Packing Yourself: How to Do It Right (and Save Money)

Packing your own belongings can save you money, but it also requires a significant amount of hard work, time, and coordination. Between gathering materials, organizing rooms, and protecting fragile items, packing can quickly become overwhelming. Whether you choose to pack yourself or get professional help, using the right supplies and methods is key to a successful move.

Moving Bags

Moving bags are an affordable and convenient option and are easy to find on Amazon. They work best for:

• Clothing
• Towels and linens
• Pillows and other soft items

These bags are lightweight and ideal for items that don’t require rigid protection.

Plastic Totes

Totes are durable and excellent for long-distance and interstate moves. They stack well and provide better protection than standard boxes when used correctly.

Helpful guidelines:

• Keep totes under 50 lbs
• Avoid over packing—don’t put your entire life in one tote
• Use multiple totes to prevent damage and injuries

Totes are also ideal for garage items since they are heavy-duty and leak-resistant.

Boxes

Use a mix of small, medium, and large boxes. For interstate moves, it’s best to invest in high-quality boxes from U-Haul, Lowe’s, or Home Depot.

Box packing tips:

• Use small boxes for books, dishes, and fragile kitchen items
• Pack boxes completely to prevent crushing when stacked
• Tape boxes securely—do not fold over tops or bottoms
• Reinforce the bottom with tape before packing

Always label each box clearly, including:

• The room it belongs to
• “Fragile,” if applicable
• A short list of contents to make unpacking easier

TV Boxes

All televisions should be packed in proper TV boxes. These boxes are designed to protect screens during transport and help prevent cracks or pressure damage.

• Use the correct size TV box for each television
• Secure the box tightly with padding and tape
• Extra-large TV boxes are also excellent for packing mirrors and large framed pictures

Wardrobe Boxes

Wardrobe boxes are useful for much more than clothing.

Best uses include:

• Shoes placed at the bottom
• Clothing hung directly inside
• One mirror or framed picture slid into each side of the box with the glass facing the clothing for protection
• Table lamps wrapped in towels and placed inside as an alternative

Garden & Yard Tools

A clean trash can is a simple solution for transporting long-handled items such as:

• Rakes
• Shovels
• Hedge trimmers

Packing for Storage

If your move includes storage, movers cannot leave their moving pads behind.

Recommendations:

• Purchase mid-grade moving pads (available on Amazon)
• A typical 3-bedroom home requires at least 5 dozen moving pads
• Once your move is complete, sell the pads on Facebook Marketplace—moving pads sell quickly

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When Packing Goes Wrong

These are real-world examples of how not to pack for a move.

A few years ago, we had a customer scheduled for a well planned interstate move from New York to South Carolina. When our moving crew arrived, packing had not been completed. Instead, the customer was rushing to pack while the truck was being loaded.

Packing should always be fully completed before the moving crew arrives. Trying to pack at the same time movers are loading creates confusion, delays, and increases the risk of damage.

Throwing items into boxes without wrapping or padding them is a major mistake.

Example of a customer’s bad last minute packing

Fragile items must be properly papered and protected. Overweight boxes are another common issue—when boxes are packed too heavy, bottoms can give out, causing boxes to break open, spill, or fall apart entirely.

All boxes should be properly sealed with tape. Box flaps should never be folded over, left open, or loosely closed. Boxes that aren’t taped shut are more likely to collapse when stacked in the truck.

Taking the time to pack correctly—or hiring professional packers—can prevent damage, delays, and unnecessary stress on moving day.

When Packing Feels Like Too Much

Packing takes more effort and coordination than most people expect.Reliable Movers offers both full-service packing and partial packing services in Syracuse, NY and throughout Central New York.

Partial packing is ideal if you want help with:

• Kitchen and dining room items
• Fragile and breakable belongings

Let our experienced Syracuse movers handle the most time-consuming and delicate items so you can focus on the rest of your move.

📞 Call Reliable Movers today for your free moving and packing quote.
Trusted local movers serving Syracuse, NY and surrounding areas.

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