How Many Moving Boxes Do I Need?
The decision has been made and you are preparing to move to a new home. It’s time to commence packing but there is one question that lingers – “how many boxes are needed for all my belongings?” Most people radically underestimate the amount of boxes required, and a good first step is to make an appointment with your removalist to appraise the situation. There are suitable boxes available for every item, and making sure you have the right assortment of boxes will save you time and money in the long run.
When calculating your moving needs, it can be helpful to investigate one room of your house at a time. It will be easier to estimate the bulk of your belongings in bite-sized chunks. Your calculations can also be approximated according to other factors including the number of family members, the size of your present home, and your nature (hoarder or minimalist).
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What kind of boxes are needed?
Before you acquire a bunch of similar sized boxes that are unsuited or too flimsy, you can determine exactly what you need. Packing boxes are manufactured for every item according to weight, shape and size, making the job less stressful for yourself and a whole lot easier for the removalists. It’s worth considering purchasing boxes directly from the moving company as time, energy and money can be wasted collecting unsuitable boxes, repairing and bolstering them with loads of tape, loading the truck haphazardly and uneconomically, along with disorganised unpacking. Sydney Moving provides small and large boxes suitable for every item.
Most moves can be comfortably achieved using small, medium and large boxes. You might also like to purchase boxes for files, dish-ware and wardrobe items. These additional boxes will come in handy if you are moving to a smaller home or don’t intend to unpack everything at your new address. Quality boxes are designed for long-term storage and can be safely stacked in a garage, storage unit or other space and you won’t have to worry about damage from mould, dust or pests. Below is a simple calculation based on the average home, and remember, any undamaged and unused boxes can be returned to the moving company for a refund.
It takes approximately 10 or 12 boxes to pack one room of your house, and about now you are probably realising you underestimated your boxing needs. Following these guidelines will give you a much better idea of the task at hand. Another reason for purchasing quality boxes directly from your removalist is that the boxes can be folded and packed away for future use. They only need to be purchased once, and if you are someone who moves often or are between homes, the boxes will be there when you next need them.
Mix and match
The cost of boxes does add up and might stretch your moving budget a little too far, so you can always mix and match by purchasing boxes for important and precious items only. There are plenty of other places you can procure cardboard boxes for free, and even use your own suitcases, laundry baskets and other large containers for some household items and clothing. Boxes can be found at commercial and business premises cardboard recycling bins, or collected from retail outlets and even grocery stores and supermarkets. Keep in mind though, the goal is to relocate your possessions undamaged into your new home, and cutting corners for the sake of saving a few dollars can backfire and result in damaged goods.
Hobbies, habits and collections
The type of person you are, along with other family members, will also determine the amount and type of boxes you require for the move. Are you a book lover? A kitchen star? A technology buff? These three examples alone will determine box and packing methods for your beloved possessions. Books are very heavy when stacked together and you will soon realise that small boxes are the way to go. In other words, if you have a literary or resource collection spanning several large bookcases you will need plenty of these small boxes.
On the other hand, kitchen equipment and electrical or computer gear comes in all shapes, sizes and weights requiring a variety of boxes. You will also need a lot of padding, such as bubble wrap, old cloth or towels, and maybe newspaper to protect delicate and sensitive items. Waterproof zip-lock plastic bags can also be utilised, especially if your electronic, motorised or computer gear is going to be placed in storage for a period of time. Many people also plan ahead by retaining the boxes and foam packaging their electrical items came in, ready to be reused at a later date.
Large boxes are perfect for lighter and bulky items such as bedding, comforters, pillows and clothing.
Ultimately, common sense will determine your appropriate boxing choices. Obtaining a quote for your move from a moving company is the first step, and a quick visit to your present and future home by our moving expert will give you all the encouragement you need to get started with your moving plan.
