Tips for packing up your garage and other storage areas

If you’ve ever moved to a new home, you know there are items all around your house that, with a little work fit nicely into a box. Those items include clothing, books, and even dishes with the proper boxes.

But there are other areas in your home such as your garage or your storage shed that have items in it that could be difficult to pack in a traditional box. Some of these items may not even fit in a box. So it’s important to understand how you’re going to move these items to your new home.

Check out these tips from our moving experts about how to move the items in your storage shed or garage.

Understand what cannot be put on a moving van first

Before you go packing up certain items, it’s important to note that there are some things that just cannot be placed on a moving van. Those items include propane tanks, paint, gasoline canisters, fertilizer, and other pesticides. You’ll either need to transport these separately in your own vehicle or dispose of these items before moving. If you’re embarking on an Interstate move from Boston for example, you’ll probably want to dispose of these items.

How to pack power tools for a move

First assemble all your power tools in one place and take an inventory. From there, if you have any tools that run on gas and oil, you’ll want to drain those in an appropriate container. Talk to your local community recycling center about how to dispose of these fluids. Moving these tools is much easier if you have the original case they came in. If you don’t have the original container, consult with your moving company for the proper packing box.

For power tools that are sharp such as saws, make sure there is a safety guard on these tools or remove the blade entirely before moving.

Packing hand tools for your upcoming move

If you have hand tools such as screwdrivers, pliers, and other items around the home, you’ll want to gather all these up in one place. The best way to move hand tools is in a well-constructed toolbox. The best toolboxes are made of steel and have secure latches as well as areas to place a lock. This is the best way to secure these items and ensure that they will not spill out during your move. If you don’t have a toolbox, it’s time to purchase one.

Getting other garden tools ready for your move

You might be thinking about how you’re going to pack that rake or shovel. The best advice we can give you is to make sure all these tools that may have long handles are put in one area before moving day. Let your moving professional know that these items need to go to your new home. They will bundle these long-handled tools appropriately and place them in the correct place in the moving van. You may want to keep that broom out until the last minute.