The Ultimate Guide to Packing for a Move

The Ultimate Guide to Packing for a Move
By: Mark Williams
(University of Adelaide)
Abstract
Over the years, you’ve collected an impressive treasure trove of clothing,
books, magazines, kitchen tools, and knick-knacks. You’re not quite in
hoarding territory, but no one would ever call you a minimalist. And it took
time to amass all your possessions, so why wouldn’t you move them to your
next house?
Packing isn’t most people’s idea of fun. Relocating from one residence to
another takes time, effort, and money, and the process can be highly stressful.
To make your next move easier and less emotionally charged, consider these
Packing techniques.

1.0 Introduction
Packing might seem relatively straightforward, but there are many common
mistakes homeowners make. Whether it’s because they’re lazy, they’re in a
rush, they didn’t hire movers, or they just don’t know any better, here are the
mistakes too many people make when moving. Make sure to avoid them to
ensure your move goes smoothly and your belongings stay safe and protected.
As you can see, packing isn’t as simple as it may seem at first glance. Here are
some of the packing techniques for making your packing Easier when you
move to a new place.
2.0 Packing Your Household for a Move
Whenever you move, one of the tasks that take the most time and requires the
most patience is packing all your belongings and doing it in time for when the
moving truck arrives. To help you get started, we've created some guides to
packing up your home so the stuff you need to get done doesn't feel so
overwhelming.
How and Where to Start Packing up Your Home
Moving is stressful and so overwhelming, and part of the stress has to do with
packing up the entire house. At first, it may seem impossible. But with helpful
tips and suggestions, packing is a breeze. Just make sure you're organized and
know what you need to do before you even pack the first box.
Make a Packing Supply List
When you move or relocate, to ensure your household goods arrive at your
new destination without a scratch, start with a good packing list so you
purchase the right packing and moving supplies.
All About Moving Boxes
Moving boxes are generally the same weight and quality as ordinary shipping
boxes, unless you purchase some made from thicker cardboard that allows for

heavier packing. So, the question most people have is, should I purchase
moving boxes or find some slightly-used from grocery stores or friends
who've just recently moved?
Can I Pack With Used Boxes?
With most of us pinching our pennies right now, finding ways to save on
moving costs not only helps keep money in our wallets but can also help the
planet by reusing packing materials and reducing waste. Used boxes are
definitely an option, you just need to know where to find them (and get them
for free!) and what to do and not do.
What Not to Pack and Move
Before you pack, find out what you shouldn't pack or at least what you should
be careful when packing.There are some things that need special handling,
items that moving companies will not move if they are not properly prepared.
How to Get Rid of Stuff You Don't Need to Move
The upside of moving is that it forces you to make a clean sweep of the house,
getting rid of items that you no longer use or need. The first place to start is to
determine what to sell, either online or by hosting a garage sale, and what to
give away.
What's an Essentials Box & How to Pack One
Before moving or relocating, everyone should prepare an essentials box, a box
full of items you'll need for your last few nights before you move and the first
few nights in your new home.
Quick and Easy Packing Tips
If you only have time for one packing guide, this is the one to read as it
provides tips that you may not have thought of before. So use it to make your
packing quick and easy.
Packing Tips From the Professionals

When you're packing for a move, you might want to ask yourself if you should
pack it yourself or hire professionals to do it for you. In many of our moves
we've never used professionals to pack our things; for me, it's always about
saving money.
Things You May Forget to Pack or Do
Over the years and the many moves, we always think we have moving down
to a very fine science; however, usually in the midst of the moving chaos, we
forget something and swear that we'll add it to a growing list of "forgotten
items" for the next time we move. To save you the trouble of forehead
slapping that usually ensues after you're fifty miles from your old home, check
out my list.
How to Pack and Move the House Room by Room
This is the ultimate guide to packing and moving your home. With step by step
instructions, along with packing tips, you won't need anything else except for
packing supplies and time. We provide the motivation.
3.0 The Ultimate Checklist to Pack for a Move
You may not be able to move mountains, but you can plan an organized move
with a little help from this step-by-step timeline.
Two Months Before
‣ Sort and purge.
Go through every room of your house and decide what you’d like to keep and
what you can get rid of. Think about whether any items will require special
packing or extra insurance coverage.
‣ Research.

Start investigating moving company options. Do not rely on a quote over the
phone; request an on-site estimate. Get an estimate in writing from each
company. If you're moving within a state, some states require a USDOT
number, check here to see if your state does. You can also check with your
state's public utilities commission, moving association, or Better Business
Bureau.
‣ Create a moving binder.
Use this binder to keep track of everything—all your estimates, your receipts,
and an inventory of all the items you’re moving.
‣ Organize school records.
Go to your children’s school and arrange for their records to be transferred to
their new school district.
Six Weeks Before
‣ Order supplies.
Order boxes and other supplies such as tape, Bubble Wrap, and permanent
markers. Don’t forget to order specialty containers, such as dish barrels or
wardrobe boxes.
‣ Use it or lose it.
Start using up things that you don’t want to move, like frozen or perishable
foods and cleaning supplies.
‣ Take measurements.
Check room dimensions at your new home, if possible, and make sure larger
pieces of furniture will fit through the door.
One Month Before
‣ Choose your mover and confirm the arrangements.

Select a company and get written confirmation of your moving date, costs, and
other details.
‣ Begin packing.
Start packing the things that you use most infrequently, such as the waffle iron
and croquet set. While packing, note items of special value that might require
additional insurance from your moving company. Make sure to declare, in
writing, any items valued over $100 per pound, such as a computer.
‣ Label.
Clearly label and number each box with its contents and the room it’s destined
for. This will help you to keep an inventory of your belongings. Pack and label
“essentials” boxes of items you’ll need right away.
‣ Separate valuables.
Add items such as jewelry and important files to a safe box that you’ll
personally transport to your new home. Make sure to put the mover’s
estimate in this box. You’ll need it for reference on moving day.
‣ Do a change of address.
Go to your local post office and fill out a change-of-address form, or do it
online at usps.gov. But in case there are stragglers, it’s always wise to ask a
close neighbor to look out for mail after you’ve moved. Check in with him or
her two weeks after the move, and again two weeks after that.
‣ Notify important parties.
Alert the following of your move: banks, brokerage firms, your employer’s
human resources department, magazine and newspapers you subscribe to,
and credit card, insurance, and utility companies.
‣ Forward medical records.
Arrange for medical records to be sent to any new health-care providers or
obtain copies of them yourself. Ask for referrals.

Two Weeks Before
‣ Arrange to be off from work on moving day.
Notify your office that you plan to supervise the move and therefore need the
day off.
‣ Tune up.
Take your car to a garage, and ask the mechanic to consider what services
might be needed if you’re moving to a new climate.
‣ Clean out your safe-deposit box.
If you’ll be changing banks, remove the contents of your safe-deposit box and
put them in the safe box that you’ll take with you on moving day.
‣ Contact the moving company.
Reconfirm the arrangements.
One Week Before
‣ Refill prescriptions.
Stock up on prescriptions you’ll need during the next couple of weeks.
‣ Pack your suitcases.
Aim to finish your general packing a few days before your moving date. Then
pack suitcases for everyone in the family with enough clothes to wear for a
few days.
A Few Days Before
‣ Defrost the freezer.
If your refrigerator is moving with you, make sure to empty, clean, and defrost
it at least 24 hours before moving day.

‣ Double-check the details.
Reconfirm the moving company’s arrival time and other specifics and make
sure you have prepared exact, written directions to your new home for the
staff. Include contact information, such as your cell phone number.
‣ Plan for the payment.
If you haven’t already arranged to pay your mover with a credit card, get a
money order, cashier’s check, or cash for payment and tip. If the staff has done
a good job, 10 to 15 percent of the total fee is a good tip. If your move was
especially difficult, you might tip each mover up to $100. Don’t forget that
refreshments are always appreciated.
Moving Day
‣ Verify.
Make sure that the moving truck that shows up is from the company you
hired: The USDOT number painted on its side should match the number on the
estimate you were given. Additionally, you can check if the moving truck has
the company's branding, or vehicle number that was listed in your
confirmation. Scams are not unheard-of.
‣ Take inventory.
Before the movers leave, sign the bill of lading/inventory list and keep a copy.
4.0 Things People Forget to Pack When
Moving
Failing to do an important task or forgetting to pack an essential item during a
house move can be really frustrating, to say the least.

During the preparation period and especially on Moving day itself, we often
get reminded that we are only humans born with fallible memory, not robots
equipped with a central processing unit that is incapable of forgetting a thing,
EVER!
However, even amidst the chaos and the stress created by the home moving
process, it’s important to stay organized and to make sure you do not forget to
pack essentials that you will definitely need in the new home.
So, to help you keep your memory refreshed when packing for a move, here
are the 10 most common things people forget to pack when moving to another
home.
1. Important documents
Don’t forget to pack important documents, especially ones that you will need
immediately after the move is over. Prepare a binder and place inside it all the
super essential documents found in your home:
• personal documents (passports, birth certificates, marriage
certificates, driving licenses, diplomas, professional qualifications),
• employment documents (work contracts, evaluation reports),
• house documents (property deeds, rental agreements, mortgage
documents, insurance policies),
• financial documents (bank statements, tax receipts),
• car documents (vehicle registration, auto insurance policies), and
• other crucial documents.
Keep that binder with you at all times – that is, do not hand it over to the
movers. It’s your responsibility to transport all those essential documentation,
so pack the binder into the essentials box and keep a close watch over it.
Also, check whether you have gathered the required school records for
transferring your school-age kids to another school, as well as the necessary
medical records for registering with a new health care provider in the
destination town or city.
2. Medicines

Believe it or not, medicines are other commonly forgotten items to pack when
moving to another house or apartment. The reason for the failure to pack
certain medical products is because they are often left out in medicine
cabinets and closets, especially due to the lack of sufficient time for a thorough
in-home walk prior to leaving the old home for good.
Remember to get all your medications out of the medicine cabinet and pack
them in the essentials box. Do sort out your medicines because there’s really
no point in packing the ones that you will never need or use again.
Inspect each medical product and set aside for recycling the ones that
1) are past their expiration date,
2) have illegible labels and you don’t remember what they are for, and
3) you have already stopped using.
Double check whether you have packed all your prescription medication that
you need regularly (daily) – it’s easy to imagine how forgetting to pack such
vital medication can turn out to be detrimental to your health and well-being.
3. Valuable items
Surprisingly, what not to forget to pack when moving includes various
valuables items around your home. Sure, you won’t forget to take with you
any valuables that happen to be right under your nose. But what about any
items of value or importance that you may have hidden in secret places
around your place? It’s time to retrieve those too!
Sit down and think about whether you do have any valuables hidden away
from curious eyes? Do you have a safety deposit box? A portable safe? Do you
have a hiding spot somewhere in your residence? Such high-value items
include money, jewelry pieces, and small family heirlooms.
So, before your movers come knowing on your door, ensure that all of your
valuable and expensive items are safely packed into the essentials box you
will be carrying with you.
Don’t ever make the mistake of entrusting to professional movers the
valuables you can move by yourself. As for the larger valuable items you own,

such as antique furniture or priceless pieces of art, purchase additional
moving insurance for a peace of mind.
4. Items left at the dry cleaner’s
Interestingly enough, things not to forget to pack when moving include items
that are not present in your home at the time of packing. In other words,
remember to collect any pieces of clothing you may have left at the local dry
cleaner’s before you’ve moved hundreds or thousands of miles away.
It’s relatively easy to forget clothes at the dry cleaning place. Why? It’s
because your mind will be preoccupied with and even overwhelmed by so
many other tasks that you have to finish in order to have a chance of having a
successful house move.
Note that forgetting to pick up your items from the dry cleaner’s usually
happens when you drop off clothes that are either out of season or that you
only use on special occasions. Either way, those are your own pieces of
clothing, so you have to pack them with the rest of your clothes.
Include the “Take clothes from cleaner’s” task in your moving checklist. In
case you’re not sure whether you have any items left at the usual place you go
to, just phone them up and check.
5. Paper plates and disposable cutlery
One of the most common things people forget to pack when moving is
disposable plates, cups, and cutlery in order to try and have a decent meal
until they regain access to the regular china dishware and glassware in the
new home.
Upon arrival in the new residence, you may be tempted to order pizza or take
out Chinese food until you get your silverware back. In such cases, it’s handy
to have those paper plates and disposable cutlery so that you don’t have to
wash anything – especially when you still don’t have any dishwashing liquid
or sponges.
Also, disposable cutlery, plastic cups, and paper or plastic plates can serve you
well during the house move itself when you’ve chosen to drive to the new
home. Either way, make a mental note to pack the dispensable substitutes of

your chinaware and glassware into the open-first box, then throw in a pack of
paper towels to keep things from getting too messy.
6. Items from the storage areas
Not surprisingly, things people always forget to pack when they move are
items that have been placed in various storage spaces around the home such
as garages, basements, attics, tool sheds, and even walk-in closets.
You don’t have to do the same mistake – instead, make sure you go through all
the storage areas in your current house or apartment, sort out the stored
items in them and then prepare for packing the things you do want to take
with you.
As you may already know, the storage areas in a home are the very first rooms
to sort out and pack simply because they happen to be the toughest ones for
packing. Why? The challenge of packing storage rooms comes as a direct
result of the excess of odds and ends found in them.
Even though those miscellaneous articles have been placed in temporary
storage, there will surely be some important and essential items you’d love to
pack and move to the new home. Also, if you’ve rented a self-storage unit
somewhere in the area, remember to take care of those stored items as well.
7. Phone chargers and laptop chargers
Believe it or not, chargers for the essential electronics you own are one of the
commonly forgotten items to pack when moving. Those charging devices
either get left plugged into the outlets or they get mixed up with the bunch of
unwanted items and never make it to the new residence.
In order to avoid the unpleasant moment of realizing that the battery of your
phone, tablet or laptop is dead and its charger is missing in action, double
check that you’ve packed them safely together with its corresponding
electronic device.
It’s best to pack your laptop charger inside the laptop bag, together with the
portable computer. As far as phone chargers and tablet chargers – which often
are identical, pack them into the essentials box or bag as you’ll be surely
keeping your smartphone with you throughout the house move.

8. Toiletries and shower curtains
It’s inevitable that you’ll be using most of your bathroom items until the last
moment possible, items such as shampoo, shower gel, hair conditioner, your
toothbrush and toothpaste, etc. And that is exactly why it’s possible that you
may just forget to pack them when the heat of Moving day increases by at
least a few degrees.
Also, the shower curtain is probably the number one forgotten item to pack
when moving house. The reason for that “prestigious” title is clear: your
shower curtain will simply be hanging there in the bathroom and you may not
even realize that it’s one of the essential bathroom items to pack and move.
That’s right, you’re going to need your shower curtain as soon as you decide to
take that first refreshing shower in the new home.
Another common bathroom item you may forget to pack when moving is the
bathroom mat. So, avoid frustrating or awkward moments in the new-home
bathroom by doing one final check of your current one before it’s time for you
to move out.
9. Household plants
Guess what – sometimes the things you forget to pack when moving are the
very things that you see every single day. Like your household plants, for
example. You tend to your leafy friends every day and you take real pleasure
in staring at their beauty in awe, and yet, you may just leave them behind by
accident as you’ve always considered them part of the home you’re about to
move out of.
You should know that most potted plants are too fragile to survive a longdistance
move, and professional movers will not move plants either –
household plants fall into the category of items forbidden for transport. So, it’s
important to decide what you will do with yours before it’s too late.
• Will you leave them to the cares of a friend or neighbor?
• Will you donate them to the local school, hospital or nursery home?
• Or will you just take a calculated risk and move them to the new home
by yourself, especially if you’re only moving a short distance?
10. Miscellaneous items

As you can imagine, there are also other things not to forget to pack when
moving house. In addition to the above-mentioned most common things
people forget to pack, here are some other worthy candidates for the ultimate
prize:
• Gardening tools. Located outside the house, your gardening tools may
just stay in the place where you keep them, waiting for you to pack them
and move them to the new home. Double check your storage areas
outside your home for forgotten items.
• Hand tools. Have you packed up all the hand tools you have in your
home? The best way to move hand tools is to arrange them in a
convenient toolbox. Leave a pair of pliers, a hammer and a set of
screwdrivers for moving day – you might just need them.
• Keys. It’s relatively easy to forget to take all of your keys during a house
move. Make a quick list of all the keys you have and then check whether
you’ve got each set of keys ready to take with you. Keys that can be
forgotten include new-house keys, car keys, safe keys, cabinet keys, and
so on.
• A utility knife. It’s a good idea to remember to pack a utility knife so
that you can start unpacking those taped boxes as soon as they are
delivered. Using a pair of scissors will also work, but utility knives will
definitely speed up the process of unboxing your items.
5.0 Common Packing Mistakes You Should Avoid When
Moving
Moving to a new location can attract a host of speculations and
apprehensions. Packing and travelling without a foolproof plan in place
additionally leads to inconvenience and confusion even after you reach your
destination.
Nonetheless, by understanding the frequent errors that people make when
packing you can prevent yourself from learning the hard way.
The notable removalists in Adelaide are well-versed with the intricacies
involved in packing for the local and interstate relocation. They know the
process like the back of their hand and offer full safety and competence. How

do they do this? It’s simple. Unlike the novices, they are acquainted with the
most common packing errors and ways to avoid them effectively.
You too can command full control of your packing by going through the
following list of packing lapses and the ways to evade them.
1. Not hiring professionals
Many people refrain themselves from hiring removalists in Adelaide for
packing and shifting. This may save them some dollars for adding to the
moving budget but, the fact of the matter is that trying to carry out all the
arduous relocation tasks on your own puts the safety of your precious
belongings at risk.
Any item or necessary document lost or damaged during transit will make up
for the saving that you intended to make by shunning help. The removalists,
on the other hand, are equipped with high-quality material and techniques for
packing with efficiency and finesse ensuring that you don’t miss a thing. Also,
they help you get the appropriate insurance cover for your precious
belongings to relieve you of the stress of relocating them.
2. Procrastinating
No matter how experienced you’re with packing chores, there will always be
instances where you pile things in a hurry and end up dropping or scratching
a precious belonging. Moreover, the companies are not liable for damage
caused to the boxes you pack on your own.
So, to ensure that the day of transfer is free from hassles and ends on a
fulfilling note, start early without deferring it any further.
3. No plan in place
Well planned is half-done. In case you are negotiating the packing tasks
yourself, learn that planning is more crucial in the packing. Weeks before the
move, you need to start assessing your articles to be packed. By spending a
day or so on organising a checklist, the preparation will necessarily turn into a
cakewalk.

Work on a practical checklist that would include your essentials to be packed
and other helpful reminders. Inform your removalists in advance, apprise
them of your package and the delicate and bulky items to be moved. This will
help them chalk out a customised package designed for your belongings
according to your specifications.
4. Inappropriate boxes
In a bid to save money spent on boxes for packaging most people rely on the
old-fashioned methods of borrowing from the liquor, grocery or other stores.
This is detrimental to the health of your belongings, as wrongly stored boxes
in the damp storages or aged boxes become unfit for supporting the objects
they hold. Their weak joints may give away leading to an unfavourable event.
Whether it is the fragile china, pricey antiques or the heavy furniture – each of
them demand a distinctive approach while packing. Explore the online portals
and the marketplace for the relevant boxes of suitable sizes, strength and
capacity. Carefully sort the items and prepare a list of the carton that you
need.
From wardrobe box, bookcase, medium and large boxes to the corrugated
boxes of different capacities, the sellers offer a multitude of options to choose
from.
5. Overpacking and overstuffing
Most often, carrying surplus proves to be one of the worst packing mistakes.
Moving is the best time to get rid of the old things and de-clutter your home.
To save your time and money invested in packing and unpacking, minimise
the number of items to be moved by sorting the ones you do not need
anymore. And the thumb rule to minimalism is – purging. Arrange a garage
sale; donate to charity in Adelaide or gift away the sorted goods.
6. Forgetting to pack a night bag
Bearing an extra overnight pack is more significant than you may think.
Unpacking may take days to finish, so keep essentials handy to glide
seamlessly through the initial days in the new home.
A standard essentials bag would include:

Documents– Passport, driving license, wallet, house keys, credit/debit cards.
Medication – prescription drugs, aspirin/paracetamol, plaster, antiseptic
liquid, vitamins.
Toiletries – Toothbrush, toothpaste, moisturiser, makeup, foot and hand
lotions, sunscreen, nail cutter, shampoo/conditioner.
Food items – Snacks, nuts, gums, water bottle and so forth.
Electronics – Mobile phone, charger, headphones, I-pad, camera.
Clothing – dresses, PJs, cardigans, shoes, jackets, socks, swimsuit.
Defer packing the essentials until the end. Pack the items that don’t have an
immediate use like décor first and finish with packing the kitchen essentials.
6.0 Packing Tips For Moving House
It’s not until you decide to move that you realise how much stuff you actually
own and how often you use it. The reality of having to pack it all up to move
to your new house can be quite daunting. After our recent move I’ve put
together my packing and moving tips to help make your moving process
easier, save time and frustration.

LOADS OF PACKING TIPS FOR MOVING HOUSE
The choice is up to you if you want to do the move to the new house yourself
or invest in a removalist, either way you still need to pack everything up. I
hired removalists as we had so much stuff and both my hubby and I have bad
backs, it was too big of a job for either of us to consider.
MY MOVING HOME PLANNER WITH 6 WEEK COUNTDOWN CHECKLIST
Wanting to create your next move as stress free as possible? Spending a little
time planning now can save you a whole lot of hassles in the days leading up
to move home, which is when you will be too busy to think about all the other
little things involved in moving house. This helpful moving planner will help
you organise your move, with checklists for all elements of moving, pages to
help you plan dates, room layouts and more, you’ll find everything you need to
eliminate the overwhelm and be able to focus on being ready and stress free
for the day you move house.
My Moving Home Planner with 6 week countdown checklist is available as an
instant download, so you can start planning your moving process today!
CREATE A MOVING KIT

1. Created a moving caddy – to have everything on hand so I wasn’t
continually searching for it. If the kids used it they knew where to return it
back to.
Packing tape – for boxes
Coloured paper – for labels
Ruler – easily rip paper in half
Sharpie – for labelling
Scissors
Stanley knife
PACKING TIPS

2. Book your removalist – remember book removalists weeks in advance, as
many removalists book up quite quickly and you may miss out on the date you
want.
3. Gather boxes – your local storage shed and hardware store should stock
moving boxes. I found boxes the cheapest from Bunnings. The benefit from
purchasing from Bunnings is you can return the ones you don’t use.
4. Purchase used boxes – great money saving tip – look on gumtree or your
local Facebook buy and sell groups to purchase used boxes.
5. Purge as you pack – take the opportunity while packing to purge items you
no longer use. Sell, donate or throw these items away, don’t take items you no
longer use to clutter up the new house. If you don’t have the opportunity to
part with them before the move label the box to sell or donate so you don’t
unpack it.
6. Colour code the boxes – colour coding boxes so it’s easy to identify which
room they belong in.
I picked up some packs of A4 paper from Officeworks.

I created a template in excel on the computer to colour code each room.
7. Label each box – when labelling boxes write which room it belongs to
along with the contents on the top and side of the box. By labelling the sides
you can easily identify what it in it when the boxes are stacked.

8. Rate each box – give each box a star or number based on the priority it
needs to be unpacked. eg 3 stars for high, 1 star for low (can take a few weeks
if it needs to).
9. Place boxes in correct room – get the removalists to put the boxes
directly into the room labelled on the box, this will help make the unpacking
process more manageable.
10. Don’t write valuables on the box – we want to trust those helping us
move, but you never do know what can happen. If you have a box of valuables
going with the removalists don’t broadcast it by writing it on the box, give it a
codename eg. Nanna’s Linens.

11. Roll up jewellery – lay jewellery onto a bath towel, fold over each edge,
the roll up towel to help prevent necklaces getting tangled.
12. Keep it light – don’t make boxes too heavy, it’s easy to fill them up but
consider how much they will weigh, you don’t want the bottom to break away.
13. Where to start? – start packing in the kitchen, put heavy items at the
bottom of a few boxes, then load those boxes with lighter items.
14. Wrap breakables – use clothes, tableclothes, tea towel and/or towels to
wrap around breakables.
15. Wrap glasses – use socks to wrap around glasses.
16. Wrap artwork and/or large items – in doonas, quilts blankets etc.
17. Use pillows etc – use pillows, cushions and stuffed animals to pad things
and keep them safe from breaking.
I put the kids lego amongst our cushions so they didn’t have to be dismantled
them and transport them as a whole piece.

18. Prevent plates from breaking – if you have run out of paper try
wrapping plates individually so they don’t break, place plastic plates in
between .
I used the plastic plates that night for dinner as we really didn’t want to wash up
we were so tired.
19. Remember display placement – take photos of display cabinets so you
know how to organise it at the new house.

20. Remember where cables go – take photos of how the electronics cables
are connected to easily know how to reconnect them at the new house.
21. Don’t lose screws – when removing screws from items place them in a
zip lock bag and tape it to the piece of furniture it corresponds to so you don’t
lose it.
22. Keep boxes organised – use plastic grocery bags to keep the contents
inside the boxes organised. ie. place items from the top of your bedside table
drawer into bag 1, label bag top drawer. Items from 2nd drawer into bag 2,
label. This will help you easily unpack and place back into the drawers. This is
particularly handy for office drawers too.
23. Tape cables to electronics – to prevent the confusion of what cable
belongs to which electronic, tape the cables or cords to the base of it. I say
base in case the tape leaves sticky marks it’s not so worrisome on the bottom
of it.
24. Fill nail holes – use white soap to fill nail holes in the wall.
25. Eat from your fridge and pantry – don’t do big grocery shops before
your move, plan dinners based on food you have in your fridge and pantry, try
to use them up before you move.
26. Don’t take clothes off their hangers – use a bin liner to wrap around
clothes to easily transport. Wrapping them from the bottom will help prevent
losing any clothes that might slip off the hangers.

27. Kids toy boxes – wrap small-medium size toy boxes in plastic bags or
plastic wrap to save you unpacking the box into another box, wrap with
plastic to help keep the items from falling out.
28. Think outside the box – don’t forget to pack items in baskets, hampers,
suitcases.
29. Place heavy items in a suitcase – place books in suitcases they are easier
to roll than lift.
30. Remove light bulbs – to prevent them from breaking during the move.
31. Toilet Paper Rolls to stop tangling – use toilet paper rolls to keep
necklaces organised.
32. Finish it all before moving day – don’t leave any packing for the day of
the move. Have everything ready the night before. I was really surprised that
the removalist company managed to pack up our entire house in a matter of
1.5 hours. There was no time for me to anything more than to clean up behind
them.
A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE MOVE
33. Grocery home delivery – place a grocery order to get delivered a few
hours after you plan to arrive at the new house. For general items such as

fresh bread and milk for breakfast the next morning. This is particularly useful
if you have managed to eat most of your items in your pantry. We also ordered
sausages and had sausage sandwiches for dinner on our first night.
34. Pack an overnight bag – get each family member to pack an overnight
bag, with their toiletries, toothbrush, PJ’s, a change of clothes to easily have on
hand on the night of the move. Save searching through boxes and everybody
can have a comfortable nights sleep.
35. Sketch a plan – draw out an plan of where you want large furniture items
placed in your new home. ie where you would like your lounge to be
positioned. This is handy if you aren’t around somebody else can look at the
plan and place the items in the correct place for you, saves your back later.
BEFORE MOVING IN
If you are lucky enough to get access to the home before you move in these
few tips will make moving day a little bit easier:
36. My biggest tip is – before you move give your new house a good clean
before moving all the boxes over. It’s so much easier to wipe over kitchen
shelves and vacuum all the carpets while the house is empty. Despite the
showers looking clean I gave them a good clean again.
37. Take photos of your new home – so you can take the time to look
through them and be able to visualise where you want items placed before the
move. This is also good for renters to have as a reference for their landlords to
prevent unnecessary repair fees (as it may have been broken before moving
in).
38. Organise pest control – get the pest control to spray the house the day
before you moved in, then you dont have to worry about moving any furniture
later.
39. Bathroom stocked – put toilet paper, hand soap, hand towel in each of
the bathrooms.
40. Shower ready – put soap and bath towels for each person in the
bathrooms, after a long day you will want a nice shower.

41. Take the cutlery drawer – Does the new house have a removable cutlery
drawer?
Lift it out and bring to your current house so you can place the cutlery directly
in it, much easier to transport and you can simply place it into the drawer at
the new house. Wrap the cutlery tray in paper and tape up to prevent the
cutlery falling out.

42. Check that lights work – have a few spare light bulbs on hand just in
case. Strangely some people take them when moving (I wouldn’t recommend
this).
THE DAY OF THE MOVE
43. Babysitter – if possible, organise to get somebody to look after the kids
and pets.
44. Valuables – keep your most valuable items with you during the moving
process ie. jewellery, passports etc.
45. Esky – have an esky and ice packs on hand to put in all the food from the
fridge.
46. Clean fridge – take the opportunity to give the fridge a clean out while it’s
empty.
47. Dust under fridge – be ready for a heap of dirt and dust that may need to
be cleaned up from under the fridge. Make sure you have your dustpan on
hand.
48. Get items from storage – Get the removalists to pick up items you have in
storage, this is a huge back saver!
49. Bed assembly – Get the removalists to help you assemble any furniture
like beds, it’s a job that you really don’t want to be doing late in the evening
while everybody is exhausted and tired.
50. What to unpack first – determine which room you want to unpack first,
so at the end of the day you can relax in a not so cluttered space.
MAKE AN ESSENTIALS BOX
51. Create an essentials box – an essentials box is a box of items you will
need on the day of the move, consider items like
• clean bed linen for each bed
• toilet paper
• paper towel
• snacks

• water
• cups
• coffee
• all purpose cleaner
• bin liners
• scissors
• paper plates
• hand soap
• tools to help you assemble beds and other items
• toiletries
• medication, such as pain relief
• first aid kit, you may need a bandaid or two
• tissues
• pet supplies
• dustpan
• kitchen sponge
• detergent for dishes
• corkscrew/bottle opener
Don’t make your first meal in the new house too difficult, sausage sandwiches
were our go-to meal, or you could spoil yourself with takeaway.
UNPACKING TIPS
I didn’t muck around when it came to unpacking, I had 95% of the house
unpacked by Day 3. The key:
Colour coding– having the boxes colour coded I believed really saved us so
much time and back ache by getting the removalists to drop them into the
correct room.

Purging as I packed – I managed to purge before packing, selling most on
Facebook buy and sell pages and donating to our local charity. Majority of
what I had in boxes was items we used so there wasn’t anything in our boxes
that wasn’t to be unpacked. I did however label a few boxes of items that
shouldn’t be unpacked, like kids trophies as in the new house they only
wanted to display a few not all 50+ of them. They are currently sitting tidily to
the side in the garage.
Don’t be too organised – unpack the boxes and place into drawers and
cupboard, but don’t be too worried about it being orderly and organised, once
all the boxes are unpacked you can go back when you have time and neaten it
up.
Conclusion
\Few people look forward to packing––not even when they are looking
forward to the move itself. To make things easier, it's important to start
collecting boxes at least a month (and preferably more) before the moving
date. Supermarkets and hospitals tend to have ideally sized, clean boxes, so it

can be useful to ask them to save some for you or pick them up every time you
shop. Start packing early to minimize the rush and you'll be ready to get
started.
References
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8 Common Moving Mistakes and How to Avoid Them | Mental Floss, Retrieved
9 July, 2019 from,
http://mentalfloss.com/article/85046/8-common-moving-mistakes-andhow-avoid-them
2019 | A Beginner's Guide to Packing Your Home for a Household Move | The
Spruce, Retrieved 10 July, 2019 from,
https://www.thespruce.com/packing-your-home-for-household-move-
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2014 | Moving Checklist | Real Simple, Retrieved 10 July, 2019 from,
https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/organizing/moving/movingchecklist
Top 10 Things People Forget to Pack When Moving | My Moving Reviews,
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https://www.mymovingreviews.com/move/things-people-forget-to-packwhen-moving/
2018 | 6 Common Packing Mistakes You Should Avoid When Moving | Better
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https://www.betterremovalistsadelaide.com.au/6-common-packingmistakes-avoid-moving/
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https://theorganisedhousewife.com.au/organising/moving/packing-andmoving-tips/
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https://www.wikihow.life/Pack-for-a-Move