- Start with a plan: Before you start loading the truck, make a plan for how you’ll arrange your belongings. This will help ensure that everything fits and is easy to access when you arrive at your destination.
- Disassemble large furniture: Disassembling large items like beds and bookshelves will make them easier to pack and will create more space in the truck.
- Use moving blankets: Use moving blankets to protect your furniture and other items from scratches and dents during transport.
- Load heavy items first: Start by loading your heaviest items, such as appliances and furniture, into the truck first. This will help keep the truck stable and balanced.
- Place large items against the walls: Place larger items like sofas and dressers against the walls of the truck to create a stable base.
- Use tie-downs: Use tie-downs to secure larger items in place and prevent them from shifting during transport.
- Pack items tightly: Pack your boxes and other items tightly to prevent them from moving around during transport.
- Use padding for fragile items: Use padding like bubble wrap or packing paper to protect fragile items like dishes and glassware.
- Stack boxes properly: Stack your boxes in rows, with the heaviest boxes on the bottom and lighter boxes on top. This will help prevent boxes from crushing each other.
- Fill empty spaces: Fill any empty spaces with pillows, blankets, or other soft items to prevent items from shifting during transport.
- Label boxes: Label each box with its contents and the room it belongs in to make unpacking easier.
- Use a dolly: Invest in a dolly to move heavy items like appliances and furniture onto the truck.
- Load items in reverse order: Load items you’ll need first, like mattresses and bed frames, in the truck last, so they’ll be the first items you can unload when you arrive.
- Use wardrobe boxes: Invest in wardrobe boxes to pack your clothes on hangers. This will save time and prevent wrinkles.
- Pack items in clear plastic containers: Pack items in clear plastic containers so you can see what’s inside and easily access items you need.
- Use moving straps: Use moving straps to secure items like dressers and cabinets to the walls of the truck.
- Don’t overload boxes: Pack boxes so they’re not too heavy to lift, and so that the lids can be easily closed.
- Use small boxes for heavy items: Pack heavy items like books and dishes in smaller boxes, to prevent the boxes from becoming too heavy.
- Use padding between items: Use padding, like bubble wrap or packing paper, between items to prevent scratches and damage.
- Stack boxes in tiers: Stack boxes in tiers, with the heaviest boxes on the bottom and lighter boxes on top. This will help keep the truck balanced.
- Pack electronics safely: Use original boxes and packing materials to pack electronics, or invest in specialized boxes designed for electronics.
- Use vacuum-sealed bags: Use vacuum-sealed bags for bedding, pillows, and clothing to save space.
- Load boxes by size: Load larger boxes first, and then stack smaller boxes on top. This will help maximize space.
- Load items vertically: Load long items, like lamps and mirrors, vertically against the walls of the truck to save space.
- Pack an essentials box: Pack an essentials box with items you’ll need immediately upon arrival, like toiletries, snacks, and cleaning supplies.
- Take pictures:
Take pictures of how you’ve packed the truck so you can easily remember how to unpack everything at your destination.
- Use furniture pads:
Use furniture pads to protect furniture from scratches, dents, and other damage during transport.
- Use bungee cords:
Use bungee cords to secure lighter items like chairs and small tables to the walls of the truck.
- Load mattresses vertically:
Load mattresses on their sides, standing vertically against the walls of the truck to save space.
- Load the heaviest items in the center:
Place your heaviest items, like appliances and furniture, in the center of the truck to keep the weight balanced.
- Keep items in their drawers:
Keep items like clothes and linens in their drawers to save space and reduce the number of boxes needed.
- Pack breakable items carefully:
Pack breakable items like dishes and glassware in sturdy boxes with plenty of padding.
- Pack a cooler:
Pack a cooler with snacks and drinks to keep everyone fed and hydrated during the move.
- Use packing tape:
Use packing tape to reinforce the bottoms and sides of boxes, and to seal them securely.
- Label fragile items:
Label boxes containing fragile items clearly, so that they are handled with care during loading and unloading.
- Pack a toolbox:
Pack a toolbox with essential tools like screwdrivers, pliers, and hammers, to make it easy to reassemble furniture and appliances upon arrival.
- Avoid packing hazardous materials:
Do not pack hazardous materials like chemicals, gasoline, or propane tanks in the moving truck.
- Load heavy items low:
Load heavy items low and toward the front of the truck, to keep the center of gravity low and prevent the truck from tipping over.
- Use a ramp:
Use a ramp to make it easier to load heavy items onto the truck.
- Use a mattress bag:
Use a mattress bag to protect your mattress from dirt, dust, and moisture during transport.
- Pack pillows and cushions last:
Pack pillows and cushions last, to use them as a cushion between the last items packed and the door of the truck.
- Pack mirrors and artwork safely:
Pack mirrors and artwork in special boxes designed for these items, or wrap them in bubble wrap and pack them between mattresses.
- Disassemble light fixtures:
Disassemble light fixtures and lampshades, and pack them in boxes with plenty of padding.
- Pack garden tools and hoses separately:
Pack garden tools and hoses separately, in a separate area of the truck, to avoid damage to other items.
- Use straps for awkward items:
Use straps to secure awkward items like bicycles or large exercise equipment.
- Load boxes with handles facing out:
Load boxes with handles facing out, to make it easier to carry them off the truck.
- Use tie-downs for furniture: Use tie-downs to secure furniture and prevent it from shifting during transport.
- Keep important documents with you:
Keep important documents like passports, financial records, and medical records with you, rather than packing them on the truck.
- Pack shoes in plastic bags:
Pack shoes in plastic bags to keep them clean and separate from other items.
- Use plastic wrap:
Use plastic wrap to bundle items like curtain rods, brooms, and shovels together, to make them easier to carry.
- Load boxes vertically:
Load boxes vertically, rather than flat, to maximize space in the truck.
- Use dish boxes for fragile items:
Use dish boxes for fragile items like china and glassware, as they have built-in dividers for added protection.
- Pack a first-aid kit:
Pack a first-aid kit with bandages, pain relievers, and other essentials, in case of any accidents or injuries during the move.
- Use wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes:
Use wardrobe boxes to pack hanging clothes, to keep them wrinkle-free and save time on ironing.
- Use vacuum cleaner bags:
Use vacuum cleaner bags to compress bulky items like comforters and pillows, to save space.
- Use a floor plan: Use a floor plan of your new home to guide how you load the truck, and to make unloading easier when you arrive.
- Load large appliances first:
Load large appliances like refrigerators and washers first, as they take up a lot of space and need to be placed in a specific location.
- Pack books in small boxes:
Pack books in small boxes to prevent them from becoming too heavy to lift.
- Use bubble wrap for fragile items:
Use bubble wrap to wrap and protect fragile items like vases, picture frames, and figurines.
- Pack clothing in suitcases:
Pack clothing in suitcases to save space and make them easier to move.
- Label boxes by room:
Label boxes by room, so that they can be easily sorted and unpacked when you arrive at your new home.
- Pack kitchen items together:
Pack kitchen items together in boxes, and label them clearly, to make it easier to unpack and set up the kitchen.
- Pack flat-screen TVs carefully:
Pack flat-screen TVs carefully in special boxes designed for them, or wrap them in moving blankets and secure them with tape.
- Load the heaviest boxes first:
Load the heaviest boxes first, and stack them on the floor of the truck.
- Pack a toolbox last:
Pack a toolbox last, so that it is easily accessible when you need it.
- Use plastic wrap for furniture: Use plastic wrap to protect furniture from scratches and dust during transport.
- Pack electronic equipment carefully:
Pack electronic equipment like computers, printers, and TVs in their original boxes, if possible, or wrap them in bubble wrap and pack them carefully.
- Use plastic bags for small items:
Use plastic bags for small items like screws and bolts, and label them clearly, so that you can easily reassemble furniture and appliances when you arrive.
- Use corner protectors for furniture:
Use corner protectors to prevent furniture from being damaged during transport.
- Pack cleaning supplies last:
Pack cleaning supplies last, so that they are easily accessible when you need to clean your old home after moving out.
- Use padding for large items:
Use padding like blankets, towels, or foam to protect large items like dressers and desks from scratches and dents.
- Load items in reverse order:
Load items in reverse order, with the items you will need first at the back of the truck and the items you will need last at the front.
- Pack framed artwork flat:
Pack framed artwork flat, and wrap it in bubble wrap to protect it during transport.
- Use rope or bungee cords to secure items:
Use rope or bungee cords to secure items like mattresses, sofas, and chairs to prevent them from shifting during transport.
- Use packing peanuts:
Use packing peanuts to fill empty spaces in boxes and provide extra cushioning for fragile items.
- Pack a box of essentials:
Pack a box of essentials with items like toiletries, snacks, and bedding, so that you have everything you need for your first night in your new home.
