|
       
 |
:: MOVING TIPS
We know how stressful moving
can be, but with these simple tips you can avoid a lot of
the problems many face when moving. With twelve years of
moving experience, these tips will hopefully save you a
headache or two!
• Clear out unwanted goods hold a garage sale.
• Get rid of flammables paint, petrol, gas cylinders.
• Empty fuel from mowers, clippers, trimmers and so on.
• Clothes do you need them all? Charity shops may want them.
• Separate books disposable, family reading, valuable.
• Check all electrical goods will they work in the new home?
• Start making up your change of address list.
• Arrange to have mail forwarded.
• Agree termination date for electricity, gas, oil,
telephone and other main suppliers.
• If you are taking electrical goods such as a stereo, see
if you still have their original boxes.
• Have rugs cleaned.
• If you have children, separate cherished toys to travel
with you.
• Round up personal documentation marriage/birth
certificates, driving licenses and so on.
• Keep passports separate so they are not packed.
• Want to take the car? Check on import regulations and the
duty payable.
• To say nothing of family pets make sure vaccinations and
documentation are up to date.
• Will your new home be ready? If not, you need to arrange
temporary storage.
• Shops, schools, theaters, life styles its never too early
to find out about your new home.
• Start running down freezer stocks.
• Arrange your finances close or transfer bank accounts,
savings accounts and so on, if necessary.
Packing Materials
Use only strong, corrugated cartons with covers. We can
supply you with specially made cartons, for everything from
mattresses to clothing and mirrors. The added protection of
mover-provided cartons may avoid damage that results from
the use of poor-quality packing materials. Your alternative
is to collect boxes discarded by your grocery or liquor
store. Save old newspapers for use in packing, but remember
that ink may rub off and stain clothing or other items.
*WARNING: Insect eggs and insects such as roaches can travel
in food boxes.
Keep this in mind when getting boxes from food stores.
Here's a list a packing supplies that will come in handy:
• 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 to 2 inches 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
Before actually packing-up, you need to have a game plan.
For example:
• 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 cartons packed. It's a
good idea to leave space in your log for a special comments
section to note carton 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 keep a per-box weight
of 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 Dish-ware
• Select a medium-sized carton (or mover provided dishpack)
and line the bottom of the carton with crumpled packing
paper.
• With packing paper stacked neatly in place on a work
table, center one plate on the paper.
• Grasp a corner on several sheets of packing paper and pull
the paper over the plate until sheets completely cover the
plate. Stack a second plate on and, moving clockwise, grasp
a second corner and pull sheets over the second plate.
• Stack a third plate. Grasp remaining two corners, folding
two sheets of each corner (one at a time) over the 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
bundle with next corner, then the third corner; and finally,
the fourth.
• Seal the bundle with packing tape.
• Place the bundle of dish-ware 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 work table, 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 folded
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 may be rolled 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 packing
paper up and over glass/stemware and continue rolling to the
far corner. Corrugated paper rolls or cellular boxes may be
used for added protection.
• Place glasses and stemware toward the top of your box.
Heavier items (dish-ware, 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 a snug fit
wherever there's a gap. All boxes with "fragile" items
should be marked accordingly.
Specialized Packing Tips
The list of individual household items is endless. Most can
be packed by following our packing pointers. Here are some
additional packing tips for major items. If you want a more
comprehensive list of how to pack special items, drop us a
line.
Bureau Drawers -- Don't overload. Too heavy a load
can cause damage. Remove firearms and any items that might
break or leak. Firearms, along with serial numbers, must be
registered with your van line representative before the
move.
Canned Goods and Other Non-Frozen Food -- Pack
upright with no more than 24-30 cans per carton. Don't
attempt to move perishables. Wrap glass containers and boxed
foods individually and pack in small cartons.
Frozen Foods and Plants -- Because of the delicate
and perishable nature of these items, your mover is
prohibited from accepting these packed items when your
shipment is being transported more than 150 miles and/or
delivery will not be accomplished within twenty-four (24)
hours from the time of loading. Frozen food shipped within
these guidelines must be packed in a freezer which at time
of loading is at normal deep-freeze temperature.
Clocks -- Remove or secure pendulum in large clocks.
Grandfather clocks should be prepared for moving by expert
servicemen.
Drapes and Curtains -- Hang drapes over crossbars in
wardrobe cartons, or pack folded in clean cartons. Remove
curtains from rods, fold and pack in cartons or bureau
drawers.
Flammables and Combustibles -- Flammable liquids and
aerosol cans must not be packed. Changes in temperature and
pressure can cause them to leak, or even explode. For your
own protection, you should know that if you pack these items
and they cause damage to your shipment or others, you, not
your mover, may be held liable.
Lamps and Lampshades -- Remove bulbs, harps and
shades. Roll up cord. Pack lamps with bedding or wrap
separately and place upright in clean, tissue-lined carton.
Wrap harp and finial (decorative knob) with packing paper
and tape to inside wall of carton that contains shade. Wrap
shades in tissue, not newspaper. Place upright in large,
tissue lined cartons.
Medicines -- Seal caps with masking tape. Wrap and
pack upright in small cartons. If needed during travel,
carry with you.
Mirrors, Paintings and Pictures -- Tell your agent
about valuable paintings for special care. Wrap small
mirrors, pictures, paintings, and frames and place on edge
in cartons. Place large pictures and paintings on edge in
heavy cardboard containers. Large wall or dresser mirrors
will be taken down by the movers and placed in special
cartons. For added safety, place tape diagonally across
mirror to protect better against damage. Do not place
newspaper directly against paintings.
Personal Computers and Video Recorders -- Pack
valuable electronic equipment in original cartons when
available. Otherwise, use strong, corrugated cartons and
place protective padding on the bottom of the carton. Wrap
an old blanket or protective pad around the item and place
it in its carton. Place additional padding between the
carton and the computer or video recorder. Wrap cords
separately, label to identify usage and place in a plastic
bag away from delicate surfaces. Non-detachable cords should
also be wrapped. Place cords between the padded computer or
video recorder and the carton. Be sure your personal
computer is "parked" and ready for transport.
Silverware -- Wrap each piece in cloth or low sulfur
content paper to prevent tarnishing. Use an old blanket or
moving pad as a wrap to prevent scratching the silverware
chest.
Tools -- Drain fuel from power tools (do not ship
Flammables under any circumstances). Pack tools in small,
strong cartons. Wrap separately if valuable.
Waterbed Mattresses -- Drain all water from the
waterbed and, grasping internal baffle systems with external
vinyl, fold mattress 20 inches at a time. Adjust folds to
avoid making creases across individual baffles. Consult your
owner's manual for special instructions concerning the care
and transportation of your mattress. Do not place your
mattress in a carton with sharp or pointed objects.
Cars and Motorcycles -- Cars and motorcycles shipped
on the moving van should be drained nearly empty of fuel.
Motorcycle batteries should be disconnected. Automobile
antifreeze should be ample to protect against severe cold in
winter.
Barbecue Grills and Propane Tanks -- Wrap grates and
briquettes separately in a newspaper (or place all
briquettes into a grocery bag) and place parts in carton.
Pad carton with paper to reduce movement of contents.
Propane tanks must be drained before the move. Consult your
local gas grill distributor for the safest method. |
|
