Are you an avid book lover with a bookshelf full of your favourite books at home? Are you wondering how you can start packing books safely when moving from Auckland to the North Island suburbs?
We’ve got a guide that’s perfect for you. You won’t need to rely on professional house packers and furniture movers for your books if you follow these tips.
Get your tools ready
Before you even think about taking your books out of the shelf they’re in, make sure you have the right tools in place. You will need small to medium size cardboard boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, marker, and packing paper. If you choose East Auckland Movers or West Auckland Movers, the professionals will come prepared with the tools needed. However, if you’re doing it yourself, make sure you have these tools in place before starting.
Sort through your book collection
You may not want to part with your beloved books, but you have to think about if it’s worth transporting all of them to the new house. Furniture removals whether it’s Movers in Auckland or Henderson Movers aren’t cheap. You’re going to be charged by weight so you need to evaluate whether it’s worth paying extra to take your full book collection.
Go through your collection and see what you can do away with. Books you’re not likely to read again can be donated or sold. You’ll find many second-hand book stores that will buy the books you no longer need. You could even donate the books to school or neighbourhood libraries.
Group your book collection
It’s a good idea to group your book collection into hardcovers, paperbacks, or by genre. This will make it easier to remain organized while shifting and in the new house.
Use small or medium size boxes
It’s tempting to pick a large box and try to pack as many books as you can into it. Avoid doing that because it’s only going to increase the weight of boxes to be transported. Small or medium size boxes can carry fewer books and are more manageable. Make sure you choose sturdy boxes to pack books in. Don’t use boxes that were once used for food because tiny insects may be left behind. They could damage your book collection.
If you have large boxes, fill them only halfway with books and use the remaining bit for linen or other light possessions. Once you’ve picked the right boxes, you need to prepare them to carry the books. Line their base with packing tape and secure them in position. It’s also a good idea to line the boxes with packing paper or bubble wrap for added protection.
Choose the right method to pack books
There are many ways that you can pack books. Pack them in a standing up position, flat, or with their spines down so that they don’t get damaged easily. For hardcover books, packing them upright is the best option. For paperback books, packing them flat is the best option. Make sure you never pack books with their spine up so that the binding is not damaged.
Make use of rolling suitcases
Rolling suitcases aren’t just meant for carrying clothes. They can come in handy when you want to pack books during a move. Rolling suitcases also make transportation easy as they don’t need to be carried and can just be rolled along the floor.
Fill any empty spaces between books
Once you’ve packed the boxes with books, be sure to fill out any empty spaces with packing paper or even bubble wrap. This will keep your books protected and avoid any damage caused by friction. You will be able to enjoy peace of mind knowing that your books are protected within the boxes that they’ve been packed in.
Pack books early
To pack books, you need to make sure you have enough sturdy boxes and a plan. Leaving it to the last minute will just end up with you throwing all the books you have into boxes or suitcases. That’s a recipe for disaster. You don’t want to frantically try to figure out what stays and what goes at the last minute. Shifting is stressful enough as it is without you leaving the book packing till the last minute.
Secure and label boxes
Once you’ve packed your boxes, secure them tightly with packing tape. Label them so that you know exactly where they’ll go in the new house. Labeling avoids confusion and will make the process of unpacking boxes a lot easier for you.
Place them at the bottom of the moving truck
Place boxes with books at the bottom of the moving truck so that there is no risk of the books toppling over and getting damaged on the way. The heavy boxes will do well at the base of a stack of boxes being loaded onto the moving truck.