Labelling boxes for your move

When we help clients with their move, do we number their boxes-or do we label them????

Here's a little story to answer that question:

Last summer a client created a very neat spreadsheet with all his packed belongings. It was a big move. In total, he had packed 400 boxes. The interesting thing is that he numbered them.

Each numbered box went into a very neat spreadsheet, with a corresponding list of the packed contents.

In theory, that sounds really logical and orderly.

The reality is vastly different. If you are packing your own contents, we ask you:

Do not number boxes.

Here's why:

On moving day, no mover will take the time to go over your carefully-crafted list or spreadsheet and figure out your system. It only slows them down. And there just isn’t time.

Movers look at boxes and the label on it: Kitchen, bathroom, front hallway, bedroom, etc. They will NOT take the time to figure what "#345" means and what room it should go into. The movers' job is to get your contents out of the house, in the truck, and into their new home quickly. Their job isn't to decode your numbering system.

So if you want to speed up the process, avoid stress and make moving day a little easier, please do not number your boxes.