Whether moving or just storing possessions, packing boxes can be a chore. But it doesn’t have to be difficult, and here’s how:

• Get The Right Boxes - Assess what you are packing, and get the correct boxes for those items. Do you need heavy boxes from a packing store? Cheap boxes from the back of a supermarket? Plastic Rubbermaid storage boxes?
• Have Essentials Ready - Make sure you have packing material, such as bubble wrap or packing peanuts, packing tape and a permanent marker.
• Pack By Room - If you have to pack items from multiple rooms, pack the boxes by room so that all items stay together for easier unpacking later.
• Make Sure The Boxes Aren’t Too Heavy - You can end up with a broken box, or even worse, a trip to the chiropractor. Make sure your boxes aren’t too heavy. If you have a hard time lifting boxes, have someone help you or use a dolly.
• Make Sure Fragile Items Are Packed Properly - Use packing material, such as bubble wrap or packing peanuts, to secure the items. Shake the box a little bit to make sure nothing is moving around. Mark the box “Fragile,” and note which end is up.
• Cushion The Boxes - Items don’t necessarily need to be fragile, but you should cushion the contents so they don’t move around, skew the weight of the box or even get damaged.
• Mark Boxes - Mark them by room, and mark them by number. For instance, if you have two boxes from the kitchen, mark them as “Kitchen Box 1 of 2: Fragile” and “Kitchen Box 2 of 2.”
• Write Down Box Information - Jot down on a slip of paper that you have two boxes for the kitchen. Double check with the list when it’s time to unpack, so you don’t miss anything.
• Check Out The Shipper - If you’re moving boxes from one place to the other, make sure to check out the shipper first, whether it’s a major moving company or a “man with a van.” Will everything be secured? What kind of accountability will they hold for broken or missing items? If you’re using a major moving company, check out Consumer Affairs for complaints first.
• Count Boxes - And count again. Make sure everything is accounted for, especially if you find yourself in a sea of cardboard boxes.

What are your packing tips?

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