hire professional to do if for you. In many of our moves we've never used professionals to pack our things; for me it's always about saving money. Others I know swear by packing professionals, claiming they're worth every penny. And I believe it! But if you're like me and you just can't afford the price-tag, use these tips from the professionals to make sure your stuff arrives at your new home without cracks, scrapes or permanent damage.
What Should Be Packed?
If you have specialty items or items that are worth a lot of money, it might be worth it to hire professionals to pack them properly. Chandeliers, large glass pieces (sculptures, oversized mirrors and glass top tables), and some fine antique furnishings that may just need to be properly padded. Major appliances also require special care. Check out an easy-to-follow manual to preparing your appliances for moving.
Packing Supplies
All About Boxes A question I get asked a lot is, whether to buy new boxes or to ask the local grocer for some, both of which have their pros and cons. I'm a big supporter of recycling, so we usually try to use boxes that have been slightly used. For special items or antiques, I keep a few heavy-duty small boxes on hand. My husband, who supports going to every wine store in the city to collect used liquor boxes, finds that the boxes he collects are rarely damaged, since their former contents didn't carry anything spill-able (except very well-corked wine), and are perfect for packing books. And I agree. They're small, compact so it's almost impossible to over-pack them.
My suggestion is to do what is best for your things and for your budget. We're currently in the middle of a move; I had to move early to the new city to start a job, leaving my family back at our old home with all the packing. Needless to say, my husband collected his boxes from local stores and has managed to pack the entire house (except for specialty items like a large mirror) with used boxes. Not only did it save in our moving budget, but I also feel better that I'm moving a little greener by reusing boxes.
Other Packing Necessities
Again, in this last move, my husband took my advice and used shredded paper to fill boxes, to cushion delicate items and to keep things from moving around during transport.
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