Packing is the most excruciating part of moving house, and for a good reason. All the items in your house must go into boxes, and others dismantled and packed separately. To make this daunting process flow effortlessly and later give you an easy time unpacking and settling down, you must take the labelling part seriously.
That's why we thought it wise to share with you some expert insights into the best ways to label moving boxes. By the end of this article, you'll have learned what you need to do to label moving boxes like a pro. Read on.
There are two ways to go when labelling. You can choose to use colour codes or numbering. Whatever you settle with, remain consistent to make your work easier. Here is how the two systems work.
The numbering labelling system is straightforward. You number all the boxes—for example, box 1 of 20. At the end of it all, you'll know how many boxes you have and can quickly know if one gets lost. You can have boxes 1 to 7 containing kitchen items, 8 to 12 bedroom items, and so on.
To make your work easier when using numbers, have a master labelling checklist where you'll write down the unique number of a box with the corresponding items in that box. This will make it easy to retrieve top priority items when you reach your new house.
Colour coding system is when you choose a single colour for each of your rooms and consistently use that colour to the end. Coloured permanent markers are perfect when using this system. Instead of the coloured markers, you can also use different colours of packing tape or duct tape for each room when sealing the moving boxes. Another option is to buy pre-made coloured moving boxes labels. You can also download them for free on moving company websites, or if you are skilled in graphic design, design them yourself.
Better yet, you can reinforce the boxes colour codes by using the same coloured duct tapes or packing tapes so that the boxes are more identifiable. For example, if you choose blue as the colour code for kitchen items, you can make the boxes more visible by using blue packing tapes to reinforce the blue labels.
Additionally, the rooms which the boxes will go to should also have a corresponding colour at the door so that movers can easily identify where to drop the boxes. Colour coding is the simplest and most used labelling system.
Labelling is a crucial step in the packing process. When done right, it will save you the agony when unpacking. Thus, when labelling moving boxes, you must include specific information that eases the packing process. This information includes:
Content: If you've settled for the numbering system, you'll have the master list with the content of each box. On the other hand, if you opt for colour coding, you'll have to write down the items in each box and stick them on the side.
Destination room:if you are using colour code labelling system, the colours will guide you to the rooms the boxes should be dropped, but nonetheless, it won't hurt to add that information on the box. The same goes for the numbering labelling system.
Any specific instructions:In case you have a specific instruction that you want the movers to put into consideration, make sure you write on the label. You may indicate if the box carries fragile items, which way is up, or if the box is particularly heavy.
Priority level:You should also include the level of priority on the boxes so that you know which one's need to be unpacked urgently. You can indicate high, moderate and low on the boxes to indicate the level of priority in each box.
undefined In the event that you are not moving immediately to your new house. It may be a good idea to include your name and contact details on the label. Just in case a box gets lost, you can be contacted when it's found.
Waterproof markers are particularly recommended for the simple reason that they will protect the label from being washed down just in case it rains. You can also choose to improvise by labelling using a marker pen, then covering the writings with a clear packing tape.
Labelling all sides of the boxes makes it easier to see the information when the boxes are stacked. Additionally, movers can quickly identify the room a box is going to without turning it multiple times. Moreover, you’ll find it easy to know what a box contains by simply glancing at either side of a box.
It will be best to label a box immediately after you are done packing it. This way, you won’t forget the content. Additionally, drawing an arrow showing which side is up can be helpful, especially in the case of fragile items. And lastly, whether you’ve bought labels or made them yourself, cover them with packing tape to add a layer of protection.
We hope that these pro-tips will help you label your boxes easily and make unpacking stress-free. In case it sounds like a lot of work, don’t break your back. 1 Van 1 Man Removals can help with the packing and moving house in no time. So, relieve yourself of the stress and call us.