Moving requires a lot of thoughtful planning and meticulous organization. A fair amount of coordination is crucial, especially when you are packing your personal items into many different moving boxes. As the number of moving boxes increases, it becomes more difficult to keep track of your belongings. To help you stay organized, you need to learn how to label the moving boxes properly.
There are numerous ways to label moving boxes, but not all the methods are equally effective. If you use sloppy handwriting or mislabel the wrong boxes, these labels could cause confusion and even complicate the moving process. Ideally, you will want to label each moving box in a clear and concise manner, while using a systematic approach to minimize the mistakes.
The entire moving process will be a lot easier when your boxes are labelled with precision and perfection. If you want to learn how to label moving boxes correctly, follow these seven best practices:
1. Use high-quality pens & moving labels
The best way to label moving boxes is to use high-quality writing materials. You will want a set of different coloured marker pens with a thick ink stroke. It’s also a smart idea to use waterproof pens, because you never know what the weather will be like on moving day. In case it rains or snows, the waterproof pens will ensure your writing doesn’t get smudged on the moving box labels.
It might be tempting to grab some cheap marker pens and box labels at the discount store. However, these supplies might not be reliable enough. You don’t want the marker ink to fade away or the box labels to peel off at the edges. By using high-quality supplies, you ensure your moving box labels will remain robust and intact for a very long time.
2. Write the labels clearly
The best moving box labels will have clear, distinguishable handwriting. Your calligraphy doesn’t need to be fancy or elegant, but the bare minimum is that it should be readable. Take the time to write clearly and carefully. You may be able to understand your own scribbles, but that doesn’t mean the movers can decipher what you are writing.
Also, don’t write too small. The petite text will make the moving box labels more difficult to read. Write big enough so that you and your movers will be able to read the contents, even from a considerable distance.
3. Label your moving boxes on all sides
Most people only label one side of the moving box, but it makes sense to add separate labels on all sides of the box. This way, you won’t need to turn the box around several times just to read the label. While you’ll have to do some extra work to create the additional labels, this is a worthwhile project. Once each side of the moving box is labelled, you’ll enjoy the convenience of having these extra references as guidance.
4. Colour-code your moving boxes
Colour coding is an easy and efficient way to label moving boxes. There are many ways to colour-code your boxes and you can get creative with the items you have on hand. You can use different coloured markers, tape, or even stickers as identifiers.
How should you colour-code the moving boxes? A great idea is to assign a separate colour by room, such as the red colour for the kitchen or the blue colour for the bathroom. Once the colour coding system is in place, the movers will have an easier time determining where all the boxes will go.
5. Label with a number system
If you appreciate order and structure, then a numbering system is a great way to label moving boxes systematically. By assigning an individual number to each box, you have an easy point of reference to stay organized. This system is particularly helpful when you have to manage many moving boxes.
How do you implement a numbering system? First, create an inventory list of all the items you are packing. Then, label each box with a number. This number will reference items in your inventory, so you’ll be able to tell exactly what is inside each box. You can also assign specific instructions for each number, such as designating any box with the number ‘1’ as high priority.
6. Label any special moving instructions
Labels are useful for conveying special instructions on your moving boxes, especially when you are handling delicate items. If a box contains breakable pieces, make sure you label it ‘FRAGILE’ or ‘HANDLE WITH CARE’ in large letters on all sides of the box. If a box should not be placed upside down, label it with ‘THIS SIDE UP’. These labelled instructions ensure your precious items will remain intact during the moving process.
7. Label the boxes at the right moment
Your timing is important when you label moving boxes. You don’t want to label all the boxes before packing them, because you won’t know the exact contents yet. At the same time, you also don’t want to wait too long to label these boxes. After a while, you might forget the contents that were packed inside each box.
The perfect moment to apply a label is right after you’ve filled up a moving box. Every time you finished packing the box, you should place an identifying label. This way, the contents are still fresh on your mind and you will be able to label the box accurately.