Use the right boxes, and pack them carefully. Professional [tag]moving[/tag] companies use only sturdy, reinforced cartons. The boxes you can get at your neighborhood supermarket or liquor store may be strong enough to use. We have many people use these with pleasant results. Heavy-duty boxes and cartons are also available at local moving companies, U-haul and Pack-and-Ship type stores.
Use sheets, blankets, pillows and towels to separate pictures and other fragile objects from each other and the sides of the carton. Pack plates and glass objects vertically, rather than flat and stacked. Be sure to point out to your [tag]mover[/tag] which boxes are packed with [tag]fragile items[/tag], especially if those items are exceptionally valuable.
The mover will advise you whether those valuables need to be repacked in sturdier, more appropriate boxes. The heavier the item, the smaller the box it should occupy. An obvious, but worth repeating rule of thumb is if you can’t lift the carton easily, it’s too heavy. Label your boxes with detailed information, so you can find everything you need the first night in your new home. Fill two “OPEN ME FIRST” cartons containing snacks, instant coffee or tea bags, soap, toilet paper, toothpaste and brushes, medicine and toiletry items (make sure caps are tightly secured), flashlight, screwdriver, pliers, can opener, paper plates, cups and utensils, a pan or two, paper towels, and any other items your family can’t do without.
Ask your van foreman to load one of these boxes, so that it will be unloaded at your [tag]new home[/tag] first. Why should you pack a second box? In case the movers are delayed getting to your [tag]house[/tag] on the day of the [tag]move[/tag] – bring this second box with you in your car. Let all your electronic gadgets return to room temperature before plugging them in. Since you may need to call old neighbors or businesses from your new home, pack your old phone book. Work hand in hand with your mover. Give the mover’s foreman your numbers and email addresses so you can stay in contact. Read the inventory form carefully, and ask the mover to explain anything you don’t understand. Make a note of your shipment’s registration number, and keep your Bill of Lading handy. If you are moving long distance, be aware that your property might share a truck with several other households. For this reason, your mover might have to warehouse your furniture and belongings for several days. Therefore, ask your mover whether your goods will remain on the truck until delivered. If they have to be stored, ask whether you can check the warehouse for security, organization and cleanliness.
For your family’s safety and comfort, teach your children your new address. Let them practice writing it on packed cartons.
Yard sales are fun – ask friends to bring their stuff over and have a HUGE yard sale. This will give you an extra hand if you need it and can be a great way to socialize for a weekend – and make money! You can lighten your load and reduce any storage space you need to rent by running a good garage sale or yard sale. A 3 or 4 day sale can be grueling and maybe the last thing you need to do right before a move, but take our word for it, you will sell more items on Thursday and/or Friday, when the real-pro buyers are out shopping than you will on Saturday and Sunday combined. There is nothing more satisfying than turning unwanted “stuff” into cash. You didn’t have to take all of these items to the trash and you made a lot of people happy. How does the saying go? – “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. You might even make enough to buy something nice for your new property! Put out large signs on every intersection all the way out to the highway! Tell people what you are doing.
Thinking of Renting a Truck?
If your are thinking of [tag]renting a truck[/tag] for a long-distance move, there may be a better alternative. Instead of driving an unfamiliar vehicle to your new home with your car in tow, paying for gas and tolls, wouldn’t it be better to drive your own car or truck and let a professional deliver your goods? Most people go the rent-a-truck route to save money. But U-Pack, a service of ABF Freight Systems provides you with the best of both worlds. The drop off a 32′ trailer which you pack like any [tag]rental truck[/tag] (they can provide a ramp). They then pick up the trailer and deliver it to your destination. I used U-Pack to move 750 miles. It worked great, cost us about the same as a rental truck and arived at about the same time we did! For more information, see the ABF U-Pack website, or call ABF U-Pack at 1-800-355-1696.
