Pro-tips for How to Pack

For a stress-free packing, start with decluttering, and make the it a fun journey — with your moving day coming soon, there’s no better time to think about what you really want in your new home.

If you mix books with the kitchenware you will create empty spaces inside the boxes. Optimize the space by organizing the boxes by type: Books, clothes, cables, picture frames, etc.

Take a look at all the things you have and get ready to label every box. Begin by planning how you are going to pack and what materials you have.

There are some items that you should NOT pack when moving, either not recommended to pack yourself or not allowed by regulation. Although some of these tips might sound obvious, plenty of people have had to learn what not to pack the hard way. This advice will prevent you from making the same mistakes.

There are a few hard-to-pack items FlatRate always includes as part of our standard moving package. We know from experience it’s better to leave these things to the professionals so we always take care of stuff like TVs, lamps, electronics, small mirrors and sculptures, artwork, glass or marble items, and all of your hanging clothes. Check the full list of items we always pack for you.

Do not bother using newspaper. The ink gets all over your things and can stain them. Only use unprinted tissue paper for wrapping fragile items. For extra protection, we recommend wrapping dishes, vases, and art objects with 10lb packing paper—perfect for packing extra fragile and valuable items without taking up too much room in a box.

You may have a couple of days between leaving the old house and moving into a new one. Set aside a box for essentials such as dishes, cups, flatware, dish cleaning supplies and little appliances.

It might seem counterintuitive, but if you put heavy items in large boxes, the box might break. It’s simple but this rule will make the moving process way smoother.

Our wardrobe boxes allow you to hang your clothes easily with room left over to pack shoes and other items at the bottom. It’s constructed with Heavy Duty cardboard for added strength and stability with a convenient front access panel and integrated hand holes for increased ease of use.

Before you put anything into a cardboard box, you should tape up the bottom. If you don’t, the bottom will flap over each other and the box could collapse when lifted. Never interlock the flaps of the box as it reduces the strength. Wait until the last minute to close all the boxes as there is always something else that you might be missing. This will give you a better perspective of your move.