Tips and Tricks for Every Move
- Keep all important documents and items with you. These include your check book (especially if you plan to pay by check), cash, jewelry, credit cards, banking documentation, deeds, mortgages, and passports.
Provide a convenient parking spot for our truck. The closer this spot is to the loading and unloading location, the faster your move will be.
- If you have an elevator, make sure it is available the day of your move. It will save considerable time if you are able to reserve the elevator for our use.
Everything must be in a box. Please read the following tips they will save you considerable time and ensure that all of your belongings arrive safely.
– Use moving boxes. The small amount of money you invest in the boxes will be realized in a quicker move. Moving boxes are designed to pack belongings more efficiently and decrease likelihood of damage. They also create a more stable stack in our trucks, requiring fewer trips.
– Do not put books or other heavy items into a box larger than 1.5 cubic feet. Larger boxes will require more than one person to carry. The exception is if these boxes are being taken from and to a location where hand trucks can be used – if that is the case, pack the boxes as big and heavy as you like.
– Tape the bottoms of your boxes. If you fold them, your belongings will fall out. Tape the tops too, so that they do not crumble when stacked.
– Make sure your boxes are full. Boxes that are not full will shift during the move and possibly crumble when stacked, which can damage your belongings and also impact the integrity of the stack.
– Wrap fragile items in paper or bubble wrap. This will decrease the likelihood of breakage.
– Stack dishes vertically rather than laying flat. In addition to wrapping dishes like plates in paper or bubble wrap, if you stand them on their ends so they are vertical, they are less likely to break.
– Remove lampshades and light bulbs from lamps. They must be boxed or taken in your personal vehicle.- Label your boxes. Note the contents of the box, as well as where you want the box at the new location. If you label the rooms at the new location, as well as pick a wall for us to stack all of them (think of where you are not going to be putting furniture), your unpacking will go much more smoothly.
If you are really worried about an item, consider taking it yourself. We will treat every object in your home with utmost care, but accidents happen. Small antiques, vases, computers, pictures, and lampshades are all great things to take in your personal vehicle.
- Please keep your pets out of the moving area. We have large feet and do not want to step on them.
If your furniture is going onto hardwood floors, make sure they have felt pads or there is a rug. Otherwise they will scratch your floors.
- Clear a path if we are only moving the large items. It does not save you money if we have to move all of your boxes and belongings to get to the items we need to move.
- Create a clear list of what you want moved. We need to know about all items during the estimate and walk through. Remember things like storage units, attics, garages, and items in your yard. If we add these items in the middle of the move, we will not be able to pack our trucks as efficiently and may have to make an additional, unnecessary trip.
Desks, dressers, and file cabinets will be tipped on their side. Most of these drawers should be emptied prior to the move, so that we do not damage the items inside. Generally, it is okay to leave clothing in dressers – just know that the contents will shift a bit.
Tips to save you money
The following are in no way required or even expected, but they will cut significant time off of your job.
- Move everything to the ground level. While packing, if you bring your boxes down to the ground level where they can be quickly picked up with a hand truck, you will save considerable time.
- Take apart tables, beds, cribs, etc. If we take something apart, we must put it back together at the new location. For example, a crib can easily take a mover 45 minutes to disassemble and put back together – if you have a lot of items, the time can really add up.
- Unhook all computers, TVs, and appliances. If these are disconnected and removed from entertainment centers, the amount of time spent moving them will be decreased significantly. Remember to label your wires.
Anytime a hand truck can be used, you are going to save money. This may mean moving your boxes to the garage or other space with flat access, or saving a parking spot that has access with no stairs. Please call us if you need suggestions.
- Schedule services one at a time. If the painter, cable guy, carpet cleaner and other help are all trying to get into the same space on the same day, we are going to get in each others way. If you are able to space us out, we will all be able to work more efficiently.