METCALF MOVING BLOG
6 Essential Tips to Pack a Garage When Moving
Is your moving day approaching quickly? You might have a handle on packing the contents of your house, but don’t forget about the challenges that come when packing your garage. Of course, some people leave the garage until the end, but you need to consider that you have dangerous tools, lawn equipment, and hazardous chemicals.
Packing up a garage for a household move is challenging and possibly intimidating. Here are five tips to help ease your fears and provide a guide on how to pack up the contents of your garage.
1. Determine Items to Keep, Donate, Sell, Discard
Before you begin the actual garage packing process, you need to eliminate the things you won’t be taking with you. Simply — you need to go through it all and decide what to keep and discard.
You don’t want to relocate things you don’t need or want and something you won’t use. You don’t want unnecessary items taking up valuable space on your moving truck. For example, if you have three rakes and only use one of them, sell or donate two and keep the one you use. Or, if you are moving from a cold, snowy climate to a warmer one, sell your snowblower.
Organize your garage contents into four sections:
- Things to keep
- Items for charity or give away
- Stuff you can sell
- Items to discard
2. Understand What You Can’t Pack
Movers can’t relocate certain items in your garage due to safety regulations. In addition, federal and state governments regulate how you can move certain types of hazardous materials on the nation’s roads.
Movers can not move things like:
- Paints and paint thinner
- Aerosol cans
- Charcoal
- Propane tanks
- Pool chemicals
- Liquid bleach
- Gasoline or diesel
- Fertilizers and pesticides
- Certain cleaning supplies
- Flammable materials
Before packing your garage, check with your moving company to determine what can and can’t be moved.
3. Pack Your Tools Safely
Small, hand tools should be simple to pack — leave them secured in their toolbox. Next, wrap larger tools with sharp edges in bubble wrap and secure them in moving cartons. Finally, pack your power tools in their original boxes (if you kept them). Remove batteries from all power tools. Check with your mover about transporting the batteries, as those may also be on the hazardous items list.
Bundle garden tools like shovels and rakes together and secure them with tape. Wrap them in a moving blanket and again secure them with additional tape. Drain the gas from all of your equipment like lawnmowers or hedge trimmers.
4. Deal with Common Garage Items
You will probably also need to handle various everyday garage items like bikes, grills, and freezers. Again, check with your mover about how they prefer you prepare these items. For instance, you will likely need to disassemble your bikes and pack them in special boxes for a safe move.
Professional movers can not move propane tanks and charcoal, so make arrangements to discard those items safely before the movers arrive.
Defrost your garage freezer several days before the move. Then clean it out thoroughly and let the interior dry completely.
5. Separate Your Essentials
You might need some of your garage items right away after your move. Pack a box or two of essential things and label it clearly so that you can find the tools or equipment you need quickly upon your arrival.
6. Take Photos
Packing up your garage might include some furniture or equipment disassembly. Take photos before and while you disassemble things to make the reassembly process easier at your new home. Keep all small parts together in clearly identified baggies.
Help With Your Move
Relocating is stressful, and when you have a loaded garage, it can feel even more overwhelming. We can help with the packing and moving of your garage and home. Contact us for a free quote.
