Call Us Today

250 354 8402




    Packing Videos

    Videos by Craig Courtenay, Owner/Manager of Kootenai Moving

    If your belongings are packed by our professional packers you can insure them for possible damage in transit. However, if you want to pack your goods yourself you will be happier with the results if you use these professional packing techniques.

    Notice how gentle, knowledgeable, and professional Craig is in every one of these videos. He really is a professional packer. 🙂

    1. How to Tape Boxes (1:52)

    2. Pack a Dresser (1:16)

    3. Pack a Closet (1:47)

    4. Pack a Wardrobe Box (1:24)

    5. Pack Lamp Shades (1:17)

    6. Dried Flower Arrangements (4:07)

    7. Pack a Cabinet (2:43)

    8. Pack China Plates (1:00)

    9. How to Close Up Boxes (2:00)

    10. Pack Dishes (1:39)

    11. How to Pack Plates (3:19)

    12. Pack Platters (1:00)

    13. Pack Stemware (2:35)

    14. Pack Bowls with Lids (0:24)

    15. Pack Fragile Pieces (3:00)

    16. Pack a Fragile Tea Set (2:30)


    Professional Packing Tips

    Packing is one of the most important aspects of moving. If done correctly there is almost no chance your items will be damaged during transit. 

    Kootenai Moving offers full service professional in-home packing to save you time and the heartache of damage. But for those who want to pack themselves we have compiled useful packing tips:

    1. If you plan to do your own packing, give yourself a lot of time and start a few weeks before your moving date. This avoids the last minute “packing rush”.
    2. Buy a marker pen and label all your boxes meticulously according to the room you want them placed in your new home. Example: kitchen, master bedroom, living room, etc.
    3. For long distance moves ensure you label all boxes with your name, destination, city and contact phone number.
    4. Put padding around any glass including mirrors, pictures and vases.
    5. For long haul moves it is advisable to remove pedals from bikes and place the bikes in a bike carton.
    6. Set aside a special box labelled “Set Up” for screws, nuts and bolts from furniture that you have had to take apart for packing. Place each set of screws in a small bag with a label indicating which piece of furniture it was from. Some companies may suggest taping the bag to the furniture. The problem with this is that the tape may come loose and you’ll loose your pieces, or the tape is too strong and you peel off the finish on your furniture.
    7. Securely tighten and tape the lids of any jars containing liquids. Place these jars in their own plastic bag before packing, for added protection from leakage.
    8. Pack your mattress and box spring in mattress bags for protection from soiling.
    9. Lamps need to be packed in appropriate boxes. Remove the lamp shade, and pack it separately from the base. Light bulbs should be removed and packed separately as well.
    10. Heavy items such as books and records should be packed in small boxes, preferably the 2 cubic foot size, so they can be lifted more easily.
    11. It is not necessary to empty dresser drawers of light clothes, but remove anything heavy. All drawers that could slide open or drop out should be emptied. Very heavy dressers or older, antique dressers, should be emptied.
    12. Seal boxes with tape to prevent anything from falling out.
    13. Boxes should be packed full, so they can hold the weight of another box on top.
    14. Mark all boxes containing breakables with a red marker, writing “fragile” on all four sides and the top.
    15. Pack heavy items at the bottom of the boxes.
    16. For dishes, cups or any breakables, place a layer of crumpled paper at the bottom of the box and between each layer.
    17. When packing plates, CDs or records, always place them standing vertically up in the box.
    18. Try to keep the weight of the box under 45 lbs. The heavier the item, the smaller the box.
    19. Don’t pack flammable, corrosive or explosive materials. No matches, propane tanks, aerosols, paints and fuels.
    20. Mark “Do Not Load” on boxes you don’t want the movers to take and set them aside in a corner of a room or a designated area.
    21. Empty fuel from motors in lawn mowers, boats, strimmers, motorcycles.
    22. Tie or tape garden tools, mops, brooms and shovels in a bundle.
    23. No cleaning products or chemicals in the same box as your food in case of leaks..
    24. Take pets with you if possible. If not contact your mover to see if they will take pets.
    25. Carry valuables such currency, jewelery and valuable papers yourself. Movers cannot take responsibility any items of extraordinary value.

    See what our customers say…