If you’re planning an upcoming move, you’ll need to learn how to organize and label moving boxes to set yourself up for a smooth unpacking experience. The more organized you are during the days and weeks leading up to your move, the more smoothly your packing, moving, and unpacking experiences will be.
However, this is easier said than done for many Chicago-area residents who are planning a home relocation in addition to juggling their already busy personal and professional lives. The good news is that there are professional services that can lend a hand, plus tips that help you start and stay organized.
The Fine Art of Staying Organized During Your Move
Let’s face it: most of us feel better when we’re organized. This is true at work, at home, and when you plan a move to a new dwelling. Having the confidence to know where everything is reduces stress, saves you time, and makes the entire unpacking process easier.
Here are a few tips from professional movers on staying organized as you prepare for your move day:
- Find packing and moving supplies. Ask your friends, family, and neighbors who recently moved if you can have some of their boxes and packing paper, or visit local grocery stores and bars for boxes they were just going to recycle or throw away.
- Organize with eco-friendly packing materials. Rent sturdy reusable plastic moving bins that easily stack onto wheeled dollies, making it easier to keep each room’s packed contents together.
- Pack your most often-used items last. There’s nothing worse than packing up a room only to realize you have to dig through boxes to take something out…and then reorganize and repack them later. Make sure you pack stuff you won’t need first and wait until the morning of your moving day to pack up your most frequently-used belongings.
- Try to keep each room’s contents together. Try not to build disorganized stacks of boxes in one room of your home. Just in case you need something from a particular box or bin in the days leading up to your move, it’s best to store them in their appropriate rooms until your move crew arrives on moving day.
Of course, one of the best ways to start—and stay—organized throughout the packing process is to properly label moving boxes as you pack them. There’s also an art to proper labeling, and learning the best practices will make your life much easier when it’s time to unpack at your new home.
How to Label Moving Boxes
There are several packing tips to label moving boxes so your unpacking experience is quick and seamless. The first is to set yourself up with the right materials. Use permanent markers (bonus points if you color-code by room!) and clearly write the name of each room on each box. For maximum visibility, you might want to get some white stickers to write on, and then slap those on your boxes or plastic moving totes.
Next, remember to label as you go. Instead of heedlessly throwing things into random boxes and trying to remember what’s in them later on, take some time to organize your belongings so you can label each box appropriately. This will help your professional movers understand which room each box belongs in at your new place and will let you unpack more quickly.
Finally, you’ll need to label multiple sides of each box—and be specific! Put the room and basic notes on the sides and top of every box you pack. Here are some examples of the additional information you might want to include on the labels:
- Living Room – Books – Heavy!
- Kitchen Glasses – FRAGILE – This Side Up h
- Kids’ Room – Plush Toys – Do Not Stack
- First Night Box – Primary Bedroom
If you follow these tips and tricks, you’ll be able to unpack in record time. The more quickly and efficiently you empty those boxes, the faster you’ll be able to settle in and start enjoying your new home.
When to Hire Professional Packing and Unpacking Services
We’ve seen a lot—and we mean a lot—in our years of providing outstanding packing and moving service throughout the Chicago Area. However, we’ve never met a single customer who told us how much fun they had while packing up their home prior to their move. After all, packing is time-consuming, and since you’ll just have to unpack the boxes at your new place, the simple act of packing automatically adds more work to your plate.
Fortunately, you can hire a professional packing service to handle the brunt of the work for you. If you’re crunched for time as your moving date approaches, these pros can be real lifesavers. And, if you don’t mind packing up your clothes, books, and artwork but can’t bear the thought of wrapping and boxing up all the dinnerware in your kitchen, professional packers can handle just a room or two. You decide how much (or how little) they do for you.
You might also want a little help when it comes to unpacking at your new apartment, condo, townhome, or house. The task is certainly daunting, and since many people find the packing and moving processes exhausting, you might not have much energy left. If you’re not sure of the most efficient way to empty the boxes and stock her new place, you might want to consider the reasons to hire a home organizer who can help you unpack. If you partner with one of these professionals, you can make their jobs easier by the way you label moving boxes. So be sure to pack like a pro and label like an expert!
The Best Movers in Chicago are Here to Pack, Organize, and Label Moving Boxes for You!
Nothing sets you up for a great moving and unpacking experience like staying organized and learning the best ways to label moving boxes. Remember: the more diligent and careful you are when you prepare for your move, the more quickly you’ll be able to settle into your new home. As Chicago’s favorite movers, we’re here to help with everything from packing your place to handling the heavy lifting for your move.
Get in touch with us today to learn about our services and to get a free estimate!