If you are preparing for a move you might think that packing will be easy enough: you simply toss items into boxes, tape them up, and load them onto the truck.  Think again! Packing actually takes more planning than you might realize.  Many people make mistakes when packing that end up being costly, time consuming, and downright hectic.  Getting all of your belongings from point A to point B actually requires plenty of foresight and failing to do so can end up making the whole process much more difficult than it needs to be.  Here are a few of the most common packing mistakes and how you can avoid them to ensure a smoother and less-stressful move.

Mistake #1: Not Planning Ahead

Proper packing is an art and requires thoughtful planning.  Unfortunately, most people dive right out without putting much thought into what they are doing.  The result is broken or missing items, disorganization, and loads of time wasted looking for particular items. 

How to Avoid It: Take some time before you begin the packing process to figure out which items you will pack first, how you plan to pack them, and how you are going to keep track of everything that has been packed.  Planning ahead will make your efforts much more effective and you will be able to maintain organization throughout the move.

Mistake #2: You Don’t Give Yourself Enough Time

This is perhaps the worst packing mistake you can make because if you don’t give yourself ample time to pack you are inevitably going to end up stressed and overwhelmed.  The less time you give yourself to pack, the more pressure you will feel and the less organized you will be. 

How to Avoid It: Start preparing well in advance and be realistic about how much time it will take you to pack.  You are not going to pack an entire house in two days so you need to allot a reasonable amount of time to get the job done.

Mistake #3: Packing Unnecessary Items

Packing items that you no longer need is a huge waste of time and effort.  Moving is a huge task as it is and you don’t need to complicate the process by packing things that you don’t plan on keeping.

How to Avoid It: Prior to packing you need to go through your home and get rid of any items you no longer want or need.  This is a great time to consider having a yard sale or even donating items.  Decluttering your home will make the packing process easier and more efficient.

Mistake #4: You Don’t Label Your Boxes

It’s very easy to get so caught up in the packing process that you forget to mark the contents of each box.  This will lead to frustration when you begin unpacking and you cannot find specific items.  You will end up wasting time sifting through box after box trying to find the items you need.  Furthermore, you won’t be able to sort your boxes into their corresponding rooms if you don’t know what is inside each box.

How to Avoid It: Take a few extra minutes to mark each box as you pack.  Labeling the boxes will make it much easier to locate items when it comes time to unpack. 

Mistake #5: Packing Too Heavy

You might be tempted to pack your boxes as heavy as you can so that there will be fewer of them, but packing your boxes too heavy is a recipe for disaster.  Not only will you strain your back and risk injury lifting all those heavy boxes, but you risk damage to your belongings as well.  Boxes can break and items can get damaged when they are crammed on top of one another. 

How to Avoid It: Use appropriate size boxes for your items and do not overfill them.  For example, heavier items such as books and dishes should be packed in smaller boxes while lighter items including pillows and blankets should be packed in larger boxes. 

Mistake #6: Not Having the Right Supplies

Packing requires more than just tape and boxes.  In order to pack properly, you are going to need packing paper, packing peanuts, bubble wrap, and furniture pads, and glassware dividers.  If you don’t have the proper supplies you will risk damage to your belongings and you will also waste time make multiple trips to the packing supply store.

How to Avoid It:  Plan ahead and make a list of all the supplies you will need.  Think about how many fragile items you will be packing and be sure to gather plenty of paper, bubble wrap, and packing peanuts. 

Mistake #7: Forgetting to Pack an Essentials Box

There is so much going on in the midst of a move so this is an easy mistake to make.  However, not having an essentials box means you will be searching endlessly for all of those various items that you need right away in your new home.  It can be very frustrating to try and find items when they might not be easily accessible.

How to Avoid It:  Make a list of all of the essential items you are going to need right away such as bath towels, sheets, clothing items, toiletries, medications, toilet paper, and eating utensils.  Pack these items in a separate box marked “Essentials” and keep them in an easily accessible place.