House Packing Guide: Packr Prep Perfection

Moving to a new home can be exciting—but let’s face it, the packing part? Not so much. Enter Packr Prep Perfection: your ultimate guide to packing like a pro, saving your sanity, and making moving day smoother than you ever thought possible.

Whether you’re relocating across town or across the country, this house packing guide will help you streamline your packing process with practical tips, a step-by-step timeline, and expert hacks for staying organized and stress-free.

1. Start Early: The 4-Week Packing Timeline

Four Weeks Before the Move

• Purge: Go room by room and donate, sell, or discard what you don’t need.
• Create a Packing Plan: List the rooms and estimate how many boxes you’ll need.
• Order Supplies: Stock up on boxes, tape, bubble wrap, labels, and markers.

Three Weeks Before the Move

• Pack Seasonal Items and Storage Areas: Start with things you won’t need in the next month—holiday décor, out-of-season clothes, basement items, etc.
• Label Everything: Color-code by room or use a numbering system with an inventory sheet.

Two Weeks Before the Move

• Pack Rarely Used Rooms: Guest rooms, formal dining rooms, or hobby spaces.
• Disassemble Furniture: Take apart large pieces and keep screws in labeled bags.

One Week Before the Move

• Essentials Box: Pack daily necessities separately—clothes, toiletries, chargers, snacks.
• Kitchen and Electronics: Start boxing up non-essentials; label fragile items clearly.

2. Pack Like a Pro: Smart Techniques

Use the Room-First Method
Only pack one room at a time. This keeps items organized and makes unpacking much easier.

Avoid Overpacking Boxes
Keep each box under 50 pounds. Heavy boxes are difficult to carry and may break.

Wrap Smart
Use towels, blankets, or clothes to wrap fragile items and save on bubble wrap or packing paper.

Label Creatively
Label not just the room, but also the box contents, such as “Kitchen – Plates – Fragile.”

Keep Hardware Together
Place screws, bolts, or small accessories in Ziploc bags and tape them to the matching furniture or clearly label them.

3. Must-Have Packing Supplies

Here’s a basic packing kit you’ll need:

• Cardboard boxes (small, medium, large, wardrobe)
• Heavy-duty packing tape
• Permanent markers
• Bubble wrap or packing paper
• Ziploc bags for small items
• Stretch wrap for securing furniture
• Moving blankets or old towels
• Color-coded stickers or tape for organizing boxes by room

4. The Essentials Bag: Don’t Forget This

Each person in the household should have a personal bag with:

• Two to three days of clothes
• Important documents
• Medications
• Basic toiletries
• Phone chargers
• Snacks and water
• A flashlight or battery pack (just in case)

5. Pro Tips for Packr-Level Perfection

Take Photos
Photograph electronic setups before unplugging anything to make reconnections easier.

Use What You Have
Suitcases, baskets, and dresser drawers can all be used for packing.

Keep It Clean
Line boxes with garbage bags for items that may leak or spill.

Stay Powered
Include a power strip in your essentials bag—outlets may be limited in your new place.

Don’t Rush the Last 24 Hours
Leave time for final cleaning and walkthroughs.