Pack an “Unload Me First” box including toilet paper, telephone, personal toiletries, snacks, coffee/coffee pot/filters, soap, basic tools, flashlight, can opener, paper plates/cups, utensils, pans, and paper towels.
Transport the following items yourself: photos, financial documents and policies, legal documents, wills, passports, money, jewelry, collections, medical and family history records.
Unpack breakables over the box you're taking them out of; if you drop an item, it will land on packing material and reduce breakage risk.
Place pictures in boxes between sheets and blankets to give them added protection.
Plates and record albums should be packed vertically on their ends rather than placed flat and stacked.
Before packing medicine and toiletry items, make sure that caps and lids have been tightly secured.
Remove light bulbs before packing your lamps.
In addition to the room and contents, have children write their name and new address on the cartons from their rooms so they can become familiar with their new address before they get to their new home.
Pack heavy items in small boxes, and light items in larger boxes.