You hear a lot about the importance of efficient packing and how to handle boxes safely. You don’t typically hear much about labeling boxes, though. But this is a crucial step in the moving process that’s often overlooked.

Boxes that are labeled improperly will cause frustration for you and the San Diego moving company you hire. Problems can range from having to lug around heavy boxes in your new home to losing track of where important things are.

Here’s how to correctly label your boxes for a move.

Step 1: What Are You Making the Labels With?

If possible, purchase labeling paper so you can easily type up your labels and stick them on boxes. This will save you a ton of time, and your San Diego Movers can clearly read these labels.

If this isn’t an option for you, make sure you use black marker on the boxes. Other colors can be harder to read or fade quickly. Regardless of what labeling method you choose, cover the label in plastic tape to prevent smearing.

Step 2: Label Placement

The labels need to go on all sides of your boxes. If you don’t do this, stacking them will make it hard to read.

This is especially frustrating if you’re taking some of the boxes to a storage facility. If you need something from your storage unit, you’ll want to be able to identify which box you need quickly.

Step 3: What Needs to be Included

Here’s what should be on your boxes:

The room the box belongs in. Don’t just write “bedroom.” Make sure you clarify master bedroom or some other qualification to give your San Diego movers more direction.

A large note indicating fragile contents, if necessary. Fragile items include picture frames, china, antiques, paintings, porcelain and heavy electronics. You want to make sure your San Diego Movers know to handle these carefully.

Some indication of what side is up.

A summary of the contents. This doesn’t need to be a detailed list, but note the important things. Ideally you’ll have a master inventory list you can consult with.

When you label boxes as outlined in these steps, you’ll have a much smoother move that takes up less time.