Packing and moving on your own is a great way to save money, but you should always be learning about how to move better. There are far too many people that are trying to move on their own, and they don’t understand the necessary steps to a proper and professional move. Lifting with the back, properly packing and stacking boxes as well as an improper movement are all some of the amateurish actions that people make everyday. When people become hurt moving, it makes everyone look bad. It’s time we show you how to stack and pack like a professional mover.
Packing like a Professional
What to Expect – When you start packing, you need to logically process the weight and disbursement of all the objects very quickly. When you are packing you, need to try and organize your belongings quickly so that you can properly pack them quickly.
How to Pack – The actual packing process is simple though it is tedious. You need to make sure the heaviest items are on the bottom and that you build up leaving ample room for packing supplies. You should also work to ensure that the box is far away from the fifty-pound limit because it’s easier on your back and frequent liftings.
What kinds of Boxes should I use?
With Top Notch, we use professional boxes every time. A Cardboard/Wood compound is the material that lines our boxes which help maintain the integrity of the box. However, we know that some solo movers will not have access to this and will often look for alternate receptacles, so here is our list and guide on how to get them and what to do.
Cardboard Boxes – Cardboard boxes, also known as unreinforced cardboard boxes, are found everywhere. These are ideal for moves because they are often supported up to fifty pounds which make for a handy guide when you are trying to stay below that weight limit.
Plastic Bins – Plastic Bins are another common choice, and these are often used because people already have them just laying around. The importance with these is to make sure you never breach the integrity of the receptacle.
Chests and Bags – I grouped these two elements together because they are often last resorts for many people. While Chests are often better suited for peoples private belongings of sentimental value, they are often heavily reinforced and can carry heavier and more fragile things such as guitars. Alternatively, there are duffel nad travel bags which can be stacked and filled ideal for moving.
Stacking and Moving like a Professional
Now that we’ve covered how to pack your items properly, so there isn’t problem with the items within the box. Now it’s time to explore what to do with the box itself. This is vitally important because we often receive questions about how to keep the boxes from falling over or collapsing within each other. If you have ever had these problems in the past, then keep reading because we’ve got the answers for all of your questions.
How to Stack items on my Moving Truck
Heaviest on Bottom – This is the most obvious tip we can give you. Put the heaviest items on the bottom first. If you have hard furnitures such as desks or cabinets, these will make a great foundation because they are harder to scuff and damage though you should always put a blanket or cloth do wn for the edges.
Never Stack too High if Loose – Additionally, you never want to stack too high if you can’t wedge the belongings to an extent. If you just stack a bunch of items up high without reinforcing them, then you risk having them fall over in transit which can bring a whole other mess of problems you don’t want to deal with.
How to Secure the Belongings
Many of you won’t know how to secure the belongings within the box truck, but there are essentially just three ways of doing so, and here they are.
Wedge – First, you want to wedge the materials together. This is a little bit tricky because it involves a lot of vertical pressure being pushed downwards and can often put additional strain on the items within the tower.
Straps – Straps are the best way to secure your belongings. You can use straps in two ways. You can either strap off the area of the truck, the most popular option. By attaching the straps to make an impromptu wall will keep the materials within that area. Or you can use the straps for just a specific area, which might be a good idea if you have additional straps.
More Furniture – Finally, if you’re in a bind and can’t get your hold of straps or even a bungee, then use more furniture that is bulky and won’t move. Then you will want to pin it against the existing belongings to act as an impromptu wall. But note: The furniture you use to block may shift in transit and is not advised.
Southwest Movers
With Southwest Movers, it is always the best time to move. Our experienced movers and our top-of-the-line trucks help provide a moving service that is unique and efficient no matter what the condition of the move is in. If you are ready to sit back and relax while we move your stuff for you, give us a call at (800) 562-1084