QUICK HINTS

Pack on a room-by-room basis and do one area of the room at a time. It's best not to mix items from different rooms in one box. By not mixing items from different rooms it will be much faster to unpack later. The last area to be packed should usually be the kitchen. Many items here are used on a daily basis right up to, and including, moving day!

Make the loading process easier and more organized by designating a room in your home, preferably the one closest to the door, in which to place all of your boxes.

Close all boxes securely using Strong Tape. Tape the top and bottom of the box -- don't just fold the end flaps closed. Seal all your boxes with packing tape this will help keep dust out of the contents.

Consider this option: Label boxes by numbers - have the master list separate from your storage space. This will prevent movers or thieves from knowing which boxes have the "good stuff".

Limit most boxes to weighing 30 pounds or less. The movers will be moving a lot of boxes. It is better to have a lot of boxes that you can lift, than fewer boxes and a strained back.

Don't place more weight in a box than it is designed to hold. The weight limit for each box can usually be found on the bottom of the box.

Box everything that you can - everything that is left unboxed in a self-storage facility will get dusty and potentially dirty.

Fill boxes to capacity wherever possible. Load heavy items at the bottom and lighter items at the top of the box. This reduces the risk of the box crushing and reduces the likelihood of the contents shifting and breaking. Linens and towels are handy to use to fill space in a box. Boxes that are partially filled will crush on corners or cave in damaging your contents. If a box crushes on the corner the entire stack of boxes may topple if not properly braced with other boxes.

Never overfill a box, bulging boxes may not sit flat and cannot be stacked upon which results in wasted storage space.

Don't pack items into sealed plastic bags, as humidity can cause mildew.

Wipe down metal objects and tools with a little oil before storing to avoid rust formation.

Treat leather items with a leather conditioner before you store them.

The heavier the item, the smaller the box it should occupy.

Get the proper boxes for your items - the right sizes and strengths.