Moving Tips & Tools

• Obtain a change-of-address kit from the post office; fill out the cards, and return. moversguide.usps.com
• Arrange special transport for your pets and plants.
• Contact service companies (gas, electric, oil, water, telephone, cable TV, and trash collection) to disconnect/connect services at your old and new addresses. However, be sure to keep your phone and utilities connected through move day. moveutilities.com-newspapers.com
• Contact insurance companies (auto, homeowners or renters, medical, and life) to arrange for coverage changes in your new location.
• If you’re packing yourself, stop by Excel to purchase materials. Pack items that won’t be needed in the next month.
• Plan a garage sale to help lighten the load.

• Make travel arrangements and hotel reservations for your moving trip. However, don’t make plane reservations for the same day that you’re moving. House closings are often delayed, and other unexpected situations often arise.
• Collect important papers (insurance, will, deeds, stock, etc.)
• Arrange to close accounts in your local bank and open accounts in your new city.

• Have your car serviced for the trip. Also, make sure that your automobile is prepared (filled with the necessary antifreeze/coolant, for example) for the type of weather conditions you’ll be traveling in. weather.com
• If you’re moving out of or into a building with elevators, schedule use of the elevators on moving day.
• Contact your move coordinator to review and confirm all arrangements for your move.

• Make sure that someone responsible is at home to answer questions.
• Record all utility meter readings (gas, electric, water).
• Make special arrangements for pets and small children to keep them safe on moving day.
• Read your Bill of Lading and inventory record carefully before you sign them. Keep these-and all related papers-in a safe location until all charges have been paid and all claims, if any, have been settled.
• Get driver contact info.

• Call your destination agent to make final delivery arrangements.
• The driver will contact the destination agent 24 hours prior to his arrival so the agent can notify you.
• Unless previous arrangements have been made, the driver must, by law, collect payment (cash, approved credit card, certified, cashier’s, or traveler’s checks or money orders) for your move before unloading. Personal checks are not accepted.
• Have a floor plan drawn out or in mind to expedite the unloading process.
• Driver and crew will re-assemble any items that they disassembled at the point of origin.
• Check off items from inventory, as they are unloaded, noting their condition. If an item appears to have been damaged or is missing, make a note on the inventory record and notify your destination agent.
• If you have contracted for unpacking services, your destination agent will arrange them for time of delivery (including packing material removal).

• 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.

• 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.
• 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.

• 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 greater quantity.

• 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.  

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.

The earliest possible day for the optional delivery spread is 6/16. This is determined by adding six (6) days to the first day of the load spread. The latest possible day of the optional spread is 6/20 and is calculated by adding nine (9) days to the first day of the load spread plus one additional day due to a Sunday falling within the spread.

In this example, any consecutive four (4) day period between 6/16 and 6/20 may be chosen as the optional delivery spread. However, the delivery spread cannot end on a Sunday or a holiday. Therefore, 6/19 cannot be the last day of the optional delivery spread.