If you’re in the process of organising a big move, you’ve probably taken a good amount of time to work out the logistics of it all.
Hiring a contractor or removals company to help out with the work is a very common go-to option for many in this situation, but there’s actually a much more affordable and convenient solution many have not thought of: using a shipping container. In this article, we provide some great information to help give you some tips about what a shipping container can do for you.
Getting started with self-packing a shipping container
Whether you have a regular shipping container or a couple of high cube shipping containers, having some know-how before you start packing can help you fit in a lot more than you thought possible. Although there is certainly a lot of money you can save by using a shipping container to move all your bits and pieces, loading the container improperly can cause your goods to become damaged, which obviously offsets the potential savings. To prevent this, it’s best that you tackle your packing in a very specific way.
Firstly, make sure that any fragile objects you have are adequately protected with things like bubble wrap, newspaper or soft objects like rugs and towels, and then ensure that you pack the shipping container as tightly as possible – this is to ensure that things don’t move during transit, which can help a lot in preventing unnecessary damage. If you do find that there are gaps when packing, you can quite easily find softer objects to fill the spaces, which will go a long way to stop movement and keep things snug.
More tips to help you pack properly
There are a few more things you can keep in mind while you’re packing your shipping container, but perhaps one of the most important is the need to label everything correctly. Labelling things incorrectly (or worse yet, not at all) can mean you spend a lot of unnecessary hours sifting through boxes to find things you thought you could easily keep track of (trust us, it’s harder than you think). To make the whole process easier, think of it as a three step process.
First, label all boxes with the relevant contents and their future destination (such as lounge, living space etc), then you should aim to very clearly number the boxes on the outside for quick recognition, and finally you should tie these numbers on a manifest. This way, when it comes time to unpack, you’ll be guaranteed that it’ll be a breeze (and that nothing important will go missing for several months!).
Self-packing is the way to go
If you make the effort to pack your own shipping container when relocating, paying attention to the tips above can also help you save both time and prevent things from getting broken in transit. It is important to keep in mind that there are a few things that you should avoid transporting – high value items, such as jewellery and laptops, should always be carried on your person during the move, and you’re best to avoid packing hazardous or illegal things in your shipping container, such as perishable food, plants and seeds and any flammable substances.