
- Clear out unwanted goods through a garage sale
for instance
- Dispose flamable products like paint and fuel.
- Separate books – disposable, family reading,
valuable.
- Check all electrical goods – will they work
in the new home?
- Fill out a change of address form at the local
post office.
- Arrange termination date for electricity, gas,
oil, telephone and otherutiltity supplies.
- Prepare cleaning items to clean the new house.
- 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.
- With regards to 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 – it’s
never too early to find out about your new home.
- Start running down freezer stocks.
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, ask your
moving company.
- 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 largerr 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 cannot be moved. Consult
your local gas grill distributor for the safest method,
and ask for CA movers regulations.
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