It’s not uncommon for people to leave the home office as one of the final places to pack. This chamber is feared by some even more than the garage. However, it isn’t all that tough. The trick is to get started early and fill a box here and there so that it does not feel like a massive undertaking, as it will if you get pressed for time. So, let’s get on with how to pack and move a home office!
Check and sort everything
When’s the last time you looked through the stack of papers on your desk? Depending on how much you use your office and the number of people who live in your house, this space may become a dumpsite for everything that doesn’t belong anywhere else. There may be anything stored there, from the kids’ lovingly created artwork to coupon boxes and gathered recipes. You’ll probably discover that a lot of the items in this area need to be discarded. Yes, you will have to deal with stress here, but it will help you out in the long term!
Sort important documents
All of your critical documents should be packed in your “carry-on” luggage so that they stay with you. Birth certificates, passports, automobile titles, financial paperwork, insurance information, and school, medical, and vet records are all examples of essential documents. Not that you want to anticipate your moving truck getting involved in an accident, but these are items you would be lost without if something were to happen to them. To keep them all together, put them in a large manila envelope or folder.
Packing tips
Everything that has a proper place outside of the office should go back to its location. It should make things a bit easier to manage. For example, a collection of hidden toys can go anywhere the rest of this pile is, and that unexpected jar of acrylic paint can go among the arts and crafts materials. But, if this stresses you out or you don’t want to do it, you can hire professional packers!
When packing books, stay away from big boxes that might become excessively heavy. Plastic milk containers, copy paper, and liquor boxes are all excellent options. They’re sturdy and the perfect size. Place a trash bag inside the box and place the goods inside the bag if you have objects that even a tiny amount of water might harm. Nothing inside will suffer any damage if this is the one odd package accidentally dumped in a puddle during that brief heavy downpour. Also, remember that moving trucks may get extremely hot in the summer and excessively cold in the winter, so it would be best to transport old pictures, CDs, and other delicate objects in your vehicle.
Get the right packing supplies
Due to all of the critical and expensive things found in a home office, it may not be easy to pack this room. You’ll need to prepare the proper packing materials well in advance to ensure the required protection for your sensitive papers, office equipment, and office furniture.
Sort your electronics
When you want to pack and move a home office, good organization is critical. Grab a pack of colorful stickers before you start disconnecting wires and taking out cables. Use equivalent stickers to label the port and cord, so you know how to reconnect everything. You can apply this technique to your entire entertainment center. Also, make sure you remove your printer and copier’s ink cartridges.
Then, cushion the bottom of the box with a soft sweatshirt or sweater. Place your computer, printer, and other electronics inside, along with the necessary connections and wires, in a Ziploc bag or tied together with twist ties. To protect the contents from moving about, stuff the box with shirts, socks, towels, or similar objects. Finally, write “fragile” on the exterior but never say what is really within the box.
Furniture
Before you hurry to pack your office furniture for a relocation, consider whether it is necessary for your particular situation. Most furniture items are pretty heavy, and transporting them to a new home may be quite costly. That is especially true if the new property is far away from your current residence. It’s sometimes more cost-effective to leave the old furniture behind (or sell it) and buy new furniture when you finish your move. Do you truly adore your office furniture to the point where you’d pay top dollar to relocate it across the country? Unless you have personal value in your items or an expensive antique piece made of solid wood, most furniture, particularly IKEA furniture, is not worth transporting. The workload of moving it is vast, and you should probably avoid the DIY move.
Books
There’s a high possibility your home office has many books that you’d like to relocate to your new home office. Before moving them, you need to make sure you have correctly packed them for the journey ahead. Examine your book collection to determine if there are any titles that you don’t need to pack and relocate. Some books become obsolete over time. It’s always a good idea to look through your collection and get rid of those you won’t use again.
Do this with all of your books, not just the ones at your home office. Be reasonable; you don’t want to waste money transporting goods you no longer desire.
Back up your data
Anything can happen during a move. That’s why you have to make sure to back up all of your critical electronic work data if your computer is damaged during transit. Back up all necessary computer files to a portable flash drive or an external hard drive for peace of mind. Consider utilizing an online backup service to copy your most important electronic data to make things extra secure.
Hiring movers
Your best friend will be your moving company when you want to pack and move a home office. That’s why it’s crucial to find a reputable moving company. They will help you avoid all the potential moving disasters and make sure that you have a smooth relocation. If you don’t have enough time to pack, movers usually provide that service. That way, you won’t need to do last-minute packing and get stressed for no reason.
Before hiring anyone, make sure to do proper research on your movers. That way, you will reduce the chances of being scammed and have more peace of mind! Read the reviews and compare the prices of multiple options to make sure you get the best deal.
This concludes our rather comprehensive list of tips on how to pack and move a home office. Daunting as it may seem, you will get to it quickly and effortlessly if you follow our advice. Happy moving!