Packing Tips For Moving

Moving can become chaotic if you’re not careful, but with a bit of planning, you can keep the process efficient and ensure your belongings survive the relocation. Take advantage of our expert packing tips for moving to help you stay organized, get rid of clutter, and keep your favorite possessions safe during transit.

Whether you're packing up to move to a new province, coast, or suburb, our professional packing tips can help turn your relocation into a smooth and stress-free experience for you and your loved ones. We also offer free moving resources like moving guides, packing tips, and a mover checklist you can use to stay on task.

Need an extra hand with your upcoming relocation? North American Van Lines offers customized moving plans to make things easy. As a full-service moving company, we provide everything from packing and unpacking to storage to assembling and installing your household appliances. Choose which of our services best suits your upcoming move. You only pay for what you need!

Room-by-Room Packing Guide

Packing often seems like the most daunting part of a move. Proper packing techniques can help prevent damage during transit while simplifying the move-in process. To make things easier, we’ve assembled some of our best packing tips for moving to guide you through your relocation:

Always pack the heaviest items at the bottom of the box.
If you have a heavier box, don't stack it on a lighter box when loading the moving van.
Stay organized! Pack by room and label your boxes clearly.
Put similar items in the same boxes.
Don't forget to label delicate items with FRAGILE.
Use blankets and towels as extra padding to keep items from knocking into each other.

Need additional assistance transporting a wine collection, family heirlooms, or fragile items? Reach out to our team. One of our Relocation Consultants will send you a free estimate and provide additional tips for packing. And, of course, you can always turn to our experienced team for additional assistance with any aspect of your relocation.

Garage/Hobby Room/Storage

Garages and storage sheds usually take the longest to prepare for moving because they’re filled with odd-shaped, heavy, or sharp items. Take special care when packing these items by using custom crates or getting professional assistance.

Home Offices, Dens, and Family Rooms

When packing your home office, theater, or any other location with lots of electronics, remember to label cables and cords as you go. If possible, pack them with their corresponding equipment to save yourself the struggle of reconnecting everything in your new place.

Bedrooms, Nurseries and Bathrooms

You’ll use your bedrooms and bathrooms until moving day, so pack them up last. If you want to get a head start, pack less-used guest rooms first. Use mattress boxes to protect beds and mirror boxes to safely store your mirrors, framed photos, and other fragile items.

Kitchens and Dining Rooms

The kitchen and dining room likely contain your most fragile items, so be prepared to spend extra time in these spaces. Each delicate item should be carefully wrapped and placed in special moving cartons. It’s best to wait to pack frequently used items like pots and pans until moving day gets close, but you can start packing less-used serving dishes, seasonal items, and small appliances earlier.

Moving Appliances

Large appliances like washing machines or refrigerators may require help from professional movers. But if you do decide to move them yourself, make sure to clean and dry your large appliances first to prevent mold and mildew buildup and ensure a clean, fresh start in your new space.

Non-transportable Items

Be aware of hazardous items that cannot be put on a moving truck, such as chemicals, paints, and combustibles like gasoline or fireworks. You may need to take extra measures to dispose of these items safely before moving. Certain items like cash and jewelry, collectibles, important documents, firearms, prescription drugs, etc., should be kept with you throughout the process. Maintaining control of these items offers substantial peace of mind.

Types of Boxes

Regardless of what you need to pack, North American Van Lines has the box for you. We offer standardized and specialty boxes to ensure a safe and efficient moving experience.

Hire the Packing Professionals at North American

While following our packing tips for moving can help make the process simple and efficient, nothing beats working with the pros. The experienced movers at northAmerican are happy to handle your entire packing job or simply lend a hand wherever needed. We also provide high-quality packing materials, from standardized boxes to specialty containers and custom crates.

No matter the size or distance of your move, North American Van Lines can help make packing a breeze. Our courteous, experienced movers have helped thousands of individuals, families, and businesses relocate throughout Canada and beyond. In addition to comprehensive packing and unpacking services, we offer dependable transportation, storage, and logistics services for local, long-distance, and international moves.