In this post, helergon.com will teach you everything I have learned about how to pack, move efficiently, and settle into your new home quickly. We’ll also cover budget tips and pointers for making the transition smooth for children.
I also have passionate feelings about the best packing supplies that streamline the process—especially if you are doing all the packing yourself!
Packing Tips For Moving
We chose to pack our own boxes because we wanted to take advantage of the chance to declutter and donate items as we packed.
I see the obvious benefits of hiring a mover to pack all your belongings for you, but I would at least consider doing it yourself if you feel you have a lot of clutter to get rid of. We spent time packing our belongings on nights and weekends.
Throughout this process, we saved thousands of dollars in moving fees and we were able to donate a lot of stuff instead of moving it and then donating it later. Here are my tips for doing your own packing:
Get matching boxes. I completely understand how tempting it is to try to save all your Amazon boxes or procure some boxes from a local grocery store. But hear me out—it’s worth it to get boxes that are all exactly the same size. The boxes we used were primarily medium boxes with handles and bankers' boxes (which require no packing tape). I highly suggest bankers' boxes for books and heavy, small items.
Use clothing bags for clothing and linens. We purchased plastic storage bags for moving all our “soft stuff” like clothing, bed linens, pillows, and even items like kids' toys. These bags fit a lot more than boxes and create a plush layer that is great to use as padding in your POD for furniture, mirrors (or other items that you are very concerned about protecting).
Label everything. Even if the box you are packing seems “random,” try to resist the urge to label it that way or not label it. Instead, make notes on the boxes of any items you may try to find later. If you want to do a color-coded system, I recommend these moving box labels.
Declutter ruthlessly as you go. As I mentioned above, one of the best perks of packing your own boxes is you can simultaneously declutter your belongings as you go. I recommend getting rid of anything that you don’t use, you don’t love, or that you’ve outgrown in style. I like to use the Marie Kondo “Does it spark joy?” method. Try to donate as much as possible.
Booking a Moving Service
After reading about our friend Julia’s moving fraud experience, we decided against a moving broker or a full-service moving company. I am sure there are many reputable options out there, but after reading her story we felt safest with a simple POD moving option.
Having used a POD in the past to relocate across state lines, we knew what to expect and felt good about the option.
The biggest difference between a POD and a moving truck like U-Haul is that you don’t have to drive to POD yourself. So once it is packed and locked up, you can drive to your new home (or even fly) with minimal belongings and you know your POD will make its way to you in a few weeks.
The way our POD experience worked is that we booked an exact day that our POD would arrive—about a week before we departed from our home in Tennessee. Once the POD arrived, it sat in our driveway for around a week.
You can choose to pack the POD yourself or hire a local mover to help you pack it. We chose to do a hybrid approach. We packed the majority all our boxes ourselves over about a month before the POD arrived.
On the day the POD was dropped off in our driveway, my husband loaded the majority of our boxes himself. He wanted to do this because he was meticulous about putting all the heavy boxes at the bottom. He packed each row all the way to the ceiling so there was almost no wasted space.
The next day, a moving crew arrived and helped us move large and heavy items into the POD that we couldn’t have done on our own. Since we sold most of our furniture with our home, we only had about 10 big and heavy items to move and it took less than an hour.
Once that was completed, we used every inch of the remaining space to fit more stuff into the POD. We ended up using 100% of the space within the POD and were able to fit almost everything we wanted into the space. What we couldn’t fit, we squeezed into our cars or donated before moving.
Why we like PODS – First of all, PODS are affordable. I haven’t found a more affordable option for moving across the country. I really like that you have up to a week to pack so there’s time to get it just right (most of my mistakes in life are a result of rushing).
The POD system is extremely simple and straightforward. We felt protected from fraud and we saved a lot of money on the move overall. Our move cost under $4,000 total, which is a big saving on what it would have been with a full-service option.
Cons of PODS (be careful about these things) – The biggest complaint that I hear from people who have used a POD for moving is that a lot of stuff was broken or damaged. You are basically packing a small semi truck back and then you don’t see it for about two weeks when it arrives in your new driveway.
What happens to them during their journey? This is unclear, but it seems like they may go to hell and back. Haha! OK, but really—you have to be very strategic in your packing! It’s up to you.
Best International Moving Companies
1. BRITANNIA MOVERS INTERNATIONAL
Britannia is a member of the FIDI, the largest global alliance of independent quality international removal companies, and all other major international organizations, and with international partnerships across the world, Britannia can offer a high-quality and efficient removal service all around the world.
FEATURES
Ship globally Air freight services available Comprehensive insurance cover
IMPORTANT FACTS
Price: Medium
Countries covered: US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Asia, Middle East and ROW
Online Quote?: Yes
Moving Insurance? : Yes
Available website: https://www.britannia-movers.co.uk/international-removals
2. 1ST MOVE INTERNATIONAL
1st Move is a specialist international removals company offering fast, weekly services direct from the UK to a range of destinations worldwide. Their unbeatable palletized shipping offers the best protection for your belongings during transit. For a fast, safe, and secure overseas removal service, choose 1st Move International. Established in 1998 and trusted members of the British Association of Removers (BAR) and the British International Freight Association (BIFA).
FEATURES
Worldwide Shipping Unique Palletised Removals Guaranteed Weekly Departures Comprehensive Insurance Cover Reduced Handling of Individual Items Fewer Insurance Claims
IMPORTANT FACTS
Price: Medium to high
Countries covered USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Cyprus, Malta, Asia, and the Middle East
Online Quote? Yes
Moving Insurance? Yes
Available website: https://www.shipit.co.uk/
3. SEVEN SEAS WORLDWIDE
Seven Seas Worldwide offers a fast, flexible, and, affordable international shipping service, collecting and delivering all manner of items throughout the world from extra luggage and suitcases to sports equipment and furniture. Basically, if we can get it into a box or loaded into the back of one of our vehicles, we’ll take it. We do this via our global shipping service which has depots throughout the world.
FEATURES
Ship globally to key expat destinations Free online quotes Removal insurance included Student removal service available Optional storage services.
IMPORTANT FACTS
Price: Low to Medium
Countries covered: US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Asia and Middle East
Online Quote? Yes
Moving Insurance? Yes
Available website: https://www.sevenseasworldwide.com/
4. CLOCKWORK REMOVALS AND STORAGE
Clockwork Removals and Storage specializes in removals and storage services for individuals and families, offering tailored experience with export packing, customs restrictions, and orientation help at your final destination. Wherever life may take you, Clockwork can move you there with the same level of care, quality, and customer service every step of the way. Clockwork is part of the FIDI Global Alliance and is a member of the BAR Overseas Group.
FEATURES
Free International Move Survey Full Export Packing Services Full Marine Transit Insurance Storage Options Available Full Door to DDoor-to-Dooroor Service Dedicated International Move Managers
IMPORTANT FACTS
Price: Medium
Countries covered: Worldwide Online
Quote?No
Moving Insurance? Yes
Available website: https://www.clockworkremovals.co.uk/
5. PICKFORDS
Pickford is an award-winning international removal company. Pickfords operates award-winning as part of the Allied International Moving Network, which means they have access to the global resources of one of the world’s most trusted international removal networks and have the expertise and resources to move you to any country worldwide.
FEATURES
Ship globally Comprehensive insurance cover available Award-winning Pet moving services available Optional storage services
IMPORTANT FACTS
Price: High
: Countries covered: US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East Online
Quote? Yes
Moving Insurance? Yes
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. When should I start planning a move?
It's best to start planning your move at least 2-3 months before your move date. This gives you enough time to organize everything well.
2. What do I need to do to prepare for the move?
Some important things you need to do are:
- Make a list of items to be moved
- Get an estimate of moving costs from the transport service
- Arrange relocation scheduling with related parties
- Start packing items that are not used very often
3. How to pack things properly?
Here are tips for packing goods properly:
- Use a box/cardboard that is strong and appropriate to the size of the item
- Put a pad or safety layer on the bottom and sides of the box
- Group similar items in one box
- Give a label and description of the contents of each box
4. What do you need to pay attention to when loading goods into the truck?
Things you need to pay attention to when loading goods onto a truck include:
- Arrange items neatly and densely to avoid shifting
- Place heavy items at the bottom
- Separate fragile items with dividers
- Don't leave empty gaps between stacks of items
5. How to ensure goods arrive at their destination safely?
To ensure goods arrive safely, you can:
- Make sure the contract/agreement with the transportation service is clear
- Provide a list of items being moved to the carrier
- Check the condition of the goods upon delivery at the destination
- Document any damage that occurs
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