Packing Tips for a Successful Move in Montreal

Packing: The Key to a Stress-Free Move

Packing is the most underestimated part of any move. Most people think the hardest part is carrying the furniture or driving the truck, but in reality, poor packing is the number one cause of breakage, delays, and moving-day stress. In Montreal, where spiral staircases, narrow laneways, and multi-level apartments add unique challenges, proper packing is absolutely essential.

At PMG Déménagement, after hundreds of moves across Montreal, we've seen it all: glasses wrapped in damp towels, fifty-kilogram book boxes impossible to lift, picture frames tossed loose into garbage bags. Every time, the result is the same — avoidable damage and frustration.

This guide brings together the techniques our professional movers use every day. Whether you're packing yourself or simply want to understand the process before handing the job over to our team, you'll find everything you need to know to keep your belongings safe.

Essential Packing Supplies

Before you start, gather all the supplies you'll need. Nothing is more frustrating than having to stop mid-packing to run out for more tape. Here's the complete list of professional-grade supplies we recommend.

Boxes

Always use boxes designed for moving. Boxes from the grocery store might seem like a money-saver, but they're often weakened by moisture, repeated handling, and the weight of the products they've carried. A box that gives way during transport can cause serious damage.

Get three sizes of boxes: small (about 12 inches per side) for books, canned goods, and heavy items; medium (about 18 inches) for dishes, small appliances, and decorative items; and large (about 24 inches) for clothing, bedding, pillows, and lightweight but bulky items.

Protective Materials

Bubble wrap is essential for fragile items like dishes, glasses, figurines, and electronics. Packing paper (unprinted newsprint) is ideal for wrapping everyday dishes without risking ink stains on your belongings. Moving blankets protect furniture, mirrors, and artwork from scratches and impacts.

Must-Have Supplies

Get professional-grade packing tape — not regular tape that peels off under pressure. A good tape gun will speed up the work considerably. Permanent markers in different colors allow a visual identification system by room. And resealable bags for grouping hardware, screws, and small parts when disassembling furniture.

Professional Packing Techniques

Reinforce the Bottom of Every Box

This is the first thing our movers check before lifting a box. Apply at least three strips of packing tape in an H-pattern on the bottom: one strip along the center seam and one strip on each side. For boxes holding heavy items, add two diagonal strips forming an X. A weak bottom that gives out on a Montreal spiral staircase is a guaranteed disaster.

The Double-Bottom Technique

Before placing the first item in a box, create a cushioning layer at the bottom with crumpled paper or bubble wrap. This five-to-eight-centimeter layer absorbs shocks when the box is set down. It's especially important for boxes containing dishes or fragile items.

Fill Every Empty Space

A properly packed box should make no sound when gently shaken. Every empty space is a space where your items will shift, collide, and potentially break. Use crumpled paper, towels, clothing, or bubble wrap to fill every gap. The top of the box should be slightly rounded before closing — but not so much that the lid won't close properly or boxes can't stack.

Pack Plates Vertically

Contrary to what most people think, plates are much more resistant when packed on their edge, like records in a crate, rather than stacked flat on top of each other. Wrap each plate individually in paper and place them vertically in the box with crumpled paper between each one.

Room-by-Room Packing Guide

The Kitchen

The kitchen is usually the most time-consuming room to pack because of the sheer number of fragile items and varied shapes. Start with items you rarely use: serving platters, specialty appliances, seasonal utensils. Keep a "last night" box with the bare minimum for cooking and eating until moving day: one pot, one pan, a few plates, basic utensils, and coffee.

For countertop appliances (toaster, coffee maker, blender), wrap them in bubble wrap and place them in medium boxes. If you kept the original packaging, use it — it offers the best protection possible. Empty and clean the refrigerator the day before the move and leave the door slightly open to prevent mould.

The Living Room

Disassemble furniture that can be taken apart: shelving units, coffee tables, bookcases. Put all the hardware (screws, bolts, hinges) in a resealable bag and tape it directly to the corresponding piece of furniture. Take a photo of your electronics setup before unplugging anything — you'll be glad you did on reconnection day. Wrap flat screens in moving blankets and transport them upright, never flat.

The Bedrooms

Use vacuum bags to compress comforters, pillows, and off-season clothing — you'll save a considerable amount of space. Hanging clothes can stay on their hangers: group them in sets of five or six, slide a garbage bag up from the bottom, and tie the hangers together. It takes seconds and your clothes arrive ready to be hung in your new closet.

For mattresses, invest in a proper mattress moving bag. It protects against dirt, moisture, and tears during transport. It's a minimal investment to protect something that's often worth several hundred, if not thousands of dollars.

The Bathroom

Seal all liquid products with tape around the cap, then place them in a resealable bag before boxing them. Even a cap that seems tight can loosen during transport and create a mess. Medications should travel with you in your personal bag, not in the moving truck. Throw out anything expired or nearly empty — moving is the perfect opportunity to declutter.

The Home Office

Back up all your important files to an external drive or the cloud before the move. Pack computers and monitors in their original packaging if possible. Otherwise, use thick bubble wrap and make sure they don't shift inside the box. Important documents (passports, contracts, notarized deeds) should travel with you, not in the truck.

The 7 Most Common Packing Mistakes

1. Waiting until the last minute. Packing always takes longer than you think. Start at least two weeks before your moving date by packing the rooms and items you use least often.

2. Using oversized boxes for heavy items. A giant box filled with books is impossible to lift without risking injury or blowing out the bottom. Save the large boxes for lightweight items.

3. Not labeling boxes. Writing just "living room" isn't enough. Include the main contents and the destination room in your new place. For example: "Living Room — Books left shelf" or "Kitchen — Glasses and mugs." This dramatically speeds up unpacking.

4. Skipping bottom reinforcement. A single strip of tape down the middle of the bottom isn't enough, especially for loaded boxes. Use the H-pattern with additional X-strips for heavy boxes.

5. Packing hazardous materials. Propane tanks, flammable products, paints, and chemical cleaners should never go in the moving truck. Check the list of prohibited items with your mover.

6. Forgetting the essentials box. Prepare a box or bag with everything you'll need for the first twenty-four hours: sheets, towels, toiletries, chargers, medications, snacks, a can opener, and toilet paper. This box should be the last one loaded and the first one unloaded.

7. Not taking inventory. Number each box and keep a simple list on your phone. If anything goes missing or gets damaged, you'll know exactly what was in each box. This list is also useful for insurance claims.

Packing Timeline: When to Start

A good packing timeline spreads the work over several weeks to avoid the stressful marathon the night before. Here's a realistic schedule adapted for a typical Montreal apartment.

Four Weeks Before

Sort and declutter. Sell, donate, or recycle anything you no longer use. The fewer items you have to pack, the faster, cheaper, and more eco-friendly the process will be. Get all the packing supplies you need. Start packing storage items, seasonal decorations, and books you won't read between now and moving day.

Three Weeks Before

Pack the contents of storage closets, the bookshelf, frames, and artwork. Disassemble furniture in rooms you use less, like the guest bedroom or secondary office.

Two Weeks Before

Tackle the kitchen (except the bare daily minimum), the living room, and secondary bedrooms. Start filling boxes with off-season clothing and extra linens.

One Week Before

Finish the bedrooms, bathroom (keep a toiletry kit), and office. Prepare the essentials box. Empty and clean appliances.

The Day Before

Pack the last kitchen items, the sheets and towels currently in use. Check every room one final time. Make sure all boxes are sealed, labeled, and numbered. Charge your electronic devices.

PMG Professional Packing Service

If packing feels like too big a task or you simply don't have the time, PMG Déménagement offers a full packing service. Our professional packers arrive with all the necessary supplies and take care of every room in your home with the care and efficiency that only experience can deliver.

An apartment that most people take a week to pack, our team completes in a single day. We use proven techniques to protect every type of item — from fine china to electronics to antique furniture.

PMG's packing service is available on its own or combined with our full moving service. It's the ideal choice for busy families, people with limited mobility, emergency moves, or simply anyone who prefers to leave this demanding task to professionals and focus on other aspects of their transition.

Frequently Asked Questions About Packing