Boxes
How to write an accurate inventory:
Writing an accurate inventory of your own goods can be tricky. We recommend going room by room and writing down what you see. One thing to bear in mind is that though some things are large, and some are small, some heavy and some light, they all need to be wrapped, picked up, and brought out to the truck. In many ways moving estimates is about how many trips back and forth to the trucks you have to make, not how heavy or large things are, so having an accurate and detailed inventory is key to an accurate estimate. Below is a list of things that people often forget to mention when we take inventories from them over the phone, so compare your list to this one to see if anything has slipped through the cracks...
Sometimes people forget to mention... carpets, artwork, floor lamps, if their coffee-table has a glass top, headboards/footboards, lawn furniture, grill, stuff from the basement/shed/attic/crawlspace/eaves/storage-unit/hallway, whether the sofa is a sleeper, plants, bicycles, end tables, under-the-bed-storage.
Lamps:
Lamps should have their shades and bulbs removed and put in a box (which can be lap-folded instead of taped). Cords can be tied to the top or wound around the base.
Plants:
These are difficult in a moving truck and do not store well, even overnight. Depending upon the plant sometimes it's prudent to use a stake and tie off delicate stalks. Please also make sure the pot is relatively dry so as not to soil your other goods.
Bureaus:
Leave the drawers in your dressers. If the contents are clothes or fabrics, leave them in as well. However, harder goods should be removed. A good rule of thumb is to imagine the bureau being tipped either 45 degrees or all the way over on it's side. Particularly remember to remove perfumes or any breakable bottles. Don't tape the drawers shut. Tape might rip the finish off and we need to be able to check the contents of the drawers just in case. We use stretch wrap (an industrial saran wrap) to keep the drawers in place while we're moving it, and at the same time hold movers blankets onto the furniture.
Beds:
Remove bedding and drain any water-beds. If you'd like to disassemble your bedframe that's always a good good way to save money. Just make sure to keep track of the hardware.
Microwaves, Fridges, and Appliances:
Remember to pack the plate from the microwave with your other dishes. Also, have the washer drained, and if the dryer is gas, please have it already disconnected and capped off before we move it. For refrigerators, removing all the shelves and bins will save us time and you money.
Boxes:
It is important to properly pack boxes. Well packed boxes make the move go quicker and lessen the chance of damage. One should always pack a box all the way to the top. A full box is much stronger and resistant to crushing than a half-full box. Keep box weight constant as much as you can. If something is heavy put it in a small box, if it's light, fill a bigger box. Also, the rule for insurance claims for goods in boxes is that if the box isn't damaged, and something inside is damaged the box was not properly packed.
Taping boxes:
When taping most boxes use 3 pieces of tape on the bottom of the box (I prefer a large asterisk pattern). Do not lap-fold the top or the bottom.
Open topped boxes:
Boxes with open tops cannot be stacked upon. This can be handy if you have a box that you consider particularly fragile, or an item in a box that is too small. However, if too many boxes are open-topped and not stackable, it makes packing the truck a real challenge and might cause us to make 2 trips or need another truck, which can become costly.
Packing Dishes:
At the bottom of each box you pack, make a layer of crushed paper to provide a cushioned ride for your goods. All ceramics and glass should be wrapped in a sheet or two of packing paper. Plates should be placed in boxes on their side, never flat. Pack them like you would vinyl LPs. Stemware should always be transported upside down. Dishpack boxes are not good for dishes. A dishpack full or china is a good way to throw your back out and/or damage a lot of pottery. Dishes you can pack densely should go in smaller boxes (plates), Dishes that require a lot of packing paper and take up room should go in bigger boxes (cake platters, large serving bowls, etc). The final test for a box is to give it a light shake, as if it was a gift and you where trying to guess what it was. If you can guess what it is, you didn't pack it right. It should sound like a box full of paper, not dishes.
Fabric:
Fabric, bedding and clothing can be packing in large boxes or bags. Hanging clothes can go in wardrobe boxes. Figure 3 feet of closet bar per wardrobe box.
Books:
Books should always go in book boxes (1.5 ft3 boxes). A trunk or dishpack box full of books will be repacked. Start by stacking the books flat in the box in one corner. Stack them so that the top of the box will touch the top book in the stack then fill in the rest of the space as best you can. This allows the weight put on top of the box to be transferred all the way to the bottom and prevents the box from crushing.
Artwork:
Artwork can be transported in a variety of ways. Valuable works should be pointed out so that we can properly protect them, be it paper pads, boxing, or crating. For less valuable artworks we have cheaper and quicker ways of safely transporting them. Having a prepared sense of what needs to be handled with care and what does not will ensure both safe and economical transport of your goods.
Organization:
Being organized is the #1 thing after being packed. Even the smallest job can take forever if we have to move things 10 times. Knowing where you'd like your goods to go and being able to communicate it will save you money and trouble. Some people write the location boxes are going on each box or some use a color-coded system with dots. Having the customer near the front door on delivery to direct traffic and make sure everything goes to the right place is a good plan as well.
Kids:
If you're moving and you have kids, their safety is our primary concern. We'll be working at a fast pace with heavy items and it's imperative that we have a safe and predictable environment.
Pets:
If you have pets, have a good plan for where they'll be when you're moving. It's a stressful time for them. Most importantly, we wouldn't want to accidentally let your cat or dog out the door. If you're going to keep a pet in a particular room while we're working, please put a note on the door so we don't open it in error.
If we're packing your rental truck...
If we're packing your rental truck, you'll want to rent some blankets with the truck. If you're unsure how many give us a call for a recommendation.In general get more than you think you need; they cost a lot less than new furniture. Also, if you have any tie-downs or rope those will come in handy, or we can sell you some of ours. A supply of extra scrap cardboard also comes in handy for packing and is free.
Here are a couple tips when it comes time to drive your rented truck, we've seen a lot of people get themselves in trouble so here's a couple tips. Take the insurance. Take all of it. It may not seem worth the extra $20 or $30 or whatever it is, but it's worth it. Unless you drive big trucks all day everyday, take the insurance. Using a car trailer is very tricky. Unless you have experience, you might want to find another solution. Once you get on the highway it's easy, but around town, especially if you have to back up, you can get in trouble. Always have someone else back you up. Pedestrians do the craziest things behind moving trucks, have someone there to keep track of it all. Also, if you need to back up to something very close, have your helper show you the distance you are from the other object by holding his or her hands the same distance apart where you can see them. Take overhead height signs seriously, as well as truck routes. Plan your routes in advance through urban areas. Take wide turns and use your mirrors.
For rental companies, we recommend Budget or Penske. We do not recommend Uhaul.
Pianos
There are a number of things to be aware of when having your piano moved. We suggest taking any sheet-music or other items out of your piano bench and boxing them up separately. Keeping a clear path from where we're moving the piano from to our truck is key (clear items from the stairs and entry way for example). You'll also want to make sure you have the appropriate floor protection for where you'll be moving the piano to. For carpeted floors you'll want plastic caster coasters with no felt on the bottom, and for hardwood, the same but with protective felt. It is also common for a piano to go out of tune after being moved, this is normal. It's not as much from the transport of the piano as the subtle differences in humidity and temperature between locations. Even a slight change can create the need for tuning and regulation.
Our Blog
We have additional tips up on our blog at: http://thebostonmovers.blogspot.com/
