Organizing a move is not an easy task as there is simply so much to think about. From hiring responsible moving companies such as KSE moving to choosing a good moving date which in itself can be a trying task, to some smaller, yet key details such as labeling boxes for storage and moving, there is a lot of things that you have to think through carefully. Going through this process can induce stress, which can rise exponentially with the size of your move. When people move they often tend to feel super stressed out afterward. According to psychologists, moving is actually in the top 10 potentially most stressful events for an average person. This is because it is not just about the matter of the physical process of moving your belongings. There is a whole emotional side to it and it is usually what people do not count on.

And then what happens is that they get caught off guard when emotions strike and then the whole move can become increasingly harder.  When you take all this into consideration, then it is easy to see how challenging organizing a move really is. However, in its essence, it all comes down to making proper plans and contingencies. Whether you are planning a domestic moving or a long-distance one, if you take time to prepare properly and do so in detail, your move will be a lot easier to execute. And if there comes a moment when something goes bad, you can always fall back to your plan. Labeling boxes for storage may not be the most directly influential thing when it comes to stress but it is one of the most practical things you can do while planning a move. 

Before you start labeling boxes for storage – Make an inventory list

One of the tools that can help you out the most with your move is inventory lists. Whether you will make a one or several, it does not matter. Inventory lists are often disregarded as futile and unnecessary by some people. However, they are actually super useful tools and not using them would be a grave mistake. The many uses for planning and executing a move we have listed below.

Uses of having an inventory list and how it pairs will labeling boxes for storage

• For filing and insurance claim – Hiring a moving company to transport your belongings is a great way to ensure their safety. However, even in the case where professionals transport your belongings, accidents can still happen. In such cases, it is really important to have a valid inventory list at hand. By “valid” we mean approved by the company whose services you are renting.
• It is useful for packing – Once you list all of your belongings in a sheet of paper, you can start planning the packing process. It does not really matter that much if you are packing and labeling boxes for storage or moving because you should always pack your things in the most proper way possible. By having all of your items listed in one place you can see how many packing supplies you need. You can also better divide the weight you will put in moving boxes or packing containers.
• It is super useful when it comes to unpacking – By using the inventory list in pair with labeling your boxes, you can do yourself a huge favor. Basically, whenever you put something in some box, mark it down. For example, let us say that there are 5 boxes for your kitchen. When you put your cutlery in box number 2, mark it down on the inventory list. Keep doing this throughout the whole packing process. If you mark all the boxes efficiently and keep track, unpacking will be super easy. You will be able to prioritize which box matters most during unpacking. Or, if in case of an emergency during their stay in storage you need something, you will know which box you need.

So how to go about labeling those boxes?

There are several ways you can go about this and each of them can be quite effective. What you need beforehand is proper equipment. Among these are of course boxes, permanent markers, tape, glue and color labels.

List of contents

One of the solutions that come to mind is writing the content on a piece of paper and sticking it on the box. You can do this for each of the boxes which can definitely make things easier if you need one box. However, going through a set of boxes and looking through those sheets of paper on them is not really that effective. Especially not on its own when you compare it with other techniques even if you rent a quality warehouse.

Coloring labels

The idea behind this system is simple. Choose a color and assign a certain type of item to it. Every box with a label of that color glued to it will be full of that one type of item. For instance, you can assign the blue color for children’s things. In those boxes, you would put their toys, school books, etc. Red color can denote clothes, and yellow can denote kitchen items, etc. This can be effective to a certain extent, especially if you pair it up with the content list solution we had previously mentioned.

Letters and numbers

The final and probably the most efficient technique for labeling boxes for storage and moving is the one that relies on numbers and letters of the alphabet. It is quite simple actually. Think of categories that suit your situation best. For instance, if you are moving from a house, then you can take rooms your categories. Now take that inventory list and simply mark boxes according to the room they belong to and then add a number. So, for instance, B3 would be a Bedroom box number B. Then simply put a mark beside each item that is in this box. This way you can easily find each box and each item that you may have an emergency need for.