When it comes to moving, packing isn’t just about getting things into boxes—it’s about protecting the belongings that make a house a home. 

Recently, I unpacked boxes for a client who’d done the initial packing themselves. My first thought was, “Boy, it’s a miracle nothing was broken.” Fragile things were layered on the bottom of boxes, padded only by placemats. Mugs and glasses were wrapped with only a thin layer of paper.

It reminded me of a story my sister-in-law told me after a house fire: when her belongings were packed up afterward, everything had simply been tossed into boxes—including kitchen knives that could have damaged other items (or injured someone unpacking).

As part of our senior move management services, we handle packing with the same care we’d want for our own belongings, and we have a standardized way of packing because every item deserves to arrive safely. We try not to stuff our boxes with heavy items, although we make sure they are adequately stuffed with clean newsprint paper both at the top and the bottom. Boxes can bump around in a moving truck, and we want to make sure we cushion everything against breakage. An important tip is to visualize the boxes being stacked on top of each other 4-5 boxes high. That is how the mover will dolly them both into and out of the truck. Is the box packed securely enough that it is protected on all sides from collapsing?  

If we’re doing a local move, we pack the kitchen in sturdy blue plastic boxes. Pantry items go in small cardboard boxes. Large and more fragile glass items are packed in ‘dishpacks’ which are heavy-duty double-walled boxes. Cook books (and all other books) are heavy and again we pack them in small boxes. Small boxes aren’t just easier to carry—they also prevent heavy items from becoming impossible to lift or from putting too much pressure on the items below. 

In the bedroom, we use wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes and laydown boxes for other clothing (sweaters, t-shirts etc.) as well as towels and blankets. We have art boxes for your art work and lamp boxes for your lamps. We make sure everything is wrapped carefully and securely, in clean newsprint paper, brown paper, or moving blankets.

We place electronics, such as printers wrapped in thick brown paper, in heavy duty boxes. We make sure that liquids first have their caps or lids secured and are then placed in plastic garbage bags to prevent leaks spreading in cardboard boxes.

For your most fragile items, we wrap tissue paper around anything sticking out (think of something like a fragile porcelain doll with delicate arms sticking out—we want those little details protected) and then carefully wrap in further layers of paper. We make sure that boxes containing fragile items are marked by a very noticeable ‘Fragile’ sticker and we ensure the movers know which boxes to take extra care with.

Another important part of packing is making sure everything is easy to find once you arrive at your new home. We label boxes clearly by room and contents, so you aren’t left searching through a dozen boxes looking for the coffee maker or your favorite sweater. A carefully packed box is helpful—but a carefully packed and organized box is even better. 

Yes, moving can feel overwhelming, but knowing your belongings are packed safely makes a huge difference. Whether it’s a favorite vase, a lifetime collection of books, or simply the dishes you use every day, each item has a story and a place in your life. Our goal at The Move Makers is simple: to make sure your belongings, together with the stories attached to them, arrive safely, ready for the next chapter of your life.