Most DIY packing mistakes are the same nine mistakes — made over and over. Here's the wrong way and the right way, side by side, so you don't learn them the hard way on move day.
None of this is theoretical. Every “mistake” below comes from a real moving day where somebody — usually us — wished they'd done it differently. If you'd rather not pack at all, that's what our Packing Services are for.
Once boxes are stacked in a truck or a room, the tops are invisible. You're left guessing which box has the kitchen plates.
Write the room and a short contents line on at least two SIDES of every box. Add an arrow on fragile boxes so movers know which way is up.
All the weight of the pile lands on the bottom plate. Hit one bump and you get the sound of broken china.
Stand them on edge with packing paper between each, in a sturdy dish-pack box. They break far less often this way.
A large box of books weighs 80+ lbs. The box breaks at the bottom seam, your mover's back regrets the whole job.
Books and dishes go in small (1.5 cu ft) boxes. Save the large boxes for linens, pillows, lampshades — light bulky stuff.
It's 9pm on move day. You can't find toothbrushes, sheets, or phone chargers. You give up and sleep in your clothes.
Toiletries, a roll of TP, sheets for one bed, phone chargers, a knife, a plate, pajamas. Mark it CLEARLY and put it in the truck last so it comes off first.
That box gets unpacked last. Meanwhile you're sitting on a half-assembled bed frame at midnight, hunting for the right screw.
Ziploc bag, labeled with what furniture it belongs to, taped to the underside or back. Reassembly takes minutes, not an hour.
Items shift during transit. The lamp head smacks into the picture frame. The mug rattles into the glass bowl. Everything chips.
Crumpled packing paper, towels, t-shirts — anything soft fills the gaps. A well-packed box should NOT rattle when you shake it gently.
Federal regulations don't allow it. We have to leave items behind at the dock — and you're stuck rushing them in your own car.
Drain gas/oil from lawn equipment 24hrs before. Use up or donate paint, propane, batteries, ammunition. Take pets, plants, documents, jewelry in your own vehicle.
Three days later you're staring at the back of your TV trying to figure out which cable goes where. The internet box is silent.
Snap a photo of the back of each device BEFORE you unplug. Then label each cable with painter's tape — TV power, soundbar, router, etc. Reconnecting becomes 'match the picture' instead of a 30-minute puzzle.
Your movers carried your washing machine up three flights. A handshake and a thank-you are nice; a fair tip is what gets remembered.
Standard is $20–40 per mover for a half-day move, $40–80 per mover for a full-day. More if there were stairs, extreme heat, or extra-careful work. Cash is appreciated. Cold water and pizza during the job are a separate gesture — also appreciated.
Drop your email and download a clean one-page PDF you can stick to the fridge during your move.
No spam — just the cheat sheet and the occasional moving tip
We bring the boxes, we pack the dishes, and we've never met a kitchen we couldn't get into a truck without breaking something.
