Moving Tips

Insider Moving Tips: Making Your Move a Piece of Cake

Packing Tips

Calculate Your Cartons

Some basic rules to follow as you estimate your pack material needs:

  • The average person uses around 10-15 cartons per room. Additional cartons are needed for the kitchen, basement, and library.
  • Plan on using a lot of tape. A carton that is properly sealed with packing tape should have three strips on top and three strips on the bottom. That's one roll of tape for every 15-20 boxes.
  • Do not pack with newspapers! The ink will not only come off on your hands, but it can also rub off and stain many household items, including your fine China. Clean white newsprint is very inexpensive and is available in 25-pound bundles. You will need to allow 5-7 pounds of newsprint for each dish carton.
  • Label every carton immediately upon sealing. Label as to room and contents, and on the top and sides of the cartons.
  • Pack each carton while it sits on top of another carton or in the seat of a side chair. The less you bend, the less you ache.
  • Mark your boxes by room (on top and side of each box) so movers know where everything goes.
  • Create an "Open First" box with all the things you need upon arrival: medications, toiletries, linens, a first aid kit, garbage bags, a phone, light bulbs, a flashlight, phone books, towels, food for pets, a leash, etc.

Packing the Big Items

  • Beds: Tie bed frames together with tape or rope. Then, label which room the frame belongs to so they're easy to reassemble.
  • Tables: Remove the legs and pad and tie them together. Put nuts and bolts in a bag and tape them somewhere on the table.
  • Big appliances: Empty, defrost, and drain the fridge and freezer. Make sure all the appliances are disconnected prior to the movers' arrival.
  • Lawn Furniture: If heavy or bulky, disassemble. Put nuts and bolts in a bag and tape them somewhere on the furniture.
  • Lawnmowers/yard edgers: Empty gasoline from all tanks and check for any leaks.

If you have more questions about moving, feel free to call us at 219-922-8500.

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