Best way to organize boxes of stuff? (packing, movers, ABF)

[oc2nyc]

I remember a thread detailing a great way of organizing all your boxes when you move but I can't find it. Does anyone have a good way to keep everything organized so that you know what is in each box? We are moving from west coast to east coast in July (a big move). I am trying to get prepared!
Thanks!

[antiquesmountainapache]

That is a huge move! Here's what an older neighbor used to do. She numbered each box and wrote the number and contents in a large spiral bound notebook. This way no one could read the contents on the box en route. She also wrote other pertinent information in the notebook. This lady was an expert at moving -- her husband had some type of expertise with textile machines so they moved a lot!. She told me that they moved about 22 times in 30 years. I also like the suggestions from the pamphlets at Ryder and Uhaul locations, if they still have these. Good luck!

[Ellwood]

Color code the boxes with colored stickers. One color for each room (kitchen, master bedroom, etc.) Write on box what it contains (dishes, pots, sheets, books from den, children's toys, etc.).

Remember the last box that goes on the truck should contain things you will need right away (sheets, coffee maker, dog food, a few utensils, cereal, etc.)

[nightbird47]

Originally Posted by oc2nyc

I remember a thread detailing a great way of organizing all your boxes when you move but I can't find it. Does anyone have a good way to keep everything organized so that you know what is in each box? We are moving from west coast to east coast in July (a big move). I am trying to get prepared!
Thanks!

First, start going through things. Do the have I used it in a year question. Ask will I need it there. Prune mercylessly. Stuff that you can relpace cheaply or needs replacing, ie the older couch or the bed thats been around awhile, can be left behind. Don't move what you don't need to move. Try on ALL your clothes to see what deserves to take up space.

As to packing, there are a few considerations. How much space do you have to store boxes before you leave? If there is plenty start now. Pick things that you seldom use and things which will not be needed as time goes by. Unless you want to keep them available for the holidays, pack the stuff thats delicate and breakable first, and use good materials. A bag of plastic peanuts or bubble wrap may make the difference on if something delicate makes it or not. Mark them carefully as fragile/breakable and in big letters. It doesn't mean it will make a difference, but then it helps. You'll never guess how much less time you have near the end than you think.

With normal stuff, ask yourself how your moving. Will the boxes be hoisted by you and friends? Will there be pros with all the fancy dolleys? Remember that once you get there and its added to your new home, you have to move it around. Remember not to pack to big or too heavy. Books should be kept to smaller boxes even if they fit. Just trust me on that one.

Try to balance the weight of the boxes. If everything is lightweight that goes in a box, but not damagable, layer with heavy stuff. Keep it to what you can move but aim at everything being about the same. A box of towels and fabric? Put a few heavy pans in that would outweigh a box if you put in too much. I brought most of the pantry this way, for a can doesn't take up much space added randomly to light things.

I like packing by location. People accumulate things in spaces randomly, like the stuff that goes by the bookshelves. Try to keep it together. It will be easier to find later. But don't label it that way. Use the alphabet and a list. Nobody who is helping has any idea what box is worth checking out that way. But if you are looking at the stuff by the bookcase and your notebook says its box G you can find an item easier.

Also, for the ease of stacking while being stored and moved, try to get boxes of the same size, and moving strength boxes. You can get them cheap from a lot of storage places. If they can be stacked to fill a space evenly and fully, they are much more stable. Concentrate on the mid sized boxes as much as possible.

Never write whats in the box on the box. Easier for you, but when moving or in interum storage its a good invitation to pilfer. Tape well and spend the extra for quality tape that sticks. Even if nobody is interested in checking out a box, if the tape is lose the box is not as strong.

And never never never put things containing personal information in a box. Have a file of that kind of thing and keep it together. Move this yourself. If it gets lost, or mixed up you may not be able to find things which are important. Or someone finds information they should not.

And don't rush things. Have a goal of how much to pack per day. bit by bit space gets empty and instead of feeling rushed and nervous, you feel accomplished.

Something else... when you move, keep ALL the stuff that goes with you together and seperated widely from what goes on the truck. Saves a lot of time when you don't have to wait for it to be found when some helpful person decides to get the stuff they saw in the corner out of the way.

I hope this has helped. I didn't have all that much but when it got on that truck it looked like it had magnified itself by three times. If you have a space of known size, its really helpful if you can stach packed boxes there neatly so you aren't so surprised how much space you've just taken up on the truck.

[Bixaorellana]

Quite a few years ago I had to put all of my household belongings into storage. Here's what I did:

As I put each item into a numbered box, I'd write down the item on the inside of one of the box flaps. I'd also note the item in a list of everything that went into that particular box. When I was completely finished, I took all the lists and copied them, giving a set of copies to a friend just in case my set got lost, and keeping another set for myself.

A couple of years later, when it was time to open the boxes, all I had to do was to consult the list to know what was in each box.

Just be sure to write down every single item as you box it. It could save your sanity later.

[JustJulia]

We packed the moving trailer (ABF leaves a pup trailer at your house for a few days so you can pack it) and locked it with our own lock, so we didn't feel it was necessary to disguise what was in each box. We were the only people who could get into the trailer.

We color coded the boxes with those round dot stickers: kitchen, living room, family room, basement, etc. I wrote on each box the gist of what was in it: books, plates, pots and pans, towels, toys, tablecloths, cleaning supplies, good china, platters, etc. When we unpacked the truck, boxes were stacked in the correct room.

We have WAY too much stuff to write everything down.

[dspguy]

Do a combo of what antiques and elwood recommended.

I moved twice over 13 months (NY to SC and then to a house later). I kept a spreadsheet with the box #s and its contents. When we arrived in SC, my wife listed the boxes that were "must-haves" - things like pots, pans, linens, clothing, etc etc.

We then were able to leave all the non-necessities (like china) in boxes to open up when we bought our house. No need to repack.

When we packed up to move to the apt, we just updated the spreadsheet with new box numbers. We started at 100 so that we knew that everything in boxes 100+ were stuff we had been actively using in the apartment and knew that those boxes had to be unpacked first.

And yes, the main reason for numbers is so possibly unethical movers won't poke around your stuff.

[nightbird47]

Originally Posted by dspguy

Do a combo of what antiques and elwood recommended.

I moved twice over 13 months (NY to SC and then to a house later). I kept a spreadsheet with the box #s and its contents. When we arrived in SC, my wife listed the boxes that were "must-haves" - things like pots, pans, linens, clothing, etc etc.

We then were able to leave all the non-necessities (like china) in boxes to open up when we bought our house. No need to repack.

When we packed up to move to the apt, we just updated the spreadsheet with new box numbers. We started at 100 so that we knew that everything in boxes 100+ were stuff we had been actively using in the apartment and knew that those boxes had to be unpacked first.

And yes, the main reason for numbers is so possibly unethical movers won't poke around your stuff.

Also consider your helpers unless you know them well, or if your stuff sits next to the truck while its loaded. You'll be in a huge hurry so you can't sit and watch the truck all the time.

Starting at 100 for the recent stuff is good too. I put an x on the last to be packed boxes.

[oc2nyc]

Thanks so much for all the awesome information!!! The numbering system was the one I couldn't remember. I think I will do a combination of the numbers and colors giving my kids their own colors so they can help unpack. We will most likely use ABF and do our own packing but I still plan on using a system so that unpacking is easier. We will be renting for at least a year so the advice to start at 100 for the next move is perfect. Advice from people who have made numerous or big moves is invaluable. Thank you so much!!!

[StilltheSame]

I packed by room and task so that when unpacking I could complete boxes. I also wrote in detail what was on each box - it took a long time to pack - but we unpacked a 4000 sq ft house in 2 days and put almost everything in its proper place.