Most people pack the garage last — and usually regret it. By the time everything else is boxed up and ready to go, the garage is still full of tools, garden equipment, sports gear, half-empty paint cans, and things nobody has looked at in three years. Here’s how to tackle it properly so moving day doesn’t end with a panic.
Declutter Before You Pack
The garage is where things go to be forgotten, which means it’s also the best room in the house for a pre-move declutter. Before you pack a single thing, go through everything and be ruthless. Power tools you haven’t used in five years, old paint cans, broken equipment, holiday decorations that have seen better days — if you don’t need it, don’t move it. Brothers Moving offers junk removal across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, so if you end up with a pile of things to get rid of, we can haul it away responsibly.
Use the Garage as Your Staging Area
Once you’ve decluttered, the garage becomes one of the most useful rooms in your home during the move. Use it as a staging area — bring packed boxes and furniture from the rest of the house into the garage so everything is in one place, organized, and ready to load. It keeps your hallways and living spaces clear and makes moving day dramatically faster. Assign specific areas of the garage to specific rooms — kitchen boxes in one corner, bedroom boxes in another. The more organized your staging area, the faster the truck gets loaded.
Pack Tools the Right Way
Hand tools like hammers, wrenches, and screwdrivers pack well in small to medium boxes — wrap metal tools individually in packing paper to prevent scratching and keep the box weight manageable. Keep all small hardware like bolts, nuts, screws, and drill bits in labelled ziplock bags so nothing gets lost. Power tools should be packed in their original cases where possible, or wrapped in moving blankets and packed in sturdy boxes.
Handle Hazardous Materials Carefully
This is where a lot of people get caught out. Movers cannot transport hazardous materials — this includes paint, solvents, propane tanks, pesticides, pool chemicals, motor oil, and gas-powered equipment with fuel still in the tank. Drain all fuel from lawnmowers, chainsaws, and leaf blowers before moving day. Leftover paint can often be dropped off at a recycling depot in Vancouver — check the City of Vancouver’s hazardous waste drop-off program or Metro Vancouver’s resources for locations near you.
Pack Garden and Outdoor Equipment
Garden hoses can be coiled and packed in large boxes or bins. Rakes, shovels, and long-handled tools should be bundled together and wrapped in moving blankets — never packed loose in a box where they can poke through. Patio furniture can often be moved assembled, but disassemble anything that won’t fit safely through doorways. Barbecues need to be fully cleaned and the propane tank removed and transported separately in your own vehicle.
Use the Garage to Your Advantage on Moving Day
One of the biggest advantages of a garage is that it opens directly onto the street — right where your moving truck is parked. No carrying boxes through hallways, no navigating tight doorways, no worrying about scuffing walls or floors. With everything staged and organized in the garage, your movers can load the truck quickly and efficiently. It’s one of the simplest things you can do to speed up moving day.
Brothers Moving has been helping families and businesses relocate since 2008. We serve Metro Vancouver including Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, New Westminster, Delta, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Langley, Abbotsford, White Rock and Horseshoe Bay. We also move clients across Vancouver Island including Victoria, Nanaimo, Courtenay, Campbell River and Parksville, and throughout BC including Kelowna, Kamloops, Penticton, Chilliwack and Prince George.
Ready to move? Call us at 604-720-0931 or get a free quote online today.
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