If you are planning a move and want to save some money on the cost of relocation then you may want to pack your possessions yourself. Before you begin it's important to understand that do-it-yourself packing can be a very big and somewhat daunting endeavor.
However, if you have the right materials and if you are armed with these packing tips then you can protect your possessions and get the professional quality results you want.
1. Begin by packing your out-of-season possessions. Then pack items that you don't use that often. Hold off packing the things you use daily until your moving day.
2. Empty all of your drawers of anything that can break, spill, or damage another item.
3. Crumple up a lot of paper and put a two- to three-inch layer of crumpled paper as a cushion in the bottom of every carton that you pack.
4. Put the heaviest items on the bottom of the carton, the less heavy things in the middle, and the lightest items on top of everything else. Layering your items this way will keep the cartons more stable.
5. After you complete a layer fill in any empty spaces with crumpled up paper. Then make another base of crushed paper for the next layer.
6. Pack like with like. For example, you shouldn't pack champagne flutes with copper frying pans.
7. If you disassemble something keep all its components together. Put smaller items into a plastic bag and securely tape them to the item you took it from.
8. Wind and fasten all of your electrical cords around all of your appliances.
9. While you can use two layers of newspaper for an outer wrapping you should wrap everything individually in clean tissue paper, paper towels, or even facial tissues for fine and delicate items.
10. If items are fragile make sure to cushion them with light weight blankets, towels, or crushed paper.
11. If you have a lot of smaller, fragile items, wrap them all individually and put several into a small box. Then make sure to cushion the items. You can put a number of the smaller boxes into a bigger box and fill the empty spaces between them with crumpled paper.
12. Although you will want to pack the cartons firmly you should avoid overloading them. When you close the cover it should not bow outward or bend inward.
13. Except for any items that have to be available for your moving company's inspection, tightly seal your cartons with strong tape. On the outside make a note of what room the box should go in.