How to Pack for an Interstate Move Like a Pro

How to Pack for an Interstate Move Like a Pro

If moving home is one of the most stressful activities you can do, then it must be even more so if you are relocating to another state.

However, while the prospect of upping sticks and starting the next phase of your life in a faraway location may appear daunting at first, you’ll find it easier to prepare for if you work to a plan.

In this post, we’ll advise you on how best to pack for an interstate move. If you follow these tips, you’ll find the process will go a lot smoother than you otherwise might have anticipated.

  1. Hire Professional Movers

While you can hire a van and coordinate the move yourself, the best thing to do when moving out of state is to get the professionals to help you.

Companies like Muval specialise in long-distance relocations to all parts of Australia. Their staff are trained to load, transport, and unload your possessions, including heavy or delicate items, as quickly and seamlessly as possible. 

Additionally, they provide you with protective coverings to minimise the risk of damage during transit and may offer complimentary insurance.

When picking an interstate removalist firm, make sure you get fully itemised quotes from a few companies and read Google reviews about them.

 

  1. Start Early

Some companies might pack for you. But if the one you choose doesn’t, then you’ll need to start this process as early as possible.

Ideally, this should be at least 6 to 8 weeks before the move, but really, the more lead time you can set aside for it, the better.

To make the process more manageable, it is a good idea to create a plan and timeline that outlines what tasks you will do and when. Try to fill it with activities that take a short amount of time to complete and stick to them as much as possible.

This way, you won’t find the size of the task at hand too daunting, and you will feel like you are making constant progress. 

 

  1. Declutter Ruthlessly

Before you pack anything away into boxes, the first thing you should do is a proper declutter of your possessions.

If you have lived in your old place for a while, there is a good chance that you have accumulated plenty of belongings that are either broken, you do not use, or are simply outdated.

It is not a good idea to take these items to your new out-of-state address because not only will it cost you extra money, but they will also take up extra space in your new home – and, what is more, you’ll still need to get rid of most of it.

For this reason, you should go through everything you own, from your clothes and furniture to books and trinkets, and divide them into the following categories:

  • Keep
  • Sell
  • Give to charity
  • Recycle
  • Throw out

The more ruthless you are at culling your worldly goods, the fewer items you’ll have to pack for your relocation.

A great place to sell them is on Facebook Marketplace, and there are plenty of charities to which you can donate your goods, including GIVIT.

While you must always try and recycle as many of your possessions as possible, whatever you need to throw out should be done so responsibly at the local refuse tip.

 

  1. Use Quality Packing Supplies

Although cheap supplies might save you money upfront, they often aren’t particularly good at protecting what you own.

As a result, your risk of them being damaged is high if you don’t invest in quality packing supplies like sturdy boxes, strong and wide packing tape, bubble wrap, and loose filler.

You should find most of these items at places like Bunnings or Officeworks.

 

  1. Pack Strategically

When the time comes for packing, it is important to do it strategically. Instead of simply cramming boxes full of your stuff in a haphazard way, take the time to administer a more methodical approach.

Firstly, designate a ‘storage’ room in your home where you will keep everything you’ve packed away. For example, the garage or a spare room. Then pack away all the things you know you won’t be using again before moving day, such as seasonal clothes, your Christmas decorations, books, or certain sporting equipment.

Once you have put them in the holding room, adopt a room-by-room approach. This will enable you to focus your attention on one space at a time and minimise the disruption to your everyday living arrangements. Start with lesser-used rooms, such as guest bedrooms, attics, or basements, before tackling the rest.

Make sure you label every box you pack with a clear indication of what room its contents need to be placed in, and if possible, itemise the contents of each box.

 

  1. Wrap Fragile Items Carefully

When moving interstate, your possessions are in transit for a much longer time. Therefore, it is important to pack your fragile goods as carefully as possible.

Make sure you wrap each item individually in bubble wrap or packing paper, and place plates and glassware vertically to reduce the risk of breakage. You should also put heavier items at the bottom of boxes and use dividers or loose filler for glasses and other breakable items.

To remind everyone of the breakable nature of the contents of the box, make sure you label each one as ‘FRAGILE’ and ‘THIS SIDE UP’, as required.

 

  1. Pack a weekend bag

It is easy to forget this when you are packing your belongings away. But make sure you keep a separate box or bag with items you’ll need immediately upon arrival at your new place.

These include items like a few days’ worth of clothes, toiletries, medications, and phone chargers. Doing this will save you a lot of hassle and frustration in trying to find them at your new home.

 

Final Thought

This post tells you how to pack like a pro.

However, here are some common mistakes you should avoid when moving home.