| As the staff of John Elpers Homes nears completion of your new home, and you prepare to move in,
keep these packing tips in mind. |
| Appliances |
| Wrap small appliances in inkless newsprint, or kitchen towels and linens. Tape the bottom of a medium box
securely and put down a layer of inkless newsprint for padding. For large appliances, make sure to check your
owner's manual for any special instructions before you start to pack, or even move the appliances. Tape down
(or pack separately) any parts that could come loose - burners on the stove, electric cords, etc. Wrap the
appliances with furniture pads, and tie or tape the pads securely around the appliances. |
| Art and Collectibles |
| Put corrugated corners on for protection, and wrap each piece in bubble wrap. Pad the bottom of a large box
with crumpled inkless newsprint. Give the items plenty of space, and make sure you add lots of packing material
on the sides, between items and on top. Label the box "fragile". |
| Books |
| Use only small boxes for books - they get very heavy, very fast. You can use small paperbacks to fill around
bigger books if there is extra space in the box. |
| Clothing |
| This is where wardrobe boxes can come in handy because you can move clothing on hangers straight from your
closet to the wardrobe boxes. Clothing in drawers should be packed in suitcases or boxes. |
| Electronic Equipment |
| Ideally, you should pack electronic equipment such as stereos, televisions and computers in their original
boxes with their original packing material. If this is unavailable, wrap the equipment in plastic bags. Wrap
each piece in bubble pack and pack in a heavy-duty box. Make sure to check your owner's manual for any special
instructions before you start to pack, or even move these items. |
| Furniture |
| If you can take your furniture apart in any way to make it easier to move, do so - but make sure you put all
nuts, bolts and screws in a small zip-lock bag and tape the bag to the furniture. Tape, or tie, drawers shut
where necessary. Wrap exposed legs (on tables and chairs) in bubble wrap or inkless newsprint. Wrap in furniture
pads and tie or tape securely. |
| Kitchenware |
| Wrap breakable items in bubble wrap or inkless newsprint. Put layers of bubble wrap between each plate or
bowl. Fill the top bowl with crumpled inkless newsprint. Make sure you put the heavier items on the bottom of
the box. Wrap non-breakable items in inkless newsprint before packing in a box. Use cell packs to separate
delicate items. Make sure you pack all the items you'll need for your first few days in you new home in one box,
and label it prominently. You can only eat take-out for so long. |
| Mirrors and Framed Art |
| Tape an “X” of masking tape across mirrors and paintings framed with glass. Wrap each item in bubble wrap.
If you want, there are specially made shipping cartons for these pieces. Make sure you label everything fragile. |
