Packing Tips For Moving – What to Pack First

10th April, 2018

Knowing what to pack first when moving is never an easy task, so gathering some packing tips for moving is always a welcome addition to your planning process. At Kent Removals & Storage, we have been assisting families with their moving needs for over 75 years, which means we’ve got a few tips & tricks to assist in creating a packing plan. So, with that in mind, let’s have a look at a few handy packing tips for moving.

Step 1: Throw Away Discardables

Step 2: Organise Unused Items for Storage

Step 3: Pack Away any Unessential Items

Step 4: Start Removing and Organising Furnishings

Step 5: Pack Lesser-Used Rooms

Step 6: Carefully Wrap and Pack Fragile Items

Step 7: Finally Pack Away Essential Items

Step 1: Throw Away Discardables

Let’s face it; we all have things that don’t necessarily need to come with us on our journey from one home to the next. Whether that means broken appliances or some long forgotten trinkets you no longer have a desire for, it’s best to get them out of the way before planning the rest of your move.

With that said, this doesn’t mean simply throwing things in the trash. Whilst that pile of scrapbook paper on your desk doesn’t necessarily need a second life outside your recycling bin, try to find things that you can donate or give away. Make a separate charity box filled with things that you don’t have a need for, but someone else might. Not only will this make your move easier, but it will potentially be doing a good deed for those less fortunate.

Step 2: Organise Unused Items for Storage

If you’re wondering what we mean by storage, simply take a look at your attic or basement and see the wide array of boxes and pieces of equipment likely spread throughout. These are the things that we don’t want to part with, but that aren’t necessarily going to have an impact on your day to day activities if you are parted with them.

All those pieces of gardening equipment, old photo albums etc. will almost certainly find a place in your new home, but for now, it’s best to get these less vital items out of the way.

Step 3: Pack Away any Unessential Items

Although they may seem like absolute necessities, being parted from your soccer trophies and CD collection for a few extra days probably isn’t going to be the end of the world. As long as they can handle a little jostling about, these should be packed up and put in the moving van long before the basics of everyday life.

That said, if you have a select few albums that you can’t possibly go without, feel free to keep these aside when packing the rest. Just remember, the more things you keep aside, the more difficult the overall process is likely to become.

Step 4: Start Removing and Organising Furnishings

As we step further into the realm of necessary daily items, the distinction between vital furnishings and storage stuffers becomes a little less defined. In the end, your family will need your bedding and a place to sit long before they will need that bedside table and bookshelf, so make sure that you take note of this when planning your pack. You don’t want to end up with two lamps and no chairs.

Step 5: Pack Lesser-Used Rooms

When looking at what to pack first when moving, it’s important to take note of not just the types of items, but what role they play in your home. For example, the bedroom is going to be a lot more important than a rec room when it comes to immediate use. Therefore, packing the necessities from a less-than-necessary room first is going to save you some drama later down the line. Let’s face it, having your plasma TV set up probably isn’t going to be quite as comfortable as not sleeping on the floor.

Step 6: Carefully Wrap and Pack Fragile Items

Whilst your essentials should take top priority when it comes to immediate access, if you have fragile items that you are worried about surviving the move, it’s best to hold onto these until everything else has been packed away. This will allow you the best chance to work out safe areas for these items to be stored.

Whether that means taking them in the car (if they’re smaller items) or wrapping them in bedding for additional support. At Kent Removals & Storage, we ensure that each item placed in our care will be handled with the utmost level of professionalism and safety. That way, you can rest easy knowing that your moving needs are in good hands.

Step 7: Finally, Pack Away Essential Items

Now that everything else is out of the way, you can finally look at storing the things that you will need day 1 of moving into your new place. The cutlery you need to eat, the bedding you need to sleep, the toiletries you need to stay feeling clean and comfortable; all of these things should be packed right at the very end of your preparations. That way, they will be the last thing you have before the move and the first thing you have unpacked after it.

Conclusion

While the question “what should I pack first when moving” can be tough to answer, following this process will ensure the easiest transition in the long run. Kent Removals & Storage has been helping families move for over 75 years, making us one of Australia’s most trusted removalists. Contact us today, or explore our blog for more helpful packing tips for moving. Good luck!