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How to pack your home for a move in Dehradun
Knowing how to pack for shifting house saves money and breakages. Many families in Dehradun pack the easy things themselves and leave furniture, glass and appliances to the crew. This guide explains which materials do which job, how to handle each room, how to label cartons so unpacking is quick, and what to do in each of the four weeks before moving day.
Packing materials for moving, and what each one is for
Each material has a job. If the crew is packing, Agarwal Packers and Movers brings these; if you are packing part of the house, this is what to buy or ask us for.
| Material | Best used for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Cartons | Clothes, books, utensils, toys, décor | Small for heavy things, large for light. Old grocery boxes go soft in damp weather. |
| Bubble wrap | Glasses, plates, showpieces, picture frames, small electronics | Wrap each piece separately, then fill gaps so nothing rattles. |
| Stretch film | Sofas, mattresses, drawers, appliance doors | Keeps out dust and rain. On wood, put a layer underneath first. |
| Corrugated sheet | Edges and faces of wardrobes, beds, tables, glass tops | Absorbs knocks on stairs and in the truck. |
| Foam sheet | TV screens, mirrors, glass tabletops, polished surfaces | Soft layer that will not scratch. Goes on before corrugated sheet. |
| Packing tape | Sealing cartons, holding wraps in place | Tape the bottom in an H pattern for heavy cartons. Never tape directly on polished wood. |
| Markers | Labelling cartons on the top and one side | A thick permanent marker you can read from across the room. |
How to pack each room for shifting house
Start with the rooms you use least and finish with the kitchen.
1Kitchen
Wrap each glass and cup on its own. Stand plates on their edge in the carton, like files in a drawer, with paper between them; they survive bumps far better than a flat stack. Seal open spice and dal containers with tape and bag them. Gas cylinders, stoves still connected, kerosene and any fuel should not be packed or loaded with household goods. Check with your gas agency about transferring the connection.
2Bedrooms
Strip beds and pack linen in large cartons. Bed frames are usually taken apart; keep the screws in a taped bag stuck to the headboard so nothing goes missing.
3Wardrobes
Folded clothes go in cartons or suitcases. Empty every drawer, because loaded drawers make wardrobes heavy and can break the runners. Lock or film doors shut.
4Books and papers
Use small cartons only. A large carton of books is too heavy to carry safely down stairs and tends to split. Keep files and certificates separate.
5TV and electronics
The original box is the safest way to move a TV. Without it, let the crew pack it with foam and corrugated sheet and carry it upright. Before unplugging anything, photograph the cables behind the TV, set-top box, router and computer, so setup at the new home takes minutes.
6Fridge
Empty and switch it off 24 hours before the move so it defrosts fully. Wipe it dry and tape loose shelves. Let it stand for a few hours at the new home before switching it on.
7Washing machine
Run a drain cycle the day before and leave the door open to dry. Disconnect and drain the hoses. If you still have the transit bolts that came with a front-loader, fit them; they hold the drum steady on the road.
8Plants
Water lightly two days before, not on the day, so pots are not heavy and dripping. Wrap large pots in plastic and keep them upright.
9Valuables you carry
Jewellery, cash, property papers, passports, medicines, laptops and chargers should travel with you, not on the truck. Pack them in one bag you keep in sight the whole day.
A labelling system that makes unpacking quick
Three pieces of information on every carton are enough.
Room
Name the room at the new home, not the old one: "Bedroom 2" or "Kitchen".
Contents
Two or three words, such as "steel utensils, pressure cooker". Add "fragile" where it applies.
Open first
Mark one or two cartons "open first" with a kettle, tea, bedsheets, towels, toiletries and chargers. Tell the crew so they're kept handy.
Number the cartons as well and keep a short list on your phone. If carton 14 is missing at the other end, you will know it straight away.
Packing for Dehradun's weather and hill roads
Plan for the season and the route.
Monsoon moves
From July to September, line cartons of clothes and books with plastic and add a waterproof layer over furniture. Our month-by-month guide to moving in Dehradun covers rain timing.
Damp in winter
Ground-floor rooms and stores in Doon can stay damp through the winter. If goods will sit packed for a while, make sure everything is completely dry before it goes into a carton, and avoid sealing wooden furniture in film for long periods. For longer gaps, see household storage in Dehradun.
Hill moves
The road to Mussoorie and beyond has constant bends, so loads shift more than on flat city roads. Pack cartons full with no empty space, wedge fragile items tightly, and keep heavy cartons small. More on shifting house to Mussoorie.
A week-by-week moving checklist for Dehradun
Four weeks is comfortable for a 2 or 3 BHK. With less time, compress the steps rather than skipping them.
Four weeks out
Fix the date, book a free survey and get a written quote. Decide what you will pack yourself and what the crew packs. Sell or give away what you will not take.
Three weeks out
Collect cartons and tape. Pack books, off-season clothes, the loft and the store room. Ask your society or RWA about move timings, lift booking and any gate pass at both ends.
Two weeks out
Pack décor, spare bedding and kitchen items you rarely use. Arrange gas, electricity, water and internet transfer or closure.
Last week
Finish packing everything but daily essentials. Use up frozen food. Pack your valuables bag and the "open first" cartons. Photograph cable setups.
Day before
Defrost the fridge, drain the washing machine, take down curtains and keep the parking spot clear.
Moving day
Walk through each room with the crew, point out fragile pieces, check lofts are empty, and keep your valuables bag with you. At the new home, say which room each carton goes to.
Pack some yourself, leave the rest to us
Partial packing is common: you pack clothes, books and linen, and the crew handles furniture, glass, appliances and the kitchen. It usually lowers the cost compared with full packing. See what house shifting costs in Dehradun, or read how our home shifting service in Dehradun works from survey to setup.
Packing questions
How many boxes do I need for a 2 BHK house?
A 2 BHK often needs several dozen cartons, more if you have a full kitchen, lots of books or a loft. It varies widely from home to home, so treat any number as a rough guide. During the free survey we estimate it for your home.
What should I not pack when moving house?
Do not pack gas cylinders, petrol, kerosene, paint thinner or other flammables, open liquids or perishable food. Carry jewellery, cash, documents, medicines and laptops yourself.
Does packing cost extra with packers and movers?
Packing labour and materials are part of the quote, and the written quote lists what is included. Packing only some items yourself usually brings the total down. See local moving charges for the ranges.
Can I pack everything myself and just use your truck?
Yes, tell us during the survey. We still suggest the crew wraps furniture, the TV and the fridge.
How do you pack a TV for moving?
Use the original box if you have it. If not, the screen is covered in foam, then corrugated sheet on all sides, and the TV travels upright. Photograph the cables before disconnecting them.
How should I label boxes when moving?
Write the room at the new home, a short list of contents and "fragile" where needed, on the top and one side. Mark one or two cartons "open first" and number every carton so you can check nothing is missing.
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