Tips on How to Pack Like a Pro with Jonas Bordo (Part 1)

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - You’ve decided to save your money, forgo a moving company, and handle your own relocation. We chat with Jonas Bordo, CEO and co-founder of Dwellsy for some packing best practices that will help you protect your sanity and your stuff come moving day.

First, focus on decluttering. (Do this well before the big day!) Especially if you’ve been living in your current home for a while, who knows what items have accumulated at the back of your closet or under your bed? If you have any belongings, you don’t need or want anymore, now’s the time to set them aside, donate them, or dispose of them. This isn’t a task you’ll want to deal with when you’re in the throes of moving.

Assemble your packing materials. You also don’t want to realize you’ve run out of boxes or tape midway through packing up your kitchen. Whether you’re purchasing new moving boxes, reusing an assortment of boxes from deliveries and stores, or relying on plastic totes, have a plentiful supply on hand. Also, make sure you have packing tape, bubble wrap, packing paper, foam peanuts, newspapers, or other materials handy to pad and protect your belongings.

Pack one room at a time. In other words, don’t put all your books in one group of boxes and all your clothes in another, if these items are spread throughout multiple rooms. Instead, pack up one room at a time. Not only is this more time efficient, but it will also make the process of unpacking much easier.

Allow enough time for disassembly. Remember that you’ll have to unhook electrical appliances, take nails out of the walls, and remove lightbulbs from lamps. You may also need to disassemble large pieces of furniture like your bed frame or bookshelves.

Put the right items in the right boxes… A good rule of thumb is that heavier items go in smaller boxes, while lighter things can fill up larger ones. Put the heaviest items at the bottom of each box. Your boxes will be easier to lift and carry, and they’ll also stay more balanced during transport.

…Then pack them securely. (Empty space is the enemy!) The less empty space in which your stuff can shift around, the less chance it’ll get broken. Your goal is to fill up every square inch of space in each box. Wrap all fragile items in several layers of paper or bubble wrap, and then stuff more padding into all empty nooks and crannies before securely taping your boxes closed.

About the Book:

Everything You Need to Know About Renting But Didn’t Know to Ask: All the Insider Dirt to Help You Get the Best Deal and Avoid Disaster (Matt Holt, August 2023, ISBN: 978-1-6377439-2-8, $21.95) is available for pre-order from major online booksellers.

Find the other tips on Part 2 of Tips on How to Pack Like a Pro!

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