Packing & Labeling Guide

The difference between a calm unload and a pile of unlabeled boxes in the lobby is a labeling system everyone uses. It doesn’t need to be clever — it needs to be consistent.

What it’s for

So every box and item has an obvious destination, and the crew can place things without asking you where each one goes. Good labeling is what lets the move end on move day instead of trailing into a week of “where did the X go?”

How to use it

1. Number the new space first. Give every room and zone a short code (see below) and post a map at the entrance and freight elevator.
2. Label by destination, not origin. A box’s label says where it’s going, not where it came from.
3. Brief the mover on the system so the crew places by label.

A simple system

Zone codes — one per room/area, posted on a map:

• A Reception / common · B Open desks (north) · C Open desks (south) · D Meeting rooms · E Kitchen / pantry · F IT / storage

Every label shows:

• Destination zone + room (e.g., D-3)
• Contents in plain words (“Room 3 — cables, remotes”)
• Priority: Day-one or Unpack later
• Owner, if it’s someone’s personal items

Handle with care:

• IT gear (monitors, drives, AV) labeled and packed separately — decide who reconnects
• Fragile / liquids flagged
• A few clearly-marked “open first” boxes (tools, basic supplies, signage)

Tips

• Color helps. A colored sticker per zone reads faster than text from across a room.
• Map at the door. The crew should never have to guess; the map answers it.
• Day-one vs. later. Marking priority means the essential boxes get opened first, not buried.

See the full workstream: Move Logistics.