Person carrying a moving box

Planning a household relocation can come with long to-do lists, with packing and organizing being one of the biggest tasks. If packing is left until the last minute or done without a game plan in place first, it can take people over twice as long to get their items ready to be transported, making this step in the process much longer than it needs to be.

Westheimer Transfer and Storage is one of Houston's most experienced moving and storage companies, with over 140 years of service under our belts. When it comes to packing and transporting belongings, it's safe to say that no one does it better than us. We may have access to some of the best resources and equipment when we pack up your household for you, but if you're planning on packing your things yourself, there are many ways you can make this process much easier and more efficient.

Begin Packing Well In Advance

One of the best ways to make the entire packing process as stress-free as possible is to start early. Begin packing your household belongings in the few weeks leading up to your relocation if possible, starting with the items that you don't need before you move into your new residence. Maybe your move is happening in July, for example, and you can pack all your winter clothes, ski gear, heavy jackets and other things you won't be using anytime soon.

Some areas of your house that you may be able to pack up in advance include:

  • Attics or Crawl Spaces
  • Sheds or Garages
  • Guest Rooms

Strategically Pack Your Belongings

As moving day gets closer, begin packing up your home room by room. It can be overwhelming to know where to begin when packing up an entire house for a residential relocation all at once, so focusing on one room at a time can be an efficient method. As you pack, pay attention to the weight distribution of each box. Instead of putting all your books in the same box, for example, spread them out across three or four boxes, adding lighter weight items to each to make the process of loading and unloading much safer and easier.

Keep Track of Your Essential Items

It isn't uncommon to misplace items during a household move, but there are some things you don't want to lose track of, especially during a long-distance relocation where you might not have access to your belongings for a few days while your professional moving team transports everything to your new address. 

We suggest packing an essentials bag to keep with you during each phase of your move, so you'll never worry about where important items are, such as:

  • Medication
  • Toiletry Items
  • Important Documents
  • Phone Chargers
  • Change of Clothes

Advice for Unpacking After Your Move

Once you're officially out of your old house, you probably have a ton of boxes and dissembled furniture to deal with at your new place. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, our advice is to leave the boxes alone and focus on your large items first. 

Many moving and storage companies can help reassemble your large sectionals and entertainment sets for you, but if you didn't sign up for this service, take care of these belongings first. Once that's out of the way, turn your attention to the boxes that contain your household items that you use daily, such as bathroom and kitchen supplies. If you labeled your boxes clearly, find the ones with things like:

  • Dishes and Silverware
  • Cookware
  • Cleaning Products
  • Toilet Paper
  • Hand Soap
  • Hand and Dish Towels

If your residential relocation is planned at the last minute and packing strategically isn't an option, enlist the help of professional movers like Westheimer. Our experts provide full-service packing options, where we'll take care of all the organizing and packing for you, making sure to hand-wrap fragile items and using our professional materials to ensure the safety of all your items before, during, and after transport. 

We're agents of Allied Van Lines, a strong moving and storage network, that gives us access to the best equipment and resources in the industry, which is one of the ways we can guarantee flawless local relocations, long-distance, or even international ones. 

Get in touch with Westheimer today for a free estimate on any of our residential moving services, and we'll tell you more about the services you can sign up for with us to make moving day as simple and stress-free as possible!