Moving Tips
Whether your move is across country or across the street, a little bit of planning
can make a world of difference when packing up your home. Here are a few tips
to get you started.
1. You can save a lot of money if you do the bulk of the packing on your own.
Limit yourself to non-fragile items such as books, linens, clothing and shoes;
and replaceable items such as plates, dishes (not fine china or expensive silverware),
and small kitchen appliances. These items will be cheaper to replace in case of
damage as opposed to hiring workers for the extra labor. Leave the furniture,
mattresses, and heavy appliances to be packed by the mover.
2. The heavier the item, the smaller the box it should occupy. Don't toss everything
into one huge box. It will make the hauling much more difficult. A good rule of
thumb is if you can't lift the box easily, it's too heavy! Keep the weight of
the box under 50lbs and remember to always lift with your knees, not your back.
3. You should never let the movers pack your jewelry, family heirlooms, or other
priceless items. Should they be lost or damaged, the insurable value will not
come anywhere near the value you would place on them. Such items include jewelry,
sports memorabilia, photo albums, and various hobby collections. Pack these items
yourself and take them with you, either in the car or as carry-on luggage if size
allows.
4. Get the proper boxes for your items the right sizes and strengths. Have enough
wardrobe boxes, as they'll save you ironing time later. You can pack t-shirts
and jeans in suitcases and regular boxes but you don't want to pack your fine
clothing such as suits or dresses in the same place. Save space by tossing in
shoes at the bottom of the wardrobe box, but be reasonable. Don't let the box
become too heavy or susceptible to fallout from the bottom. Purchase the padded
dish boxes with dividers to protect your fine china. For your replaceable and
non-fragile items, save money by using the free boxes that you can obtain from
supermarkets and wrapping the items in old newspaper.
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