JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – August 11, 2026 – Most people expect moving day to be the hardest part of relocating.


In reality, the biggest problems often start several days earlier, while boxes are still being packed.


According to Top Dawg Movers, damaged belongings aren't always the result of rough handling or long-distance transportation. Quite often, the issue begins inside the box before movers even arrive.

One habit crews run into fairly regularly is overpacking.
It sounds like a good idea at first. Fewer boxes, less space taken up, maybe a little money saved.

Until someone tries lifting a carton full of books, kitchenware and small appliances all packed together.

Heavy boxes don't just become difficult to carry. They also place extra pressure on the bottom of the box itself, increasing the chance of items shifting or breaking during transport.

Then there's empty space.

Oddly enough, too much empty space inside a box can be just as much of a problem.

Items move around while the truck is on the road. Glassware bumps into glassware. Picture frames slide into each other. By the time the box is opened, homeowners are sometimes surprised because everything looked perfectly secure when they taped it shut.

"We tell customers they don't need to pack like professionals," said a spokesperson for Top Dawg Movers. "But taking an extra minute to fill gaps or separate fragile items can make a real difference. Most damage we come across isn't caused by one big mistake. It's usually several small ones adding up."

The company has also noticed that people tend to underestimate how much tape a moving box actually needs.

One strip across the top might hold for a while.

After being lifted, stacked, unloaded and moved around several more times...maybe not.

Another common packing habit involves mixing completely different items together.

A few dishes.

Some books.

Decorations.

Cleaning supplies.

It makes sense when you're trying to finish quickly, but it also makes boxes harder to organise and increases the risk of heavier objects damaging lighter ones during the move.

Labelling is another thing that often gets pushed aside until the very end.

Sometimes every box simply says "Kitchen."

Or "Bedroom."

That works...sort of.

But when movers know which cartons contain fragile items, electronics or heavier belongings, they're able to load the truck more efficiently. It saves time later too, especially once everything reaches the new house.

Interestingly, experienced movers rarely judge how organised someone is by the number of boxes.

It's usually the little details.

Boxes that aren't overfilled.

Fragile items wrapped individually instead of bundled together.

A clearly marked carton with essentials needed for the first night.

Those small decisions tend to make the entire move feel smoother.

"Every move is different," the spokesperson added. "Some homes have antiques, some have kids' artwork, some have things that aren't valuable to anyone else except the family that owns them. That's why careful packing matters. It's not just about protecting stuff. It's about making sure those personal things arrive the same way they left."

About Top Dawg Movers
Top Dawg Movers provides local and long-distance moving services for residential and commercial customers throughout Florida. The company offers professional packing, loading, transportation and moving assistance designed to help customers relocate with greater efficiency while reducing the risk of unnecessary damage during the moving process.