DIY Moving

As one of the top Vancouver movers, we’ve seen it all – from the uber-organized to boxes crammed to the brim. If you are planning a do-it-yourself move, Real Pro Movers can help you with any supplies you need and tips for DIY moving that’s smooth going from start to finish.

Sell, Donate, And Throw Out

Moving house is a good opportunity to weed out items that you haven’t used in a while; have never used; are broken and need repair; or are broken and need throwing out.

Plan a Vancouver moving sale about one to two months before the actual moving day. Do only one room at a time. Sort into four piles – keep, sell, donate, throw out. Designate three separate areas to store items waiting for House Moving Sale day, items waiting to be donated, and those things that need hauling to recycling depots/trash sites. Everything left in the room is what needs to be packed up.

Boxes And Moving Supplies

To cut down on the cost of packing materials, in addition to bubble wrap and china paper, plan to use newspaper, towels, linens and articles of clothing when wrapping fragile items or stuffing boxes so they don’t rattle. Here is a suggest list of moving supplies you’ll need.

  • Boxes of various sizes – small/medium/large
  • Extra large boxes for lighter items
  • Divided boxes or dish pack inserts
  • Custom boxes as needed – wardrobe box/china box/mirror box
  • Packing tape
  • Scissors and box cutters
  • Tape dispensers
  • Sticker labels (if you aren’t using masking tape)
  • Sharpies (permanent markers) for labeling
  • Coloured markers or coloured stickers for room colour coding
  • Bubble wrap
  • Packing/china paper
  • Foam chips/peanuts
  • Stretch wrap – has a variety of uses including bundling items together (skis) and keeping cupboard doors from opening
  • Hand truck or dolly
  • Rope, twine, tie-downs, bungee cords – keep boxes and furniture secure while in transit
  • Furniture blankets – protects large furniture pieces, mirrors, flat screens/televisions
  • Felt pads – protects floors while moving furniture to the truck

Doing Your Own Packing

Pack up one room at a time. Start with items you won’t be using in the next few days such as the contents of a curio cabinet, seasonal clothing, and décor accents.

To pack boxes so that you can load and unload easily:

  • Use small boxes for heavier items such as books, electronics, and larger kitchen appliances
  • Use medium size boxes for pots, pans, shoes, folded clothing including outerwear, blankets, small appliances, stereo components, and small to medium lampshades
  • Use large boxes for lighter items such as large lampshades, stereo speakers, board games, toys, pillows, clothing (not outerwear), towels and linens
  • Place items compactly inside box – no cramming
  • Fill to the brim, but when closed, lid should be flat – no bumps or raised areas

Pack a box for each family member that will contain items needed for the first night in your new home, including sheets, towels, clothes, medications, toiletries, etc.

Importance Of Labeling

Label boxes clearly. Don’t forget that when boxes are stacked you can’t see the top, so plan for a minimum of two labels per box – one on the lid and one on the side. Colour coding box labels to correspond with rooms in your new home saves time during unloading and unpacking at your residence. Include a list of main items that is in the box: it will help when unloading – you can live without the deep fryer but you’ll definitely need the coffee maker and frying pan in the first week after moving in.

Renting A Moving Truck

Before renting a Vancouver moving truck, first determine what size you’ll need. A 16-foot truck will typically hold the contents of a 1-bedroom condo/apartment while a 24-foot truck can accommodate the belongings from a 4-bedroom house. Get a minimum of three estimates from Vancouver movers truck rentals.

Loading The Moving Truck “Backwards”

Load the Vancouver moving truck with boxes and large furniture pieces that you won’t need right away. Things that need to come off of the truck first are items such as beds, bedding, toiletries/towels, and cleaning supplies – these boxes and furniture items need to be loaded last so they are easily accessible when you unload the truck at your new place.

Everything should fit together with no spaces in between. Put heavy items on the bottom and lighter items on the top; stack items from floor to ceiling. Make sure each “row” is squared and level. Create columns – every 2 to 3 foot tiers should be secured with ropes/straps to prevent shifting when the moving truck is in transit.

Need A Moving Company?

If you need a professional moving company to handle the move, please contact Real Pro Movers – profeessional moving company providing both local and long distance moving services across Alberta and British columbia.

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