Houston's All My Sons Movers - Packing Tips Lesson #1

Ok - so now you know what a great local mover that All My Sons of Houston is... Now it's time that I share some packing tips that will help you ensure that you will have a great move!!!!


If you decide to pack your belongings yourself, make sure you consider the time and effort necessary to properly protect your belongings. In most cases you can save money by doing your own packing, however I strongly recommended that you let a local mover pack any fragile(s) or valuable items. When you use a Houston mover, you have the option of doing some or all of the packing yourself, or you can leave it to the experts. Discuss the options available to you with your local Houston movers.

For the next couple of days I will be giving you some lessons and tips on how to properly and safely pack your goods. Good packing is an essential key to having a great move: it's especially important that you be familiar with the techniques and boxes that will best protect your possessions. Here are a few things to remember if you have chosen to pack your own goods:

You will need to have everything properly packed and ready for loading when the Local moving company arrives. Your local moving company or Long distance mover has the right to inspect packed-by-owner items to ensure they are sufficiently packed to protect your goods.

If the local mover thinks a container is not packed properly or safely, the local mover may ask you to repack it; or the mover/ carrier may offer to repack the container for you. Keep in mind they will charge you for the service.

You must report any damage to packed-by-owner (PBO) containers on delivery day. If you fail to do so almost all local movers and long distance movers will decline any claim on PBO containers.

Use only strong, corrugated cartons with tops or flaps that fold shut. Purchasing new, high quality packing materials specifically designed for moving can really make the difference in making sure that your household goods arrive at their destination safely. Moving boxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes that are specifically suited to fit a variety of household goods. Check with your local movers on prices of boxes for you. You can sometime get used moving boxes at half the price, though I do not recommend you get used boxes for packing your dishes.

What Type of Packing Supplies are You Going to Need?

Dish Pack (also referred to as a dish barrel or a dish box) - is a special box used to pack either dishes or any other type of fragile(s). The box is usually double corrugated for more protection and can some times come with inserts for glasses or dishes.

Small Box (also referred to as a 1.5 cu. ft. box or a book box) - this box is used primarily for books, allowing them to be filled completely and still easy to handle. You can also use this box for miscellaneous small items.

Medium Box (also referred to as a 3.1) - this box is 3.1 cu. ft. (hence the name) it is primarily used as the catch all box. It is strong enough to handle most things and can typically be filled to the brim and still handled pretty easy.

Large Box (also referred to as a 4.5) - this box is 4.5 cu. ft. (hence the name) it is primarily used for linens, sweaters, toys, etc.
Wardrobe Box - this box is used primarily for hanging clothes. It is not uncommon for local movers and shippers alike to fill the bottom of the box with shoes or other foldable garments.

Mirror/Picture Carton ( also referred to a corrugated container) - this box is used to properly pack pictures, mirrors and artwork. Though you can use separate pieces to protect the glass on cabinets and entertainment centers.

Newsprint - just another word for paper. It is the same things as newspaper except there is no print on it. In other words its just plain paper.

Getting Started

Before packing cartons, you'll need to wrap most items to protect them from scratching or breaking. Save old newspapers for packing material, but be careful — the ink may rub off and stain certain items, especially china and glasses. I recommend that you use unprinted newsprint. This is the same type of newsprint that most local movers will use. You should be able to purchase this paper directly from your local Houston mover!

Start by placing a small stack of paper on a flat, uncluttered table or counter top. Round glasses and jars can be rolled up in two or three sheets of paper; always begin from a corner of the sheet and fold the sides in as you roll. Large or odd-shaped items require a similar technique. Place them in the center of the sheet and bring the corners together. It may be necessary to flip the item over and wrap it again from the other side. If in doubt, use more paper! When the corners are brought together, secure them with tape.

Before packing each box, line the bottom with a few inches of wadded paper for padding. Then place large, heavy items on the bottom and lighter, more fragile items on the top. Plates, books and things of a similar shape, should be loaded vertically to utilize their own maximum structural strength.

DO NOT overload your boxes; keep them to a manageable weight. Fill in any voids with wadded paper and also top off your boxes with a few inches of wadded paper. Then tape cartons securely to avoid shifting during transportation.

Packing Tips

Pack one room at a time. This will help in preventing you from getting confused or overwhelmed.
Start with pack things that you do not use often or can live with out. Make sure you do not pack items that you will need until moving day.

I highly recommend that you do not use masking tape or duck tape on your boxes. Masking tape is never strong enough for full boxes and will break. Duck tape does not stick very well and when it does stick it is very hard to get open. The most effective packing tape is poly-vinyl chloride or PVC. You can purchase this tape from your local mover.

Use newspapers only for cushioning not for wrapping items. The ink on the newspapers will rub off and can stain items such as fine china or glasses.

Do not over pack you boxes, instead try to limit your boxes to a maximum weight of 50 pounds this will allow you, the local mover, or long distance mover be able to move your boxes safely. Make sure your boxes are packed firmly and do not rattle or shift. The top should close easily without force, but should not bend inward. Seal your boxes tightly with tape.

Empty all your drawers of breakables, spillables, non-transportable items and anything that would puncture or damage other items.

Pack similar items together. For example, do not pack your china in the same box with pots and pans.
Keep all parts or pairs of things together. For example, curtain rod hangers, mirror bolts and other small hardware items should be placed in plastic bags and taped or tied securely to the article to which they belong.

Wind all electrical cords, fastening them so they do not dangle.

Wrap items individually in clean paper, you can sometimes use colored wrapping paper to draw attention to very small things that might otherwise get lost in a carton. Use a double layer of newsprint for a good outer wrapping.

Place a two or three inch layer of crushed paper in the bottom of cartons for cushioning.Build up the layers, with the heaviest things on the bottom, medium weight next and lightest on top. As each layer is completed, fill in empty spaces firmly with crushed paper and add more crushed paper to make a level base for the next layer. Once the box is packed place a two or three inch layer of crushed paper on the top for cushioning.

Pack small, fragile, individually wrapped items separately or a few together in small boxes, cushioning with crushed or shredded paper. Place small boxes in a single large box, filling in spaces with crushed paper.

As you finish with each box, put the name or the room it belongs to and the contents on the side of the box (for easy viewing while stacked). Make sure you indicate "FRAGILE" on on any breakables and "THIS END UP" where appropriate. I recommend that you place a sign on the door of each room at destination corresponding to the box labels so the movers can place the boxes into the proper rooms quickly.

Never pack flammable items or non-allowable items. (For example: chemicals, propane tanks, pesticides, etc.)

Make sure you pack high value items carefully. (For example jewelry, stamp collections, coin collections, etc.) I also recommend that you transport these items yourself, however, if that is not possible make sure you register these items with your local Houston Mover - so that they can pay special attention to these items.