Monthly Archives: June 2019

What to Pack Yourself When You Move

Packing to move

So you’ve set your move date, you’ve hired professional movers, and now comes the often-overwhelming task of packing up your entire household. What should you pack up all by yourself? What should you leave to your movers? And what might fall somewhere in between?

Well, sorting through your household is the first step in efficient and productive packing. If you’ve already compiled an inventory of all your belongings with your mover, use that as a starting point. If not, you can proceed through your house one room at a time, making an inventory list of your own to determine which items you know you want to be responsible for yourself (like jewelry), which items require proper packing materials and special handling and should therefore be taken care of by your movers (like your grandmother’s antique chest), and which items shouldn’t be packed at all but should be left to the movers’ discretion (like bicycles). For any items that you’re leaving to the movers’ care, prep them as necessary and practical—for example, empty your grandmother’s chest and carefully box up the contents inside so that only the piece of furniture itself is left for the movers to handle.

Here are some tips on deciding who should move what:

  • Private and confidential material: Paperwork and information that is sensitive in nature and is important to your identity and privacy should be handled on your own—things like financial files and statements, bonds and deeds, passports and certificates, banking information. If items are for your eyes only, then it will give you peace of mind to pack them up yourself.
  • Irreplaceable items: You’ll also rest easier knowing you took care of precious belongings yourself, such as heirloom jewelry, your teacup collection, family photo albums, collector items, first-edition books. If it can’t be replaced, that’s your cue to place and pack these things yourself.
  • Everyday household items: As prepared as you want to be ahead of time, you don’t want to pack up things you use in your home on a daily basis and will want on hand even on moving day: house and car keys, remote controls, address books, flash drives, the coffee machine, your pillows and a set of sheets. Remember that you still need to live comfortably and effectively a few days before your move and a few days after.
  • Personal items: The same goes for any and all personal items that you use on a daily basis that you’ll want to keep within easy reach: clothes, shoes, medications, eyeglasses, toiletries, and cosmetics. You can pack up the bulk of your bedroom and bathroom contents well ahead of the move, but remember to save a bag for packing up what you’ll need during the actual transition period of the move.
  • Fragile contents: When it comes to items that require special packing and handling, however, it’s recommended that you let the professionals take care of them for you. No matter how sentimental or valuable these items are to you—furniture, artwork, TVs and other electronic equipment, computers, appliances, large household items, pool tables and pinball machines and stereo systems—these items are fragile and difficult to move and so will be safer in the hands of your professional movers.

Relocating is stressful enough without the added concern of not knowing when, how, and what to pack. Take advantage of the expertise and experience of your professional movers by letting them help you inventory, organize, and sort through everything. And if you really don’t want to pack up anything yourself other than your toothbrush, your wallet, and your car keys, well then, for an additional fee, your movers can take care of (literally) everything but the kitchen sink!

Contact us today to learn more or to schedule your move: 301-573-5447 (MD)  |  571-375-2826 (VA)  |  786-409-4799 (FL)  |  https://bbdmoving.com/