Packing is where most international moves are won or lost. Good packing means your belongings arrive in perfect condition after weeks in a container crossing oceans. Poor packing means broken ceramics and regrets at destination. In 69 years of international moves, we've learned exactly what works. Here's the complete guide.
The Right Materials Make All the Difference
- Double-wall boxes: For international moves, single-wall boxes aren't enough. Double-wall handles container stacking, ocean humidity, and weeks of movement.
- Bubble wrap: For fragile items — glass, ceramics, electronics. Wrap each piece individually.
- Unprinted kraft paper: To fill empty space in boxes and wrap medium items. Newspaper can transfer ink to light-colored surfaces.
- Stretch film: To protect upholstered furniture, group set pieces, and protect polished surfaces from scratches.
- Polyethylene foam: For expensive electronics, musical instruments, and artwork.
- Heavy-duty packing tape: Reinforce the bottom and seams of every box. Never skimp on tape.
Golden Rules of Professional Packing
1. No empty space in boxes
A box with empty space collapses under the weight of other boxes. Fill all gaps with kraft paper, foam, or folded clothes until the lid closes flat without bowing.
2. Heaviest items on the bottom
Books, files, tools — on the bottom of the box. Lighter and fragile items on top. A box with books on top and crystal glasses below is a recipe for disaster.
3. Wrap each fragile item individually
Don't wrap four plates together in paper. Each plate gets individual wrapping, with an additional cushioning layer between each. Plates stand upright inside the box — never stacked horizontally.
4. Disassemble what can be disassembled
Bed headboards, dresser mirrors, table legs — disassemble and pack separately. Assembled furniture has stress points that can break during transport.
5. Photograph everything before packing
Take photos of each valuable item before wrapping. If there's an insurance claim, photographic evidence is essential.
The Inventory: Your Most Important Document
For Honduran customs, you need a detailed inventory of everything in the container. This document must:
- Be in Spanish
- Include description of each item, quantity, and estimated value
- Exactly match what's in the container
At Mudanzas Gamundi, we generate this inventory during the packing process — it's part of the service, not an extra.
Items That Should NOT Go in the Container
- Live plants (prohibited at customs)
- Perishable food
- Hazardous materials (aerosols, paints, fuels)
- Medications beyond reasonable personal use quantities
- Firearms (require a completely separate process)
Why Professional Packing Pays for Itself
When you hire professional packing with Mudanzas Gamundi, you're not just paying for boxes and paper. You're paying for decades of knowledge about which items need what protection, how to optimize container space to reduce freight costs, and how to document everything so customs has no objections.
The cost of repairing or replacing furniture damaged by poor packing typically exceeds the cost of professional packing many times over.
Get a quote for your international move — packing included.