Ask the Builder: Packing for a move is an art unto itself

DEAR TIM: I'm moving from one house to another and am overwhelmed. There seems to be so much to pack and I'm not sure how to proceed. I've received several bids from moving companies, and the cost for them to pack my possessions took my breath away. I've studied the "u-pack" moving options, but I wonder if I'm up to the challenge. What advice do you have for moving and packing? -- Mandy S., Lima, Ohio

DEAR MANDY: Oh, boy, do I feel your pain! Just after finishing this column, I've got to finish packing for my own imminent move. In just two days, a giant moving truck and crew will be here to start loading 18,000 pounds of my possessions. My wife and I have done most of the packing ourselves, so we've joined the growing you-pack-we-move trend.

I got several quotes from cross-country moving companies, and I felt the same sticker shock you did. It's expensive to move, and even more so if you decide to do little or no work. You can save thousands of dollars if you do the packing yourself.

The cost of the move is largely a function of the total weight of your belongings. If you can reduce the overall weight of what you're transporting, then do it. Sell or donate the things you can live without. Remember, weight is your enemy on moving day.

I discovered the power of free online classified listings a few months ago. I've sold many items through Craigslist.org and also used the site to advertise a garage sale. This sale was very successful, allowing me to sell off thousands of pounds of belongings. And the cash I made is going to help pay for the move.

Packing for a move takes many more hours and days than you can imagine. My wife and I have been packing for well over two weeks, even with the help of a friend, and we still have lots to do. It's essential to be prepared. You'll need abundant supplies to help protect your valuable possessions. Sturdy cardboard boxes, rolls and rolls of tape, rolls of bubble wrap, and some old newspaper or cheap kraft paper will come in handy.

Most moving companies will supply you with boxes to help you pack. The dish-pack cartons are the strongest, as they commonly are constructed with two layers of cardboard. These will really help protect your most fragile things.

I discovered a business close to my home that sells shipping supplies to businesses. Not surprisingly, they sell the very things people like you and I need to pack for a move, and they sell them for far less than a big box store. So far I've used more than five 250-foot rolls of bubble wrap to pack things.

It's really important to pack things you value carefully. Inside the truck, objects will rub and bump against one another, especially on a long-distance move. This can damage the finish on the items, so you need to be sure you wrap valuable things with something that will protect them: paper, sheets of cardboard, bubble wrap, old clothes, etc.

If you have to pack large items, you may have to build your own boxes. Wooden crates can be used to protect expensive items, but these can be tough to build if you're not a carpenter. I built a large crate for a chandelier using one-inch-thick honeycombed cardboard panels. It only took 30 minutes to tape it together with the thick corner supports.

Tim Carter is a columnist for Tribune Media Services. He can be contacted through his Web site, http://www.askthebuilder.com.