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Moving can be an exciting experience, but it can also be quite stressful. However, you draft a plan that keeps track of all aspects of your move for a seamless experience. We have constructed a comprehensive moving guide to help you settle into your new residence efficiently and smoothly.
One of the most challenging parts of moving a house is packing. You will need a variety of box types for all your belongings. It's also important to ensure the boxes are strong enough to withstand the moving itself.
When moving into a house, you'll have to arrange all your items in small, medium, large, and heavy-duty boxes. For sensitive items like artwork and mirrors, you should use telescopic cardboard picture boxes. In addition to boxes, some items in the moving house checklist include packing tape, packing paper, bubble wrap, markers, and labels. Be sure to pick up plenty of packing materials as it is easier to return unused materials later on rather than running out and forced to pause your packing process.
While packing and unpacking are important activities when moving into a new house, there are other things you need to do after you move into a new home. Firstly, you need to do a walkthrough of the new home before settling in. This inspection will help you check whether all the repairs have been performed and everything included in the sale is present and in working order. The next thing you need to do is determine whether the house is safe for your child or pet. Child or pet-proofing will ensure the environment is safe until you fully set up the house. Some child-proofing moving house tips include creating a kid-free zone to cater to discarded items, checking all windows to ensure they're securely closed, and removing long-hanging cords from the blinds.
Another essential thing to do is to determine what's going where. Having a plan on where to place furniture and other items will make your work easier. Many house moving companies also include unpacking and arranging your belongings as part of their services.
The last thing you want when you move into a new house is to set up important utilities. Before the moving day, make sure your electric, water, gas, heating and cooling, internet, and phone are well set up. You should also call your waste management facility to make sure your home is scheduled for garbage pickup. You also need to locate the water valve and fuse box.Another critical security measure to take when moving into a new house is to change the existing locks. You never know who has an extra pair of keys to the house. You can either change the locks yourself or schedule a locksmith to come by. When searching for house moving companies near me, this is ideal for looking for a locksmith.
Many people think of only moving supplies, boxes and tape when planning house moving. Remember, your choice of moving supplies will make the difference between a bad or good move. Base your decision on the possessions you plan to move.
Some of the most crucial moving packing supplies are packing paper, labeling materials, packing tape, and uniform boxes.
When it comes to cushioning, use foam wrap sheets or packing paper for fragile items like dishes. Bubble wrap is suited for wrapping oddly shaped large breakables. Labeling materials are one of the essential moving supplies. You can use colored stickers or moving labels.
When looking for moving supplies near me, choose the appropriate packing tape and boxes for the movers.
Avoid cheap tape and choose brands you're familiar with. It's advisable to buy packing tape in bulk to save on the total cost. On the other hand, cargo straps will prevent your items from moving around. Choose thick straps so you can secure bulky furniture without breaking it. Some of the other moving supplies that will help with your move are furniture pads, furniture covers, dollies and hand trucks, a tool stretch, and a stretch wrap. Furniture pads will protect big pieces, while furniture covers help keep items clean and prevent surface damage. For couches and mattresses, you can look for couch covers and mattress bags.If you'll be doing a significant portion of the moving on your own, you'll need dollies and hand trucks to move bulky items up and down the stairs. It's cheaper to rent dollies and hand trucks from a moving company than to buy them. However, if you plan to be moving furniture regularly and have a lot of storage space, you can buy a hand truck.
When choosing moving supplies, many homeowners overlook the importance of a toolset. If you plan to dismantle furniture, you'll need a toolset. Stretch wrap is another crucial item for ensuring the drawers on dressers and nightstands remain closed during the move. It also protects furniture from surface damage.
There's a lot you need to consider when it comes to moving boxes. You have to think about how to pack in these boxes, tape the boxes, the number of boxes required, if specialty boxes are needed, and the best size of a moving box.
After choosing the appropriate packing boxes, the most challenging part is packing items into these boxes. Packing your bowls, plates and other fragile items is one of the tasks you have to deal with. You can buy a dish box to store your dishes with an additional layer for cardboard protection. If you have a standard moving box, add extra padding on the sides and bottom, and then wrap each bowl and plate with packing paper. Ensure there's sufficient padding between the dishes as you stack them in the box.
Wardrobe packing boxes for house moving are also suited for suits, dresses, coats, and formal wear. It's an easy way to move closet items to your new home. You can use wardrobe boxes for moving house to store bathrobes, pillows, and slippers. They can also accommodate awkward items such as kids' sports equipment, garden tools, and artificial plants.
While you might think that buying moving boxes and supplies is the difficult part of house moving, the most challenging part is preparing to move. Many people often forget to tape the bottom of the box well enough to hold a certain weight. This can result in losses, especially if the boxes contain fragile items like glassware or artwork. Apart from choosing the right tape for moving boxes, you should know how to tape boxes properly.
The best way to tape a moving box is to place the top flaps of the box down, then open the box. Flip over the box and fold all the edges inside of the box. Start with the small edges and then fold the larger ones.
Use the best tape for moving boxes to tape the long and horizontal edge of the box. Tape the side of the box for support. Ensure the flaps of the box are close together. Perform the taping again for additional protection. Use the H-taping method for the vertical sides of the box.
Calculating the number of boxes for moving house you need depends on the number of rooms and the volume of items in your house. However, many moving companies have packing calculators. These are easy-to-use tools that help you generate an accurate estimate of how many packing boxes for moving house you need. The calculators will estimate based on the number of bedrooms in your home and the lifestyle you live.
Shipping moving boxes is straightforward. In many cases, they're taken to your local post office. However, shipping large boxes or a large amount of boxes is more complex. USPS and courier services such as UPS and FedEx have the size and weight limits that can be too expensive for large parcels, especially for long distances or bulky boxes.
When choosing the best way to ship boxes when house moving, measure and weigh the box; determining the box's size and weight will help you review your available options. Anything below 70 lbs and less than 108" in length and under 165" in girth is shipped by USPS. Packages that are between 70-150lbs are best shipped by courier services like UPS or FedEx. If your items are more than 150lbs, the best way to ship them is by freight.
It's crucial to determine the best size box for moving. Although boxes come in different sizes, you should be keen on the items placed in the different-sized boxes. Smaller boxes measure 12" by 12" by 16" and can contain up to 65 pounds. These boxes are ideal for packing items that are heavy or fragile. They're also appropriate for things that you can easily lose in a larger box. Medium boxes measure 18" by 18" by 16" and can also contain up to 65 pounds. These boxes retain the resistance provided by small boxes and also have a bigger volume to fill. Large moving boxes hold less weight because they're 18" by 18" by 24". This is the best size for moving boxes that carry items that medium boxes cannot. For example, you can use them to carry blankets, disassembled furniture parts, small appliances, and pillows.
Planning a house moving can be a daunting task if you have never done it before. The tricky part lies in buying packing supplies and packing. Some moving companies offer to pack and unpack for you at an extra fee. However, to make your move less costly and time-consuming, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the essential packing supplies, how to pack, and the measures to follow before settling in your new home.
If you are relocating, it is crucial to understand the house moving process. This guide discusses moving terminologies and tips for moving your kitchen to ensure you have a seamless house moving process.
Below are the terminologies you should expect to hear when seeking house moving services.
Accessorial (additional) services are the extra services that house moving companies offer besides standard services and charges. Accessorial additional services may include packing and unpacking, disassembling, and assembling complicated furniture. It may also cover handling specialty items as well as pickup and deliveries along the route.
AMSA certified movers hold the ProMover certification from the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA. AMSA certifies house moving companies after conducting a thorough background check and requires them to adhere to its code of Ethics and professional business practices.
Appliance service refers to the preparation of electrical appliances to ensure they are ready to move safely.
The Bill of Lading is a critical document containing the contract of your household move. Since it acts as a receipt for your move, only sign it once you are sure it's correct.
A binding estimate is an upfront cost of moving that house moving service provider's issue based on the number of your items and the services provided. A non-binding estimate is an estimation of your moving costs. However, the final charges reflect the time in which the move took or the actual weight of your valuables and the services provided.
Booking agents connect you to house movers.
COD (Cash on Delivery) is a form of payment where the customer pays for the move upon delivery of the shipment to the destination.
A carrier refers to the company that transports your shipment to its destination.
A change order is a form you fill when you need to change moving services or add or remove items from your shipment.
Every item you move has a number sticker similar to one on the check-off sheet. A moving check-off sheet is a list of all the valuables in your shipment that ensures they all get to their destination.
A contract number identifies the shipment containing the items you are moving. The number is usually on the Bill of Lading as well as the Order of Service.
A destination agent is an agent located at your destination that helps you manage all the services you need to complete your relocation.
An estimate is a projected calculation of the total costs of your moving services. It takes into account the weight of your shipment and any extra services you may need.
Expedited service is when your mover agrees to transport your shipment by a given date on the condition that you pay a higher minimum charge for the service.
Guaranteed pickup/delivery is a premium service where the mover guarantees service on a given date and reimburses you in case of delay.
A hauling agent is the truck owner and moving agent that your mover contracts to transport your shipment.
High-value articles are items worth $100 per pound or more.
An inventory is the list of all the items you are moving. It includes the details, descriptions, numbers, and conditions of your items.
Line-haul charges refer to charges that specifically apply to the transportation service of your moving.
Long carry charges are the charges you incur when your mover has to move your household items over an excess distance between your residence and the moving truck.
A move coordinator is a professional that manages your house moving from start to finish and updates you on your move.
Order for service is a document containing all the services you request from your moving company and permits them to transport your items.
Peak season rates are higher charges specific to summer relocations.
Pickup and delivery charges are separate charges you incur for the picking and delivery of your items between your residence and a temporary storage facility.
Shuttle services use smaller vehicles to transfer items from your home to the truck when housing movers cannot access your residence with their equipment.
Storage-In-Transit (SIT) refers to when your mover stores your valuables temporarily before it arrives at its destination. Note that storage in transit shouldn't exceed 90 days and results in extra charges.
You incur third-party charges when you request services from third parties, and your mover pays for them.
The valuation charge is a payment that compensates the mover for handling more liability than what is covered by the base transportation charges. Valuation is based on the worth of your shipment.
Warehouse handling charges are compensations to a moving company for handling your shipment in the warehouse when you use storage in transit services.
Moving kitchen items can be a challenge. Below are tips to help you pack your kitchen when moving.
Kitchen appliances require extra care when moving. The best way to pack kitchen items for moving is using their original packaging. When moving kitchen appliances, pack them in their original boxes if you still have them. Remember to remove any hoses and tape the doors shut when moving kitchen appliances.
You can use special packing boxes from the store when packing dishes for moving. Since the special moving boxes can be costly, wrap your dishes with packing paper and stack them together to save space. Tape the bundle to seal it before placing it in a well-padded box.
The best way to pack glasses and mugs for moving is by first lining the box with bubble wraps, stuffing them, and wrapping them with packing paper. Doing so minimizes the effect of any impact during transit. Lastly, label the box as fragile.
To prevent them from losing their shine from abrasion, pack silverware for moving by wrapping them in bundles and placing them in silverware trays. Next, use packing paper to cover the tray and seal it with tape before placing them in a box with other kitchen utensils. Ensure you label the top of the tray, so your silverware doesn't fall out when unpacking.
When packing wine glasses for moving, use specialty dividers. Stuff them from the inside and wrap the glasses with packing papers before placing them in a padded box. Since glasses are delicate, avoid stacking anything on top and ensure you label them as fragile. You can use double boxes for extra protection.
The best way for packing pans and pots for moving is stacking them in order of size, with the smaller pots and pans inside the bigger ones. Wrap the bundle in at least three sheets of packing paper and seal it with tape before putting it in a box. Cover any openings with stuffing paper or towels to prevent them from shifting, and wrap lids with dish towels or packing paper.
Pack knives for moving by wrapping each one of them in paper and covering them in bubble wrap. You can also put them in sleeves designed for packing knives. Make sure you label the cutting sides for safety when unpacking, and pack them on their sides.
Packing spices for moving doesn't involve a lot of work as you only place them in a box. For spices in glass jars, wrap them in packing paper before placing them in a box to prevent the glasses from breaking.
When packing food for moving, seal every item and place them in boxes or grocery bags made of canvas. Ensure you dispose of any food that is expired or nearing its expiry date. For perishables, use a cooler if you have one, or toss them away if it is a long-distance move.
You can pack small appliances for moving either in their original boxes or any other small box. Before packing, wipe and dry your machines, and remove any loose parts like the microwave turntable. Wrap your small appliances using packing paper and place them in a box as close to their size as possible. Lastly, stuff the box to prevent them from moving around.
When it comes to packing and moving, a living room can be a bit more complicated to handle. It's all because of the heavy furniture, electronics, and showpieces people tend to keep in the living room.But don't worry, as you will find out the quick tips to help you plan, pack and organize large and small living room items efficiently.
Before you start packing the living room belongings, make sure you are equipped with all the essential packing supplies. You can have the following things with you for packing the living room for moving:
Lamps – disassemble the lamp and pack the shade and base separately
Glass framed items – use the carton that is designed particularly to pack mirrors
Electronics – you need to have special cartons to pack these expensive belongings. It is suggested to pack these items in their original boxes if you still have them.
How to pack books for moving?
TV screens can be challenging to move as these are easy to break. Televisions are fragile and require extra care and protection while moving. You should know the best ways to wrap a TV for moving are. Check out the tips that need to be considered for packing TV for moving.
If you happen to be a passionate art lover, you would want extra care for your special pictures or photo frames while moving. Making yourself abreast of the best way to pack framed pictures for moving is a good practice, and you should use it for moving and packing pictures for moving.
Here are a few tips to help you make sure your antique artwork and paintings move safely and without damage. Follow them if you want all your creative artwork to arrive safely in your new location.
You must be worried about how to pack fragile lamps so they can survive a smooth move to your new home. Here are the best ways to pack lamps for moving. Check them out to make your move fast and stress-free.
Supplies you will need for packing lamps for moving:
Mirrors are the most difficult items to pack for a move. But you can make the process quite smooth by following the best ways to wrap mirrors for moving.
Initially, you need to collect all the packing supplies:
Take a look at the best tips:
Be careful while packing houseplants for moving. It might seem so simple, like packing any other stuff, but if you want your plants will continue to brighten your new home, you have to keep a few particular things in mind.
Well, you can't take your wall-to-wall carpeting with you; your area rugs can be a part of your next move. But how should you be packing a rug for moving with safety? Check out the below considerations:
One of the biggest challenges while preparing for moving is to safely pack furniture. You can follow the below-mentioned tips to learn how to pack and protect your furniture during the relocation.
Whether your home wardrobe is bursting out or it's more of a minimalist cupboard, it's always good to know how to pack your closet for moving. If you find it overwhelming, don't worry; here's the checklist to make your closet packing easy, fast, and enjoyable.
The main issues of moving clothes during the move comprise: how to pack all the clothes without getting wrinkles, how to make sure all the clothes stay clean during the move, and how to keep them organized until they arrive at your new location.
Here's what you need to learn for packing closets for moving:
If you know, ties are often made of some delicate material such as silk that makes them easy to damage and susceptible to the crease. If you want to avoid these situations to occur, you need to pack ties for moving with a bit of care.
What will be needed to pack ties for moving:
Packing shoes is not complicated as footwear is not bulky and rarely comes in different shapes and sizes. But it's not much more challenging to pack than other stuff in your closet. Your shoes have to come to your new home and need to be appropriately packed. But how?
Let's check how the best ways to pack shoes for moving can make your journey hassle-free:
Firstly, get some supplies for packing clothes on hangers for moving. Let's know what these are:
Jewelry is precious and you must want to make sure they reach safely to your new location. A few precautions and packaging tips can help you move them safely without breakage or any damage.
Below mentioned best ways to pack jewelry for moving will help you prepare everything for transport:
If you have a variety of caps and hats to move to your new home, you need to learn the best ways to pack hats for moving.
A few moving supplies you will need to pack for your hats:
Our bedrooms typically have the greatest number of personal items, so it takes ample time to pack its belongings. Packing up the bedroom belongings, including closets and wardrobes, can be daunting. But you can make the process easier by adopting a few best and most important bedroom packing tips.
Start by decluttering your bedroom belongings by segregating: things to keep, things to discard, and things to donate.
Gather all the packing supplies including, large and small packing boxes, bubble wrap, masking and packing tape, corrugated cardboard, permanent marker, cleaning supplies, furniture blankets, garbage bags, etc.
Start packing all the bedroom belongings along with Wardrobe, Cupboard Accessories, treasured items, furniture, bed & beddings,
While packing bedroom for moving, pack all these items using the appropriate packing material or boxes to keep them protected during the move
Anything can be easier than packing bed frames for moving. One needs to be careful and well-aware of the steps to follow to pack bedframes for moving.
Bed mattresses are bulky and hence can be challenging to pack and move to the new location. You can start the process with efficiency by using the best and most helpful tips to pack mattresses for moving.
You must be thinking that packing a bathroom is pretty easy and effortless, but it's not so. There are a lot of things that need to be considered while packing the bathroom for moving. But what are the best tips to pack bathroom for moving?
When you think of packing makeup, you might be tempted to put everything in a bag. But, throwing everything in a single bag can sometimes result in damage to your valuable branded cosmetics. It is suggested to pack makeup belongings with extra care so these can reach safely to your new home.
Check out a few easy tips considered as the best ways to pack makeup for moving:
Before packing the toiletries for moving, you have to figure out which ones to bring with you to your new home. When you are done with the finalization, you can proceed with packing toiletries for moving.
Here are the tips:
Moving to a new apartment or home is not simple as you need to make a lot of decisions in a short time span. The decisions can be based on selecting the best moving supplies to finalizing the moving date; everything requires a lot of effort and time.
Many relocation decisions happen to be the hardest to make while choosing the right moving and packing company. But you can make the process smooth by asking a few questions to your selected movers.
You can start your selection by following the below questions:
The first and one of the most crucial questions to ask for movers is whether their moving agency has legal permission and is properly licensed for moving houses. A professional moving and packing company should have a license number issued by the United States Department of Transportation.
Don't hesitate to ask your moving company whether they hold experience handling the type of move you're looking to move your house. For example, suppose you want to move to a high-rise apartment or need moving services for multiple stories. In that case, you will have to inquire whether your selected moving partners have the relevant experience with the types of move.
No one wants his/her belongings to be damaged during relocation. Even they will expect the damage cover from the moving company in case of any mishaps. No matter you're moving across the street, city or interstate, you should ask your moving company whether they provide such coverings with their services or not.
Companies don't hire an employee without checking the references, then how can you hire movers and packers without asking for the best references. This is one of the best questions to ask a moving company as it builds confidence and reliability for the selected company.
Many moving companies sign for a non-binding estimate, which most probably means that your moving price is subjected to change or exceed. You have to fix everything in advance, including all the costing clauses. You have to ask your movers to discuss everything at the time of moving estimation, so you don't get surprised with the unexpected bills of the move.
With millions and billions of moves every year all across the country, it's not a surprise that most of the moves go smoothly or without any issues. It's all because of the experience of quality movers and packers people hire for their move. But do you know who is the best among all the available moving companies over the web?
Here comes the role of the best tips for hiring movers:
Moving houses sounds so happening and exciting, but it's not a simple task to accomplish. Often, we don't even know where to begin and finish. This scenario calls for an urgent need for professional movers and packers who know how to handle critical moving challenges like a breeze. Hiring a top-rated moving company can solve all your moving obstacles and offer you a smooth and stress-free relocation experience.
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