How to Pack Your Garage for Moving
The garage sometimes becomes a collecting place for items you have no other place to store. So packing it for a household move seems like quite a chore. However, with a good plan, you can tackle that garage.
Start Early
Many people are tempted to leave the garage for last. Because it's quite a task, conquering it first can relieve stress. Once you complete the garage, the sense of accomplishment will give you energy as you move to the rest of the house.
Sort
Go through every item in your garage, starting with anything that might be in boxes, such as old toys, books, old clothes, or small appliances. Make four piles: items to keep, items to donate, items to sell, and things to throw away. Many organizations accept gently used toys, books, and other items.
If you have large working appliances you no longer want, donating them is an environmentally friendly alternative to discarding them.
Schedule a garage sale or advertise items that you hope to sell. Then schedule donation pickups for those items you wish to give away.
Prepare Items for Moving
Once you've decided what to take with you, the next step is to prepare those items for moving. For example, if you plan to move a freezer or refrigerator, start consuming the contents well ahead of the move. Then you'll have time to defrost, clean, and dry them before moving.
Collect the boxes and supplies you'll need if you're packing yourself. Your mover may provide you with boxes and packing materials for free or at a reduced price. If you need more boxes, find sturdy ones of recycled materials and various sizes, including wardrobe boxes for garden tools, such as rakes and shovels.
Pay careful attention to tools with irregular shapes or blades as you pack, and wrap towels or sheets around tools to prevent them from protruding from the boxes during the move.
Use biodegradable bubble wrap or paper to protect items. Then seal each box snugly at the top and bottom with packing tape. Plan to use about one roll for each 15 to 20 boxes.
Remember to label each box.
Consider Safety
Many people store items in garages that appear on the movers' prohibited list. You can obtain this list from your mover, but, in general, it includes paint and paint thinners, pesticides, gas, aerosol cans, charcoal, and pesticides.
Plan to use up all the prohibited items before moving and buy new ones once you settle in your new home. First, empty the tanks of any equipment that uses gas and oil. Then clean the equipment carefully and let it dry before the move.
Keep a Box of Essentials
You may need hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, and similar tools right away in your new home. First, separate them from the other items and lay them aside in an essential toolbox. Then either transport that box in your car or mark it clearly so that it is the last box loaded into the truck and the first one to remove.
Moving on Up
Packing the garage is a snap if you have a plan and follow a few simple guidelines. We have the experience and know-how to make your move more manageable. Contact us for a free quote.