Tips for Good Packing
Packing a box properly is crucial when it comes to shipping. If your item is not packed well, it probably won’t stand a chance in the carrier’s fast-paced hubs full of drops and falls from conveyor belt to conveyor belt. The carriers know this and have come up with several resources to use for all the do-it-yourself packers out there.
PICK THE RIGHT BOX: Box selection is crucial. Everyone likes saving money and some do this by recycling a used box to ship their item. Recycling is great! Just make sure the box doesn’t have any water damage, rips, tears, holes, or anything else that weakens the integrity. What most people don’t realize is that boxes lose 60% of their strength after the first shipment. Keep that in mind when choosing a box!
REMOVE OLD LABELS AND BARCODES: You want your package to go to the right place, right? Make sure you remove or cover up old shipping labels so the package doesn’t get miss-sorted and go to the wrong place. Believe it or not this happens quite a bit. One time we had someone come into our store with a box that had three shipping labels on it
WRAP ITEMS INDIVIDUALLY: When shipping fragile items, it’s important to wrap them separately. This can be done with bubble wrap, foam sheets, or newsprint to prevent scratching. Wrapping items individually prevents them from hitting each other with enough force to cause damage. If you put two or more items together and wrap them as one, it may protect them from other items in the package, but it won’t protect them from each other.
USE PROPER CUSHIONING: You should never pick up a box and hear items shifting around in the box–unless your shipping something like LEGOs. Severe damage can result as nothing protects the item from the edges of the box or outside forces being applied to the package. There should be cushioning in the box to prevent items from freely moving about the package.
Easy Moving And Packing Tips That Will Make Your Move Dead Simple
Get rid of everything
Okay, maybe not everything, but the more unused and unnecessary items you eliminate from your home, the less stuff you’ll have to pack up, haul across town, unload, and organize.
Sort things by category
Take a cue from Marie Kondo and organize your belongings by category, not by room (note that the category part only applies to the organization process, not the unpacking — that’s a whole separate ordeal).
Donate
If you’d like to donate your items, check out our guide on where to donate your old clothes, books, furniture, toys, and more
Set aside stuff to sell.
You probably have a few items you no longer want, but would love to get a little money for. If that’s the case, set these items aside and determine where you can sell them
MakeSpace
For everything you don’t want to take with you but can’t say goodbye to yet, schedule a MakeSpace pickup.
The Best Packing Service
One of the greatest stressors while moving is not knowing whether you’ll arrive at your new home to find that your favorite dishes chipped and your vintage vanity mirror cracked
Between the fear of incorrectly packing your valuables and the pain of going room by room and drawer by drawer, there’s plenty of incentive to hire professionals to pack for you.
Plus, if you’re on a time crunch and need to get out of your house by the end of the month, if you have items that are too large to pack yourself, or if you have children or pets to supervise, pro packers can be especially worth the added cost.
We found the best by-the-hour packers in the biz for your DIY move. And if you’re doing a full-service move, you can pay for packing through the mover you’re working with or book any of the companies below.
It has lots of locations
A good packing company is of no use to you if you live outside its service area. It can boast all day about its killer swing set–breakdown or fragile-item packing capabilities, but if it can’t get a packer out to your house, you can’t benefit from those cool services.
Top Packaging Tips to Help Avoid Damage
Nothing is more disappointing than receiving a damaged parcel through the post. It’s the sender’s responsibility to make sure the parcel is packaged correctly but accidental damage obtained through transport is possible. Before you head to the post office compare parcel delivery quotes to make sure you get the best price for your delivery. You could save as much as 80% on potential shipping costs! Read our top five packaging tips to help prevent damage below
Use new, double-walled boxes
We start the packaging tips with focusing on the quality of boxes you use. Be careful if you choose to reuse old packaging. Cardboard boxes are easily damaged and provide much less protection if they are. Before shipping your package, you should feel comfortable that your item is secure and box is sturdy. You should also remove or cover any old labels that are visible to ensure your package is sent to the correct location
Don’t use fabric or cloth bags
Just like packing your item in a brand-new box, you want to avoid using fabric or cloth bags. Despite their attractiveness, they provide also no protection or support to your item even if you pad the bag out with bubble wrap. Use a robust material to avoid leaving your contents at risk.
Use bubble wrap for protection
No matter how big or small your parcel is, it’s a good idea to pad it out with plenty of bubble wrap to add an extra layer of protection to your item(s). Cushioning your items will prevent them moving around and protect them from accidental damage. If your package contains a fragile item, make sure it’s placed in the center, avoiding all four sides of the box
Avoid shipping expensive items – if you can!
If you’re concerned about the safe arrival of your package, don’t send it at all. If you have no choice but to ship your package because it physically isn’t possible to deliver it in person, make sure you have insurance. Although it is possible to send high-value items including jewelry and antiques by courier, you should find out the maximum value of an item you can send and if there is additional protection available.
THE RIGHT PROFESSIONAL PACKING SERVICES FOR YOU
Packing everything you own for relocation can be a daunting task – it seems like something you should be able to handle once you figure it out. And besides, hiring a professional Vancouver moving company is expensive enough without additional costs. But using professional packing services can save you time, money, and a lot of frustration. Here are some tips on finding the right professional packing services for you and your family.
When to use the Packing Services of a Moving Company
Ideally, all of your belongings (except last-minute items) should be packed and ready to go by moving day
And don’t forget, before you even begin packing, you will need packing supplies such as china paper, bubble wrap, moving boxes, and packing tape. The moving company you hire will normally
Common Packing Options a Moving Company Offers
Most Vancouver movers offer different kinds and levels of packing services. When deciding the level of packing services you need,
Self-Packing: The movers wrap and prepare the furniture for transit; you pack up everything else. Vancouver moving companies offer supplies on order if you need them. This is advisable. When you order supplies from a professional moving company, boxes are a standard shape (easier to load) and packing supplies such as tape, china paper, and bubble wrap are industry standard.