Packing for the Big Move

Stuart Simpson

When you are moving and have to hire movers, it’s cheaper to fill the entire truck, right? Wrong. The cost per 100 lbs. decreases, yes, but you have more of these 100 lbs. to multiply. Even if you hire a truck and move it yourself, filling up the truck with useless items will cost more petrol money too!

Storage for non-essential items for moving later can end up costing more than the items are worth.

Moving can end up being very costly.

Here are some tips and practical considerations for your move.

Organization: Set aside an area in the garage where every family member can put things they no longer want. Have another pile for items that are “maybe keepers”. It’s hard to cull our possessions. Have the family as a whole help decide on what to keep in the “maybe” pile. Sell the rest at a garage sale and call the Salvation Army or local charity and donate the rest. Either they’ll send in a truck, or worst case, you’ll have to take it to them, but you might qualify for a tax right off.

Appliances: Sometimes taking your fridge, washer and dryer with you can cost you more than they are worth. These items are large and heavy and could add $100 to $200 to your move per appliance. If you are selling your house, you might be able to work the new owners a sweet deal, otherwise place an ad in the paper and get rid of them. Get new or used ones at your new location and you’ll be money ahead.

Tools: Cull your tool collection and if you are driving or renting a uhaul, take them in the car or truck with you. Tools are heavy. Besides, they’ll come in handy at the new location and you won’t have to wait for the movers to unpack everything to find them. And if you are taking a uhaul, be sure to load them last so the tools will be the first to unload.

Furniture: Take what you need and want; just make sure it will all fit. No point in moving it to find out it won’t fit in the new place and you’ll just have to rent a storage unit or sell it. Try to do a layout of your new house and place in the furniture. Do the math to see if it will all fit. You’ll be glad you did.

Piano: Be prepared to pay for special handling when moving a piano or organ. You do not want to put a piano in storage. Sell it or take it.

Pool Table: Do you still use it? You know the slate will have to be removed and the table will have to be leveled at your new location. Be sure you crate (with wood) the slate for travel. Prepare for additional moving expense.

Valuables: Do not ship your valuables. If you must, you could ship them to yourself, but use adequate insurance and don’t ship anything that can’t be replaced.

Storage Shed: If you have one, you’ll probably decide to leave most of these storage items or get rid of them. There’s no point in moving them from storage at one house to storage at the other. It’ll just take up more room in the uhaul.

Items not to move:

Flammables – including any kind of aerosol can. Items like deodorant, hairspray, spray paint, etc.

Firewood or lumber

Food (eat it all, don’t ship it)

Clothing – update your wardrobe and cull out for the garage sale

Magazines – If you must, cut out recipes or tear out articles you haven’t had time to read, but don’t take the whole magazine.

Storage is an option but eventually you’ll still have to move everything. I hope this article helps you get realistic with the items you need for moving.

http://www.moving-storage-supplies.com

Moving - Packing Materials and Packing Tips

By Hilary Basile

In the long run, it pays to purchase the right packing materials. Purchase sturdy boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, and packing peanuts from moving companies and truck rental firms. Supplement with crumpled paper, blankets and pillows. Even clothing can serve as a buffer between breakable objects. Then, pack with a plan.

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Packing Tips:

Keep the following packing supplies on-hand: boxes, marking pen, bubble wrap, newspaper, tape, scissors and a tape measure.

Keep them to 20 kg or less. Put heavier items in small boxes and lighter items in big boxes.

Pack non-breakables tightly in smaller boxes so they are not too heavy.

Use clean newspapers to wrap items and bubble wrap for padding.

Pack breakables loosely in plastic storage bins with lots of bubble wrap.

Rent furniture pads (blankets).

Mark your boxes by room so you know exactly where everything goes. Use color coding or a numbering system, such as blue stickers for your son's bedroom or the number 1 for kitchen items.

Use your towels and blankets to wrap fragile items.

Write "FRAGILE" on all the ones containing breakables and stack these on top.

Purchase boxes specifically designed for certain household items, such as wardrobe boxes.

Pack audio-video equipment in their original boxes. Label cables and tighten transit screws.

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Tape any removed screws to the objects they were removed from.

Pack books tightly in small boxes. If they smell musty, sprinkle talcum powder between the pages and wrap the book before packing. Leave the books stored for a couple of months to eliminate the smell.

Clean rugs and draperies before moving and leave them in the wrappings for the move.

Pack medicine and medications in a leak-proof container.

Carry all valuables with you.

Check with your local Department of Agriculture for regulations on moving plants from one state to another since some states have restrictions in an effort to prevent importing bugs or pests that can destroy valuable cash crops.

Packing for a move using a good technique and the right materials can mean an easier move and fewer broken items!

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Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com at http://www.myguidesusa.com/, you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life's major events. Whether you're planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you'll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com.

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Packing Supplies, Labeling & Packing Tips

Packing Supplies, Labeling & Packing Tips

Keep the following supplies handy for packing:

Boxes,
marking pen,
bubble wrap,
newspaper and tissue
Tape and scissors
Tape measure

Use strong boxes and containers that can be secured tightly. Purchase special boxes for dishes, wardrobe and other special items.

Pack audio-video equipment in their original boxes. Label cables and tighten transit screws. If removing screws, tape them to the objects they are removed from.

Avoid loading more than 50 pounds into one box.

Label each box and indicate the following:

(a) Which room it should go in
(b) Whether it is fragile
(c) If it should be loaded last so it will be unloaded first.

Cushion contents with packing material such as bubble wrap, newspaper or tissue. Save room by using towels and blankets to wrap fragile items.

Pack books tightly on end in small boxes. If musty smelling, sprinkle talcum powder between the pages and wrap the book before packing. Leave stored for a couple of months to eliminate the smell.

Have rugs and draperies cleaned before moving and leave them in wrappings for the move.

Pack medicines in a leak proof container.

Carry all valuables with you.

Packing Made Easy - Part 7

PACKING DOESN'T STOP WITH THE BOXES

So, you've successfully packed all of your stuff into containers -- don't take a break yet! Whether you are hiring movers or getting a U-Haul, you still need to make sure that your belongings are put on the truck the right way.

Many people load their furniture on first, but this is actually counter-intuitive. Think about it -- when you are ready to unpack and get settled in, what should go into each room first? Boxes, or the furniture that will hold the contents of those boxes? Start by packing items you won't need right away -- holiday dishes, off-season clothes, memorabilia, boxes of books -- on the front of the truck (nearest the cab).

Make sure to leave room for those things you will want to set up immediately -- the beds, the coffee pot, towels, sheets -- near the back or on top of other items. Don't be afraid to load your truck to the ceiling or tie items down -- a tightly-packed load is less likely to shift during transit, meaning less chance of damage.

Ramona Creel is a Professional Organizer and the founder of OnlineOrganizing.com -- offering "a world of organizing solutions!" Visit http://www.onlineorganizing.com for organizing products, free tips, a speakers bureau -- and even get a referral for a Professional Organizer near you.

Packing Made Easy - Part 6

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

Some items are difficult or dangerous to transport, unless you prepare them carefully ahead of time. And you can do serious damage to your appliances if they aren't properly stabilized for travel. Start by draining all fluids -- oil, gas, etc. -- from your power and yard tools so they won't leak.

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Dispose of all corrosive and volatile chemicals -- such as oil, antifreeze, paint, and gasoline.

Once you have cleaned out your refrigerator and freezer, leave the doors open to decrease the humidity. And before packing these items on the truck, place a piece of coal or layer of baking soda in the bottom to prevent mildew and musty smells.

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You will also want to block your washer machine to prevent damage during the move.

If you plan to transport a piano, have a trained piano mover prepare your piano for travel.

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You might also want to seek special advice from your local nursery about transporting any plants, and from your vet about traveling with your pet.

Packing Made Easy - Part 5

PACKING FURNITURE

Moving furniture can pose a problem -- more because of an item's size and bulkiness than its fragility. With many pieces, you must also take steps to protect finished surfaces from mars and scratches -- which are easily avoided by covering each piece of furniture with a sheet, blanket, or paper.

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Be sure to pad corners with extra foam or blankets -- these always seem attracted to door frames and sharp corners! It's tempting -- and often an efficient use of space - to store clothing and linens inside of chests and dressers as you move them. But be careful about OVERLOADING, which can cause furniture joints to separate and collapse.

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To protect mirrors, pictures, and glass shelves, wrap each piece in a blanket, tape securely, and mark with a note not to sit anything on top of that package. And use only blank newsprint to avoid ink smudges on your belongings, especially lampshades and fabric-covered items.

Packing Made Easy - Part 4

PACKING FRAGILE ITEMS

Many people are afraid to pack their own valuables -- preferring the expense and risk of hiring a mover to pack them -- simply because they are afraid they don't know what they are doing. But it's easy to pack fragile items so that they won't be damaged, with the right equipment.

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If you still have the item's original packaging, use that for storage during your move -- especially electronic equipment and knick-knacks that have their own specially molded styrofoam padding.

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If you don't have the original packaging, use clean crumpled paper, bubble wrap or styrofoam peanuts for padding. Don't be afraid to use too much padding, especially when packing items that might get chipped or bent easily. You can always use compartmentalized boxes -- like the ones used for transporting stemware -- to keep fragile objects from bumping together.

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Try to sit items flat on one side or another -- packing fragile objects at strange angles is inviting damage. And be sure to pack your containers tightly to avoid SHIFTING, the number one cause of damage during moves.

Packing Made Easy - Part 3

PACKING BASICS

I've seen it before -- people either get in such a rush to move or so sick of packing that they just throw things in boxes, without giving any thought to how that container will travel. Of course, the same people show a lot more concern about the packing job when they find their treasures damaged on the other end!

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First off, try not to exceed 20 KILOS in each packed container -- otherwise they will be impossible to carry and your belongings might be crushed. As you pack, place heavier items on the bottom of each box and lighter items on top. Your containers will be more stable and less likely to tip over in transit.

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Use strong TWINE or threaded packing tape to thoroughly seal your containers -- don't just fold the flaps in over themselves, unless you want everything spilling out as the truck is unloaded.

Packing Made Easy - Part 2

HAVE A PLAN

I once helped a friend pack, and was shocked to watch her put food and dishes and medicine and gardening supplies all in the same box. I asked why on earth she did this, and her response was, "That's just how I picked things up." Unfortunately, once she got to her new home, she ended up spending two days hiking all over the house to put things where they belonged.

If you will pack your treasures by room -- storing all of the items that belong in the bedroom in one box, those that will go in the bathroom in another, stuff for the kitchen in a third -- packing will go by twice as fast. And be sure to LABEL each box -- with both the room it belongs to and its contents ("books," "cookware," "towels," etc.).

Taking a few minutes to create a master inventory list of all your boxes and their contents, according to room, will also help you make sure nothing gets left behind in the move.

Packing Made Easy - Part 1

By Ramona Creel

Packing is more than just shoving everything you own onto a truck and hitting the road. While I don't believe you necessarily have to hire a professional for a successful move, you do need to know what you are doing before you start loading all of your belongings into boxes. Without a little bit of advance preparation, you could find yourself sorting through unlabeled boxes looking for your frying pan -- or worse yet, filling out damage claims -- instead of enjoying your new home!