First things to pack when moving

Moving house is no joke, and sooner rather than later, you will realize that it requires a lot of serious planning and commitment. As the inevitable day is getting closer, you will have to come up with a lot of efficient strategies to get through the move successfully. To start off correctly, make a foolproof plan about the first things to pack when moving. As much as you dread the packing process, there’s nothing more gratifying than having your items transported without a single scratch.

There are several valid reasons why packing is not among the most favorite moving activities, but it doesn’t have to be a herculean task either. With a proper packing plan in place, you can certainly avoid a lot of mishaps and difficulties down the road.

If you are like most first-time movers, chances are you will be unsure as to where to even start. Without a doubt, there will be tons of questions and concerns, and hopefully, this guide will break down the problematic packing process. If you are still unsure about the packing timeline and wondering how to pack up your belongings without causing any damage, you are in the right place.

While many people would say, that attitude is everything, being well-informed before the big move never hurts. A positive attitude, along with proper know-how, can go a long way towards completing a move successfully.

Packing timeline – know your priorities

Since getting started is the most challenging part of any activity, we suggest you do it as early as possible. Once your move becomes imminent, get down to work and start putting together your unique packing checklist. It’s no secret that proper preparation can save you a lot of troubles and headaches in the long run. So, why wouldn’t you start immediately with the most time-consuming and difficult task?

Packing and unpacking should be a systematic sequence of tasks and decisions. That being said, the very first things to pack when moving are those that you are not using regularly. Non-essential items that you can do without for a while and won’t rush to unpack should be the ones to pack first.

But, before you even start packing, there’s one thing you should do to set yourself up for a trouble-free moving process – declutter.

Deciding what goes and what stays

Once you inventory everything you own, chances are you will be concerned about packing and transportation costs of the lifetime worth of belongings. More importantly, if you are downsizing, it’s highly unlikely that all of them will fit into a new home. Moving house is a perfect chance for a fresh start, but cluttering up your new home with unnecessary items is not the way how you want to begin this new chapter of your life. As time goes by, things inevitably pile up and leave you less space.

Interestingly enough, being there for a while, for many people clutter often feels like a part of the home. Luckily, moving usually calls for some severe and systematic decluttering. If you are looking for a clean slate after the move, start by purging your home of unnecessary stuff.

Whether you are just practical or about to embrace minimalist principles, decluttering can be beneficial on so many levels. By moving fewer items, you will be able to reduce the costs of the move. Although there are a lot of sources of free moving boxes NYC out there, it’s a fact that packing and moving supplies can be rather pricey. So, by reducing the moving load, you will save yourself quite some time and money. If you are unsure how to decide the fate of your items, try answering these questions. And more importantly, be honest with yourself when assessing your needs.

• Is your new home large enough to accommodate it?
• Are you going to use it any time soon?
• What was the last time when you used it?
• What’s the cost of moving it?
• What makes more sense – moving it or replacing it?

How to tackle the packing process?

Having gone through the emotionally-challenging task of decluttering, brace yourself for some decision-making. Whether you are going to do everything on your own or hire long-distance movers NYC to help you out depends on your budget, personal schedule, and expertise.

If you have moved house before, you probably know what packing entails. By now you’ve already mastered the skill of gathering packing supplies, hiring affordable movers, heavy lifting, hauling, packing and unpacking. But even if you decide to involve professional movers and packers, who would blame you? Considering the amount of stress that may come along, no wonder so many people prefer leaving this daunting task to the professionals. With the safety as their top-priority, professional movers use the right kind and size of moving boxes and supplies to ensure a hassle-free trip. If you consider yourself up to the task, keep these tips handy when making the list of the first things to pack when moving house.

What are the first things to pack when moving house?

If you find yourself wondering what to pack first and what to pack last for the move, here are some of the insightful tips that may help you.

1. Storage areas

Start with the less commonly used areas like storage, attic, basement, guest rooms. Not so surprisingly, everything that was kept out of your sight for years should be the first things to pack when moving if not get rid of. While sorting through your long forgotten items, you should resist the urge to keep and move them all. Be ruthless when decluttering for the sake of a clean and tidy new home.

1. Out-of-season clothes and footwear

If you are moving during the summertime, pack up winter accessories, jackets, coats, boots and other items that you are not going to use for a while.

1. Special occasion kitchenware

Pack immediately your china, fancy tableware, rarely used dishes and small kitchen appliances that you use only on special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries and special celebrations.

1. Artwork and decorations

You should keep your valuables out of harm’s way by packing them in advance. For extra security, you should consider getting appropriate moving insurance.

1. Books and knick-knacks

Since you won’t be reading at all during the hectic moving process, books should be one of the very first things to pack when moving. Use small boxes that can withstand the weight of your books. Also, secure small figurines and tiny souvenirs before it’s too late.

And here’s one bonus tip: label each box according to the content and destination for easier handling and unpacking.