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| How to Pack Your Possessions When Moving |
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| Even if you can't wait to live in your new house, curb your enthusiasm and resist the urge to cram all your possessions any which way into boxes. |
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| Steps |
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| Pack one room at a time if possible, and start with items that are least often used. |
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| Write down a list of everything you are packing, in particular if it's valuable. |
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| Books, CDs, expensive clothes. |
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| Also, take note of which item is in which box. |
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| Use sturdy boxes. |
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| Fill the box to the brim and seal the lid. |
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| That way, you can easily stack boxes on top of one another. |
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| Tape the bottom of the box securely so that it doesn't give way. |
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| Never fill a box until it is so heavy that you can't lift it safely. |
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| Spread the heavy items over a few boxes. |
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| Balance boxes with lighter items like towels or soft toys. |
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| Pack the lighter items on top. |
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| Use bubble wrap or newspapers when packing fragile items. |
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| However, newsprint may smudge so use newspaper selectively. |
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| Clean paper can be purchased cheaply from moving supply stores. |
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| Mark boxes. |
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| Boxes should be marked 'Fragile' and 'This side up' to prevent mishandling. |
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| Label each box clearly and which room it belongs to. |
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| Write on the sides of the box as well. |
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| Pack a separate box of essentials you may need for the first night at your new house. |
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| Include items like toiletries, toilet paper, bottled water, snacks and a change of clothes in case you can not unpack everything in time. |
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| Tips |
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| Don't label boxes with contents if the contents are valuable. |
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| Instead of writing 'Silver Service - Fragile' you should write something that makes it sound less theft inviting while showing the fragile nature of the contents. |
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| Example: 'Mom's old dishes' instead of 'Fine China' |
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| Tape is cheap. |
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| Use lots of it. |
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| Close box bottoms well. |
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| Get masking tape or packing tape and tape screws and other little things that came out of something back against it. |
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| You'll want to find the right screw reassemble something without having to pick it out of 100 others when you get there. |
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| Don't pack one box full of books or paperwork - you might not be able to carry it at all. |
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| Fill it halfway with books, and fill it up with lighter stuff. |
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| National superstores (Walmart) will let you walk the store for boxes when they are stocking the stores between 11 pm and 1 am. |
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| You can find boxes of all sizes. |
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| Cereal, diaper and houseware boxes are a good size and durable. |
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| Just take a cart and roam the store. |
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| They do check the cart as you leave so don't try to sneak anything past them. |
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| U-haul and other nation companies offer box buy back services. |
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| If you buy too many boxes you can return the unused for a full refund. |
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| These boxes are also quite sturdy so you can re-use them or stash in your attic until you move again. |
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| Some national companies even offer free shipping and handling so you can have some delivered or go to the local location. |
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| Fill empty spaces with additional paper. |
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| Throw away or donate junk you don't want to take to your new place. |
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| Don't pack it again!!! |
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| Set aside an area of the house where you can put all the packed boxes. |
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| Use a room that isn't used every day such as the formal dining or living room. |
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| You won't be tripping over boxes and you can have a better idea of what you have and where things are. |
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| Pack books and heavy items into smaller boxes. |
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| Digital Photos - use your camera to document the contents of boxes. |