How to prepare furniture for storage

Insufficient storage space can be one of the major issues you may face when you’re preparing to move out. In fact, there are a number of cases when you may decide to put some of your larger household items in storage until you can figure out what to do with them – especially true for the various types of furniture you own.

Most furniture pieces are too bulky and as such, they take a lot of space. Therefore, if you’re downsizing your home, planning on a big new-home renovation project, or trying to preserve priceless antique furniture that just won’t fit or match your new residence, then putting your furniture in storage can solve your current just-not-enough-space-for-furniture problem until you find a long-term solution.

However, before you can store some of your pieces, you’re going to have to prepare your furniture for storage so that your valuable possessions retain their current condition and appearance regardless of the storage period (short-term or long-term storage).

Read on to find the best way to prepare furniture for storage.

Storing your furniture: is it worth it?
Before you get down to preparing your furniture for storage, you’ll need to be sure that you’re doing the right thing in terms of investing your time and your money into the whole furniture storage idea.

After all, if you do decide to store your large and heavy items inside a storage unit at a good storage facility near your new home, then you’re going to have to pay a monthly storage fee to keep your things safe there. And if neglected or mismanaged, storage costs can quickly add up to thousands of dollars a year – a serious financial burden which you most likely won’t be able or won’t be willing to handle.

Important info: How much does it cost to rent a storage unit?

Keep in mind that it won’t make much sense to discard high-quality furniture items that are practical, comfortable, fashionable and trendy, or ones that are treasured within the family as family heirlooms. Also, it won’t be too smart to store inexpensive IKEA-like pieces that you can buy cheaper later than the storage fees they will incur in time. /How to pack IKEA furniture for moving/

Go through each furniture item that you plan to store away and ask yourself these 5 questions to figure out of a piece of furniture is worth keeping or not.

Is the furniture item

practical, convenient, comfortable and easy to use?
well-made from high-quality materials?
in good shape and condition, ready to serve you years to come?
sentimental to you in any way (a family heirloom, a precious gift, etc.)?
expensive in terms of monetary value?
As already explained above, renting a storage unit to safeguard your valuable furniture for a few months (short-term storage) or more than 12 months (long-term storage) can be the ideal solution during the transitional period in which you find yourself at the moment.

Storing your furniture in a storage unit can be beneficial for you. Click here to learn what to look for when choosing a storage facility.


How to prepare your furniture for storage
Ideally, you’ll have already decided which furniture pieces to

move with you to the new home (if your new house or apartment is ready to receive any household items at the moment),
put into storage (most likely into a storage unit but you can also place in storage in an attic, basement or garage), and
get rid of before the actual move (either sell, gift or leave behind).
So now comes the big question: What’s the best way to prepare your furniture for storage? Follow these 2 steps to do just that.

Step 1. Clean your furniture for storage
The very first step to preparing furniture for storage is to clean the pieces thoroughly. If you fail to do so, the dust or dirt that may have been left on their surface may lead to permanent damage while the items are stored away for months.

To clean your furniture before placing it in storage,

REMOVE dust and any loose particles from the furniture surface by using a soft, non-abrasive and dry cloth. Do this gently and avoid pressing or rubbing down the dust particles onto the delicate finish of your furniture.
PREPARE WOOD FURNITURE FOR STORAGE by applying a suitable wood cleaning product on the wooden surfaces and wiping it out gently with a damp cloth. Then, apply a coat of furniture polish on all wooden surfaces (a process known as sealing) to prevent the wood from drying out while the furniture pieces are stored away.
PREPARE LEATHER FURNITURE FOR STORAGE by vacuuming well the upholstery to remove any coarse particles and then applying a high-quality leather cleaner. After some time (read the product’s instructions for use), wipe the leather with a dry cloth to finish the cleaning process. Finally, use a leather protecting product on the upholstery to keep it in tip-top shape for a long time.
POLISH all metal parts on your furniture to remove the accumulated oxidation.
MAKE SURE all furniture items that you intend to place in storage are completely dry before packing them up. Remember that any amount of moisture trapped in your furniture can lead to the growth of mold in time.
See also: How to pack a storage unit

Step 2. Pack your furniture for storage
The second step to the preparation process is all about packing furniture for storage. Do a good job here and you’ll get the guarantee that your pieces will stay perfectly protected for as long as you need them to stay in storage.

To wrap furniture for storage,

CONSIDER disassembling the largest furniture you own so that you can pack, transport and store the separate pieces more easily and safely. In addition to the better level of protection for your possessions, you’ll be able to use the storage space more efficiently thanks to the smaller size of the disassembled parts.
WRAP FURNITURE FOR STORAGE with (furniture) blankets, bed sheets, large pieces of cloth or other suitable furniture covers to keep dust, dirt, and moisture away from your pieces. These soft and breathing protective materials will not only keep your wood or leather furniture from accidental scratches or dents, but they will also enable the air to circulate freely around, thus eliminating the possibility of moisture accumulation and mold growth.
PROVIDE extra protection for all protruding parts of your furniture pieces such as legs, arms, ornaments, and so on. Do this by wrapping those fragile elements with soft padding (blankets, clothes), and then adding sheets of bubble wrap over them.
NEVER PLACE bubble wrap directly over delicate wood or leather surfaces. Doing so may lead to the formation of condensation, which in turn will enable the growth of mold and mildew. ALWAYS use plastic wrap (bubble wrap or shrink wrap) as a second line of protection over fabric or paper materials. Thus said, particle board furniture does not “breathe” as solid wood and leather do, so those chipboard furniture pieces can actually be packed in plastic wrap as the first line of defense.
POSITION cut-out pieces of thick cardboard over the glass elements (doors, shelves, panels, etc.) found in some household furniture. Then, finish the protective layer by adding a sheet of bubble wrap.
USE small pieces of packing tape to secure the protective materials but do not place them directly over the delicate furniture pieces.
And now that you know how to prepare your furniture for storage, learn how to get good deals on storage units.

Tips for a Smooth Moving Day

Okay, just kidding. There's not a lot of room on the agenda for R&R today, but at least you can rest assured that you've done everything in your power to stave off potential moving-day nightmares. Now it's on to your next task: making the day go as smoothly as possible.

Packing Up

• Check the Bill of Lading. Moving companies are required to show you this contract before they start loading your stuff on the truck. Even though you're anxious to get going, take a few minutes to read it thoroughly. Make sure it matches the terms on your original service order, and address any concerns before you sign it. Hang onto your copy until you've unpacked the boxes, because you'll need it on hand if anything gets damaged.
• Supervise the packing process. You may be tempted to let the movers run the show -- after all, they do this for a living. But you'll save yourself a lot of chaos in the long run if you oversee the process.
• Provide sustenance. Whether you're working with pros or pals, provide snacks and water for everyone who's helping out. It'll keep their energy up, and it never hurts to inspire some goodwill in the people who are hauling your stuff around.

Check Your Home One Last Time 

Once your stuff is on its way to your new home, you'll want to make one last pass through your old haunt to make sure everything's shipshape. Don't forget to: 

• Check the house for anything you may have forgotten. Check every closet, the attic, the crawl space, the garage, the medicine cabinet, and the drawer under your oven. If you're leaving any furniture behind for the next owners, make sure all the drawers are empty.
• Check for any damages caused by the movers. You don't want to lose part of your security deposit or haggle with homebuyers because your cupboard left a hole in the wall.
• Write down your meter readings. When you receive your final bill from your utility companies, verify that the figures match up.
• Check for cash. Have cash tips of $20 to $25 per mover ready, along with money for any tolls along the way.

In Transit 

• Before you leave your old house, give the movers your cell phone number in case either party gets delayed or lost.
• If you're driving a rental truck, take it slow -- the extra weight will make the truck harder to handle. Watch out for low clearances, especially if you make a pit stop at a drive-thru window. If you stop along the way, lock the cargo door.

Inspect Your New Home 

Try to arrive at your new home before the moving truck does, otherwise you may be billed for the thumb-twiddling period. Once you arrive: 

• Do a walk through with your real estate agent. Make sure everything is where it's supposed to be.
• Check the utilities in your new home. Take a few minutes and check the outlets, light switches, appliances, faucets, and toilets in your new home. If anything's broken, you'll have a chance to address it before you settle in for the night.
• Get organized. Tape names to doors to assist movers; map out floor layouts so movers know what's going where.

Unloading

While your boxes are being unloaded, oversee the process and make sure they end up in the right rooms. (You did label them, right?) You don't want to be rummaging through the basement for your coffee pot tomorrow morning. In fact, try to banish as little to the basement as possible, because you'll be less likely to unpack the boxes you can't see. You might end up feeling like you're in a permanent state of transition; or worst-case, you may not discover any damages until it's too late to file a claim.

Above all, don't overdo it. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, make moving your sole task for the day -- schedule cable installation, phone service, and internet hookup for after you've settled in. Stay hydrated, pack snacks, and take short breaks when you need them. Moving day might be hectic, but if you're prepared, you can help it go off without a hitch.

End Your Summer Move On A High Note: Planning A Housewarming Party

After months of planning a move and the big day itself, a housewarming party is a fun reward for a job well done. Use these tips to make your party the best it can be.

First off, hold your party in the evening to avoid the hottest time of day. Pick simple, refreshing food and drinks, like fruit platters and lemonade, to match the theme of the season and make less work for yourself. Finally, take advantage of your backyard, courtyard, garden or other outdoor space to host guests and keep the mess indoors to a minimum.

A housewarming party is a great experience for everyone involved. Turn to Atlas for help getting everything to your new home before the party starts.

What to Eat on Moving Day For Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

When you’re transferring a household of belongings, nourishment plays a key role.

“You want to make sure the people helping are full and not ravenous,” explains nutritionist Vanessa Rissetto.

Friends and family members may also have specific dietary requirements, such as allergies or vegetarian preferences.

Further complicating the situation is the kitchen status: you’ll likely pack up pots, pans and utensils prior to moving day. You also may not have access to a cool refrigerator.

For the best meal results, plan ahead and prepare for a crowd.

Follow these guidelines to make the most of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between for moving day.

Breakfast

If you have time in the days prior to moving, prep a batch of breakfast burritos. Then heat them up in the morning of the big day and serve on paper plates with juice or coffee.

Other easy breakfast options include overnight oats topped with fruit, bagels with cream cheese, make-ahead egg muffins, or vegan peanut butter banana breakfast cookies.

Lunch

To avoid missing a mid-day meal, prepare a few choices for those helping ahead of time.

Sandwiches such as ham and cheese or egg salad can be stored in a cooler and pulled out for a fast lunch. Other options to prepare before moving day: pasta salad, hard-boiled eggs, quiche, or make-ahead sandwich rolls.

Snacks

“Since many of your dishes might be packed up and your appliances might be unplugged for moving day, I’d prepare a healthy shelf-stable snack,” suggests Megan Gilmore, author of No Excuses Detox.

Look for recipes that are packed with fiber and healthy fats to sustain everyone’s energy levels. A few to try: date energy balls, peanut butter and honey chewy granola bars, and muesli snacking cookies.

“If you don’t want to prepare anything yourself for moving day, there are plenty of easy and healthy snacks available, too,” adds Gilmore.

Reach for apples, unsweetened dried fruit, Larabars, or pre-sliced carrots with store-bought hummus.

Yogurt topped with almonds and granola can provide a creamy snack with a crunch. If you want to set out protein bars, look for selections that are high in protein and low in sugar, such as Country Archer’s Frontier meat-based protein bars.

For a savory spread, try cheese with crackers such as Mary’s Gone Crackers or Simple Mills almond flour crackers.

Ice cold watermelon is also a great energizer. Cut up a watermelon the day before the move and place it in a cooler until you’re ready to share it.

Beverages

To keep helpers hydrated, purchase plenty of bottled water beforehand and keep it chilled in a cooler packed with ice.

Also stock up on 100 percent fruit juice and electrolyte drinks such as Gatorade to provide an ample supply of energy. Cold brew coffee in a can, like High Brew, can help provide a quick fix in the morning and throughout the day.

Avoid sugar-packed soft drinks and alcohol while loading and unloading.

Dinner

“When meal time rolls around, you might find it easiest to dine out so that you don’t have to worry about clean-up during your move,” explains Gilmore.

If you’re relocating to a different part of town, check online to see what options are available in your neighborhood. “One of my go-to convenience options is a salad from Chipotle,” adds Gilmore. Load it up with black beans, fajita veggies, salsa and guacamole for a filling meal.

Takeout from a local place may be another crowd-pleasing option. If you’re in the mood for a buffet-style meal, select sides like baked potatoes, steamed vegetables, and macaroni and cheese.

If a deli is nearby, consider a spread of sub sandwiches and pasta dishes.

And while pizza for lunch may weigh down workers in the afternoon, it can be the perfect way to end a long moving day. In fact, it is probably expected.

Important Tips to Have a Successful Winter Move

For whatever reason—the closing date on your home’s sale, arrival of a new rental opportunity, a new job located in a new place—you might have the misfortune of having to move during the difficult winter months of the year. Fret not, because with just a little diligence, preparation, and help from a moving company, your winter move will be a snap.

Check the Weather Forecasts

Don’t be caught off-guard. Knowing which days there will be more difficult conditions like freezing temperatures or heavy snowfall will allow you to plan accordingly and avoid delays, accidents, or other complications from moving during winter.

Pack Correctly

Make sure that you utilize waterproof packing materials like plastic bags and wrapping that can protect your valuables in the event that snow, moisture, or condensation gets into your boxes. Remove batteries from any electronic devices, and take precautions with liquids that could freeze, expand in size, and end up leaking on other items.

Check and Plan the Route

In a major city, like Toronto, you absolutely need to know when rush hour occurs and how adverse weather conditions will accentuate gridlock. There are, however, alternate routes that are safer and more reliable that can keep you on track and on schedule.

Dress Appropriately

Have the right gear to make the time you have to spend outside as comfortable as possible. Make sure that you have your winter coats, sweaters, gloves, and any other useful items (thermoses, etc.) on hand rather than packing these key items away.

Prepare Your New Home

Ensure that the entrance driveway and paths to your new home will be shovelled and unobstructed on your move-in day. You can have a snow shovel or even a plough ready for this contingency. The thermostat of your new home can also be checked before you move in to ensure the home you’re moving into is properly heated.

Take Care of Pets

As much as you love your animals, they need proper care during a move for their safety. It might be a wise investment to place your beloved cat or dog in a daycare-type animal care service for a day or longer. This way, you are free from worrying about walking them, litterboxes, feeding, or any other duties that could cramp your style during a move.

When dealing with smaller animals like hamsters, gerbils, reptiles, fish, and so forth, made sure you dedicate special attention to moving them in a safe manner that doesn’t expose them to extreme temperature or environmental shocks.

Firemen Movers Can Help

Are you looking for a professional moving company that has invaluable expert experience in all aspects of winter moving? Firemen Movers is a reliable, trustworthy company that knows how to make your move smooth, convenient, and stress-free. Contact us today for more information or to get a quote on our services

Moving to San Jose “Silicon Valley”, California

San Jose is one of the biggest cities in California. It ranks 3d by population with about 1 million registered citizens in 2014. It is an exotic place that is perfect for those who are in love with the summer and the sunshine. With a long list of beautiful and interesting places to visit, career and education opportunities, San Jose can enchant you and make you fall in love. But what is it like to move to San Jose, CA, and what do you need to know before your relocation? Here are some tips that will help you make the transition easily and start your new life smoothly.

This is a photo of the Hayes Mansion. Wouldn't you love to be there to see it yourself?

Moving to San Jose, CA

Economy & Cost of Living

If you are looking for a job after you move to San Jose, there are quite a few options for you. To begin with, the city is also known as Silicon Valley not without a reason. There are plenty of computer, engineering and microprocessor companies in the city. There is a very long list of companies with more than 1,000 employees in various areas like fast food, public authorities, PC, and many more, which means that you have a wide choice of career options. To begin with, you could check out the job offers of the City of San Jose. To sum it up with numbers, of all the venture capital funds in all of America, 35% are invested in San Jose and Silicon Valley companies. Logically, after all we’ve said so far, it would be correct if you supposed that the cost of living in the Silicon Valley and the areas around it is among the highest in California and the USA in general. The reason for this lies mainly in the housing costs. The metro area is claimed to be the happiest place to find employment at by Forbes, though, which means that living there has its pros as well, plenty of them.

This is the Center for the Performing Arts, San Jose, California, at night.

As for crime rate, San Jose is ranked as one of the safest cities in America with population above 500,000 people. It has the second lowest violent crime rate of any city with 500,000 or more residents. This makes the area a comparatively safe place for you and your kids. To add to the list of things to consider, there are also many schools, colleges and universities to select from, should you need to.

San Jose Climate

The area has a subtropical Mediterranean climate. The average sunshine days per year are 301, great, isn’t it! Since the city is surrounded by mountains on three sides, it has much less rain than other parts of the Bay Area. The coldest months are December and January and hottest are usually July and August.

Interesting Places

What can you look forward to seeing in San Jose? Those could be the San Jose City Hall, the Mexican Heritage Plaza, the Circle of Palms Plaza, the Lick Observatory, the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, Japantown San Jose, Oak Hill Memorial Park, the History Park at Kelley Park, the Basilica Cathedral of St. Joseph, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, to name just a few of all.

And if you are looking for interesting and fun things to do in San Jose, you could find a regularly updated calendar here and on this link. It is good to give the place a chance and get to know a little bit of it before you move. If you do so, you will surely have great fun. Spending a couple of days in San Jose, CA, with your partner or your whole family would be an incredible experience worth going through.

Downtown San Jose

Finding Movers and Packers, San Jose

If you are looking for San Jose movers to pack and take your things to your new home, best would be to get a moving cost estimate. It will give you an idea of what your move would cost you so you can prepare with your moving budget. If you will be needing a storage after you move to San Jose, let the movers know in advance so they could find you a suitable storage unit that will match your needs and requirements. Here are a few simple, but useful tips on how to select your storage facility.

Since San Jose is a costly place, it is logical that moving services could also be higher than in other parts of the country. That is why we recommend taking precautions like reading reviews of movers before hiring them. Here is a list with top websites to check for reviews before you actually sign your moving contract. Taking precautions is a must, especially if you are relocating from another state which means that the move will cost you more than a local relocation.

Either way, San Jose is a great option for you and your family because of all the reasons we gave you in this article, and many more you will find for yourself. Have you lived there before? Do you have any advice you could give to other people who are considering moving to San Jose, CA? Please, make a comment and share!

Moving Tips – Prepare For A Moving Company

So you’ve decided to hire a moving company to help you with your upcoming move! It is in your best interests to be prepared. Most local moves are charged by the hour so being ready for the movers to get there can save you a lot of time and money. Not all moving companies are the same so it’s best to ask your mover for information on how they would like you to prepare. However, I’ve discovered that many companies make this information hard to find or don’t provide it to you at the estimate. Therefore I have compiled a list of general moving tips that should put you on the right track and save you some cash.

• Get A Head Start
  • The sooner you start the easier it will be. Many people misjudge the amount of time that it can take to get everything ready and are forced to rush through the last few days. If you don’t have the time to prepare, then talk with your mover and they should send someone to help. StraightLine Moving Inc. offers packing services and assistance to all of our customers.
• Use Standard Size Boxes
  • Using standard boxes or purchasing boxes form your moving company can really speed things up. Having differently sized boxes can make packing the truck very difficult and time-consuming.
• Label Your Boxes
  • Label boxes well and write a destination on each box that correlates to the room that the box will need to go to in your new home.
• Label Doorways
  • Put labels at the top of each doorway in your new home. These labels should correlate to the destination on the box (ex. room 1, room2, master, etc.). This seems like it may be a lot of work but it doesn’t take much time and it prevents you from having to be present to direct the movers as they move thing off the truck.
• Dressers
  • Most moving companies will allow you to leave your clothes in dressers. The movers will likely wrap the dresser and tip it up on its side to transport it to the truck. If this is the case it is important that you remove breakable items or any items that could fall over the tops of drawers.
• Checklist
  • As mentioned not all moving companies are the same and may want you to prepare differently. Ask your mover to supply you with a checklist and tips. If they don’t have this information for you then give StraightLine Moving a call and we will send you all the information that you will need.
• Localize Boxes
  • If you are looking for a way to save some time. Congregate as many boxes as possible into a central location in your home. You can also bring boxes to the main level of the house. This reduces the time that the movers will be walking up and down stairs.
• Pillows and Bedding
  • Your likely going to be sleeping in your bed the night before your move. Keep some trash bags or boxes aside for your sheets and pillows. Before the mover arrives pack your bed clothes and you’re good to go.
• Disassemble Furniture
  • This is a service that your movers will offer but if you’re trying to save some money then it can reduce time. Some moving companies will refuse to assemble furniture if they didn’t take it apart so be sure to ask your moving company what their policy is in regards to furniture assembly.
• Wardrobe Boxes
  • Wardrobe boxes are a great way to save time. Here at StraightLine Moving, we offer wardrobe rentals to help reduce cost.
• Electronics
  • Electronics are fragile and expensive. If you have the original packaging then I would suggest using it to pack your electronics in. If you don’t have the original package don’t worry, just be sure to use plenty of padding in the box and label them well. Also, don’t forget to take pictures of the wires so you know how to hook the electronic back up at your new home.

I hope that this information has helped and if you have any questions please give StraightLine Moving Inc. a call (815) 708-7875

10 Things To Do Before Professional Packers Arrive

So, it’s finally happening – you’ve done an extensive research on various top-rated moving companies and you’ve chosen a full-service mover that happened to give you the best offer in terms of price and conditions. And if you’ve opted for the extra service of having your home packed up by professionals, you may be now wondering what tasks you are supposed to complete before those moving experts arrive at your home.

Are you expected to do anything at all before your packing crew makes an appearance on the scheduled day and time? And if yes, how to prepare for professional packers in such a way as to make Pack day and Move day easier for everybody, especially for yourself and your family?

It’s important to remember that although the process of moving from one home to another is brimming with move-related tasks of all sort, it’s the packing job that matters the most as it is, without a doubt, the most time-consuming and laborious task you’ll need to take care of in order to have a fairly successful house move.

So, if using professional packers is the right decision for the sake of your prized possessions, and for your own sake too, then preparing for professional movers the right way should be your number one priority.

Here are the top 10 things to do before packers come to pack up your things.

1. Purge your home of useless items

It won’t make much sense to pay for having items packed professionally and then transported safely to your new home only to never use them again. Since the total weight of your shipment will determine, to large extent, the price you’ll need to pay in the end, you must get rid of all things that you won’t ever need again before professional packers come knocking on your door. The majority of experts agree that if a person has not used an item for over a year, then that person should seriously consider parting with that item as its uselessness is becoming more and more obvious with time.

Don’t waste money and time if you can help it – go through your things and set aside the stuff you shouldn’t bother moving to your new place. Decide on the spot what you will do with each item – sell the ones that still have any market value, give away some of them to family members and close friends, donate still usable things to various charitable organizations, or throw away for recycling the worthless stuff.

Learn more: Clutter unwanted: Get rid of stuff when moving

2. Dispose of anything packers won’t pack

Just don’t tell your packing crew you have more than 50 types of house flowers waiting to be packed up.

Another way to prepare for professional packers is to part with any items that your packing crew won’t agree to pack for you. That’s right – even though you’re paying for the professional packing services you’re about to receive, there are a number of hazardous items that moving companies are not allowed to pack up and transport for safety reasons. It’s the law, so there’s no point in trying to persuade your packers to make an exception. And you shouldn’t either as such non-allowable goods could really endanger the safety of the entire relocation operation.

There are three major categories of household items your team of professional packers will refuse to deal with:

• Hazardous items such as corrosive, explosive and flammable materials, including weapons and ammunition, chemicals, oils, cleaning fluids, paint, etc.
• Perishables such as frozen, refrigerated or fresh foods. Don’t forget to use up your food supply prior to the arrival of your packing team.
• Plants – due to their extreme fragility, the transportation of your leafy friends is your sole responsibility. Consider gifting your plants to friends or donating them to local hospitals, schools, nursing homes, etc.

3. Inventory all your possessions

Now that you’re left only with the personal belongings you will be moving to your new house or apartment, it’s time to create an itemized checklist that will detail everything that is quite ready to be packed up by the pros. A household inventory will prove to be a great idea for two main reasons: 1) you will have a detailed list of all the items in your shipment and will check the delivered items against it in search of missing or damaged things, and 2) you will be able to file an insurance claim with your insurer, if any, or file a damage claim with your mover if you do find any of your delivered goods damaged or missing.

You can create a home inventory list by either using the traditional pen-and-paper method (mark down the type, quantity and current condition of each item, and leave and extra column for comments), or taking advantage of modern technology to complete your house inventory checklist in no time (MoveAdvisor – the free mobile app that will help you organize your move – will inventory your entire home in minutes).

4. Establish a No-Pack Zone

What to do before movers come to pack? One of your priority tasks is to select one room where you will place all the things that will be traveling with you to your new home. Clearly, that room will be a no-pack zone for your professional packers – make sure you let them know that you intend to pack and move those items yourself before they begin work.

Just to be safe, write DO NOT PACK on a piece of paper and attach it to that room’s door. If you can’t afford to spare an entire room for whatever you’re planning to take with you, at least cordon off one section of a room, and again – make sure it’s easily identifiable as a no-pack zone.

The usual things that people choose to pack and move by themselves include mostly essential items /see below/: important documents, electronic devices, valuables of all kind, medicines and so on.

Packing advice: How to label moving boxes like a pro packer

5. Prepare those essentials boxes

No two essentials boxes are the same.

Preparing for professional packers include packing up a few essentials boxes out from the things you’ve already placed in the no-pack area. The smart idea behind organizing such essentials boxes is that the moment your furniture pieces and your household items are packed up by the movers and loaded into the moving vehicle, you will cease to have access to them until you are reunited with them once more at your new home. And until that moment in time, you will still need a number of important or even life-saving things to have at arm’s length.

What should you pack in your survival kits? Anything that you think you will need to survive a day or two without your stuff. Here are some common sense suggestions: prescription medicine, non-perishable food, bottled water, plastic kitchen utensils, towels, bed sheets, spare clothes for each family member, toiletries, favorite book or games, essential tools.

Also, include valuables such as jewelry pieces, family heirlooms, important documents, expensive electronics, and so on.

Great advice: Your own packing timeline for moving

6. Call a family safety briefing

An excellent way to prepare for professional movers and packers is to ensure the safety of all family members, including any pets you may have under the roof. Hold a family meeting to talk about what to expect when the packers arrive and what major role each member will have during that hectic and dangerous phase of moving out. Soon enough, you will need to welcome complete strangers in your home for a packing job that can last not only hours, but entire days. And then, all of a sudden, safety becomes a major concern.

The moving process will turn out to be an unwelcoming and stressful disruption for everybody in your family, and the arrival of professional packers is just the beginning. So, make sure everyone is pretty safe to avoid making your move traumatic as well. Keep your kids and pets 100% safe, preferably in a room as far away from the packing action as possible. Arrange for trusted persons to stay with your loved ones while your hired packers do their job.

7. Prepare household appliances to be packed

While inventorying your entire apartment or house, you should have also included your household appliances in the inventory checklist. And if you did, then you must have made an informed decision to let professional movers pack up and move those large electric appliances all the way to your new residence. And considering their formidable dimensions and considerable weight, such decision also means increased moving costs as well.

Unplug any large appliances you intend to have packed – refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers, electric or gas cookers, and empty them. If you find the necessary time, you can also choose to clean them prior to their packing and moving. If not, you will have to do all that after the move – something that may be the better option altogether.

Either way, your appliances should be ready to be wrapped up and protected before the professional packers for moving show up at your door, so get down to work.

8. Pre-pack small items

Before your movers come to pack, pre-pack some special items of yours to sleep better that night.

How to prepare for professional movers and packers? It’s a great idea to take care of the small stuff that you can easily pack up yourself. Although you’re paying professionals to pack up your household goods for you, sometimes it’s much better if you choose to pre-pack some small items the way you want it. So, take a look around your home and see what items may actually benefit by being pre-packed so that even more time is saved in the end.

This tactical move can be especially useful when packing collector’s items – things you generally insist on handling yourself due to their high value – both sentimental and monetary. You may not be a professional packer yourself, but you should know best how to pack up your precious collection of small fridge magnets for increased peace of mind.

Good to know: 9 packing mistakes you must never make

9. Take tons of photos

Should you hire professional packers? If you can afford to do it, there are many great reasons to hire professional packers: they bring high-quality packing materials, they bring they experience and resourcefulness, they pack things fast while also taking all the safety measures you can think of, and they are also properly insured – meaning that they will accept the liability for any damages when they pack your boxes.

Nevertheless, being extra cautious won’t hurt – on the contrary, it can help you resolve an issue in your favor after the move. Take out your trusted digital camera and take plenty of photos of your household items before packers come to pack. Concentrate your photographic skills on valuables and antiques, and make sure you produce numerous close-up shots as well.

In case any disputes arise between you and the moving company that has serviced you, those photos can serve as proof of your items’ condition before the professional packing has started.

Read also: Common moving day mistakes to avoid

10. Be a thoughtful host

Once the packing crew arrives at your home, things will change with lightning speed – quality packing boxes of various sizes will be delivered, including the necessary protective blankets, bubble wrap and other padding materials, and your hired men will get down to work. Depending on the size of your home and the quantity and nature of items for packing inside it, the entire packing marathon can last from several hours to a couple of days. /How to find the best movers near me?/

What to do when movers arrive? To show your packers and movers that you’re a good host, here are a few important pointers to consider:

• Show the professional packers around and tell them exactly what is expected of them.
• Offer your hired workers bottled water and some snacks, and show them where the bathroom is.
• Do you tip professional packers? If you’re happy with their work, there isn’t a single reason why you shouldn’t. The standard tip is around $20 per person for an 8-hour job of packing, but it’s up to you decide if they deserve more, less, or none.
• Let professional packers do their job but keep the communication channel and be ready to answer any questions they may have regarding the packing process.

Important info: What are the average moving costs?