Whether you’re moving locally or moving long-distance, moving is a challenging undertaking. This is especially true if you are trying to execute a move without professional help. Here are some tips to help you pack your moving truck like the pros and make sure that you and your belongings make it to your new home in one piece!
Get The Right Gear
No matter if you are moving locally or long-distance, the first thing you should do is protect yourself. Nothing slows down a move like a preventable injury because you do not have the right gear. Before you get started, make sure that you invest in a back brace and some quality moving gloves to make sure you have proper PPE (Personal Protective Gear). Also, consider stretching and doing a few practice lifts to make sure you are lifting with your legs and not your back. Even a small apartment can be more physically taxing than you might expect. Also, with large, and often, awkward things to carry, even the frequent gym goers will find that different muscles are being targeted so make sure you have the equipment you need to make your move safe as well as successful.
Buy The Proper Boxes
Although you can obtain boxes for free from many stores, we suggest spending a little extra money to make sure that you have the right boxes for all your belongings. Especially if you are executing a move without professional help, it will save you time, energy, and stress if you have uniform boxes that fit neatly in your moving truck. Also, when selecting the right size boxes, keep in mind your ability to lift. As tempting as it is to find boxes that have the most volume, make sure you are not putting your body at risk by making your boxes too heavy to lift comfortably.
Rent A Truck That Fits
Another essential part to packing your moving truck properly is making sure that you have enough truck to fit what you need to move. Most truck rental companies will give you estimates on each size of truck based on your house. When in doubt, opt for a larger moving truck to give yourself extra space when packing your truck. Particularly if you are moving long-distance, you don’t want to get your truck packed and find out that you either have to rearrange items or that you don’t have enough space.
Disassemble Large Furniture
One major key to packing a truck correctly is to prepare properly so that you can maximize every inch of your moving truck. If you have tables, chair, and even some couches with legs that come apart, take the time to disassemble them. Not only will this make your furniture fit better, but it will also make these pieces easier to lift and carry. Beds and bed frames should also be disassembled. When taking apart furniture, make sure to carefully label the pieces. One suggestion we have is to use color coded tape dots and plastic baggies to match your bolts and screws to their proper furniture pieces.
Ask For Help
Don’t be bashful! If you have to move yourself, enlist help from friends and family. Even though no one likes to move, its important to use your network to take some of the burden off of your move. When planning your move, we recommend getting your assistance there early to help with the heaviest furniture. Also, give your friends and family a clear timeframe to avoid any frustration in the process.
Load And Secure Heaviest Items First
Do you start with furniture or boxes first? The best practice is to get your heaviest and largest items into the truck first. Not only will this set up the rest of your truck space-wise, but it is also much easier to find room for a few boxes in your personal car than an entire kitchen table! Additionally, there is a physics reason for this set up as well. By loading the heaviest items in first, you achieve ideal weight distribution in your truck.