MOVING TIPS
Plan Ahead
Packing a rental truck has been compared to playing a game of real life Tetris, trying your best not to turn it into a game Jenja! So be sure you are not leaving any open spaces to allow for shifting or moving of boxes causing them to fall during transport. Be sure all boxes are labelled to which room they go to and if they’re fragile. Know which boxes are heaviest to lightest before packing the truck, therefore heaviest ones can go on the bottom, with lightest stacked on top.
Handy Tip – take pictures of all your computer wires, tv wires, or complicated appliances at your currently residence. Then come moving day, you can refer to these pictures for quick set up!
Buy Moving Boxes and Supplies
Having moving boxes of all the same size makes for much easier stacking. Bubble wrap is not just for popping…it saves your most valuable of possessions. Purchasing plain newsprint for wrapping causes less mess and won’t leave behind ink on your dishes and breakables. For a nominal rental fee, renting dollies for appliances and boxes takes away many multiple trips back and forth to the rental truck, on an already exhausting day. Rent a dolly, it’s worth the investment.
Distribute Contents Evenly
This is a must! It makes for easier loading and unloading, but more importantly makes driving the truck easier and safer. Fill any gaps between furniture and appliance with smaller boxes. Take a step back after each layer to see if items can be packed tighter.
Appliances First or Last?
Movers are split on which practice is best. Some believe packing them first ensures you have the room for them all. Others believe stacking all your boxes in first, up against the backdoor of the truck will create a neatly stacked wall capitalizing on as much space as possible, either way can be effective. We suggest that if you have a gas fitter or plumber coming to your new place on moving day to install your appliance, put the appliance in last, this way the appliances come off the truck first. This way allows for your installers can get to work as you are unloaded all other items.
Mattresses and Box Springs
These big items should be used to line the side walls of the truck to maximize space.
Disassembling of Furniture
If space is an issue, disassembling all tables and bed frames before loading them on the truck. Tip – place all hardware for each furniture item in a plastic bag, then tape the bag to the headboards or tables for easy re-assembly.
Suitcases
Don’t pack empty ones, fill them! Also, depending on how long a move you are making, packing suitcases as an overnight bag is a great idea. Pack them with towels, toiletries, and fresh clothing this way once you get to your new home you can easily get ready for another day without having to unpack all your boxes at once.
Dressers
If possible, and if not too heavy, keep clothing in dressers, and tape drawers shut. Wrapping dressers with blankets once in the truck is a good idea to prevent scratches.
Fragile and Odd Shaped Items
These odd shapes items like lamp shades etc., should be positioned on the truck last and on top, and secured with ties.
Valuables
Items like daily medications, heirlooms, jewelry and important documents should stay with you in either the front of the truck or with you in the car while driving to your new home. This way, they won’t get mixed up with all your other items, and you know where they are at all times.
Other Quick Tips
- Pack couches on their ends, if possible. Couches packed on the truck horizontally take up a lot more trucks space. Tie them to the sides of the truck.
- Rugs – roll them up, tightly and tape them up. You may want to pack these in the truck after the furniture. That way they come off the truck before the furniture so you’re not having to move the furniture again at the new house to make way for the rugs.
- Televisions and monitors – the back of these are just as important as the front, wrap them both.
- Mirrors and Glass – after wrapping in bubble wrap, these can be placed in between mattress and box springs in the truck for additional protection.
- Bookcases – once loaded on the truck, maximize space by stacking smaller boxes on their shelves.
- Artwork – bubble wrap, bubble wrap…also tape the hanging hardware to the back of artwork and pictures. This goes for curtain rods too, put hardware in a bag and tape it to the rod.
- Tape all cords to the back of all small and large appliances.
- All-purpose tools – keep some of the tools for assembling your furniture handy, like in the glove box of the rental truck.
Hopefully we’ve given you enough tips to make moving day a lot less stressful. Congratulations, and enjoy your new home!
