Wondering How to Pack Books for Moving? Here Are Some Tips

Any book enthusiast will tell you what a hassle it is to move books, even locally. Not only can they be heavy, but some of them can also be extremely frail, especially the rare and antique ones. To get your entire collection safely moved from one home in Denver to another, it’s important to know how to pack books for moving. Here are some great tips to get you started.

Make A Plan For Packing Early

From having a few novels lying around to a library-sized collection at home, you’ll need to come up with a plan and get started right away. So grab a pen and paper and make a checklist of tasks, where you will list all the materials you need and how you’ll organize and pack for the moving day.

Get Rid of Any Old Books You Don’t Need

Before you start randomly throwing out parts of your cherished collection that can’t fit into your new home, it would be much better to look through each book and choose the ones you don’t want or need. When finished, you can move that pile out of the way and decide what you would like to do with it. There are a few different options you have to lighten your load.

Donate Your Books

There are always places where you can donate your books. If you are considering giving away to charity, be sure to research the institution that you are donating to. Places like libraries or schools often have donation policies and your books have to meet specific criteria to be accepted. Always check before you give away anything.

Sell To a Used-Book Store

Selling to a reseller is the best way to go if you want to earn some extra money but don’t want to be bothered with boxing, packing, and shipping a certain title. However, depending on the store, they will only take semi-new or well-maintained books. So be sure to look for any damage; otherwise, they won’t take it at all. Some stores even have the option for you to sell online instead of going inside any stores.

Put Them In Storage Before Moving

If you’re not too keen on getting rid of anything, another option is to put part of your collection in storage before you move. It will be much easier on you, in the long run, and you’ll have less to pack for the move itself. Don’t forget to check for storage services in your area.

Organize By Different Categories, Size, and Weight

Now that you’ve taken the first steps of moving your mini library to another part of Denver, it’s time to get set for packing. Grouping your paper items by size and weight will help you get organized better. You’ll know what goes where if you arrange them by genre when unpacking and re-shelving.

Get The Right-Sized Boxes

It’s important to remember that books take up a lot of space and are typically heavy. You’ll need to have reliable and sturdy boxes that can handle a lot of weight. There is a variety of them you can use. You can buy them from local stores, but If you’re pressed for time and can’t make it to any store, you can hire professional movers in your area for their packing services. They usually come with really great and high-quality packing supplies.

Get A Variety of Packing Box Sizes

Different sized boxes are great to have in case you have a variety of sizes in your collection. But as a rule of thumb, smaller and sturdier containers reinforced with tape should always be reserved for the heaviest titles if you want to avoid any mishaps during transport. You’ll also want to grab plenty of packing paper as well.

How to Pack Your Books Correctly

There are several ways to pack a book collection, but the last thing you want is to damage anything, especially if it’s new, antique, or rare. If you aren’t sure how to do that, there are a few practical and surprisingly simple methods to avoid any wear and tear.

Tips You Can Use To Pack Your Titles

  • Start with a small box
  • Make two rows placing them side by side with the spine facing up; hardcovers go inside first
  • If you have enough room, you can stack another two rows on top. If not, lay some of your paperbacks across the top
  • Use packing paper to fill in any spaces or gaps
  • Place a few extra layers of packing tape to the bottom of your boxes for extra reinforcement
  • When finished, always label your boxes, so you know where they go in your new home

If you don’t have a lot of time or don’t want to risk anything, you can always resort to expert local movers near you for their packing services. The movers will box everything and do all the heavy lifting for you. They also include moving supplies.

Unload and Unpack Early

The moment the truck arrives at your new home, you shouldn’t waste any time getting everything unpacked. If you had labeled and organized your boxes, this process will be much easier. You’ll be able to place the containers in the right area to assemble and re-shelve precisely the way you want to. This process can take a lot of time, so the earlier you start, the better.

In Conclusion

Relocating, for book lovers, is very difficult if you’re unsure how to go about packing, even if you’re only moving locally. Having to pack, organize, carry, and load is already enough work as it is, but not taking the proper steps will make it even worse. If you use these few methods and tips, you’ll have your bookshelves beautiful and organized in your new home in no time. And if you’d like to have someone do the hard work for you, feel free to contact Denver Professional Movers. We offer comprehensive local residential moving services, as well as labor services which will make your relocation a breeze.