BigTruckMovers.com

Moving Tips

  

In order to have a fast, safe and efficient move you will need to buy plenty of cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, paper or newspaper, masking tape, and magic markers for labeling your boxes. Make sure to mark each box with its exact contents, and the room that it belongs in. Do not over pack or under pack the boxes. Do not pack over the edges of the boxes. Remember not to stuff paper or tissue into air pockets until the box has been packed tightly. Pack your boxes with the larger and heavier objects throughout the bottom. Lighter more fragile objects should be packed throughout the top. Seal each box with masking tape and label them carefully. Keep in mind that uniform carton sizes will prevent the boxes from shifting in the truck while in transit.

 

APPLIANCES Tape all appliances doors shut. Secure all movable parts with paper or a wedge. Wrap a furniture pad around each item for protection.

 

WASHING MACHINES, ELECTRIC OR GAS DRYERS Secure spring-mounted motors. Brace tub to prevent damage by wedging the space between the tub and the sidewalls with padded blocks or stuff tightly with heavy fabrics.

 

STOVES Pack loose pieces. Secure burners, and trays with tape. Always clean your oven before moving.

 

REFRIGERATORS, FREEZERS Defrost and thoroughly dry your refrigerator before moving. This is very important. The doors should be left open several hours after defrosting. All pans, trays, crisper shelves or removable parts should be removed and wrapped separately or secured with tape. The safety of any food left in freezers and refrigerators cannot be guaranteed so it is best to empty your freezer and plan meals that will use up perishable contents.

 

AIR CONDITIONERS Ask your authorized dealer, service man or mover on your particular model. Some sealed units need to be bolted down.

 

BEDS We will dismantle your beds and reassemble them at your new residence. You may protect them with a sheet or mattress cover.

 

BOOKS Books should be packed in small, strong, securely sealed boxes. They should be placed cover to cover with alternating bindings to prevent the pages from becoming interlocked and damaged. Do not pack books in furniture drawers or leave them in portable shelves or bookcases.

 

CANNED GOODS Pack upright, in small, sturdy cartons. Do not pack over 45 pounds in any one container. (Approximately 24 cans per box.)

 

CHAIRS Protect all chair legs by wrapping them in newspaper.

 

CHINA Wrap china and all fragile objects individually. Large plates and heavy pieces should be placed on the bottom of the container and sources toward the top. Plates and dishes should be placed in a vertical position with pads of paper in between. It is recommended to place 3 layers of paper on the bottom of the carton and 2 layers of paper in between layers. Do not pack above the edge of the container.

 

GRANDFATHER CLOCKS Remove chimes. Secure weight chains lightly against the base of the clock with rope or strong string and remove weights and pendulums. If it is going a long distance, call a reputable clock man to prepare the work against damage.

 

DRAPERIES AND CURTAINS They may be folded and placed in boxes. Or they may be sent to the cleaners and delivered directly to your new home.

 

DRAWERS IN FURNITURE OR DESKS Articles such as blankets, cushions, pillows, and clothing may be left in drawers. Do not pack heavy items in dressers, bureaus, or buffet drawers. NEVER leave liquids, valuables, breakables, or firearms in drawers.DO NOT TAPE DRAWERS SHUT.

 

DISHES Take your time when packing dishes. Wrap each one with crumpled newspaper. Keep dish cartons under 30 pounds for easy handling and safe riding. You can use heavy cardboard boxes, but be sure to tape bottoms securely. Wrap all breakable items separately. Nest cups and bowls, and stand plates, saucers and plates on edge. Stuff towels and newspapers into any Air pockets.

 

FOOD Dispose of food, in open containers, that might spill or spoil en rout. The carrier will not be liable for damage caused by spilling of items. Perishable food should never be stored or shipped.

 

GLASSWARE Stemware and glassware should be wrapped individually and placed in barrels or placed in the top of china containers. DO NOT nest unwrapped glasses in each other. Place wrapped glassware right side up, not on their sides.

 

GLASSES Pack glasses carefully. Wrap with bubble wrap or newspaper and cushion with crumpled paper, just like dishes and glassware.

 

GLASS TOPS OF FURNITURE For complete safety these items should be crated. This is a must when storing or shipping for long distances. However, for local moving they frequently can be removed by the mover who will wrap them in pads and place them safely in their van.

 

KITCHEN UTENSILS Kitchen utensils should be clean and placed in boxes or barrels. Durable, heavy pieces placed on the bottom, light ones on the top, with each piece padded against dents, chipping or scratching. Toasters, irons, mixers, exc., may be wrapped individually and placed in cartons with other kitchen utensils.

 

JEWELRY Keep valuable jewelry in your immediate possession.

 

LAMPS Large lamp bases should be individually wrapped in furniture pads. Smaller ones can be wrapped in boxes. Lampshades are easily bent, so they should be in a box themselves or in the bottom of a wardrobe box and marked Fragile. Don't wrap them in newspapers as the ink may smudge onto them.

 

LINENS Table and bed linens should be but into strong cartons or trunks. They should be lined with tissue or clean white or brown paper to protect from dust. Do not use newsprint as a liner as the ink may soil the fabric.

 

MEDICINES Seal bottles and jar stoppers. Wrap individually, placing them upright in small cartons or metal waste containers.

 

MIRRORS Wrap your mirrors in boxes and identify them with your maker. Wall mirrors will be removed by the movers if they are not fastened to the walls. Mirrors will not be installed on the walls at the new residence.

 

Mirror tops on furniture will be taken off and replaced at the final destination.

 

PAINTINGS AND PICTURES Wrap paintings in boxes in the same way as the mirrors. Mark them fragile. Small pictures can safely be placed between the folds of blankets or pillows in drawers or cartons. Large and valuable pictures and paintings must be padded, wrapped and crated for moving.

 

PLANTS These should be handled personally by you. The moving company will move them but will not assume responsibility for living plants.

 

RUGS It is not necessary to remove rugs from the floors. The movers will do this for you. They will be rolled to avoid crushing. If they are stored, have them cleaned. It is a good idea to clean the carpets of the house you are moving into before your move. Tacks should be removed from carpeting before the movers arrive.

 

SEWING MACHINES These do not need special servicing for local moving.

 

SILVERWARE Leave in original containers or wrap in cloth or low sulfur content paper, or wrap in tissue and pack in boxes. Place padding in chest to prevent shifting and scratching.

 

TELEVISION SETS Some sets require that they be checked before moving. Some color televisions must be serviced both before and after. Television antennas must be removed from rooftops and disassembled. For some small sets, use foam for padding and pack in a box.

 

TELEPHONE On your moving date a phone can be very useful. Arrange to have the service shut off after you move. It is a good idea to ask the telephone company for a new service well in advance due to the charges in telephone servicing.

 

TOILET ARTICLES Seal the corks and stoppers of cosmetics, medicines and perfume bottles with natural nail polish, paraffin or masking tape before wrapping separately in paper and upright in boxes or metal waste containers.

 

TABLES The movers will remove legs from tables.

 

GARDEN TOOLS Tie or tape shovels, rakes, and hoses together. Drain hoses and coil them with ends connected.

 

TOOLS Wrap separately. Tools can be put into small strong cartons.

 

PARKING

 

Parking near your residence is important. It should be easily accessible for your mover. Do whatever you can to reserve parking for your mover; reserve spaces with your car, a friend's car, or saw horses. Call your city and to get parking signs to save the spaces for the day of your move. Remember ththe moving van cannot block the street. Also, if the movers have to walk half a block with your furniture the move will take longer and cost you more. If you live in a high-rise building, make sure that another move does not coincide with yours. Some high-rise buildings have loading docks designed to accommodate only one truck at a time. If the move is delayed due to no fault of the mover, you must still pay the waiting time.

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