Packing Tips

I am extremely OC (Obsessive compulsive). I want everything in order, detailed, and I don’t even want my toys moved. I know at what angle I left them and I will notice the slightest change if somebody moved them. And I don’t like people touching the windows of my car, I hate those stubborn hand prints.

I know… it’s pretty bad and some of my friends think that I’m sick or something, and I know that I get in their nerves one way or another, but what can I do? That’s me.

Anyway, I’m not supposed to talk about my bad habits here so I’ll move on. We recently moved to a beautiful house, one that I had built in great detail, and I must say that my being OC was the key to our successful move. I read tons of moving and packing tips and being the good (OC) person that I am, I made them like a bible and followed all the intelligent advices to the letter.

The hardest thing to do, at least for me, when getting ready to move is packing. Just looking at everything that needs to be packed will make you cry. But it has to be done so here’s a very good thing to do. Before touching anything, draw up a plan on how you’ll go about packing. Decide on which items you’ll pack first and make a checklist. Get rid of items that you don’t use as they’ll just use up precious space. Once you have a plan, start packing.

It is also wise to label the boxes. Make the labels big and colorful if you can. What I did is color code all the boxes so I can easily distinguish which goes where. The kitchen boxes were marked green, bedroom boxes were marked red, blue, and yellow since there are 3 of us in the family, living room boxes were marked orange, and so on… I know you get what I mean. This made organizing a breeze when we arrived at the new house.

I’m not saying that you become obsessive compulsive but being organized and detail oriented sure helps when moving. You can read all packing tips and tricks that you find but they’ll be useless if you don’t have the discipline to implement them. So if you’re planning on moving, take the packing tips that you just read to heart and start implementing them. It made me love moving. I think I wanna move again. Yeah, I’ll probably move so I can pack again.

wardrobe moving boxes

My two thumbs up to whoever invented wardrobe moving boxes. Packing and moving is stressful enough but the thought of having to unpack wrinkled clothes is even more stressful. Imagine having to iron your entire wardrobe, it will take you days before you can arrange everything in your closet. That is what wardrobe moving boxes is saving us from, days and days of ironing after a successful move.

There are different sizes of wardrobe moving boxes but I recommend purchasing the 24X24X40 one since it’s a little bit bigger than most conventional boxes. You’ll be able to fit more clothes into it thus giving you less things to worry about after you move.

Here are a few tips when packing your wardrobe.

First you’ll have to determine which clothes you want to take with you. For sure you’ll have clothes in your closet that haven’t seen the light of day for about a year or two. If you still plan to use them then pack them up, but if not it is better to either sell them at a garage sale or donate them to charity.

Once you’ve identified the clothes that you want to take with you, it is time to determine the number of wardrobe moving boxes you’ll need. Depending on what type of clothes you’ll hang, you can probably fit 15 or more clothes in one wardrobe moving box. Do not over stuff the box since it will cause wrinkles and it will beat the purpose of the box.

Wardrobe moving boxes are received flat and unassembled so you’ll have to work a little and assemble it. Make sure to tape the bottom of the box and fix the metal bar securely in place. Don’t worry there will be instructions on how to assemble the box . And as an added protection against moisture, tape off the outer edges of the wardrobe box.

A lot of people don’t know what to do with their boxes after a move, that shouldn’t be a problem since you can always give it away or continue to use them as storage boxes in your garage or basement; just make sure to reinforce the box by putting tape around it.

Be realistic though and estimate your needs intelligently. If you’re moving from a 1 bedroom flat, 20 moving boxes would be too much unless you’re planning to pack the flat itself.

One of the good things to do is to check out moving kits from online stores who specialize in selling moving boxes, they have a suggested number of boxes (in different sizes) needed for moving depending on the number of rooms in your house.  Here are some sample moving kits that you will find online.

1 Room Moving Kit

10 Medium Boxes (18x14x12)
5 large boxes (20x20x15)
55 yards of moving tape
40′ Bubble wrap
1 Box Marker

2 Room Moving Kit

20 Medium Boxes (18x14x12)
10 Large Boxes (20x20x15)
110 Yards of moving tape
80′ Bubble Wrap
2 Box Markers

3 Room Moving Kit

30 Medium Boxes (18x14x12)
15 Large Boxes (20x20x15)
165 yards of moving tape
120′ Bubble Wrap
3 Box Marker

The list goes on. There are moving kits for up to 10 rooms and you can also purchase boxes separately if you think that you still need more. And notice that the kits also contain other essential moving supplies needed like a moving tape, bubble wrap, and marker. These are things that will help you organize your packing and make unpacking easy as well.

Another thing is to make sure that you use the boxes appropriately to keep your things from getting damaged and to avoid accidents. Ask for packing tips upon purchasing the moving boxes as these companies know the capacity and strength of their boxes and are generally experienced in moving as well.

So now that you finally found your dream house and you’re getting ready to move in, it is time to face one of the most difficult parts of moving…PACKING. Though the thought of moving to your dream house is exciting, the process could still be very stressful if you are clueless of what to do. First time movers usually go through a stressful phase when planning the move.

One of the critical things to pack are dresses, when packing dresses you have to make sure that they don’t get ruined and wrinkles are minimized. Wrinkles are unavoidable; I have yet to see somebody who managed to pack a dress and moved it without getting wrinkled.

Get a large box and pack dresses together – Preferably a box where you only have to fold the dresses (women’s dresses) in half, this will minimize the wrinkles. The number of dresses you’d want to pack in one box depends on you. Of course the more you fit in one box, the more wrinkles the dresses will get.

Make sure dress shirts are pressed before packing – This goes for men’s dress shirts, before packing you’d want them to be neatly pressed and folded. Folds should be kept to a minimum to avoid creases. And when packing, use larger items like pants to line the bottom before putting in your dress shirts. And make sure not to over stuff your luggage as your clothes will press together and leave deep creases.

Put your dress box or luggage on top of the stack – You don’t want pressure over it since the box could crumple if stacked under heavier boxes. I know this is common sense but it is very easy to overlook this when moving so make sure that your box is properly labeled.

Dresses are expensive and are a little fragile so you’d want to take good care of them especially during a move. Again, wrinkles may be unavoidable but lessening them is definitely doable.

When most people think of wardrobe boxes, they think of moving. No one wants to transport their nice clothing across country in a wrinkling heap of fabric. Instead of piling hanging clothing in the backseat of a car or draping them over furniture in the back of a moving van, a wardrobe box keeps clothing safe and neat while in transit. Folding some clothing such as dresses or suits just causes a headache of wrinkles. A wardrobe box allows the clothing to hang as it would in a closet and that eliminates unnecessary wrinkles. The boxes are also clearly marked with “this end up” arrows so there’s little risk of accidentally spilling the contents.

Wardrobe boxes aren’t just for moving. They’re an excellent way to store off-season clothing. The box will protect the clothing from dust whether the box is kept in the attic or a storage unit. Cedar squares can be hung from the bar between articles of clothing and that can help repel pests. Wardrobe boxes can store everything from bulky snowsuits and winter coats to light summer dresses. The wide cardboard surfaces are great for labeling. When it comes time to pull the clothing out of storage, there’s no guess work.

The roominess of wardrobe boxes can accommodate special occasion outfits such as wedding dresses and tuxedos. Religious groups and theatrical groups may find wardrobe boxes an invaluable addition. They can be used to hold and protect robes, vestments, and costumes.

However, wardrobe boxes aren’t just for clothing. A wardrobe box can be turned into a wrapping station. Commercially produced wrapping stations can be expensive and a wardrobe box comes at a fraction of the price. Wardrobe boxes are tall enough to accommodate the longest tubes of wrapping paper while the bar can be used to keep spools of ribbon neat and organized.

Quilters and seamstresses can make good use of wardrobe boxes to hold works in progress. The cardboard enclosure will help protect the wandering fingers of children from sharp pins and careful pinning from the curiosity of children and pets. The boxes can also be used to organize fabrics, strips of trim, and to make sure a measuring tape is always handy.

Wardrobe boxes are sturdy and durable. The bar across the top and the ample space at the bottom can be used to hold and protect a variety of things. The use of a wardrobe box is only limited by your imagination.

The advantage of using wardrobe boxes is that you will not lose any item in your wardrobe during this process and all the items are cared for in the best manner possible. Items in the wardrobe are kept neatly organized when you use wardrobe boxes for storage, packing and moving. The wardrobe boxes act as a safe repository for your wardrobe items so these items can be kept intact during transfer to your destination.

It would be a good idea to mark or label the wardrobe boxes with a list of the contents of each box. The labels may read like ‘night gowns’, ‘shirts’ etc. for easy reference. Having a checklist of the contents in each box taped on to the side of a wardrobe box is also a good idea.

Wardrobe boxes help you thoroughly organize and de-clutter your workspace as you prepare for moving and at your final destination. They are easier on the eyes for identification when you use wardrobe boxes of different sizes for different purposes. Not all wardrobe boxes need to look the same, you can order wardrobe boxes to fit different spaces, sizes and shapes.

Rather than use any ordinary cardboard box for storing your garments and items of clothing, it is better to use specially-suited wardrobe boxes made available for the purpose. Wardrobe boxes are available cheap these days from wardrobeboxes.com. They are durable and strong to hold garments which you may want stored and transported to your new home.

If you have designer clothes then you can get special wardrobe boxes that have rods in them to store delicate pieces of clothing. It is also a good idea to separate seasonal pieces of clothing into their own wardrobe boxes.

Wardrobe boxes come in handy during relocation. They are built to last long and are sturdy and durable. In contrast, ordinary cardboard boxes are not that strong, they are fragile and may fall apart soon during handling and moving. That is why it is always advisable to get special-purpose moving boxes as wardrobe boxes.

Whatever your reason for wanting to buy wardrobe boxes, whether it is because you are moving, you want to store away unused clothing or you are trying to clear out cluttered wardrobes and drawers, they are fairly easy to find on line and at office supply shops.

A simple search on line will turn up a lot of different places where you can find wardrobe boxes. One of the more popular places to purchase your wardrobe boxes is from UPS. UPS can be found all over the US, and in most other countries worldwide, and they are definitely experts when it comes to packing and providing solid boxes for moving. Their popular 24″ x 24″ x 40″ sized wardrobe boxes provide you with up to six feet of hanging space. The boxes come with a hanging bar, and are strong enough to be used for storage and to be reused when moving again. You can order these easily on line and they will be shipped or delivered to you within a couple of days.

You can also pick up wardrobe boxes from OfficeDepot, or OfficeMax both of which offer free shipping as an additional bonus. Naturally, you can find quite a few wardrobe boxes for sale on Amazon as well, where you can not only find new wardrobe boxes, but occasionally you can also find second-hand boxes as well.

Finally, if you ask around or even advertise locally you may find that people have unused wardrobe boxes that they are no longer using, left over from their moving house for example, that they would be very happy to pass on for another to use.

There are several things to take into consideration when ordering or buying wardrobe boxes. The first thing is to make sure that the box you are buying is equipped with a rod, as they are sometimes sold without one which is not very useful. Also, look for retailers who are willing to provide you with free shipping as that can really cut back on the amount of money you spend for your temporary storage wardrobe. It is important that the wardrobe box is made from heavy duty cardboard so that it will stand up to frequent use, and will keep its shape and thus protect any clothing stored inside.

Finally, some retailers offer to buy the boxes back once you are finished with them. This is particularly useful if you are using them temporarily for moving house.

One of the biggest complaints and worries people have when they get ready to move is about what sort of boxes they will end up using. Many people do not want to have to pay for boxes and if so they worry about whether or not they will be sturdy enough and tough enough for the travels as well as to hold their items. In this case getting some wardrobe boxes would be beneficial. Wardrobe boxes are the toughest, most durable of boxes and can handle any move whether it be local or across the world. Here is a look at why wardrobe boxes are the first choice amongst people who are looking for the toughest moving box.

The first reason they are the number one choice amongst movers is because of how durable they are. They are made out of the strongest cardboard and while they are perfect for moving, many people continue to use them as storage boxes even after the move is complete. Unlike other boxes that get weak and break over time, these can really withstand the test of time and keep your possessions safe and sound.

Secondly these are very popular because of their unique shape. They make moving easier because one can easily open them up, get out their clothes and put them in their new closet without any hassles. They also help keep your clothing looking good and unwrinkled whereas in other boxes clothing items have to get folded several times and it can be difficult getting the boxes open and then shut back up again. Because these boxes have their very own special bar you get to hang your clothes up on you will not have to worry about them getting ruined.

Last but certainly not least as mentioned above they can be re-used. Besides being perfect for storing seasonal clothes or clothes that your kids have not yet grown into yet they can be used for a number of different options. Many people use them when having yard sales or tag sales. They are an easy choice to put items in or hang up clothes that they want to sell. Instead of having to go through the process of folding the clothes and laying them out for people to browse through and in the process make another mess you can simply hang the clothing items up by a hanger and let shoppers look at them this way. With so many benefits it is easy to see why movers pick wardrobe boxes over any other box as the toughest moving box.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009
How To Protect Yourself when Moving

The Following Explanations of Moving Terms will Save You Time, Money and Trouble!

For a Free Download of This Glossary and More Resources go to www.PacKing.com and Click on “Moving Research” in center of Top of Page.

A Moving Services Glossary

Please Note: most of this information is directed toward interstate moves which are federally regulated, however, most states use the Federal Regulations as their template upon which they base their State-Wide Oversight. Please Check with your State regulatory agency that licenses movers in your state to obtain any State-specific information you need…the “terms of the trade” will be the same!

Accessorial (Additional) Services:

services such as packing, appliance servicing, unpacking, or piano stair carries that you request to be performed (or that are necessary because of landlord requirements or other special circumstances). Charges for these services may be in addition to the line-haul (point a to point b trucking) charges.

Advanced Charges:

charges for services performed by someone other than the mover. A professional, craftsman, or other third party may perform these services at your request. The mover pays for these services and adds the charges to your bill of lading charges.

Advertisement:

any communication to the public in connection with an offer or sale of any interstate household goods transportation service. This will include written or electronic database listings of your mover’s name, address, and telephone number in an on-line database. This excludes listings of your mover’s name, address, and telephone number in a telephone directory or similar publication. However, the Yellow Pages advertising is included within the definition.

Agent:

local moving company authorized to act on behalf of a larger, International company.

Appliance Service by Third Party:

preparation of major electrical appliances to make them safe for shipment. Charges for these services may be in addition to the line-haul charges.

Bill of Lading:

receipt for your goods and the contract for their transportation. This IS YOUR CONTRACT!

Carrier:

mover transporting your household goods.

Cash on Delivery (COD)

payment is required at the time of delivery at the destination residence (or warehouse).

Certified Scale:

Any scale designed for weighing motor vehicles, including trailers or semitrailers not attached to a tractor, and certified by an authorized scale inspection and licensing authority. A certified scale may also be a platform or warehouse type scale that is properly inspected and certified.

Estimate, Binding:

written agreement made in advance with your mover. It guarantees the total cost of the move based upon the quantities and services shown on the estimate.

Estimate, Non-Binding:

what your mover believes the cost will be, based upon the estimated weight of the shipment and the accessorial services requested. A non-binding estimate is not binding on the mover. The final charges will be based upon the actual weight of your shipment, the services
provided, and the tariff provisions in effect.

Expedited Service:

an agreement with the mover to perform transportation by a set date in exchange for charges based upon a higher minimum weight.

Flight Charge:

charge for carrying items up or down flights of stairs. Charges for these services may be in addition to the line-haul charges.

Guaranteed Pickup and Delivery Service:

additional level of service featuring guaranteed dates of service. Your mover will provide reimbursement to you for delays. This premium service is often subject to minimum weight
requirements.

High-Value Article:

items included in a shipment valued at more than $100 per pound ($220 per kilogram).

Household Goods:

as used in connection with transportation, means the personal effects or property used, or to be used, in a dwelling, when part of the equipment or supplies of the dwelling. Transporting of the household goods must be arranged for and paid by you or another individual on your behalf. This may include items moving from a factory or store when you purchase them to
use in your dwelling. You must request that these items be transported, and you (or another individual on your behalf) must pay the transportation charges to the mover.

Household Goods Motor Carrier:

means a motor carrier that, in the ordinary course of its business of providing transportation of household goods, offers some or all of the following additional services: (1) Binding and non-binding estimates, (2) Inventory, (3) Protective packing and unpacking of individual
items at personal residences, and (4) Loading and unloading at personal residences. The term does not include a motor carrier when the motor carrier provides transportation of household goods in containers or trailers that are entirely loaded and unloaded by an individual (other than an employee or agent of the motor carrier).

Individual Shipper:

any person who:
1. is the shipper, consignor, or consignee of a household goods shipment;
2. is identified as the shipper, consignor, or consignee on the face of the bill of lading;
3. owns the goods being transported; and
4. pays his or her own tariff transportation charges.

Impracticable Operations:

generally refer to services required when operating conditions make it physically impossible for the carrier to perform pickup or delivery with its normally assigned road-haul equipment; requires the use of smaller equipment and/or additional labor to complete pickup or delivery of a shipment. A mover may require payment of additional charges for impracticable operations, even if you do not request these services. The specific services considered to be impracticable operations by your mover are identified in your mover’s tariff.

Inventory:

detailed descriptive list of your household goods showing the number and condition of each item.

Line-Haul Charges:

charges for the vehicle transportation portion of your move. These charges, if separately stated, apply in addition to the accessorial service charges.

Long Carry:

A charge for carrying articles excessive distances between the mover’s vehicle and your residence. Charges for these services may be in addition to the line-haul charges.

May:

You or your mover may do something, but it is not a requirement. Note: this one word means the difference between a legally binding obligation and non-legally binding obligation! This one word is a get-out-of-jail Free card for a service provider & a RED FLAG to watch for.
Mover:

A motor carrier engaged in the transportation of household goods and its household goods agents.

Must:

A legal obligation. You or your mover must do something.

Order for Service:

The document authorizing the mover to transport your household goods.

Order (Bill of Lading) Number:

The number used to identify and track your shipment.

Peak Season Rates:

Higher line-haul charges applicable during the summer months.
Pickup and Delivery Charges:

Separate transportation charges applicable for transporting your shipment between the storage-in-transit warehouse and your residence.

Reasonable Dispatch:

performance of transportation on the dates, or during the period of time, agreed upon by you and your mover and shown on the Order for Service/Bill of Lading. For example, if your mover deliberately withholds any shipment from delivery after you offer to pay the binding estimate, or 110 percent of a non-binding estimate, plus any charges for additional services you requested, or permissible charges for impracticable operations that were not included in the estimate, your mover has not transported the goods with reasonable dispatch. The term ‘‘reasonable dispatch’’ excludes transportation provided under your mover’s tariff provisions
requiring guaranteed service dates. Your mover will have the defense of force majeure, i.e., the contract cannot be performed owing to causes that are outside the control of the parties and that could not be avoided by exercise of due care.

Should:

A recommendation. We recommend you or your mover do something, but it is not a requirement.

Shuttle Service:

use of a smaller vehicle to provide service to residences not accessible to the mover’s normal line-haul vehicles.

Storage-In-Transit (SIT):

temporary warehouse storage of your shipment, pending further transportation, with or without notification to you. If you (or someone representing you) cannot accept delivery on the agreed-upon date or within the agreed-upon time period (for example, because your home is
not quite ready to occupy), your mover may place your shipment into SIT without notifying you. In those circumstances, you will be responsible for the added charges for SIT service, as well as the warehouse handling and final delivery charges. However, your mover also may place your shipment into SIT if your mover was able to make delivery before the agreed-upon date (or before the first day of the agreed-upon delivery period), but you did not concur with
early delivery. In those circumstances, your mover must notify you immediately of the SIT, and your mover is fully responsible for redelivery charges, handling charges, and storage charges.

Surface Transportation Board:

An agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation that regulates household goods carrier tariffs, among other responsibilities. The Surface Transportation Board’s address is
1925 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20423–0001, Telephone 202–565–1674.

Tariff:

An issuance (in whole or in part) containing rates, rules, regulations, classifications, or other provisions. The Surface Transportation Board requires that a tariff contain three specific items. First, an accurate description of the services the mover offers to the public. Second, the specific applicable rates (or the basis for calculating the specific applicable rates) and service terms for services offered to the public. Third, the mover’s tariff must be arranged in a
way that allows you to determine the exact rate(s) and service terms applicable to your shipment.

Valuation:

The degree of worth of the shipment. The valuation charge compensates the mover for assuming a greater degree of liability than is provided for in its base transportation charges.

Warehouse Handling:

A charge may be applicable each time SIT service is provided. Charges for these services may be in addition to the line-haul charges. This charge compensates the mover for the physical placement and removal of items within the warehouse.

You and Your:

You are an individual shipper of household goods. You are a consignor or consignee of a household goods shipment and your mover identifies you as such in the bill of lading contract. You own the goods being transported and pay the transportation charges to the mover.

Best Wardrobe Boxes:

Learn more: How to get free shipping on wardrobe boxes

What to Look for in Your When Purchasing Wardrobe Moving Boxes

1. Wardrobe boxes should be the optimal dimensions 24 x 24 x 40
2. Each box should be double-walled for additional strength to hold heavy clothes
3. A metal hanging bar should be included with every wardrobe box
4. The wardrobe boxes are offered with free shipping (this is an important consideration given the weight of these boxes)
5. The boxes should collapse three different ways and have a minimal footprint when not in use

Best place to purchase wardrobe boxes: Often you can find wardrobe boxes for free at Craigslist.com, just make sure that you ask the person giving the wardrobe boxes away for a picture of the boxes as well as a description on the condition of the boxes so you can ensure the boxes are in good shape. If you would like to purchase new wardrobe boxes, MovingDayBoxes.Com wardrobe boxes met all the criteria, please check in regularly as we are continually updating the site with new information.