Most failed moves fail on packing, not transport. Boxes that crush in transit, fragile items that shift inside their packaging, furniture that arrives scratched because it wasn't wrapped right — every claim Florette has filed in 25 years traces back to a packing decision somewhere in the chain.
Most failed moves fail on packing, not transport. Boxes that crush in transit, fragile items that shift inside their packaging, furniture that arrives scratched because it wasn't wrapped right — every claim Florette has filed in 25 years traces back to a packing decision somewhere in the chain. This is the packing knowledge our crews use on every job, written for clients who want to do as much as possible themselves and for those who want to understand what we're doing when we pack their home.
A single project manager runs every move — survey to settled-in — with three workstreams running in parallel.
Underestimating box quality. Single-walled corrugated boxes (the standard supermarket boxes most people use) collapse under stacking pressure during transport — especially in sea freight, where containers sit through 30 days of vibration and humidity.
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Boxes — double-walled corrugated, in three sizes:
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Pack rooms you use least first, rooms you use most last. Standard sequence for a 3-bedroom home:
Get a quoteChina and dinnerware: each piece individually foam-wrapped. Use dish-pack boxes (corrugated dividers built in) — each plate or bowl in its own cell. Plates packed vertically, never stacked horizontally. Bowls and cups separate cells.
Glassware: stemware foam-wrapped at bowl and stem separately. Pack base-up. Dividers between glasses inside the box. Crystal and high-value glassware in their own dedicated box.
Mirrors and framed art: corner protectors first, then foam wrap around the entire frame. Smaller items in mirror boxes (telescoping cardboard). Larger pieces (over 1 meter) need plywood crating — not a DIY task. Mark "fragile, this side up" on multiple sides.
Electronics: original boxes are best (they're designed for the specific item). If the original box is gone, foam-wrap each component, then place in a fitted box with foam padding around all sides. Cables labelled and bagged separately.
Books: small boxes only. Vertical packing (spines up) keeps them undamaged. Don't fill a single box more than half full of books — the weight crushes the box and your back.
Vinyl records: vertical only, supported on edges. Climate-aware materials for sea freight. Standard cardboard is fine for short moves.
Most furniture can be moved without disassembly for short local moves. For international moves and longer distances, disassembly significantly reduces damage risk and saves container space.
Disassemble: bed frames (especially metal frames with bolts), dining tables (legs off, top wrapped separately), wardrobes (most flatpack-style come apart), bookshelves (shelves out, frame wrapped), desks (legs off if possible).
Don't disassemble unless necessary: built-in or solid-wood pieces, antiques (where joinery is part of the value), upholstered furniture (sofas, chairs).
Wrapping protocol for non-disassembled pieces:
1. Furniture pad / moving blanket directly on the wood surface
2. Corner protectors on visible corners
3. Stretch wrap to hold pads in place
4. Mark "fragile" if upholstered or has glass/mirror inserts
For disassembled pieces: hardware (bolts, screws, brackets) bagged in clear plastic, taped to the largest piece of the disassembled item, photographed. Don't put hardware in a generic "hardware box" — it gets lost.
Hazardous: paint, paint thinner, gasoline, lighter fluid, propane tanks, aerosols (movers won't transport these and customs will reject containers carrying them).
Perishable: food (especially for international moves — most countries restrict food imports). Use up your pantry before move day.
Plants: international moves — most destinations restrict plant imports. Domestic moves — fine, but plants need care during transport.
Cash and jewellery: keep in your carry-luggage, not in the shipment. Standard transit insurance excludes these.
Important documents: passports, birth certificates, property deeds, contracts — carry-luggage only.
Prescription medications: carry-luggage with the prescription paperwork.
Number every box. Write on the side: box number, room of origin (KIT for kitchen, BED for bedroom, etc.), content category, and "FRAGILE" if applicable. Maintain a master list — paper or spreadsheet — with one row per box and a content summary. This list becomes your unpacking reference at destination, and for international moves it doubles as customs documentation and insurance documentation.
DIY packing makes sense for: studio and 1-bedroom moves between nearby addresses, low-value contents, when you have the time and an extra pair of hands. Professional packing makes sense for: 2-bedroom and up, fragile-heavy households, international moves (where insurance excludes self-packed items in most cases), and when you don't have the time. Florette's standalone packing service handles the labour without the transport — useful when you're using a different mover or self-shipping.
The questions clients ask us most often before booking.
DIY: 30-50 hours spread over 2-3 weekends. Professional 4-person crew: 1 day. The time difference matters when move day is approaching.
Specialist packaging suppliers (search for "packaging supplies Malaysia") sell at lower per-unit prices than retail. For one-time use, buying from a moving company that provides materials can be cheaper than the supplier route once you factor in delivery.
Single-use okay for local moves with light contents. Not recommended for international moves or fragile-heavy loads — boxes weaken with each use, and previous-use boxes often have weak spots not visible until pressure is applied.
Original box is best. If gone: foam-wrap the screen, corner protectors, foam padding around all sides in a fitted box, "fragile" and "this side up" marked clearly. Mount-only TVs (no original box) in a wardrobe box laid flat with foam padding works as a workaround.
Materials, box dimensions, and inventory rigor. Export packing uses heavier double-walled boxes, ISPM 15 wood for crating, vacuum bags for textiles, and detailed customs-grade inventory. Suitable for 30+ day sea voyages.
We strongly recommend against it for high-value fragile content. Self-packed boxes are usually excluded from transit insurance. The cost of professional fragile packing is much less than the cost of a single broken china service.
Free survey, written 24-hour quote, single project manager — insurance bundled by default.
