Preparing everything for a house moving is really not a simple job. Let’s say you’ve already gone halfway through the process. You’ve rented a moving truck for the big day and all your belongings are packed. Now, do you already have a plan on how the truck should be loaded? If you don’t, it’s a very good idea to make one. You need to know how to pack and load the moving truck to make sure all your things arrive safely at your new home.
If you’re working with a removal company, you may relax down trusting in their expertise. However, it’s wise to discuss the plan in advance with them if possible. Mutual understanding on the plan for the moving day will reduce the stress and most likely make the coordination between you and the movers so much easier. If you rent a truck for DIY (meaning: no professional assistance), it’s really essential for your to have a good plan rather than ending up wasting so much time and energy.
If you want to be really detailed and organised, do a walk-through of your house and note the order in which items are loaded. Make a list and group similar sized boxes together. This will make your moving day go a lot smoother and faster.
Plan ahead about the equipment you may need for your loading and unloading. Heavy-duty trolley, shoulder trolley, furniture trolley, straps and ropes, etc. If you hire a removalist, they will have everything prepared. If you organise the moving by yourself, you can hire the equipment you need at a reasonable rental price. Don’t put yourself and your moving mates in the risk of injury -nor your belongings in the risk of damage- because of inadequate equipment.
Move the largest and heaviest items first. This includes appliances such as the stove, washing machine, refrigerator and dishwasher, and any other item that takes more than two people to move. These items should be loaded on the truck before anything else and kept against the far wall closest to the cab. Keep the items in their upright positions and make sure you balance the truck by placing heavy objects on opposite sides. Use furniture padding to protect wood surfaces and corners. Padding can be rented from the truck rental agent and is worth the little extra it costs. Using padded protection also makes it easier to slide heavier pieces onto the truck.
Move longer items such as box springs, mattresses, long mirrors, headboards, sofas and table-tops on to the truck next. Place these items against the longest walls of the truck which will keep them upright and will save space. Make sure you use mattress covers to spare your bed and sofa from rips and tears and make moving a lot easier.
Disassemble bed frames, tables, shelves and desks and tape/tie the pieces together. Put labels on the part components as necessary to make the reassembling process easier and faster later on. Do the same for longer items such as skis and poles, lamp bases and lamp parts. When you roll-up your carpets, place these items inside then tape your carpet closed, both around the carpet itself as well as both ends. You can also use linens to stuff both ends of the carpet roll before taping the ends closed. This will prevent items from falling out during the move. Place the carpet on the floor of the truck.
Next, start loading the largest and heaviest boxes. Place the boxes on top of the appliances and furniture and make sure you fill any cavities beneath tables, under desks and on chair seats. Make sure the heavy boxes don’t contain any fragile items.
Transfer lighter boxes to the truck and stack them on the heavier boxes, making sure the lightest boxes are on top. Try to stack boxes in rows until they reach the top of the truck. Any space between the top of the boxes and the truck’s ceiling should be filled with soft, crushable items such as garbage bags full of clothing, bedding and linens.
Place fragile items or awkward-shaped items on last, ensuring that they will not move around during transport. The best spot for fragile boxed items is in cubbyholes such as underneath tables, desks and beneath chair legs.
The last items to be loaded should be those items that can be stuffed into holes and that don’t contain anything fragile, such as bags full of clothes, linens, blankets, and towels. Items such as hangers, garage items, boots and shoes and anything that won’t break during a move, can be used to fill empty spaces.
These steps above are just guidelines. You have to use your common sense about how to make sure that your stuff doesn’t move too much and crush each other during transport; and how to use the available space in the truck efficiently. So, you’ll need to sit down and plan your move, including how to load the moving truck and unloading it after you arrive in the destination. This will be the time worth spent because you’ll save yourself countless arguments about what should be loaded on the truck and where it should go. You’ll also have a detailed guide to where things are on the truck which will help when you unload it all. Another advantage, you’ll save time and energy and your moving mates or spouse will thank you for it!
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