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6 Handy Packing Tips for Your Interstate Move

6 Handy Packing Tips for Your Interstate Move

If you’re relocating interstate (or simply a long distance away), ensuring your belongings are safely packed during your move is essential.

We would always advise if your budget allows it to have a removalist pack your beloongings professionally.  There are two main reasons why removalist packed boxes are the prefered option.

1 Insurance cover and accountability is much easier as goods are identified on the inventory when they are packed.
2 Your goods are more likely to arrive in the condition they left considering adequate professional packing.

However if your budget does not allow for this here are some handy hints.

Tip #1: Start Packing Early

Don’t leave your packing until the last minute. This can cause lots of stress and slow down your move. Begin packing early and start with the items you don’t use regularly. 

Tip #2: Get Must-Have Packing Supplies

Having a good stock of the right packing supplies handy will make the exercise and your move hassle-free. Essential supplies include:

  • Sturdy and durable boxes in a range of sizes
  • Wrapping and protective supplies like bubble wrap, foam wrap and butcher’s paper
  • Packing tape – with dispenser (much easier and safer than using your teeth or scissors)
  • Markers for labelling and writing on boxes
  • Fragile stickers
  • Mattress covers
  • Box cutters  
  • Scissors, string and ties

Tip #3: Avoid Newspaper

Avoid newspaper for wrapping individual items. Papers aren’t very protective (especially for breakables) and they’ll also leave black smears on your belongings.  

Instead, bubble wrap, foam wrap and foam ‘peanuts’ are recommended. These are all much more effective in keeping your items safe and preventing breakages.

For non-breakable or non-valuable items that don’t require much protection, try using butcher’s paper rather than newspaper.

Tip #4: Pack Boxes Wisely

Sturdy, purpose-made removalists’ boxes are best; don’t opt for flimsy alternatives, as these can break and tear easily, especially if overpacked.

Seal all the bottoms of your boxes with packing tape – the last thing you’ll want is for a box to empty from below at your destination. 

Pack your heavy or larger items at the bottom of each box to help with the distribution of weight, and pack lighter items at the top.

Don’t over-pack boxes; they shouldn’t be too heavy to carry by one or two people and the tops of all boxes should be flat when closed, for easy stacking and safety during transit.

To save money, you can often collect smaller boxes for free to use as inner packaging materials, from supermarkets, bottle shops and similar. For fragile or valuable items, however, it’s always best to use proper packing boxes.

Tip #5: Pack Clothes Carefully

It’s always a good idea to start packing early. Out of season clothes and linen are examples of items that can be packed early.

Empty suitcases, travel bags and even plastic storage containers can be handy for packing clothes and linen (as long as they are protective).

You can also buy special ‘wardrobe’ boxes to stow clothes, pillows and linen; however, be sure not to pack these too heavily or they could break in transit.

If you decide to pack your clothes into a standard box, you may want to wrap them in plastic first to prevent dampness from penetrating while set aside ahead of the move.

Tip #6: Label Everything

Labelling is essential to make sure that none of your items go astray and for speedy unpacking at your destination. Your labels should include:

  • Your name, full address and contact details
  • The details of your moving company
  • Any tracking or job numbers provided
  • The contents of the box, bag or item and the room it is moving to (e.g. kitchen, garage)

If possible, try pre-printing your labels before moving day. This will make labelling much easier and means you don’t won’t yourself out writing your full details on every single item and box.

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