Self-Moving Tips

1. Are you up for a lengthy drive in a rental truck?

2. If not, have you considered a self-service moving company? These companies provide transportation and you provide the labor. So you load your belongings on the truck and then their professional driver delivers it to the destination. Once there, you unload the truck.

3. Now wait a minute…it is not that simple. There are a few different types of self-service movers.


1. Freight Haulers - This category uses spring ride freight trucks to haul your household goods. They leave it at your house and you load it. When you finish, they fill the remainder of the truck with general freight (pallets of stuff) and shuttle it around to your destination.
   
   
2. Container Companies - This category drops a big container off at your house. It usually has a garage type door on the front and is made of fiberglass or wood. You fill it with your household goods and they pick it up. It is usually moved around with a forklift and transported on a flatbed truck.
   
   
3. Self-Service Movers - This category is as close as you can get to actual moving companies. They typically use air-ride moving vans and provide you with furniture pads, dollies and straps. Ramps are usually included too.

Loading Tips

The simple rule of thumb is load your truck like a puzzle. Everything you move would be considered the pieces. Wrap all wood and scratch prone pieces with a pad or blanket. Put the heaviest pieces on the bottom and build your puzzle to the top with the lighter ones. Making sure everything is loaded tightly in the truck. If needed fill in holes with pads or blankets so nothing can shift around in the back as your driving. Movement in the back causes damage. When done loading, be sure you tie the back of the load off with straps so nothing shifts back. If these guidelines are followed you should have a damage free move.

Helpful Hints:

It can be a good idea to wrap your furniture before carrying it to the truck, especially in bad weather such as rain.

Anytime you are carrying furniture (that requires 2 men) up or down the ramp or stairs, always make sure that you angle the piece of furniture to where it is angled with the slope of the ramp or stairs. This will make the job a lot easier on your back. Remember to always lift with your legs, not your back.

Packing Tips

Materials

Check with your moving or truck rental company to see if they provide you with ramps, blankets, tie-down straps and a dolly. These items will be very important during loading and unloading. Purchasing new packing supplies is the best option. If you choose to use your own boxes, check to make sure they are clean and strong enough to do the job. Don't use old newspapers to wrap anything that may absorb ink. The following is a list of supplies you may find useful:

• Labels/Markers
• Packing paper and tissue paper for delicate items
• Packing tape with dispenser/Twine
• Corrugated paper rolls for fragile items
• Foam popcorn
• Scissors or box cutter
• Pen and notebook to keep carton ID log
• Boxes of various sizes and specialty types

Helpful Hints

• Pack one room at a time.
• Pack a couple of cartons a day.
• Mark all cartons with room and box number. Enter this information on your log. When all boxes are packed enter total number of boxes, such as 1of 50.
• Be sure that the box size is appropriate to the weight of the items. The heavier the item, the smaller the box should be, (ie. books would go into a smaller box than towels).
• Pack heavier items toward the bottom of a larger box, lighter items on top. Try not to exceed 50 pounds per box.
• Use crumpled paper in between layers of breakable items.
• Mark all boxes with breakables as FRAGILE.

Packing Dishware

• Line bottom of medium size boxes with crumpled paper.
• Wrap and stack individual pieces. Do not skimp on the paper. Paper absorbs vibrations and lessens breakage. Packing Glassware/Cups
• When possible, purchase boxes specifically used for packing glassware
• Stuff glasses and stemware with paper.
• Roll each glass with packing paper, tuck in, and stack upright. Do not stack glasses on their side.

• Paintings and artwork require special care. Do not use newsprint to wrap artwork. Use clean packing paper or tissue, and place on edge in cartons.
• If you choose to leave bureau drawers packed, don't overload them. Remove any items that may break or leak.
• Pack electronics in original cartons, if possible. Otherwise, wrap items with blankets and place in padded or lined carton. Wrap cords and wiring separately. Label cords to facilitate hook-up in your new location. Computer manufacturers recommend parking your hard drive before moving your CPU.
• Do not pack flammable or combustible items. Changes in temperature can cause these items to leak or explode.
• To pack lamps, remove bulbs, shades, harps and finials.
• Place tape across large mirrors to secure glass in case of breakage. Wrap and pack upright in carton.