Packing Tips

Dishes and Fragile Items

• Cushion the bottom of the box with crumbled paper.
• Wrap each piece individually. Invest in professional packing paper and avoid using newsprint.
• Stand dishes on their sides, do not lay them flat.
• Use double corrugated dish packs for china and place a few layers of paper between each piece.
• Cushion the top and sides with paper to prevent shifting, and fill each box completely and label "Fragile".

Clothing

• For small dressers with drawers, contents can remain in the drawers.
• For larger furniture, drawers must be emptied.
• Use larger size boxes when packing linens, pillows and clothing.
• Put hanging clothes in wardrobe boxes. We sell them and rent them.

Pictures and Mirrors

• Box small pictures and mirrors; use picture/mirror cartons on larger ones.

Electronics

• Wherever possible, pack electronics in the original cartons. If the original boxes are not available to you, pack the items using bubble wrap and make sure that it is packed in the proper size box.
• Code wiring with tape for easy installation.
• Backup all computer hard-drives prior to shipping.

Garage

• Empty gasoline from lawn mowers and similar types of equipment.
• Empty, defrost and clean your refrigerator. Make sure it has 2-3 days to air dry.
• Tape yard tools together in bundles of five.
• Separate items that are staying at the home (excess paints, window screens, etc.)
• Remove propane tank from gas grill or clean and empty charcoal grill.

Do Not Pack the following items:

• Money, important papers or jewelry, keep these items with you at all times.
• Under federal law, moving companies are forbidden from transporting hazardous materials such as gasoline, propane tanks, ammunition and aerosol cans.
• Perishable items such as frozen foods and plants

Helpful Hints

• Use proper packing material. Invest in sturdy boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap and packing paper.
• Begin packing the items in your home that you use least.
• Tape the bottoms and tops of every box; don't interlock the tops. Run one strip of tape along each side and two strips down the center.
• Use small boxes for heavier items (books, magazines) and larger boxes for light-weight bulky items (linens, pillows). Boxes should weigh about 25 to 30 lbs. each.
• Wrap small/or fragile items individually.
• Check the owner's manual of your large appliances to see if they require special preparation prior to moving, as is the case for many washers, dryers, refrigerators and grandfather clocks.
• Stuff the top, bottom and sides of boxes with paper. This prevents shifting, rubbing, and possible breakage.
• Pack boxes completely full. This prevents them from being crushed when they are stacked.
• Stuff boxes with fragile items with crumbled paper. When you shake the box the contents should not move.
• Label all boxes using a black magic-marker. When labelling, think about your new home and where you'll want the box delivered to.
• Don't force your kids to purge prior to moving day. Coping with the move is change enough.
• Say goodbye to friends and neighbors prior to moving day. Meet your new friends and neighbors when we've finished unloading.
• When unpacking, completely empty the box prior to discarding; sometimes an item can be overlooked due to the packing paper.