Moving Tips

Quick Tip Planner

• Summer is "peak" moving season. If you can be flexible about when you move, don't wait until the summer. Also keep in mind that the first and last weeks of the month are extra-busy for all movers.
• Specify the exact date you want to move and when it will be convenient for an agent to visually survey your household and prepare an estimate.
• Tour your home before the agent arrives. Check from attic to basement, and determine what will be moved and what will be discarded. Show your agent everything you will be moving.
• If you plan to do the packing yourself, start collecting suitable containers and packing materials. Set packing goals and deadlines. Have all packing completed by moving day.
• If you are being relocated at your company's request, find out what portion of your moving expenses will be paid by the company. If your company has a written moving policy, ask for a copy.
• Dispose of all flammables such as cleaning fluids, aerosol cans, fireworks and matches. Drain the tanks of your power mower and other machinery.
• Discard partly used containers of any substance that may leak, such as water from your steam iron.
• Obtain a written appraisal of antique items to verify their value. Don't wax or oil wood furniture before the move because some products may soften the wood, making it vulnerable to imprinting from furniture packing materials.
• Unplug all electronic equipment such as television sets, home computers, stereos, etc 24 hours before the move so they will be at room temperature on moving day. Moving a TV set and other electronic equipment in which heat is still retained could cause internal damage.

Packing & Preparation

Packing Materials:

• Plastic bags and labels for easy identification
• Foam peanuts, styrofoam pellets or "popcorn"
• Tissue or craft paper for delicate packing jobs
• Corrugated paper rolls for figurines and fragile items
• Gummed tape (1 1/2" or 2" wide) and/or strong twine for sealing cartons
• Markers and labels for identifying contents of cartons
• Notebook and pencil for carton identification log
• Scissors and/or sharp knife

Packing Pointers

• Pack one room at a time. This will help you when it comes time to unpack.
• Pack a couple of cartons a day, starting well ahead of the move.
• Mark all boxes, designating room and box number. Make a carton identification log to show the number of boxes packed per room, and the total number of boxes packed. It's a good idea to leave space in your log for a special comments section to note cartons conditions or location of high value goods. Notify your mover of any high value items.
• Be sure to have plenty of "filling" material available.
• Be sure that the bottoms of all cartons are secured and will hold the weight of the contents.
• Packing tape or gummed tape is better than masking tape.
• Pack heavier items toward the bottom of the box and lighter items toward the top. Try to pack each box so that it weighs 50 pounds or less; it makes moving a lot easier. A general rule to remember on carton size - the heavier the item, the smaller the carton.

Packing Dishware

• Select a medium-sized carton (or mover provided dish pack) and line the bottom of the carton with packing paper.
• With packing paper stacked neatly in place on a worktable, center one plate on the paper. Grasp a corner on several sheets of packing paper and pull the paper over_the plate until sheets corners cover the plate. State a second plate on and, moving clockwise, grasp a second corner and bull sheet over second plate. Start a third plate. Grasp remaining two corners, folding two sheets of each corner (one at a time) over plate.
• Turn your wrapped stack of plates upside down onto your packing paper.
• Re-wrap the entire bundle: start with one corner of packing paper and pull two sheets over the bundle, cover the bundle with next corner, then third corner, and finally the fourth.
• Seal the bundle with packing tape
• Place the bundle of dishware in a medium-size box so that the plates are standing on edge.
• Use this process on all saucers, bread and butter dishes and other dishware. When packing smaller dishes you may choose to stack in greater quantity.

Packing Cups

• With packing paper in place on the worktable, position one cup six to eight inches from one of the corners.
• Now pull the near corner of the paper up and over the cup.
• Nest a second cup directly on top, with handle to left (second cup should "nest" itself in packing paper over the bottom cups).
• Pull the two side corners up and over, one at a time, and tuck corners inside the top cup.
• Hold the bottom and top cup in position and roll cups to the remaining corner. Fragile mixing bowls can be packed in the same manner.
• Delicate cups, like china, should be wrapped one at a time. Antique glass or china should be stuffed with crumpled tissue and wrapped one at a time.

Packing Glasses and Stemware

• Stuff glasses and stemware with crumpled tissue or packing paper before wrapping.
• Lay on the corner of packing paper and roll it one or two full rotations (depending on size); pull sides of paper up and over glass
• Place glasses and stemware toward the top of your box. Heavier items (dishware, pitchers, etc.) should be placed toward the bottom of the box.
• Delicate glassware and stemware should be placed in an upright position, not on its side.
• No matter what you're packing, you should use crumpled packing paper in between each layer to assure support wherever there's a gap. All boxes with "fragile" items should be marked accordingly.

Specialized Packing Tips