Archives: Moving Tips

Technology has infiltrated almost every aspect of our lives, and that includes moving! While there aren’t any robots (yet) to handle your move, modern technology has helped streamline the business and give customers more control over the entire process. Plus, technology also makes it much easier to find movers in Connecticut and beyond. If you’re planning to move in the next few months, the following technology can make your move a lot smoother.

Scheduling/Planning Apps

While some people might prefer having a physical planner, most people use their phone’s to pretty much manage their entire life. After all, if you’re like everyone else, you probably always have your phone on you and you check it at least 96 times per day. Even if you don’t check that frequently, your phone is still an amazing resource for planning. Most phones come pre-installed with a basic calendar app so you can schedule everything in your to-do list without even downloading anything from the app store. Some important dates to add to your calendar are:

• Moving day
• Packing day(s)
• Finalizing your CT movers
• Shopping for packing supplies
• Decluttering your house
• Selling/donating anything you won’t bring with you
• Calling utilities to shut down in your old house and turn on in your new place
• Farewell party
• Completing school transfer for kids
• Getting doctor and vet records

In order to properly pace your move, it’s important to break it up into as many small parts as possible. That way, you won’t be completely overwhelmed when moving day comes and will have everything in order.

You should start planning your move at least a month before your move out date, but ideally more if you can. This is especially true if you plan on hiring professional movers as most will want at least a month’s notice so they can ensure they will have availability on your preferred date and time. While the movers can help pack some of your things, if you spring the packing on them last minute, you’ll have to deal with a very high packing fee. That means everything should be packed up and ready to go the night before. Depending on how much stuff you have, you should start packing at least two weeks before your move date. From there, everything else can fall into place. You’ll obviously need packing supplies before you start packing, but you’ll want to declutter your house before buying supplies so you don’t end up with too many boxes.

If calendars aren’t your thing, there are plenty of planning apps, like Trello, that allow you to create to-do lists and set deadlines for these items. You can even assign tasks to different people, making it a perfect option if you’re moving with roommates or family members. Many of these apps can also sync with your calendar so you don’t accidentally schedule something else when you had already planned to pack on a particular day.

Government Websites and Online Reviews

Before the internet, people had to depend on word-of-mouth and looking through ads and the yellow pages to find professional movers. Today, you have all that information at your fingertips and more options than ever before. It’s easier than ever to find quality movers that offer a variety of additional services such as packing or storage.

However, it has also become a lot easier for scammers to create fake moving businesses as all they need to do is create a semi-professional website. In fact, around 1,300 moving scams take place every year with Americans losing a total of $2.1 million. In order to protect yourself, you will still need to do some legwork and research the companies before even making a phone call. That means:

• Finding their US Department of Transportation number (registered movers are required to put this on their website) and looking them up on the Federal Motor Carriers site. Make sure they are authorized to work and that the listed name matches the name on the website
• Checking the BBB, Google, and Yelp reviews for any issues from previous customers
• Looking for their contact information including address, email address, and phone number on their site. All professional movers will list these so you can easily contact them

Once you have confirmed that all the information is correct and present, you can then reach out to a few different movers for estimates. Thankfully, it’s even easier to get an estimate as all you need to do is fill out an online form detailing the specifics of your move and additional services. Well-known movers have been in the business for years so they can give you an estimate via email that will be very close to the actual quote. Or you can use apps like Unpakt to easily get detailed quotes from multiple moving companies at once. You can even narrow your search based on your budget and required services.

If you’re looking for movers on your own, first ask friends and family for their recommendations. Word-of-mouth is still king. If they haven’t moved in a while, check out the company’s online Google, Yelp, and Better Business Bureau review. If they all seem good, you’re probably safe!

Online Marketplaces

Decluttering is an important step in the moving process. Not only does it reduce the amount of stuff you need to pack, it can also lead to some extra money in your moving budget. If you have some high value items that you can’t or won’t bring with you, consider listing them online on places such as Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, eBay, Craigslist, etc.

Do some research on the items beforehand to find a good price point for the items. For example, a vintage leather jacket that is in good condition can still sell for a few hundred dollars. Certain vintage camera lenses can also net you a tidy $100-200 or more depending on the condition. Even some old comic books can go sell for a decent amount! Keep things local for larger items such as furniture. That way the buyer can pick it up themselves or you can offer to drop the item off if you have the necessary vehicle and/or equipment.

For everything else, a good old yard/garage sale can help you get rid of the majority of small items. While you can still post about the sale in the local papers, utilize the power of the internet to get more customers. Advertise the sale on Facebook within a 25-30 mile radius and see how many people show up! Just make sure to specify the time you open as there are dedicated garage sale shoppers that might show up at 6am!

Speaking of online marketplaces, they are also a great place to find affordable packing supplies. Chances are someone in your neighborhood (or nearby town) is probably moving. So why not use that opportunity to take some stuff off their hands like gently used boxes, bubble wrap, packing paper, etc. you can save yourself a lot of money that way and you’ll be helping a neighbor get rid of unwanted items at the same time.

Budgeting Apps

Movers by themselves can cost up to $10,000 depending on the size, complexity, and distance of your move. That doesn’t even include the costs of packing supplies and buying new stuff for your new home! Before you know it, you’re blowing past your monthly budget with credit card bills piling up. It’s a nightmare scenario for most people, especially when you consider all the new things you need to buy for your new house!

In order to keep your spending from spiraling out of control, you’ll want to look into a way to budget your spending. Before that, of course, you will need to know what your average monthly budget is and see where you might be able to take funds from to funnel into your moving budget. If you’re already tracking your spending, you should be able to see what categories you can decrease. Maybe that means reducing your fun money (booze, takeout, entertainment, etc.) for a few months to save up. If you don’t track your expenses, look at your bank and/or credit card statement for the past few months. As best you can categorize each transaction so you can see where you’re spending your money.

You could potentially get away with just tracking your expenses via a spreadsheet, but there are much easier ways to budget your spending via apps such as Mint. These apps automatically connect to your bank account and credit card once you give them permission and will list all of your transactions and guess at the specific category. You can create a monthly budget for specific categories so you can see how much you’re spending in that specific category. You can even create custom categories (like moving) and set a monthly spend. Visually seeing where all your money is going and what you’re spending it on can help you reduce your overall spending in other areas and keep your moving budget from getting too high. You will need to re-categorize transactions to the custom category, but it only takes a few seconds to do!

Digital Interior Designing

Decorating a new home is always the funnest part about moving, but it can also be the stuff of nightmares especially if you’re bringing your old furniture with you. You might think that the sofa would fit snugly in a specific corner of the living room, but it turns out it’s actually just a little too long. Sound familiar? It’s a common occurrence for a lot of people.

If you want to avoid that heartbreak of moving furniture only to have to get rid of it, then get some digital help. There are many online floor plan and/or interior design apps that can help you imagine your new space. For best results, you’ll of course need the dimensions of the rooms (including doorways and entryways) as well as your furniture. From there, you should be able to get an accurate idea of how to arrange the various rooms and whether that old sofa or table will even fit in a room. Many sites and apps will even have generic furniture that you can put down if you don’t plan on bringing any with you.

Make Your Next Move Easier

While there are some parts of the move that you can’t use your phone or computer for, there are so many other steps where you can save yourself a lot of time and money. If you’re planning to move soon, then try out the above ideas to see how much better your moving experience is. And, of course, make sure to hire professional movers so moving day will be even more stress-free.

FAQ

How can I keep track of my belongings during a long distance move?

Many trusted movers, like us, have GPS trackers on our trucks and we send our customer’s daily updates so they know exactly where their belongings are. If you’re making a long distance move, make sure to asking the movers if they provide GPS tracking!

What should I do if I need to file a complaint with a moving company?

It depends on the nature of the complaint, but always contact customer support via email to let the company know about the issue (and call too). If the crew broke an item, take a picture and send it to the movers and ask to fill out an insurance claim form.

Can I put in a request for mail forwarding online?

You sure can! All you need to do is go to USPS website and change your address online. It will cost some money, but it will save you a trip to the post office.

Asking the right questions when choosing your moving company can be the difference between a great experience and a horrible one. It can weed out the real, professional movers from potential scammers. However, you need to know what questions to ask first. The moving industry is fairly opaque to most consumers and it’s rife with misleading prices, unreliable labors, and even uninsured/licensed companies. In order to make sure your belongings get to your new place in one piece, don’t be afraid to ask the questions below to all potential moving companies you might hire.

Is the company licensed and insured?

Do NOT skip this question. If there’s one question you should always ask, it’s whether the company is up-to-date on their license and insurance. Licensed moving companies must meet rigorous safety, financial, and insurance standards by the federal Department of Transportation (DOT). Depending on what state you’re in, they might also need to be licensed by the state’s DOT . Reputable moving companies will either have their DOT numbers on their website so you can look them up before you make the call or will provide it to you when you talk to them over the phone. It’s a red flag if they don’t give you an answer!

In addition to having the appropriate licenses, ask whether the company has appropriate insurance. You can ask for something called a certificate of insurance (COI) which lists out all of the liability insurance they have and the coverage amount. Check the document to check that the coverage has not lapsed and also look for telltale signs of fakes such as a different company name and an address that is different from what is listed on the website. In many large cities, apartment buildings will not allow you to move in without a COI. If the moving company you hire doesn’t have one, you won’t be allowed to bring your belongings into your new place!

Speaking of insurance, you should also ask what kind of moving insurance they provide. Most companies only provide release value protection for local moves. That means you’ll only be reimbursed at up to 60 cents per pound per item. It’s not much, but this option is free. If the company tries to charge you for this basic coverage, run away! For long-distance moves, moving companies are required to offer full coverage, but they can charge you extra for this service.

Is the company a broker or carrier?

All moving companies fall into one of three categories:

• Brokers – they outsource their moving services to a different company
• Carriers – they handle all your moving services with in-house staff
• Hybrid – they handle some services in-house and outsource others

While a good moving company can fall under the broker umbrella, stick with carriers. There’s a lot of miscommunication and even additional costs and fees that could be incurred on moving day when you work with brokers. After all, the crew who shows up on moving day might not have spoken with the brokers at all so they might have no idea what to expect. Besides that, if there is an issue, it will take much longer to solve the issue as the brokers would need to reach out to a third-party.

When you work with a carrier, the experience will be seamless as there’s direct contact between the crew and the customer service rep you talked to. And if anything goes wrong, you should be able to get it resolved quickly. In most cases, hybrid movers will do most of the services in-house and might outsource more specialty services like painto transport or auto shipping. If the company does mention they have a hybrid model, always ask what services are in-house.

What services do they offer?

Moving companies don’t all offer the same services. In fact, even within the same basic moving service some companies will offer more than others. For example, the cheaper options may only provide the most basic loading and unloading and nothing more. Others (like Great Movers) might offer other services free of charge such as wardrobe boxes, disassembly and reassembly of basic furniture, mattress covers, protective blankets for furniture, and more. Ask what options come with a basic move. If you have larger items like a pool table or piano, make sure to mention it as these are specialty items.

When it comes to add-on services, always ask what the moving company offers. Figure out exactly what you need before you call them. Some common services and questions to ask include:

• Packing – do they offer partial and/or full service packing? Do they pack up the day before or day of? What about unpacking services (if you need them)?
• Storage – what is the minimum and maximum amount of time you can rent the units? Are they climate-controlled? Will they deliver the items to and from storage?
• Plastic bin rentals – when will the bins be dropped off? How many can you rent at a time? When will you need to return them? Will the moving company pick up the rentals after you have unpacked? What happens if the bins get damaged?
• Packing materials – When will the materials be delivered?

Don’t assume anything when it comes to these services. Ask as many questions as possible so you know exactly what to expect and if the company fits your needs.

What is included in the estimate/quote?

Moving companies who have been in business for a long time can provide a very accurate quote so long as you provide accurate information on how much stuff you’re moving and the services you’ll need. Some less than savory companies will often provide a low-ball estimate that might just cover the time spent actually moving boxes. While the initial bill might look affordable when it comes time to pay you’re surprised by hundreds of dollars over what you were expecting.

Before you sign anything, always ask how the company is calculating the price. For local moves, most companies will charge a flat hourly rate whereas long-distance movers will often charge by weight/volume and/or distance. A good moving company will lay out all the additional charges up front so you know exactly what to expect. Typical charges include:

• Materials charge for boxes they use for packing certain items for free
• Fuel surcharge
• Travel time
• Stair fee if they need to go up and down several flights of stairs
• COI – if they need to send a COI
• Additional services
• Oversized items

Some companies might also charge extra for moving during peak season or for last-minute moves. If you don’t see it on the estimate, don’t assume you won’t get charged. Discuss seasonal and last-minute pricing differences with each moving company’s representative.

While you’re talking about the estimate, ask if it is binding or non-binding. Ideally, it would be binding as that guarantees the total cost of the move and there are rules in place to determine how much the final cost can exceed the estimate. Non-binding estimates are subject to increase based on the weight of your move and any other additional charges outlined in your contract.

Don’t forget to ask about their cancellation/rescheduling policy! Life doesn’t always cooperate so you might need to make changes to your move date. Most moving companies require at least 2 days notice if you cancel or reschedule, but you should always ask. Don’t forget to ask how much you will have to pay if you cancel after that timeframe!

Can they provide references?

Top moving companies should be able to provide references either via online testimonials or by request. Ideally, you should choose your top four after you’ve already done some internet sleuthing on your own. While online reviews can be faked, you can usually spot them because they’re short, vague, and seem like canned responses. Look for reviews that provide detailed examples, whether positive or negative. You want to weed out the scam companies. Don’t rely solely on Google or Yelp. Check out the Better Business Bureau for any complaints lodged against the company.

Even if all the reviews look good, you should still ask for references when you talk to the moving rep. Ask for at least two recent references that had a similar move to what you are planning. Quality moving companies should have no problem providing this information to you. When you talk to the person, ask how they felt about the move, the crew, the condition of their belongings when they moved in, responsiveness of the company, and anything else that you might want to know. This is a chance to get an outsider’s perspective so ask as much as possible!

Find the Perfect Movers

Looking for good movers takes a lot of time and patience, but it’s worth the effort. After all, you want to make sure all your precious belongings make it to your new home in one piece! By doing your research and asking questions, you’ll be able to protect yourself from potential scammers. Once you do start asking questions, pay attention to how they respond. If they’re open and forthright, chances are they are quality movers. If they dodge your questions, cut your losses and move on.

FAQ

What happens if an item gets damaged during the move?

This is a great question to ask the moving company. In most cases, you should record the damage and send it to the customer representative you spoke to. From there, they will escalate to their insurance provider and should cover up to the insured amount.

What do I do if the movers don’t show up on moving day?

This should not happen with reputable moving companies. However, if you find yourself in this position, your best bet is to try and contact another company to see if they have a truck and crew available. If it’s not during peak moving season, you should be able to find something. If you can’t, reach out to your landlord or real estate agent and let them know the issue and see if you can extend your stay in your old home for up to a week.

Do I need to arrange parking for the movers?

If you’re moving from an apartment, the moving company will handle all of the logistics including additional information on who to contact if you do need a permit. If you’re moving from a house, just make sure your cars are out of the way so the crew can pull up the truck as close to your front door/garage as possible.

Moving for work is a bit different from regular moving as the timeline involved is usually much shorter. After all, you’ll have to find a new place to live AND move all your stuff before you start your new job. Some companies might give you a few months to get situated while others might only give you a few weeks. Of course, uprooting your life and relocating can be overwhelming, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to make your life a bit easier when relocating for a new job.

Ask About Relocation Assistance

Many people are hesitant to ask for relocation assistance from their new employer as they’re worried it might make them appear greedy or demanding. However, if you’ve already been offered the position, there’s no harm in asking. Simply ask the HR rep if they provide reimbursement for some moving expenses. If they say no, then all you need to do is thank them and move on. It won’t reflect poorly on you and your job offer won’t be rescinded.

Depending on the company’s budget, and whether it’s even willing to consider paying for relocation costs, you may get a signing bonus, a specific reimbursement amount, or a padded offer. Even if the company only provides a small reimbursement amount, it can go a long way in reducing your overall moving budget, especially if you’re hiring professional movers. If you’re worried about bringing up relocation assistance, consider asking after you’ve already received the job offer.

Create a Realistic Timeline

If you’re looking for a job out-of-state or 2+ hours away from your current home, chances are the recruiter or manager will want to know when you would be able to start your new job. Don’t just provide an answer offhand! Before you take the interview, take time to consider how long it will actually take you to find a new place, pack everything, provide notice to your old job, and get settled in your new home. You might think you only need 2-3 weeks for relocation, but chances are you’ll probably need more, especially if you’re looking to buy a new home.

You should try to give yourself at least a month for your moving timeline. This should hopefully give you enough time to pack up and find a temporary place to live in your new area. Much like asking about relocation assistance, don’t be afraid to ask HR for the amount of time you need to be successful. You don’t want to start your new job already stressed out!

Create a Budget

Even if you don’t receive any relocation assistance from your new job, you should still create a reasonable budget for your moving needs. Even if you’re not a numbers person, this is a crucial step as moving costs can add up quickly! When creating your budget, include everything you can think of. This includes:

• Professional movers
• Startup cable and internet costs
• Meals
• Accommodations if you’re making a cross-country move
• Gas if you are driving a car
• Replacing essentials such as food, paper towels, cleaning supplies, etc.
• New furniture (if needed)

Of course, in order for the budget to be useful, you need to track your spending. Keep all of your receipts related to moving expenses, this includes takeout food while packing, and put it all in a spreadsheet and subtract all your expenses from your estimated budget. If you have a small budget, you’ll need to get creative with how you can reduce your expenses.

While moving isn’t cheap, you can get around certain costs. For example, instead of purchasing new boxes, see if you can get used boxes from friends, family members, your office, grocery stores, and so on. You should also pack everything yourself. Not only will it save money, you also will be able to organize your boxes in a way that will make unpacking easier when you move into your new place.

Create a To-Do List

Organization is important to every move, but even more so if you’re moving for a new job. You won’t have a lot of time to settle in before you start working at your new place, so you want to make sure everything is in place beforehand. Even if you have an amazing memory, writing down everything you need to get done and checking it off the list will keep you motivated. And it will free up brain space to impress your new boss and employees.

In addition to lists, spreadsheets are a great way to keep track of everything. You can create entire spreadsheets on focused parts of the move like who to notify of a change of address, things you need to purchase at your new home, when to notify your current utility provider to turn off service at your old home, and so on. Make sure you’re also making notes of things you will need your first week at your new place such as:

• Toiletries
• Medication
• Important paperwork (especially what you would need for your first day of work)
• Work clothes
• Pajamas or at-home clothes
• Chargers

Meet New People

Moving to a new area is exciting, but it also means you’re probably leaving a lot of your friends behind. Even if you have some acquaintances in your new town, you might not want to insert yourself into their busy schedules. Besides, it’s a good idea to build your own network of friends who enjoy your hobbies.

While it might be intimidating, the best way to make friends is to put yourself out there. Depending on the size of the town or city you’re moving to, you can probably find a variety of activities to join. Do you like art? See if there’s a Paint Night nearby where you can create some simple paintings while having a cocktail. If you’re more sporty, see if there are some recreational leagues you can join.

When you start a new job, you should be as social as possible in the beginning. Try to say ‘yes’ as much as possible if your coworkers invite you out for drinks or coffee. Sure, you might feel awkward because you don’t know anyone, but hanging out in a more casual setting is a great way to get to know who you work with and make professional connections. Even if you’re introverted, make the effort to accept invitations.

Book All Necessary Appointments As Soon As Possible

Chances are you have a lot of moving-related tasks that might keep you away from your desk during the early days of your relocation. Do your best to arrange all appointments as soon as possible. Hopefully when you gave your timeline to the HR rep, you carved out some time to take care of all these appointments before you start your new job.

Of course, things don’t always go as planned. Maybe you didn’t realize you needed to go to the DMV to change your address on your license or perhaps the cable guy never showed up on the expected date. As with anything in life, things don’t always go as planned. In these cases, try to schedule as much as possible all at once so you can let your manager know of any impending absences. If you need more flexibility, speak to your boss about your circumstances so they’re aware you might need to be out on short notice. The more upfront you are, the easier it will be to request time off.

Prepare for Your Relocation

Moving for a new job involves a lot of planning and organization, especially since you want to make sure you put your best foot forward the first week at your new job. By planning ahead and being honest about your timeline you can save yourself a lot of stress in the long run. One of the best ways to save time is to hire professional movers, like Great Movers! We will work with you to create a custom moving plan that works for your budget and needs.

FAQ

Should I look for a new job first or a place to live?

It depends! Usually, it’s better to look for a place to live so you have enough time to find your dream place. However, you might find your dream job before that. In those cases, you should look for temporary housing as soon as possible.

My house hasn’t sold yet, but I need to start my new job, what do I do?

That’s what real estate agents are for. They will handle all aspects of closing and will get in touch with you once there’s a bid so you can accept/reject the offer and finalize all the paperwork.

I had to move into a smaller apartment and there’s not enough space for everything I own. What can I do?

If you’re working with professional movers, ask if they offer short or long-term storage solutions and make sure they know what will go into storage. The movers will then bring your belongings to a secure facility. Once you’ve moved into your permanent place, call up the movers and they will bring the rest of your stuff to you at additional charge!

It’s not fun breaking a glass cup under normal circumstances. It’s even less fun when a glass gets broken during a move. Not only will you have to replace the broken items, you also have to deal with the cleanup after you unpack. If you’re not careful, you could even injure yourself during cleanup.

Protecting your fragile items when moving starts with how you pack them. You’ll want to spend extra care and time to make sure these delicate items make it through the move unscathed. If you’re ready to get started, here are some tips on how to make a damage-free move.

Know Which Items Require Special Handling

When people think of fragile items, their mind immediately goes to items like glassware, plates, and fine china. However, there are other items that also require delicate handling in order to keep it in good condition:

• Musical instruments – many instruments are made from materials that are sensitive to both temperature and humidity. In order to keep it in good condition, these should always be packed in hardshell cases designed specifically for the instrument’s unique shape.
• Fine art – moving pictures, frames, or paintings is a delicate process as they can easily break or rip during a move
• Electronics – TVs, cameras, and A/V equipment all require extra care when moving. You can easily destroy the screen of a LCD TV if something hard knocks into it. Whenever possible, use the original box it was shipped in. Some moving companies will provide specialty boxes for TVs and will even dismount and pack it for you.
• Antiques – do you have pieces of furniture or knick-knacks that have been passed down through your family? Or maybe you simply like antiques. Whatever the reason, you’ll want to make sure these items are handled carefully to ensure nothing breaks or gets scuffed during the move

Get the Right Materials

In order to get the job done properly, you need the right tools. If you have different types of breakable items, you’ll need different materials. For example, electronics might require a different packing method from more delicate items like fine china or glassware. Some standard items you should have on hand include:

• Packing peanuts – these will help fill up any empty space between your fragile items and the box to prevent too much unnecessary movement
• Bubble wrap – they’re not just fun to pop, they’re also meant to provide cushioning for your breakable items. You can wrap items in bubble wrap and also line the bottoms of the boxes with it.
• Furniture pads – these protect your larger items by covering up the exposed areas with padded blankets. Most professional movers will supply the furniture pads, but it’s not a bad idea to wrap your large furniture yourself!
• Dividers – use these for glasses and stemware to prevent them from shifting and colliding into each other
• Paper – packing paper is a simple and affordable option to protect your glassware and other valuables. Wrap both the outside and fill hollow items with packing paper to soften vibrations.

Use Smaller Boxes for Packable Items

Not only are smaller boxes easier to handle when moving, they’re also great because you’re not over-packing them. Wrap each item individually with packing paper and/or bubble wrap before you pack it in the box. The less empty space there is in your box, the less room there is for the items to move during transit.

Speaking of boxes, never use flimsy boxes for your fragile items! The thicker and sturdier they are, the better. Thin boxes means your glassware or ceramics will move when there’s even the slightest vibration or jostling. Choose the most rigid box you can and reinforce these boxes with packing tape for extra support. You don’t want the boxes breaking on you!

Mark Your Fragile Items!

Whether you are moving yourself or hiring professional movers, you should always mark which boxes have fragile items. Even if you’re doing all the loading and unloading, it’s easy to forget where you put all the breakable items and you might end up stacking other boxes on top of your box of glassware. As you might expect, this can only lead to disaster. Similarly, movers won’t know which packed boxes contain all the delicate items unless you specify!

If you don’t have a black or red sharpie, buy one! Write ‘fragile’ on all the sides of the box as large as possible. You might even want to buy different color tape to draw more attention to the fragile boxes. Don’t forget to mark which way the box should be placed. You can draw arrows pointing in the correction direction and write “this end up” or you can get stickers to include on the boxes.

For larger items like TVs, furniture, etc. you should still put a sticker or some kind of warning to ensure these items get treated with care. This is especially true if you have furniture with glass or ceramic parts. Don’t forget to bubble wrap the breakable parts for added security.

Take Your Time

Packing is an arduous task and it’s easy to want to rush through the process so you can get it done as soon as possible. Even when you’re packing your regular stuff, you want to have plenty of time to organize and pack properly. This is doubly important with  your fragile items. After all, the time you might save packing things quickly could lead to a lot of time and potentially money wasted cleaning up any broken items.

While you’re at it, leave the fragile items for last. It takes a lot of time to properly pack everything and you might discover that if you start with your breakables first you’ve run out of time for everything else. The best way to avoid this issue is to start packing earlier than you think you need to. Ideally, you should start at least a month beforehand so you have time to do a little bit every day. Start packing rooms and/or items you don’t use often in the beginning and slowly build your way up until you only have the essentials to pack the day before moving day. That way, you won’t feel rushed and you can finish the entire job.

Protect Your Fragile Items

Making sure your fragile items get to your new home safely takes a lot of time and a bit of money to do properly. However, it’s well worth it as you won’t have to worry about opening a box full of broken glass when unpacking! If you don’t have the time or you’re intimidated by packing these items, consider asking a professional moving company if they offer packing services. Many offer partial and full options and know exactly how to protect your breakable items.

At Great Movers, we know exactly how to take care of all your belongings and will even pack some items free of charge for you like your TV, floor lamps, and glass tables! So what are you waiting for? Give us a call once you’re ready to make your move.

FAQ

What happens if some items break during a move?

Most reputable moving companies provide partial valuation service for your items which will reimburse you for $0.60 per pound for each broken item. With that said, if you have a lot of expensive, breakable items you might consider purchasing moving insurance to fully protect your items.

How can I protect my piano during a move?

Work with a moving company who has handled pianos in the past. They will know exactly how to place it in the truck and many will even provide references for piano tuners once you are in your new place.

What happens if I need to move a hot tub?

Call the movers in advance to let them know you are moving a hot tub. Despite its large size, hot tubs do require care when being handled to make sure the electrical components don’t get damaged.