Moving can be hazardous to your belongings but a little time and some careful packing can greatly reduce the damage your valuables suffer. Here are some quick tips on packing boxes:

• Use high quality packing materials. Using boxes that are the same and high quality helps you load and stack them more securely. Boxes that are the same size are less likely to shift or get crushed.
• The bottom of the box should be lined with crinkled newspaper causing a cushion for items to be place in the box. Place another layer on the top before sealing the box.
• All heavy items should be placed at the bottom of the box with lighter items at the top of the box.
• Wrap items with multiple sheets of packing material.
• Do not overload boxes.
• Boxes should not weigh more than 40 lbs.
• Books and plates should be packed vertically.
• Boxes should be taped extremely well at all locations where the box could open. The tape make the boxes rigid and give them more strength to protect the items inside

Also, consider moving everything less. If you need to store these items as apart of your move, consider portable units. This way you can load directly into the storage container one time rather than loading a truck and unloading and reloading a traditional storage unit only to do it all over again when your new home is ready. Less moving equals less damage! There are also a number of different sized units available and often times that smaller ones are easier to pack securely to prevent shifting (see related post Many options for portable storage).

But most of all, take your time packing. A little care now will go a long way saving your belongings for a long time to come. Best of luck and happy storing!