Packing for a move is difficult, and requires a lot of labor. This especially applies to heavy items. Tools from the garden and garage are much harder to pack than shoes or clothing. Getting appliances and large pieces of furniture ready to ship is also challenging. This includes items difficult to handle such as a home safe or a grand piano. There are additionally safety concerns for the mover, and this increases the cost. The cost for a long-distance move is based on the amount of weight, due to the extra time required for loading and unloading heavy items.

The problem is you can’t leave all your heavy possessions behind. There are tips to help you when heavy items must be moved. The right packing materials will protect your items, and make them easier to move for the shippers. These supplies will promote safety while helping prevent any injuries or accidents during the moving process. Double-ply, heavy duty cardboard boxes can hold the weight of heavy items. Specialty boxes should be purchased for valuable and delicate items with weight. Wooden crates work well for heavy items with odd shapes such as artwork.

A thick wrapping will decrease the chances of damage. Foam padding, bubble wrap and moving blankets work very well. Larger bubble wrap, foam padding, packing peanuts and corrugated cardboard are preferable. Heavy tape is required for packing, so the boxes are reinforced. Cheap supplies will not provide enough protection for heavy items. Small boxes with heavy duty tape will keep the boxes secure and properly distribute the weight. Any detachable parts should be removed and packed separately. When possible, equipment should be dismantled, with the most vulnerable parts individually and protectively wrapped. Fragile items must be immobilized.

Any space left in the top of the box should be filled with cushioning materials. The boxes should be firm, so they can be stacked easily. When necessary, boxes can be cut to the correct size. One box can also be sealed within another with bubble wrap for extra protection. Your boxes should be labeled with the contents. The boxes containing breakable items should be labeled fragile, no box should exceed fifty pounds, and all boxes should be labeled this side up. The best piece of advice is to always keep your safety, and the safety of the movers in mind. Use caution when moving items with a lot of weight no matter how well you have packed them. Property damage can be avoided if caution is used when heavy items are removed from your old home. The same applies when these items are moved to your new home. Using the correct techniques for lifting and moving heavy boxes and furniture will help to prevent injuries. Once all your heavy items have been properly loaded into the moving vehicle, make certain they are secured well. This will help stop any jostling or shaking during the move.

Hiring moving professionals will save you a lot of effort, time and headaches. They are experts and very experienced regarding moving heavy items. They posses the correct tools, and understand what is necessary to ensure your move is both efficient and safe. The general rule is if any item has a weight exceeding fifty pounds, a professional mover should be the one to pack and move the item.

It isn’t easy to move. It doesn’t matter if you’re relocating to the next neighborhood or if you’re going all the way across the nation. It’s never a simple or quick process. You have to put a lot of time into your move, to say the least. You need to plan diligently beforehand. It’s important to write out detailed lists of all the things you have to do. It’s important to look for a reputable and trusted moving company that can help you. The list of things to do is pretty long.

Collecting moving supplies can be a lot of work, too. People generally need to invest in cardboard boxes for packing purposes. If you’re interested in saving a substantial amount of money, though, you don’t have to set aside a fortune to cover your box needs. That’s because you can usually easily get your hands on boxes without paying a penny, believe it or not. You can swiftly find boxes through a number of different channels. Why ever pay when it’s just not necessary?

Craigslist is the name of a popular website that focuses on classified listings of all varieties. If you browse Craigslist, you may find people offering to give away cardboard boxes free of charge. There’s a good chance you’ll find at least a couple people giving boxes away close to you. These people may be individuals who have just completed their own moving projects.

The Freecycle Network can help people who are in need of free boxes, too. Sign up for your nearest group and alert others to the fact that you’re in need of boxes. You may come across a helpful person who has a few accessible to you.

Liquor shops can come in handy for people who are searching for boxes on the cheap, too. Head to your nearest liquor shop and speak with any employee you see. Find out if he or she can give you any boxes that are equipped with lids. Liquor store boxes can be particularly useful to people who need them for moves. That’s because they’re generally compact and durable. These boxes, as a result, are ideal for possessions such as CDs, DVDs and even books.

Bookstores can be terrific for people who are searching for free boxes. If you’re looking for boxes that can accommodate all of your most beloved books, there’s no finer option than a good, old-fashioned book shop.

Go to the supermarket in your neighborhood to find out if they have any spare boxes available to you. Odds are high that they do. You can call your supermarket beforehand as well. Tell them that you want them to keep their apple boxes around for a little bit. Boxes that contain apples can be terrific for moving and packing convenience.

Stop by local educational institutions. Schools receive frequent deliveries. That’s the reason they generally have so many boxes accessible. Get in touch with janitors who work for a school around you. They may just be able to give you some boxes. It’s a win-win situation, too. If you take boxes from janitors, they won’t have to deal with the time-consuming hassles and stresses of taking them apart and preparing them for upcoming recycling. If you want to save big on your move, free boxes can be a lifesaver.

Whether you pack your bags a week in advance or 3 hours before your flight leaves, we all could use some tips on making the packing process just a tad simpler. Below we compiled 16 ways to increase the simplicity and efficiency of packing; hopefully this can reduce some stress.

#1 Make a packing checklist.
By using a packing list you can be assured you won’t have the sulking feeling of “Oh no” as the plane is taking off and you see someone else pull out their iPad, that looks just like the one you forgot on the couch at home, from their carry on.

#2 Make sure you actually review said checklist.
Make sure the list is actually followed and extremely important items are in bold or highlighted such as identification.

#3 Learn policies regarding baggage fees.
You’ve budgeted down to the half penny and realize you have now accumulated an additional $50 worth of baggage fees because your bag is apparently one inch too long. Find out all baggage policies to avoid this easy to dodge headache.

#4 Roll all clothing.
By rolling your clothes you minimize tons of space that would go unused if using the traditional folding method.

#5 Reduce what you actually think you need by half.
Typically we try to prepare for the what if situations that might occur. This looks like bringing 6 pairs of socks for a 2 day trip just in case a pair or two gets wet. Just reduce it all by half.

#6 Use dividers or packing cubes to aid in utilizing all bag space.
These cubes are life savers. Or even small Cardboard Boxes can be helpful as well.

#7 Realize all essentials and a one spare outfit need remain with you via carry on luggage.
Sometimes luggage gets lost, pack in your carry on everything that you absolutely need so it is with you the entire trip.

#8 Pack some spare plastic bags or Ziplock bags to used items and clothing.
Want to keep potential smelly or dirty items away from the clean? Make sure to bring extra small store bags or the like to preserve your items.

#9 Contain liquids and items that could spill in their own separate compartment from clothes.
I would hate to have my liquids spill out on the only pair of dress pants I brought for the entire trip; when in doubt, separate them out.

#10 Wear bulkiest items on the plane.
If it is possible that coat that would normally take up half your suitcase is best in hand or worn.

#11 Get settled mentally with possibly purchasing travel sized soaps and deodorants at your destination.
Unnecessary weight or potential trashed cash, mini is the way to go.

#12 Wrapping or separating out clothes via tissue paper to reduce wrinkles.
Minimal friction between clothing reduces risk of wrinkles.

#13 Keep your clothes from acquiring the odors from distant lands via dryer sheets.
Easy.

#14 Warmth is in the layer not in larger items packed.
Small items you can layer together are better than bulky items.

#15 “Just in case” is a myth.
Enjoy a shopping trip, extra stuffed suitcases aren’t necessary since accidents aren’t often

#16 Leave your luggage some wiggle room.
Leave room for the souvenir family snow globe.