Packing & Loading

Essential Packing Tips for Long Distance Relocation from Chicago   

As you prepare for your upcoming Chicago relocation, packing is one of the most important considerations. Although packing is necessary for every move, it’s understandable to feel daunted by the task, as it can feel like an insurmountable job to handle before moving day.  

Fortunately, packing might seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. With the proper know-how, you can pack efficiently and confidently like the experts. Interested in finding out how? Keep reading for our seven simple steps.

• Gather Plenty of Supplies 

To properly pack your belongings, it’s crucial to gather the necessary supplies for the process. Using high quality moving supplies will significantly benefit you and your belongings through the move, as these materials will provide enhanced reliability for protecting your items.  

Ensure you acquire sturdy boxes of various sizes, packing tape, permanent markers, resealable plastic bags, bubble wrap, packing paper, moving blankets, and anything else required for your specific items.  

• Disassemble Large Items 

Whenever possible, disassembling your oversized items is highly recommended, especially for furniture. For these items, moving them without disassembly can cause a greater risk of damage because the items are more difficult to thoroughly protect and can be hard to fit into your moving truck amidst other belongings.  

Disassembling these items allows you to thoroughly protect each piece with materials like bubble wrap or moving blankets, and they can even be fit inside boxes depending on the size. When you do this, be sure to keep everything thoroughly labeled, and include any small items like screws or bolts in labeled bags.  

• Organize and Label 

One of the most critical keys to success as you pack for a move is to organize and label everything thoroughly. Take the time to prioritize organization through every step of the process, rather than throwing items in boxes haphazardly.  

Keep your items together with belongings from the same room; this will allow for much easier unpacking. While you do this, make sure each box has detailed labeling on more than one side. To take this even a step further, you can opt to create an inventory of each box’s contents, maximizing organization.

• Utilize Plastic Bins 

Although cardboard boxes are a great go-to for any relocation, plastic bins can be an even better solution as you pack your items. Sturdy plastic containers can be handy for keeping your items safe, and they can upgrade the protection of your fragile belongings thanks to their fortified composition.  

Plus, if you utilize clear plastic bins, you have the added benefit of being able to see the contents inside—a convenient solution when it’s time to unpack. 

• Evenly Distribute Weight 

To keep your items safe and secure while they’re packed in boxes, it’s crucial to evenly distribute the weight both within and among boxes. Doing this ensures nothing gets crushed during the moving process.  

Try to make all of your boxes around the same weight, and when that isn’t possible, make sure your heavier boxes are stacked at the bottom in your moving truck. In your boxes themselves, aim to distribute the weight evenly throughout the container so there is no risk of your boxes being weaker in certain spots. 

• Wrap and Pad Your Belongings 

When packing your belongings, one of the most important parts of this process is to use ample protective supplies to keep your items safe throughout the relocation.  

Specifically for your fragile items, you should wrap each item carefully in bubble wrap to minimize the risk of damage. Another option is to use soft materials like towels or blankets, as you can repurpose these items without wasting any space within your boxes. These soft items provide ample padding to your belongings throughout your move. 

• Minimize Movement 

Another necessary part of packing for a relocation is to minimize the amount of room in your boxes for movement or jostling. To do this successfully, be sure to place your items strategically within the boxes to fit them together as closely as possible; think of it as pieces of puzzle or a game of Tetris. Even with your best efforts, though, you are likely to have some empty spaces. This will also happen if your box gets too heavy while you still have room to spare.  

Luckily, a simple solution is to use packing materials or fabric items to take up the empty space. These things will add extra padding and keep your items securely in one place, rather than shifting around easily. 

Protecting Fragile Items During a Long Journey: Best Practices 

During a relocation, moving your fragile items can feel particularly stressful. After all, these long-distance travels can certainly present risks for fragile belongings.  

Despite these circumstances, it’s possible to pack your items with ample protection and feel confident that you can avoid damage to the contents of your moving truck. Want to find out how? Discover our best practices below! 

• Use the Right Boxes 

First, make sure to use the right boxes for your upcoming relocation. This means utilizing boxes that are sturdy and offer the right amount of strength for your belongings. Additionally, you will need to use a variety of sizes to accommodate the needs of various items.  

For instance, certain things will be better suited for small boxes, especially if they are compact and heavy. For clothing, you might even want to find wardrobe boxes for the most effective packing possible.

• Pad Your Items Appropriately 

As you pack your fragile items, make sure to pad your items appropriately. With these sensitive belongings, it’s important to err on the side of caution and opt for maximum safety. Prepare yourself with an array of protective materials to ensure your items will receive the right amount of security as they travel to your new home. 

• Utilize All Space 

When packing fragile items, one of the worst things you can do is leave room for your items to shift around in transit.  

To avoid this, make sure you fill all of the space inside your boxes. You can utilize bubble wrap, packing paper, blankets, towels, scarves, socks, sweaters, and more to achieve this goal. These items can also fill the space without adding too much extra weight—a valuable consideration to make. 

• Use Proper Plate Packing Methods 

Unsure how to pack your plates carefully? The most effective method is to place your plates into a box vertically and add padding between each plate. This approach is the best way to prevent damage in transit and achieve an organized packing experience for these fragile items.  

• Exercise Proper Care for Glass Items 

For glass items such as mirrors, opt to use cardboard corner protectors and bubble wrap to keep these belongings from breaking.  

These protective materials will absorb shock and significantly decrease the risk of damage. Another important measure is to tape a large “X” over the surface of the glass using painter’s tape, as this will hold the glass together in case of breakage.

• Be Mindful of Electronics 

Electronics can feel especially stressful to pack because of their value. Fortunately, this doesn’t need to be an overwhelming process. If possible, utilize their original packaging, as these boxes and protective items are specifically designed to accommodate these electronic devices. If you don’t have the original packaging available, not to worry—be sure to get an appropriately sized box for the item and fortify it with plenty of packing materials. Any detachable elements, such as cords, should be packed separately and labeled so they don’t get lost. 

• Communicate With Your Movers 

Last but not least, communication with your moving company is key. Make sure you clearly label boxes containing fragile items, and let your movers know about these boxes as well to make sure any issues are avoided.