Packing

Before we even knew where we were going, and how we would be getting there, we started packing. Basically, as soon as the house sold, we started packing.  It’s important to get a head start on this, because the time can sneak up on you, and you don’t want to end up with movers in the house, and half the house unpacked.

We got moving supplies from Home Depot and Osh. We were later told by the movers that we saved a lot of money this way, as the moving companies will charge much more for the supplies.  We bought:

• Standard boxes – mostly small, some medium, and fewer large.
  When it comes to boxes, it is important to remember that they shouldn’t be too heavy to carry, so small is often better. The movers preferred the small boxes, too, because they could fill all the nooks and crannies of the PODs with them and make more efficient use of space.
• Specialty boxes – They make boxes for glasses and jars.  We got these for our tumblers as well as our wine and champagne glasses.
• Bubble wrap – small and large bubbles. This comes on rolls that are perforated for variable size.  We used bubble wrap for anything that is fragile, and also as spacers between our dishes.
• Packing tape
• Tape guns
• Black or blue Sharpie marker (for marking boxes)

One of my favorite purchases, though, came from Amazon.com:

You always hear everyone suggesting that you get different color labels for your boxes to identify the room they came from and will go to when you unpack.  So I started looking for packages of different color labels. But I was really only able to find packages with 5 different colors. With a 4 bedroom, 3 bath home (with family room, kitchen, dining room, and living room), I needed more.   These UBOXES moving labels are awesome! Different colors, with all of the rooms listed, including Utility and Storage. I was afraid we would run out of labels for the kitchen, but I bought 2 packages, and had plenty of labels.  Plus, they are PRIME eligible!

Important!  Before sealing a box, be sure to document the most important contents of the box on the top, side, or space provided. I like surprises, too, but not when I’m unpacking or looking for specific things

We were actually still labeling and sealing boxes as the movers were packing. But we had provided instructions in advance — they were not to take any box that was not yet sealed or labeled.  They followed this instruction, and we got it all done!

(Read more: Moving, Part IV: PODs)