How To Pack Books For A Move
If you’re a keen reader and have lots of books, moving them is often one of the more challenging parts of the operation because of the weight and space that they ultimately take up. They may not seem like much individually, but things can quickly get difficult without the proper preparation when you have dozens of them.
Like most things, there are good ways and bad ways to go about it, so we thought it would be good to put together this small guide on how to pack books for moving.
Contents
Do You Really Want Them All?
It’s quite easy to let books build up over time, either as gifts or ones that you simply don’t read anymore. One of the best things about moving is that it gives you the chance to jettison some of the things you don’t need, and books are no different.
A few months before your big move, take the time to go through your collection to decide which books you can live without. You’ll likely find a surprising amount of candidates that you can take to a used bookstore or charity shop, which will save you space, and let you do a good thing at the same time.
Don’t Use Big Boxes
An easy mistake is putting together large boxes to pack as many books as possible in the least amount of containers.
This is generally a bad idea as the combined weight of all those books can make the boxes incredibly heavy, making the actual move very difficult.
If you do only have large boxes, fill them about three-quarters of the way only and use the remaining space for lighter objects.
Think About Packing Options
If you’re not moving too far away, you may not even need to pack up your books into boxes. If it’s a short distance, you can use bags, suitcases and other transport methods to make packing and unpacking a lot easier.
Suitcases with wheels are an excellent option, but once again – don’t be tempted to overfill them as they may break under high load.
If you are moving far away, it’s time to consider a careful plan of action. You can even make use of our moving checklist to help you remember everything.
Pack Smart
When packing books for your move, thinking logically can help you in the long run. Pack books as they were displayed on the shelf (by author, for example) or try to keep books of similar size together so that you can optimize the space used in your boxes or bags.
Start Early
When moving house, you’ll have a lot of things to think about – and while they might be heavy, books are amongst the easiest to pack. By dealing with them early on in the moving process, you’ll find that the rest of the operation follows smoothly.
Pack Them Carefully
Books may be heavy, but they can still get damaged or bent easily. For instance, if they are going to be in storage for some time, it’s best to pack them up with the spine facing downwards for a better foundation.
Also, you can lay them flat in the box or even pack them standing up. Just use whatever method makes the most sense for your packaging and avoid putting them at an angle or bent in any way. Keep them flat and tightly packed so that they don’t move during transit.
Don’t forget, ZOOM also offers an excellent packers and movers service if you need additional assistance.
Don’t Pack Them All
It might be some time before you have access to your beloved books, so leave one or two out for you to read until you’re ready to unpack them again. Go ahead and put a couple of your faves alongside your day-to-day essentials, such as chargers, medication, clothing and so on.
Unpack Them Early
Just like with packing in general, unpacking your books early is the best way to go because of the sheer number of boxes you’ll end up with.
Once the absolute essentials are out of the way, tackle the books next to clear up the floors. With less clutter around, your mind will be clearer about the next steps, and you lessen the chances that you’ll trip over something!
Let Us Help You
Our removalists are here to help move all heavy objects, and if you have many books in boxes, they’ll take the heavy lifting off your hands.
And, if you don’t have enough boxes or want your precious books to be better protected, we’ll supply you with sturdy and waterproof free moving boxes at no extra cost.
