Self-Packing: A common misconception when doing long distance moves is that packing your own goods translates to savings. The numbers don’t support that, meaning self-packing typically costs 60% as much as professional packing and the time consumption within is overwhelming.

However, if a self-pack is the route chosen we want to give you the exact methods that a professional mover (that’s us!) use to securely transport goods state to state. For interstate transit of household goods all flat screen TVs must be in TV boxes, all mirrors must be boxed, all pictures must be boxed, and all glass/marble tops or shelves must be boxed as well. All mattresses must be in mattress slip covers. Lastly, small lamps must be in boxes. Before we get into it, here’s a couple of resources for moving supplies that ship right to your front door that have lesser cost than your local stores:

uboxes.com
uline.com

A common fallacy in moving is that packing involves bubble wrap; not with a professional mover. The simple science is that bubble wrap has air bubbles and those will break anything inside of them if popped.  If the move isn’t local, the friction on the truck will likely pop some of those air bubbles, and heat presses the bubble wrap to the items within creating likely damage.  Packing paper will be your best friend for fragile items or anything that can be refaced by pressure.  Here’s the “How To”:

• Crumbled pieces of packing paper on the bottom of the box
• All damageable items wrapped in packing paper
• Crumbled pieces of packing paper inside the top of the box
• Stack the items vertically (horizontal stacking creates pressure) from heaviest to lightest
• Tape the bottom and top of the box twice across the closing
• Then 3 times across beginning, middle, and end
• Then (Very Important!) wrap your packing tape around the ends of the 3 pieces twice in a “belt” fashion around the side of the box as tight as possible while maintaining the basic structure

The packing paper on the top and bottom of the box act as a pillow for your items. The weight distribution eliminates as much friction damage as possible. The belt around the top straps eliminates structural damage, remember these boxes are stacked 4-5 high in a truck going across state lines. The same methodology apply within the boxes for stacking items that aren’t delicate in nature.

Regarding professional packing, that’s the basis for how it’s done.  Packing typically takes multiple days if not handled by professionals, and even then it’s timely and tedious.  That’s why Lady Liberty Moving always recommends that for the small cost difference to select professional moving services.