When hiring a moving company to help you with your move, the company will likely be able to perform the actual packing of the items for you. If you choose to do the packing yourself, however, there are a few tips you should follow in order to make certain the items are packed properly.  With these ten tips, the packing process should go smoothly.

Tip #1:  Get Prepared Before You Pack

Before you start putting items in boxes, take the time to do a little preparation ahead of time.  First, gather all of the supplies you will need for the packing job.  This includes boxes, packing tape, labels, and markers for writing on the labels.  Having to stop in the middle of a packing job in order to get more supplies can be quite frustrating.

In addition to gathering your supplies, you can also prepare ahead of time by sorting through your items.  Group your items according to which ones will go together in each box.  Think about where you will be unpacking the items and group them in such a way that they can be unpacked easily.  At the same time, keep in mind that the boxes should weigh no more than 20 to 25 kilograms.  This way, they can still be easily moved.

Tip #2:  Using Your Space Effectively

Obviously, you should place the heavier items at the bottom of your packing box.  This way, your lighter items will not get crushed.  At the same time, you can use all of your space effectively by packing the larger items in the box first.  Then, fill in the crevices with small fabric items such as pillowcases and socks. Not only will this help you use all of the space in the box, it will also provide cushion to those items and help further protect them during the move.  At the same, you should never overpack a box.  The box should be able to close and seal easily. That way, you don’t risk damaging any of your items.

Tip #3:  Make an Inventory

Although it can be a somewhat time consuming process, it is important to make an inventory of what is contained in each of your boxes.  Not only will this make it easier when you start unpacking, it will also be useful if one of your boxes comes up missing. 

Tip #4:  Set Essential Items Aside

There are going to be many items that you will need right away once you arrive at your new home.  Tools and supplies needed for reassembling furniture, for example, should be easily accessible.  Make certain to set these items aside and to place them in a clearly marked box.  That way, you can find the box right away and the unpacking process can be made much simpler.

Tip #5:  Get the Whole Family Involved

By getting the whole family involved in the packing process, the job can get completed far more quickly.  Put together a task list so every family member knows what he or she needs to do.  This will prevent confusion while also making all of your family members feel as if they are an important part of the packing process.

With these five tips, you can make packing a much simpler process.  Before you get started, however, contact the moving company in order to find out if any other special packing guidelines need to be followed.  This way, you won’t run into any trouble when moving day arrives.