In most instances, people leave the garage for last when packing for a move. It’s often an afterthought, or they dread it so much that they just can bring themselves to tackle it.
However, there are plenty of reasons that it should actually be one of the first areas packed. Often, it’s the place where you store forgotten keepsakes, or items that are hardly ever used. If you’re planning a move in the new year, here are a few simple tips to help ensure that you’re able to pull it off quickly and easily.
1. Take Stock
One of the first things you’ll need to do is sort through your items. You’ll have four groups of belongings:
- Items that you want to bring with you
- Things that could be sold easily
- Things that should be donated rather than saved or sold
- Things that should really be thrown away, as they’re largely unusable
When sorting through your items, remember that you need to stop and think – will you actually ever use that item again? Is it really just useless clutter? The more you can get rid of now, the less you have to move.
2. Make sure you have the right materials for the job
Too many people neglect buying the right moving supplies, making do with what they can find, or waiting until the last minute. Don’t do that to yourself. You’ll need cardboard boxes in various heights and widths. You should also buy different grades/strengths to make sure you have the right boxes for each type of item. Don’t neglect wrapping material, like bubble wrap. Shipping tape and a couple of box cutters are also necessary.
3. Items That Cannot Be Packed
If you’re moving yourself, then you have carte blanche to pack what you want, how you want, as long as you don’t break the company’s terms and conditions. However, if you’re working with a moving company, there are many things that cannot be transported in the truck. For instance, anything flammable (gas, paint, etc.) should not be packed. The moving company won’t take it, so you’re just wasting time and materials. For things like aerosol cans, paint and propane tanks, take them to a recycling center. For gas cans, you’ll need to empty them completely before the moving company will take them. That also applies to the gas tanks of any lawn equipment you might be moving.
4. Label Your Stuff Correctly
Labeling your boxes correctly is one of the most crucial keys to moving success. You should do more than just clearly write the destination area or contents type on the box. Use different color labels for where your boxes will end up in your new home so that you can tell at a glance what goes where. Make sure that boxes that contain breakable items are clearly labeled as fragile – you may want to consider purchasing “fragile” stickers too, as they may be more visible.
5. Wrapping and Packing Tips
- Box items that go together
- Wrap fragile items with bubble wrap
- Use original packaging whenever possible
- Break down items if possible to save room in the moving truck
- Keep boxes light enough to carry and to stack on one another in the truck
It’s highly recommended that you start your packing at least a couple of months ahead of time. Begin with the garage, and then use that as a staging area for other rooms in the home as you progress. Your garage will actually be the staging area for your sorting and organizing efforts, so it should be cleared out early on. Of course, you should get help from family and friends whenever possible to make things easier.
If you’re completing a local move and realize that the garage door of your new home needs a good tune‑up, or even needs to be replaced, you can get in touch with us at any time by calling 613-749-2138.
If you have too much to do, we’ll happily send you a quote by email. Of course, we’d also be happy to pay a visit in person to explain your options. We can provide guidance through the entire process. Of course, you can also use our design center, and our image gallery to get a better idea of what’s possible.
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