Packing is one of the most stressful moving tasks when it comes to state to state move.
When looking at packing for an out of state move, the smartest step is first to gather the moving supplies and materials needed and then tackle the job one room at a time until everything is done.
So, how exactly do I pack for a state to state move?
It is simple – make proper planning, effective packing strategy, and pay careful attention to details.
Go through our moving checklist to manage the process more efficiently and reduce stress.
Below are our top packing tips for the state to state move:
Start by Collecting your Moving Supplies
- Boxes: There are a variety of options for finding affordable or free moving boxes. Search for used moving boxes on websites like NextDoor Neighbor or ask your family and friends. Get different sizes of moving boxes and ensure the packing boxes are all in good shape.
- Bubble wrap: Your items are protected with bubble wrap while moving. And also, bubble wrap is available at office supply or department stores cheaply, or get it for free on Facebook Marketplace.
- Dolly: Carrying moving boxes from one place to another can be challenging and could give rise to drops. This can be prevented from happening by renting a dolly from a home improvement store or moving company as it is one of the items that make moving a much easier task.
General Tips for Moving and Packing
Yeah, one of the most crucial but stressful stages of moving is packing. Arranging items based on similar function, room use, or other categories ensure your items’ easy finding while on the move and unpack at the destination home.
Below are some simple packing steps:
- Pack similar items together: Begin to pack each box using a layer of padding, making use of bubble wrap, newspapers, towels, blankets, or any similar item. Then, let the heaviest items enter the box first.
- Use the content of each box as labeling on the outside.
- Pack a box of essential items such as hammers, snacks, change of clothes, drinks, screwdrivers, paper plates, toothbrushes, plastic utensils and cups, medications, first-aid kit, and so on.
- Avoid packing boxes to the brim: This stops boxes from becoming too heavy and mitigates the chances that they break or are dropped during the move.
Now, let’s discuss how to pack each room with packing checklists and pro tips.
How to pack Room-by-Room for Moving
Begin by creating a list of the items you plan to carry with you. Do this for each room in your home as it will speed up your organization and monitor your valuable items.
Get moving supplies that are needed, such as packing and moving boxes, blankets, padding, tape, bubble wrap, and other supplies needed to further protect your belongings while on the move.
When you are set to pack your belongings, try to group items of similar function like packing kitchen supplies together.
Living Room and Den
- Secure electronics: Secure the screens of your TVs and computers with the use of a blanket and unscrew the stand (if present on the device). Secure the screws to the back of the device with tape.
- Pack furniture: Ensure furniture is loaded into the moving truck before you pack boxes. Disassemble furniture when necessary to make it super easy to maneuver into your new home.
- Organize electronic components: Secure the power cables to each electronic device with tape, including the HDMI or auxiliary audio cable and remote control.
- Safely handle artwork and mirrors: Use bubble wrap or blankets to wrap them.
- Get your coffee table ready for transport: Place furniture sliders under the legs to avoid scratching the floors when you move coffee table. Prevent the tabletop by covering it using a blanket.
- Remove bulbs & lampshades from lamps: Store them in boxes and apply cushion accordingly. Use bubble wrap to wrap the base of the lamp if delicate.
- Pack your CDs, DVDs, and books in separate boxes: Avoid overpacking boxes to prevent them from breaking.
Dining Room
- Roll up the rug: Use a rope to secure the rug in place.
- Pack chairs: Remove the legs and keep them in moving boxes and the nails/casters stored in a labeled plastic bag.
- Secure kitchen table: Wrap it in a blanket and keep it in a secure area to avoid sliding around.
- Pack decorations(such as lamps, pictures, artwork, etc.): Using paper or bubble wrap to wrap ceramics or glass items.
Kitchen
- Defrost the refrigerator: A minimum of two days before moving out.
- Organize dishes: Packing dishes is not as hard of a task as you might think. Just ensure they are carefully packed by wrapping them using bubble wrap. And do not over-pack boxes as this will make moving the boxes more difficult. Any damage to any of the boxes could result in the loss of the whole grouping of fragile dishes.
- Pack your glasses using sectioned boxes: This is a simple and safe way to haul them.
- Pack small appliances: Begin with the removal of any blades or loose components. Use tape to hold the cord around the appliance as well as its parts, and make sure you tape to instructions.
- Pack dry goods: Use tape to hold paper or bubble wrap around seasonings and keep spice or food jars on the bottom so prevent them from moving around while on the move.
- For refrigerated goods: Keep them in coolers with ice.
Bedrooms
- Pack casual clothing: Fold the clothing in place inboxes. Buy wardrobe boxes for formal wear to keep them on hangers while in transit.
- Organize jewelry: Keep your valuables in a container that is always with you all through the move.
- Pack mattresses: Place them in bed bags that will protect the mattress from the elements all through the move.
- Keep the whole bedding and pillows clean: Place them in trash bags to prevent dust and keep them in labeled moving boxes.
- Pack your home office: For important files, place them in a secure or safe file box.
Bathroom
- Pack toiletries together: Ensure you have easy access to these items for your new home. You probably may have first to unpack the bathroom.
- Organize towels: Use one box for each bathroom in your new home to packing towels, soap, toilet paper, and so on.
Garage/Storage Shed
- Pack lawn furniture cushions: Keep them in trash bags or boxes.
- Get rid of hazardous materials: Hazardous materials like weed killer, paint, or fertilizer should be disposed of.
- Pack tools: Keep them in a tool chest. Wrap items like saw or hammer in towels and pack them in moving boxes.
- Drain items that require gas: Drain the gas from your grill or mower before you move them. Detach the gas tank from the grill and turn it in before you move it.
- Deflate pool toys: This will enable packing them in boxes and easy work.
- Move with your bike: Safely transport your bike by attaching a bike rack to your car or SUV.
Laundry room
- Move appliances: Unplug the washer and dryer, then disconnect each component such as washer hose, dryer vent, and use tape to secure the power cords to each appliance.
- Dispose of detergents and fabric softener: Transporting them is dangerous.
- Make use of laundry hampers/baskets in place of moving boxes: Use T-shirts, socks, and more to pack hampers to have an easy move.
Other Packing Tips for State to State Moves
Special and careful consideration, attention to detail, patience, and hard work are essential when packing for an out-of-state move. You then need to make god use of each tip and trick that will be of a good match for your packing efforts and see it to fruition:
Below are additional packing tips:
1. Stay Organized
Packing to move to another state is very complex, several aspects of processes, and you need to figure out a way to ensure orderliness to the packing disaster and remain in control of things the whole time.
- Make a master packing list (you can use your inventory list).
- Make a detailed packing timeline (and strictly stick to it).
- Gather all the necessary packing supplies (so you don’t halt the packing process).
- Pack logically and systematically (working by room, by items type, by frequency of use, and so on.).
- Pack similar items together.
- Use an efficient system for labeling.
- Designate special places to store different categories of items – essential items, items to be sold, items to be donated, pre-packed boxes, etc.
- Be focused – set a clear purpose, don’t be tired, don’t procrastinate, avoid distractions, etc.
2. Take Many Pictures
Take photos of your rooms and your household goods before you begin to track them for moving:
The picture will give evidence about the formal condition of your belongings, in case there is a need to file a claim for damage against your moving companies. The photos you took will help in reassembling your furniture, appliances, and electronics reconnection and as well change your home décor after the move.
3. Use Plastic Moving Boxes
They have enough strength for lifting, carrying, and stacking than cardboard boxes. Also, plastic bins are waterproof and weather-resistant, so they give more protection to the items packed inside them (and in the case of spills, it will not escape and ruin other belongings).
Pack heavy stuff in small moving boxes and big, lightweight stuff in large moving boxes to make good use of the available space and prevent your cartons from being too heavy.
Keep smaller items in sealable plastic bags before you pack them in moving boxes to prevent them from scattering or lost during the move.
Use plastic wrap to wrap containers that keep any kind of products (such as cosmetic products, hygiene products, etc.) (Or keep them in sealable plastic bags before they are packed in boxes) to prevent spills. Proper packing ensures successful moving
4. Optimize Space by Stacking Items inside One Another
Understanding how to properly pack for an interstate move will be the best step to have a successful move. Still, to make sure your moving adventure ends on a good note, you also need to make sure you get reliable moving help by filling out our form for moving quotes to get highly-rated long distances moving companies and select the best-moving partners for you.
Final Words
Regardless of the distance, you are moving to, you need the right packing of your household belongings to move them to your new home. If you’ve hired a professional state-to-state moving company, you can still choose to pack all or some of the items yourself, thus reducing the price.
