How to Pack Your Vehicle When Moving House

During the rush of moving house, it is easy to load items quickly without much thought, squeezing belongings into a van or truck and hoping for the best. This often leads to problems later, such as discovering that everything does not fit properly, or realising that items have shifted and become damaged in transit, forcing you to unload and repack. 

Taking the time to organise how your belongings are loaded before anything goes into the vehicle helps ensure everything fits securely and fragile items are protected. Below is a practical guide to loading a moving vehicle in an orderly and safe way.

1. Confirm the size of your moving vehicle: Before loading begins, check that the truck or van you have booked is large enough to accommodate all of your belongings. If you have a high volume of items, you may need to arrange an additional vehicle to avoid overcrowding.
2. Assign roles to helpers: If several people are assisting with the move, designate at least two people to focus on organising and positioning furniture and boxes inside the vehicle. This helps prevent random placement and improves space usage.
3. Load heavy items first: Begin loading from the front of the truck. Large and heavy furniture or boxes should go in first, with lighter items stacked on top. This approach is similar to filling a container with large objects before smaller ones. Placing bulky items first creates a stable base and allows smaller items to fill remaining gaps more efficiently.
4. Secure and cushion items: Use straps to anchor items that could shift during transport. Blankets, towels and other soft materials can be used to fill gaps and act as padding to prevent furniture from rubbing or colliding while in transit.
5. Protect drawers and cabinets: Ensure drawers in dressers and cabinets are secured so they cannot slide open. Avoid using adhesive tape directly on finished surfaces, as it may damage paint or varnish. Stretch wrap or plastic wrap is a safer option to keep drawers closed without marking the furniture.
6. Position large soft furnishings carefully: Stand sofas and mattresses upright against the sides of the vehicle to maximise floor space. Where sofa legs cannot be removed, smaller items can sometimes be placed between the legs if there is room. Remove loose cushions, wrap them in plastic and place them where extra padding is required.
7. Protect mirrors and framed items: Large mirrors, framed artworks and pictures can be placed between mattresses to reduce the risk of breakage. Check that no sharp edges or protruding parts are left exposed that could damage other items during transport.
8. Place fragile items last: Clearly label fragile boxes and position them on top of heavier loads. Soft furnishings such as bedding, towels and rugs can be used to wrap delicate items and provide additional cushioning.
9. Prepare appliances and wheeled items: Drain fuel from petrol powered equipment such as lawnmowers before loading. Wrap these items to prevent oil or fuel residue from transferring onto other belongings. Lock the wheels of trolleys, carts or similar items to stop them moving while in transit.
10. Secure items near the door: Items placed closest to the rear doors should be restrained with straps where necessary. This helps prevent belongings from shifting forward and falling when the doors are opened during unloading.

Whether you require packing services for your next DIY move or looking to move house in the near future, get in touch with a trustworthy Brisbane moving company.