Supplies
Before you start packing, you need to get the right supplies to do the job. These will include boxes, cartons, tapes, scissors and ropes along with the tools needed to unscrew or unfasten wall fixtures. Make sure that all the things you need are in place before you start packing.
Appliances
Appliances are sensitive and slight mishandling can cause a lot of damage. Your television, fridge and other electronic goodies are expensive and you need to make sure that they are moved as safely as possible. The best way to pack the appliances is to use their original cartons, boxes or other packaging material. They are going to be safe in those and you probably won’t be able to find other containers to pack the larger appliances properly. Moreover, you have to clean all the appliances and defrost the fridge and freezer. Tape the doors and bind the wires. Consult the users’ manual for proper disconnection.
Furniture
A more complicated job than packing appliances is handling the furniture. Your beds, sofas, chairs, cabinets and tables have to be handled with care or else they will get damaged, scratched and might even break. The best approach is to disassemble the furniture that can be taken apart. This makes the whole job much easier. For the larger furniture, have it loaded into the truck first before anything. Don’t keep the furniture tilted or turned over. Leave it in its original position.
Clothes
Clothes are easy to pack. You can place them in cartons, boxes or bags. However, you do need to make sure that each member of the family has his/her clothes packed separately so that there is no mix up. Also, keep the clothes you’ll need immediately, such as night suits apart so that they can be packed in the boxes you will open first.
Kitchenware/ Breakable Items
The biggest risk when moving is to the kitchenware and other breakable items. They have to be packed very carefully. If you have their original boxes, it becomes easier. If you don’t, then you have to wrap each item in a cloth or newspaper before placing in a carton. Make sure that the boxes containing these items are clearly marked with ‘Kitchen Items’ or ‘Fragile’.
Essentials
There is some stuff you will need when you get to your new home. Clothes, cutlery, toothbrushes and slippers are just some of the items that are needed right away. Have them packed together and mark the box as ‘Open Me First’.
When you know the tips for packing each kind of item in your home, the whole job becomes much easier and stress free for you.
Andrew has been working as a removalist for the last 3 years specialising in interstate removals. In his spare time, he loves to offer advice on how to move house.
Thinking of moving to Italy? http://www.fnworldwide.com/european_removals/moving_to_italy/ will help make your Mediterranean move go smoothly.
