Protecting your belongings correctly means optimising custom materials, wrapping methods and layering techniques based on years of experience moving furniture around Cape Town’s hilly, windy & pot-hole filled roads.
It keeps your stuff scratch-free, safe from breakages and moisture damage – quick and efficient. Having overseen numerous furniture removals throughout the Cape peninsula for over 15 years I understand how correct packing can mean the difference between a stressful move and an effortless handover.
Correct Packing saves time & protects your goods allowing for quicker loading and unloading times so you can unpack and relax in your new place.
Moving Tips: Packing Quickly & Efficiently
When moving your belongings around Cape Town there are many external forces they need to withstand. Moving trucks climb steep inclines into neighborhoods such as Tamboerskloof and Oranjezicht and attempt to deal with the unexpected high-speed gusts coming off of the Southeastern coast.
Along the way to Cape Town suburbs like Rondebosch and Durbanville you have to navigate potholes as well as speed bumps. If you don’t pack items properly they shift and bang around, collide into one another, or worse get soaked when driving through a rainy passage.
Professional furniture movers plan their packing process around these uncontrollable forces from day dot. Decreasing the possibility of damage to almost zero and making the entire move faster.
Packing Assessment
Carefully qualified crews will walk through your house before they bring out any boxes or moving blankets. They’ll assess what could potentially break, furniture that is heavy or needs to be taken apart, and oddly shaped items that may require additional protection.
Spending those first few minutes assessing your home will allow your crew to strategise the most efficient packing order while utilising the correct packing materials. Knowing which pieces of furniture should stay fully assembled will save your movers time when it comes to having to reassemble your furniture.
Preferred Packing Materials
Professional furniture movers keep their trucks supplied with high-quality packing materials. The moving supplies they choose are purpose-built to ensure the highest level of protection while being easy to use.
Moving crews use double-wall cartons in multiple sizes, wardrobe boxes, dish packs, quilted moving blankets, stretch wrap, acid-free newsprint, corner protectors and fitted mattress and appliance bags.
Professional movers only use the best possible packing material for the task at hand. This approach eliminates unnecessary waste and provides uniform protection for your items without compromising their speed.
Packing Methods Step by Step
Like many things, there’s a method to the packing madness. Pros follow the same process on every job:
- Stack heavy-duty items that aren’t fragile on the bottom
- Stack medium-weight boxes next
- Wrap or cover odd pieces individually
- Wrap each piece completely before boxing up or loading onto the truck
These steps are common to most crews:
- Cover legs and edges of furniture with blankets or foam first.
- Apply stretch wrap to keep padding in place when road bumps occur.
- Stuff empty spaces in boxes with packing paper so contents don’t shift during transport.
- Clearly label each box with its intended room and handle-with-care messages such as fragile or this side up only.
- Layering Protection
The techniques work well because multiple layers of protection are applied. For instance, wooden furniture may get corner guards first, then wrapped in a thick blanket with stretch wrap applied last to keep all the previous layers secure.
Glass, china, and other breakables are placed inside dish packs complete with dividers and cushioned with tissue paper and bubble wrap. Mattresses and couches get complete covers to protect against dust, dirt, and rain. Layer upon layer provides protection from vibrations during transport, eliminates contact between belongings and between boxes, and protects against Cape Town weather extremes. Layers can be applied quickly because the process is systematic.
Testimonial: Packing for a Delicate Art Portfolio Move
The Problem: An art enthusiast moved his art pieces from his hill property in Constantia down to Sea Point. Art work comprised oversized oils, fragile sculptures and framed mirrors that were broken during his previous move. The move required driving down hill roads in windy conditions.
The Solution: Individual assessment of each art piece was done. Crates were constructed for oversized items with light gauge, sturdy wood. Smaller pieces were given acid-free tissue paper, bubble wrap and foam padding before being boxed with double-wall boxes. Paintings were then wrapped in blankets and shrink wrapped. The crew packed intelligently, knowing delicate pieces would be loaded last and needed to remain accessible.
Measurable Outcome: Not one item was scratched or cracked upon delivery. The move took approximately 1.5 hours longer than your typical family move due to the extra care needed. The client did not have to spend nearly R18,000 on replacements and hired us for another move as it felt like he was in the driver’s seat.
Industry Secret Your Furniture Movers Don’t Want You To Know
Professional Packing: We load “from the inside out.” By preparing the truck floor with a foundational layer of blankets and non-slip matting prior to loading any furniture onto the truck, we create instant friction and cushioning for your heaviest pieces. Most DIY packers wrap individual pieces then load right onto the hard floor of the truck, which allows free vibrations to resonate through your belongings and micro scratches over time. Laying down protected flooring takes minimal time and adds exceptional stability throughout transport.…
Questions You Should Ask Your Furniture Movers
Comparing Quotes? Ask how the crew plans on packing your furniture. What packing materials will they be using? Will your breakables get custom crating? Is packing included in your quote or paid for separately? Ask to see examples of how they wrap large or odd shaped furniture like you find in Cape Town.
People Also Ask
How long does it usually take a team of movers to pack professionally?
Load-Up can pack most three-bedroom homes in 4-6 hours with our typical crew of four. If you have a lot of breakables or large furniture that will require disassembly, it may take longer.
Do I need to be home when the packers pack my belongings?
You won’t need to be home the whole time, but packing crews enjoy meeting the client briefly before they begin. Having someone around during loading can speed up the process as well. Most people prefer to pack their important documents and valuables themselves.
Is it possible to pack some things myself and leave the rest to the professionals?
Absolutely. Many movers will offer what we call “partial packing.” Simply specify ahead of time what rooms or boxes you’d like the movers to leave for you. Keep in mind they will likely go through these boxes afterward to ensure safety and for insurance purposes.
Imagine movers who take care of everything so packing and unpacking feels quick and effortless. Furniture movers who understand how to pack efficiently save you time. They protect your items from damage so everything will be ready to use when you move in. That’s the value local experts can bring to your move in Cape Town.