We’ve been providing quality packing and moving services in South Florida for over 50 years. We know that preparing for a move is a big task.
In this article, we’re going to share some essential packing advice as well as our favorite packing tips that’ll help you pack your South Florida home like a pro.
Avoiding Panic-Packing in Your South Florida Home
Start earlier than you think you need to
It’s easy to put something off if you’re dreading it or if you have a lot going on. In this case, don’t. You’ll thank us later. If you wait until the last minute, you risk haphazardly packing meaningful belongings and maybe even inadvertently damaging them. Packing just a few days before a big move also makes it nearly impossible to keep things organized.
Get rid of things before your pack your South Florida Home
Decide what you want to go with you pre-move and what you don’t. It makes unpacking a lot easier. Plus, you won’t have to worry about trying to pare down your possessions when you get to your new place.
You can donate items, give them to a friend or neighbor, or make some extra cash by selling them on Facebook Marketplace.
- Buy packing materials. Get some moving boxes, packing paper, packing tape, and bubble wrap. You’ll probably have to re-up your box supply as you go, and that’s okay. It’s difficult to determine how many boxes you’ll need before you start packing.
- Get NEW boxes. As all Floridians know, pests can be a problem and they often reside in used boxes. Getting new boxes helps keep bugs from traveling with you to your new home.
- Designate one room to be your disaster zone. This room will contain your packed boxes, packing materials, and any other miscellaneous things that don’t seem to have a place right now. It’s okay if this room feels like a disaster – you’ve designated it as such. A curated disaster, if you will.
- Pack your nonessentials first. These are the miscellaneous items that you don’t use on a daily basis, like holiday decorations and sports gear.
- Keep similar items together and label everything. Sharpies are your friend during a move. Labeling each box isn’t just recommended, it’s downright necessary. If you don’t label your boxes or just throw unrelated things into the same box, unpacking will be a living nightmare.
- Pack things you use on a daily basis last. This is perhaps the most important piece of advice. Even though it may seem obvious, mistakes happen. There are certain things you simply can’t go without, like your phone charger or certain medications. Staying diligent while packing will help to make sure that any of your essential items are packed last. Keep these items in an easily accessible overnight bag, and make sure that this bag stays with you and doesn’t go in the moving truck.
For more in-depth packing advice, check out 10 packing tips for a smooth move.
Room by Room Packing Guide: South Florida Style
Start with the garage, attic, tool shed, etc.
These areas tend to be the most cluttered and the most difficult to organize/pack. It’s recommended to start packing about four weeks before your move date and getting these storage areas out of the way first is a good idea because it may take longer than you anticipate. Additionally, it’ll make packing the rest of your home feel much easier.
Keep in mind that certain materials in your garage may be hazardous and/or flammable and are on the list of a moving companies’ restricted items. If you come across any of these items, make a plan to dispose of them safely or in some cases, plan to stow them in your personal vehicle for the move.
These items include but are not limited to:
- Ammonia
- Aerosol cans
- Ammunition
- Car batteries
- Charcoal and lighter fluid
- Charged scuba tanks
- Chemistry sets
- Cleaning solvents
- Darkroom chemicals
- Fertilizer
- Fire extinguishers
- Fireworks
- Fuels/oils
- Household batteries
- Kerosene
- Liquid bleach
- Loaded guns
- Matches
- Nail polish and remover
- Paint thinners
- Paints/varnishes
- Pesticides
- Poisons
- Pool chemicals
- Propane tanks
- Sterno fuel
- Weed killer
Then, tackle the guest room(s).
This room is usually a lesser-used room so whatever you’re boxing up likely won’t be missed.
Packing the kitchen is your next challenge.
Once you’ve finished the drudgery of packing your garage/shed, move on to the kitchen. This likely isn’t because it’s full of hazardous materials like your garage, but because it’s full of delicate and often oddly shaped objects. Make sure to wrap each breakable item individually and label the boxes as FRAGILE.
Move on to the dining room.
When you’re packing up your dining room table, detach the legs and wrap them in bubble wrap. Then, wrap the table in a moving blanket (or your own old linens). Wrap the chairs in moving blankets and use packing tape to keep the padding in place.
The living room comes next.
Unplug cords, cables, etc. and place them in a box or sealable bag. To protect your television, put a single piece of cardboard over the screen and then wrap the entire TV in a blanket and secure it with packing tape. Then, put the TV in a padded box and fill any remaining empty space with bubble wrap or foam sheets. Label the box as FRAGILE.
For your sofa, take apart the armrests and legs. Detach the cushions. Use plastic wrap to protect the material and wrap each piece in blankets.
Lastly, pack up your bedroom and bathroom.
Start by packing your out of season and rarely worn clothing about a week before the move. Next, empty and remove drawers from dressers. Alternatively, you can secure the empty drawers with packing tape or bungies so that they don’t swing open during transit. If you have a lot of shoes or just want to save space, lay them on their sides on the bottom of a box.
When packing your bathroom, squeeze your opened plastic bottles lightly to remove any excess air before packing them. This ensures that you won’t have a shampoo explosion. Put all opened plastic bottles in large Ziploc bags.
Then, let us handle the rest. Moving can be stressful; but hiring a courteous, professional, top-rated mover can help alleviate a lot of moving-related angst. Whether you’re moving someplace in South Florida or state-wide, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us today so that we can provide you with the quality moving service you deserve.
