How to Pack Books for Moving and Storage – The Best Tips

Being a bookworm had its advantages during the university days, but now when you are faced with the challenging packing process, your main concern is how to pack books for moving. You have been piling them for so many years without thinking that one day, you will have to relocate all of them. Now, you have to find a solution to move the textbooks and make sure they stay intact until you arrange them on the bookshelves of your new home – how can you possibly do that?

Trico Long Distance Movers overlay
August 1, 2018 Posted in How-to

For most of us, editions also serve as a reminder of the beloved childhood memories. You really treasure these and you don’t want to part with them when you relocate to a new home. Hold in tight and read some of the best tips and suggestions that will help you move the novels and keep them in perfect condition.

Get ready to move GET A QUOTE

How to Pack Books for Moving – Packing Tools and Supplies You Will Need 

Before you even start the packing process, you need to make sure you have the necessary tools and supplies to conduct this relocation and pack the books in the first place. You don’t have to purchase a myriad of different moving supplies, but there are some that you will probably need until the end of the trip. Whether you are relocating on your own, or you hired movers with professional moving services to help you organize everything, you still need proper gadgets to keep the novels safe. Double-check if you have everything from the list below:

  • Sturdy cardboard crates
  • Packing paper and bubble wraps
  • Protective sheets
  • Packing tapes
  • Labeling markers

When you start placing the items inside the box, make sure there is enough room. The most important thing is to obtain high-quality supplies. Make sure the inside edges of the box are layered with protective paper, and there are bubble wraps that protect the cover of the book. Avoid stuffing too many editions in one crate – it will get crowded. It might take more time to carefully place every book, but everything you do now will payout in the long run.

box of post-cards

How to Choose the Right Boxes

Choosing the boxes is one of the most important parts of the entire loading process. If you are moving on your own, you have to obtain high-quality, sturdy boxes that can endure a long-distance move. Similar to packaging fragile items, there are ways to bundle properly and minimize the risk of any misfortune. Here we have narrowed down some of the most important tips that will ensure the duration of the box:

  • Make sure you have strong but not oversized containers
  • Fill them with enough packing paper, especially if you plan to have delicate novels inside
  • The heaviest paper items go first, then the lighter ones
  • The items should be placed in a flat position
  • Don’t overfill the crate
  • Tape the box several times to make sure it won’t open during transport
  • Label the crates so you know exactly what goes where

Don’t Use Second Hand Cardboard Boxes

If you want to make this moving process work, you have to be prepared to invest a bit. Don’t use your old card boards. If you put your titles in boxes that have already been used, you might moisturize them and you ruin your collection. Spend some extra cash by ordering new, sturdy crates!

Quick Packing Tips: Pack the Heavy Books with the Lighter Ones

We would like to point out how important it is to arrange heavy novels with lighter ones. Don’t place the heavy ones in a separate crate and the lighter ones in the other – this will be a real nightmare for you! Just imagine if you have to drag all those card boards to the truck – it will be impossible to move the heavy ones if there is no one to help you out.

Add Extra Protection and Fill the Space in the Boxes

One way to keep a book safe is to fill in that void inside the box and put paper at the bottom. Even if your crate has more space, don’t overpack it – add some extra paper on the sides of the box. This will ensure your novels don’t shift inside.

boxes reading

Assess Your Collection – Separate the Books by Categories

Categorize your novels in the order you find best. You can either choose to divide them by size, by genre, or something else. If you want to have one special crate with the most favorite ones ready when you arrive, why not do it? Familiarize yourself with the packaging tips and then decide what works best for you. Before you start loading the truck, you can separate the pieces by genre and make additional selection afterward. It’s up to you to figure out the best method.

Separate the Fantastic Books from the Ones You Read Less

If your current titles are grouped according to a genre, and you have the ones you read frequently separated from the ones you read less, apply the same method when you start preparing them for transport. It will be a lot easier to unpack if you follow the old ways. Don’t confuse yourself by randomly throwing them into the boxes.

What a Fantastic Opportunity for the Books You Are Not Taking: Make A Donation

What do you plan to do with the titles you don’t want to move to your new home? Why should you throw them away when there are so many people who might be looking for that specific book? You can either organize a home sale and have people visit and purchase them or you can sell your novels online. If you don’t want to sell them, donate them! Spread the word that you are moving and deliver those amazing pieces to people who really need them.

books

What to Do If You Need to Rent Storage

Do you need to put away some of your paper items? If you cannot possibly move all of them at once since your home cannot take all of them, choosing storage is the best way to go. You can check some online offers and find the ones that have enough space to keep your novels safe until you decide what to do with them. Apply the same packing methods as with the items you are moving.

Long-Term Book Storage

If you need to keep them longer in the storage units, make sure you get familiar with the long-term solutions. The units you choose have to be dry and spacious. Take some time and reach out to a storage service provider way ahead of the moving day. The sooner you do this, the easier it will be to relocate on time.

Unpack the Books Safely

The unpacking process is as important as the packing one. By the time you arrive, you will know what should go where – you just need to unload the boxes. If you have done the labeling correctly, you will have no reason to worry – there won’t be any confusion. Be attentive and gentle with your items, they have traveled all the way to reach your new home!

Additional Relocation Tips: First Unpack the Antiques

Take care of the vintage editions before you start taking out the rest. They are more delicate and keeping them inside the containers won’t be good for their already damaged paper.

Anastasia Hill

Apart from being the next fashion icon, Anastasia is also a freelance writer and expert on moving (and packing clothes).

    From
    To

      From
      To

        From
        To
        Trico Long Distance Transportation, LLC is a BBB Accredited Moving andor Storage Company in Los Angeles, CA
        Get a Free Estimate 877 666 8464