The idea of moving brings to mind a list of things we’d rather do. For some, it’s their first time, to others, its old hat, but it can always be a daunting task. The point is, moving can be stressful and full of headaches. However, armed with the right supplies, moving can be made much easier and proficient, as well as keeping all your valuables safe.

Packing Tape

Possibly one of the most looked over pieces of supplies, packing tape is easily the most critical item you’ll purchase. Like nearly everything we buy, quality matters. You’ll be counting on this roll of tape to keep your boxes closed on top and secured on the bottoms, and it will be your go to label for keeping everything organized. Ranked as Amazon’s best seller, Scotch’s heavy-duty shipping tape checks all the marks for a quality packing tape. And as a helpful tip, however much you think you need to buy, double it.  

Bubble Wrap

Grandma’s antique dishes, your shot glass collection, those New York City statues you’ve searched years for, they’re all gonna need top notch protection for the big move. Bubble wrap not only keeps all your breakables from showing up in pieces, but it also keeps youngsters entertained while you box up all their toys, so it’s truly multipurpose. Per eBay, bubble wrap is marketed by height of the bubble and the width of the roll. Smaller bubbles are ideal for protecting delicate items and large bubbles are designed to fill large voids, so make sure to buy varying sizes.

Boxes

Putting your valuables into boxes can be, well, depressing. But what’s more depressing is not having the right boxes to pack them into. Coming in all shapes and sizes, retail purchased boxes usually come in XL, L, M, and S each with their own weight capacities. Ensure you’ve got a few heavy-duty boxes for hefty items like pots and pans and sound equipment, and remember a box is only as good as its lid, so one without a lid is worthless.

Stretch Wrap

Nothing is more annoying that trying to move a dresser whose drawers keep sliding open. Stretch wrap clings to itself making it quick to apply and comes off residue free. It can be used to secure pesky drawers, appliance doors, keep small items together, and protect mattresses and furniture. A lesser known use is to cover heavily trafficked areas to protect them from damage and dirt.

Permanent Markers

You’ll be labeling a ton of stuff. Boxes, Ziplock baggies, Tupperware containers etc. Permanent markers are a must have for this task, and not just one. It’s a good idea to buy a variety of sizes and colors to meet every need. Chisel tips are great for large boxes, regular tipped for tape labels, and fine tip for small items. Various colors allow for color coding boxes by room for quick recognition during loading and unloading. Make sure to get quality markers that are waterproof, write on any material, won’t smudge and preferably are nontoxic.

Any craft or tradesmen will tell you that without the right tools, all jobs become more difficult. We see too many people try and just “get by” without having the right supplies for the huge task of moving, and most of them end up regretting it. A good move always starts with the planning, and getting the right tools for this job should be near the top of that list.