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How to Measure a Box

February 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Finding The Right Box Size

January 21st, 2013

Choosing the correct box size can be confusing but It can also be greatly gratifying when your items fit perfectly and off it goes for shipping. It’s like a tailored fit shirt – Ahw Refreshing. However, getting it right can sometimes leave for some head scratching. Here are some pointers that will help when searching for the correct shipping box.

  • Online dimensions will be listed as: Length x Width x Height.
  • When searching for the correct size box leave an extra 1’’ of space for items that need light protection and extra 2’’ of space for more fragile items that require added protection
  • If the items don’t require vertical positioning and can be placed on its size, try to manipulate the sizes in different orders to find the best available stock box. Usually this will be the most inexpensive box option.
  • If in doubt, it’s always better to size up than down. The empty space can always be stuffed with void fill such as peanuts, kraft paper, newsprint sheets etc to fill and secure the empty space. Whereas smaller boxes will bend into the item causing extra stress and burst on the box which can lead to damages.
  • Box dimensions will always represent internal usable dimensions but you still need to factor in the +/- 1/8’’ manufacturing variance that is common with all boxes.
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Supplies Needed for Moving

December 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment

What Supplies or Equipment Should I Provide for my Self Move?

Load Services
  • Furniture Pads: It is necessary for us to have pads/quilts during a load to protect your furniture from damage. Pads can be very affordable and are usually rented from your truck rental, POD or freight company. For more information read our relocation guide about the importance of furniture pads.
  • Shrink Wrap/Plastic Wrap: Often referred to as “plastic stretch wrap“, it is commonly used to protect cloth furniture that can get dirty. We commonly use shrink wrap to protect couches and love seats but also may use it to secure furniture pads to larger items. If you decide to purchase shrink wrap you should obtain a size no less than 15″ and no more than 20″. These rolls are usually 1000′ in length and cost between $15-$25.
  • Mattress Bags: You spend a lot of time on your mattress and probably don’t want it to get dirty. We highly recommend that you invest in a mattress bag for each mattress and box spring in your home. These bags can usually be obtained from any local self storage, truck rental or home improvement store and cost $3-$6 depending on the size.
  • Appliance Dolly: The dollies we provide are for moving boxes and furniture, they are not suited for large appliances. An appliance dolly can be rented from your local truck rental location and is specifically used for the movement of large and bulky appliances. We commonly use appliance dollies for side-by-side refrigerators and gun safes.
  • Advanced Tools: Our movers come equipped with standard tools for assembly and dis-assembly, typically screw drivers and pliers. If you have furniture that requires a special tool, power tools, allen wrenches or a specific size tool we recommend that you have it available for our movers.
  • Rope & Tie Downs: Although not always necessary, rope and/or tie downs can help us secure your load. This is especially true if you are using ABF U-Pack or if you do not anticipate the truck, container or trailer will not be completely full. If we are unable to utilize all of the available space, and rope is not available, the likelihood that your household goods may shift during transit increases.

Unload Services

  • Floor Runners/Carpet Protection: It should go without saying that we will always use caution when entering your new home, however sometimes this may be unavoidable. This is especially true if your move is taking place in poor weather conditions like snow or rain. When available, our movers will utilize the furniture pads from your load to protect the floors and carpets. If you do not have any furniture pads or if you prefer to take extra precautions we recommend providing floor runners. Floor runners provide an additional level of protection to ensure that your floors remain clean.

Being prepared for our movers can save time (and money) on moving day. If you are ever unsure if you will need a specific type of supply you should purchase it to be safe, you can always return the item if it remains unused. The majority of the items listed in this post can be purchased at home improvement stores and truck rental or self storage locations.

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Great Cheap Moving Ideas

November 30, 2012 by Leave a Comment

As everyone knows, moving can be quite costly. Whether you you are relocating locally or out of state, whether you decide to move yourself or hire a company, you still have some certain expenses to make. What’s important here is that whatever type of move you decide to have, there are ways to make it cheaper, more affordable, and still keep the quality of it. Here are our cheap moving tips and cheap moving ideas.

Great Cheap Moving Ideas

Let’s start by giving you a few cheap moving tips on how to lower the cost of your move.

  • First, decide what you want to move. One of the very efficient tips on moving cheaply is to not move everything you have. Especially when it comes to out of state relocation it can save you a lot of money. Shipping every item costs something – the time to pack it, the packing supplies themselves, the price for shipping it with the mover’s truck, then the time to unload it and unpack it. It is a long journey that every item in your home needs to make, isn’t it? This is why it is recommended to go to every room in your home, check through all the lockers, drawers, wardrobes, etc. and decide what can stay. There are things that you can buy all new at your new home and that will be the cheaper option for you than shipping the ones that you have.
  • When you arrive in your new home, on the contrary – don’t buy new things. Look at craigslist or go to garage sales. There may be items that are almost new which you could buy cheap or get free. There are things people have that are unused or even in their original packing, people just don’t want them and sell them or give them away. Have patience to collect all the things that you need in this cheap way.
  • Then when you finish decluttering you can make a yard/ garage sale for all of that. Collect everything you won’t move – clothes, shoes, tools, electronics and so on and put them for sale. The great thing about this out of all cheap moving tips is that you can make some money out of that in order to cover part of your moving expenses. Sales can be very efficient. 

    Cheap packing supplies

    You can find cheap packing supplies or replace the ones you need with something else – packing paper with magazines and newspapers.

  • Afterwards look for cheap moving supplies. Why buy new ones when you can get them free? Think about neighbors, friends, colleagues who have recently moved. You can leave a message at the message board at work that you are collecting packing materials left from other movings. Newspapers, magazines, sheets left from before – collect them as packing supplies to wrap things up. You can expand your approach. Use towels, bed linen and blankets instead of buying new packing materials. All towels you won’t be using can become handy when packing. Blankets are good to put in the truck between the furniture in there. And remember that there are lots of ways to  cheap moving boxes.
  • Save from moving boxes. You can use less boxes if you fill up the drawers and the rest of the furniture you have with things. That way you will use less moving boxes, so less to pack and less to unpack later on which saves time, too. Just have in mind that every item when filled in will be heavier to lift and move around.
  • Use up the food at home. Don’t throw away what is still eatable. Make a plan on what to eat so that you can consume all the food you have and not waste any money. That includes the frozen food, too. Once you know you are relocating think about how much time you will need to eat what you have already collected and follow your plan.
  • Find cheap moving companies. These are movers that can offer you discounts or coupons and can thus make your relocation more cost-efficient. You can also ask the moving company you choose on more tips for cheap moving. After you get many moving estimates you will see the costs which moving companies apply and you can choose one that is more affordable. Just remember that not always the cheapest mover is the best option. Sometimes scammers operate like this – they give you a very low quote first and then resort to other ways to get more money from you. Also sometimes companies give a very low quote in the beginning but then apply lots of extra charges and taxes. That is why when you receive an estimate ask what it contains, what other charges movers apply and what do they cost. This is how you can estimate your moving cost and calculate it to be reasonable.

Cheap Moving Tips

Hopefully these cheap moving tips will help you with your relocation. After you find cheap moving supplies and cheap moving companies you can significantly decrease the price of your move. If you have more cheap moving ideas to add you can do it below. All suggestions are welcome. Please feel free to share what you find to be useful cheap moving tips.

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Common Superstitions

November 30, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Most Common Superstitions When Moving To A New Home

Most Common Superstitions when MovingThe Pure Excitement of Moving. Moving to a new home is a very exciting moment of everybody’s life. It symbolizes the new beginning and always brings positive feelings and excitement. As a symbol of the new start in your life it is quite normal that you want everything to run as smoothly as possible. For that very reason many people put every their efforts to make sure the process will go effortlessly. That is why it is not surprising how many people turn to superstitions to make sure they will have luck, wealth and happiness in their new home.

More about the Popular Superstitions

Some superstitions are funny, others seem quite odd but people still stick to them. What are the most popular superstitions that people still use to bring them luck and prosperity?
One of the most popular ones is to have a full container of rice when you step into your new home. The same applies for salt and sugar. And the salt should be spread on the floor of every room in the place including over the front door to rebel evil. Perfectly fine, except for the fact that you will have to clean the salt then.
People still believe to the unproven fact that they should move into the new home when the moon is waxing (no one can say for sure where the roots of this superstition lay).
Also there are particular days when you should not move under any circumstances. But it is hard to say which these days are, some say Saturday is the best day, others say it is not. Some say you should definitely move in on Wednesday, others say do it on Monday (because that day symbolizes the new beginning). And these are as far as the quite normal superstitions go.
There are beliefs that you should choose to move on a date which number when written ends on its top rather than on its bottom (zero and eight for example). OK, now take the calendar and start writing.

Odd Practices around the World

Other very popular superstitions include odd and not so odd practices.
In the Philippines for instance it is believed that when moving to a new home the first time you get in you should carry a loaf of bread and a new broom with you. It is believed that you should never take an old broom into a new home.
Also make sure to leave your home from the same door you have enter it when you go out for the first time. Never accept knives and other sharp items such as scissors as presents. When choosing the home, make sure to count the stairs that lead to its door. Their number should not be in multiples of three under any circumstances.

It’s the Final Countdown

So, let’s start singing “It’s the final countdown” and head to the front of the home. And do not forget to scatter coins all over the place when moving in to make sure the prosperity will stay in the place and never leave. Bees inside the home are also believed to bring fortune to the home occupants but as far as the above stated superstitions are a bit odd but harmless, this one is definitely not for everyone. Whether you believe in superstitions or not, you can always enjoy the interesting and strange beliefs that people do when it comes to moving to a new home. And nobody harms to sprinkle some sugar around.

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I don’t need a plan…

November 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment

You’ve got a house full of stuff and you have to move it all. The first question to ask yourself is, “Do I have a plan?” If you don’t have a plan, then you’re going to have some problems.

You can’t be too organized when it comes to moving. Follow these five steps to start your move out right:

1. Sort what you do and do not want.

You’ve heard this step mentioned over and over; that’s because it’s important. Over the years, you’re going to collect a lot of things that you don’t need or want anymore. If that’s the case, get rid of it! You can have a garage sale, offer items to your friends or family, or donate your possessions to your local thrift store.

2. Know what items to pack first.

There are a lot of things in your house, such as decorations and books, that you can start packing away in moving boxes earlier rather than later. Think carefully about what you’ll need. If you have a piece of furniture that requires tools to disassemble, make sure you don’t pack away your tool box too early.

3. Create a label system.

Don’t just throw items into moving boxes and expect everything to go smoothly when it’s time to unpack everything. Box items together that belong together, and most importantly, label those boxes. Use a labeling system that works for you. Label the top and sides of moving boxes and mark what rooms the boxes are going to. Making a list of every item in the box can be helpful as well.  This whole moving boxe labeling process may sound tedious, but it will save you a lot of time when you’re sifting through each box to find what you’re looking for.

4. Safety first.

Boxes can get thrown around, so label correctly. If you forget to put a fragile sticker on your boxes with your grandmother’s china, you might end up with a box full of shattered porcelain. Get quality moving supplies and protection for your possessions so that you don’t end up with a lot of messes.

5. Plan for the last days in your home.

You’re going to have a lot to think about on the day you move out, so make sure you have as much boxed as possible. Learn to live with the inconvenience of not having all of your possessions on hand for a few days or a couple of weeks. The days leading up to move-out day can be stressful enough without thinking about what you have left to pack. Get it done beforehand and find ways to get by with little. Remember: it’s temporary!

(Source: About.com)

Be sure to come back on Wednesday to see what items should be packed away as soon as possible when you’re beginning the packing process.  See you then!

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Winter Moving Part 2

November 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment

 

Slippery Scenarios: Moving in the Winter (Part 2)

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Today’s post is part two of a three part series on the often-troubling task of moving in the winter months.  On Monday, we posted about how you can best prepare your old living space, and today we want to do our best to prepare you for what your options are when facing inclement weather.  We hope that this post is helpful, please let us know if there is any other way in which we can help you take your moving boxes and possessions from one place to another!

When wintry weather his, what do you do?

Have a back-up plan. If a winter storm is threatening your move, make sure you have a back-up plan in case you need to reschedule your move. If you’ve hired movers, talk to the company to see what their policy is in terms of winter conditions and cancellations. Some movers are veterans when it comes to winter weather and may not be willing to postpone the move. If the movers do want to postpone, make sure you speak to your real estate agent or landlord to see if you can stay a few extra days.

Plan your travel route carefully. Know your travel route and make sure you contact the local authorities to determine if highways are open and safe to travel on. Each state or province has a phone number and website to check with regular updates provided. You should also know the location of overnight accommodation in case you need to stop.

Get you car serviced and have all the necessary equipment with you. Make sure you have your car winterized, including all fluids topped up, and tires and brakes checked. It’s a good idea to carry chains (if allowed) and know how to put them on quickly. Practice in your garage before you leave. You should also carry a gas can, extra windshield fluid, and salt or kitty litter (works great if you get stuck). Have a good snow shovel, emergency blanket and membership to a roadside assistance service, too.

Have an emergency contact list with you. Make sure you have all the necessary phone numbers with you, including roadside assistance, highway patrol, and a number for reports on highway conditions. You should also ensure that someone who isn’t moving with you has a copy of your travel plans. Make a call-in schedule with that person so they’ll know where you are and when you should be arriving.

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Moving in Winter

November 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment

 

Slippery Scenarios: Moving in the Winter (Part 1)

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Fall has arrived, and in many parts of the country, leaves are beginning to change colors and frost has begun to coat the morning grass.  Thanksgiving is just around the corner and, before you know it, wintry weather will arrive.  One of the cheapest, most convenient times to move is in the winter because moving companies charge lower rates and moving trucks are often easier to schedule.

This week, we want to post a few tips that can help anyone who has planned a move for the winter or is thinking about moving in the winter months.  There is a lot more to moving in nasty weather than packing moving boxes into a vehicle.  Today, we’re posting a few tips on how to get your old living space ready for your big move.

Prepare Your Old Home for Moving Out

Clear snow. Make sure sidewalks, walkways and driveways are free of snow. Use salt or sand to ensure areas are free of icy and slippery conditions. Parking areas should also be cleared with ample room for movers to use dollies or other moving supplies. Check the area right away on moving day just in case it snowed overnight.

Protect inside space. Use large pieces of cardboard or plastic sheeting to ensure high traffic areas are protected from snow, sand, and water. If your floors can withstand heavy-duty tape (test in a corner spot first), tape plastic sheets to the floor for added protection. Cardboard works best for carpeted areas as small tacks can be used to secure it to the floor. Experiment first before the movers arrive so that you know what can or cannot be done to protect your floors.

Keep sand/salt and shovels on hand. It’s a good idea to stock up on winter supplies in case your vehicle or the moving truck becomes stuck or it starts to snow. Throughout the move, you should be monitoring conditions and acting on any changes as needed.

Have hot drinks on hand. Whether you’re moving yourself or hiring movers, make sure you have hot liquids available. Hot chocolate, tea, and coffee will be most welcomed by everyone who’s helping with your move. Extra mittens and hats are a good idea, too—you don’t want anyone’s hands getting numb while carrying important moving boxes with fragile items in them.

Keep an eye on the weather. While this seems like common sense, on moving day you’ll be so wrapped up in the move that you may forget that conditions might change. Check the weather well in advance of moving day and follow it closely right up until the movers arrive. If there’s a possibility of inclement weather, keep the radio on during the move to ensure you’re receiving the latest updates.

(Source: About.com)

Watch the blog this week for two more posts that can be helpful if you are thinking about moving in the winter months.  On Wednesday, we’ll have some tips on what to do if the weather isn’t going to cooperate with your move.

What have you done in the past to prepare your old living space for a wintry-weather move?  Comment below!

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Effective Packing!

November 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment

 

More Than Just Moving Boxes: Effective Packing (Part 1)

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Here on the SmoothMove Supplies blog, we have harped on this issue often, but that’s only because we know it’s one of the most stressful, yet important parts of moving.  We cannot emphasize enough the importance of packing wisely.  Buying high quality moving boxes or moving supplies doesn’t matter much if you cannot use them in the most effective way possible.  This week, we’re focusing on packing efficiently.  Today, check out five of our top 10 steps to packing efficiently; on Wednesday, we’ll post five more helpful hints.

1. Think beyond the moving box.
For items you think will be stored in the attic, garage or closet at your next home, consider getting inexpensive plastic storage bins.  The home improvement and general merchandise stores usually carry them.  This will save you on buying extra moving boxes and unpacking them when you get to your new home.  Also, for stuffed animals, towels and other soft items, consider using large trash bags; they are much cheaper than moving boxes.

2. Carefully track inventory.
Make a list of every item/box that goes on the moving van and take it with you.  Have a family member mark the moving boxes and items as they come off the truck.  This is especially important if your belongings will be transferred from the truck to storage before being delivered.  If a moving box is missing, lost, or left behind, it could be months before you realize it.  The mover must do the inventory for an interstate move.  Note any damage at the time of delivery.

3. Personally escort important papers.
Any personal financial information and important papers should be taken with you or shipped to you by family or a friend after you move into your new home.  Perhaps the most important reason for this is to protect against identity theft, but on top of that, it is incredibly difficult and stressful to replace important documents like passports and bank statements.

4. Boxes inside of moving boxes.
Put smaller items in small boxes and put small boxes into a bigger moving box. Small boxes are more easily lost or damaged.  Packing smaller boxes into large moving boxes provides extra protection and easier unpacking on move-in day.  By having a smaller number of large moving boxes, packing is more compact, and it is easier to keep track of your most valuable, small possessions.

5. Pack one room at a time.
Stay organized and pack one room fully and then move on to the next. If you don’t, you’ll end up with boxes full of miscellaneous items from several rooms.

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More than just moving boxes. Pack effectively!

November 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment

 

More Than Just Moving Boxes: Effective Packing (Part 2)

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Welcome back to our two-part series on effective packing!  Our hope is that these tips are an invaluable help to you as you begin packing your living space for the big move and look forward to getting settled in your new home.  Here are the last five tips of this week’s series:

6. Start packing moving boxes early.
This is undoubtedly the most important advice we have for you.  Packing takes longer and is more difficult than most think.  By beginning the packing process as early as possible, perhaps doing one room a day, you will not be running around frantically as you get closer to moving out, and you will be more organized throughout this potentially stressful time.  If you don’t start early, you’ll likely throw your things into their moving boxes, slap some packing tape on the top, and chuck them in your truck—start early to avoid unnecessary stress and damage to your items.

7. Label your essential moving boxes.
It is wise to always have a moving box for essentials that you will want or need when everything is delivered to your new home.  Remember: last on, first off.  Make sure the well-marked essentials box is the last one loaded onto the truck.  Some recommendations for your essentials moving box are, as follows: towels, soap, toilet paper, sheets, coffee maker, drinking cups, eating utensils, pens, and a notepad.  This is a small step you can take to greatly improve your packing process.

8. Value your valuables.
Most moving companies are uncomfortable moving your most valuable possessions: jewelry, antiques, and other items.  Sometimes special moving insurance is provided through your moving company, but we recommend you tuck your grandmother’s pearls and other valuables in one of your safest moving boxes, perhaps transporting them yourself to your new home.

9. Pack light; pay less.
Go through your belongings and decide what you truly need and want to keep.  Get rid of anything that you haven’t used in a year or so, unless it has sentimental value.  Movers charge by weight, so the lighter the load the more money you save.  Plan to go through everything at least twice, taking a break of a week or more in between each examination.  You will find a lot to get rid of on your first run-through; after you are comfortable with the process, go through all of your items again in a couple of weeks, checking for anything else you might be willing to give up.

10. Label moving boxes and list contents.
It is important to not only label each moving box with the room in which it belongs, but also to write down the contents of each moving box so that when you unpack, you can know what you’re opening up.  Don’t overuse the “miscellaneous” label, otherwise you’ll move into your new home with a bunch of miscellaneous moving boxes you don’t know what to do with.

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Moving Cons (P1)

November 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment

 

BEWARE: Moving Cons (Part 1)

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One of the scariest parts about moving is the unknown.  Moving from one place to another can be such a foreign process and mean-spirited movers can make things so much more difficult—there aren’t too many of them, but they are out there.  Make sure to be informed about what you’re getting yourself into by hiring a mover and read over these common moving scams.  We’ll post five more on Wednesday.

The curse of the poor estimator
An “estimator” who does a quick walk-through of your home without opening cabinets and taking note of exactly what you plan to move is going to be completely inaccurate. Thousands of people each year have their belongings held hostage by scam artists who low-ball your quote, then refuse to deliver your belongings until you’ve paid them hundreds or thousands of dollars more—in cash.  A good estimator will ask you questions (“Are you planning to move all the food in your pantry, or will you eat it before you go?”  “Are you planning a yard sale to get rid of anything; if so, what?”).  It’s incredibly important that you give as much information as possible.

Unnecessary advanced deposit
Reputable movers will NOT demand cash or any large deposit before moving you and your moving boxes.  You generally pay upon delivery of your moving boxes to your new home.  If you pay up front, you have zero control over when, or if, you’ll see your moving boxes and other possessions again.  When you do pay, use a credit card that will help you fight any fraudulent activity.

Catchy packing costs
The Catch-22 of moving is that if you pack your own belongings in your own moving boxes, the mover generally isn’t responsible for any damage to them in transit.  If you let your mover pack them, you’re forking over inflated prices for boxes and other packing material, not to mention time and labor.  Ask about the packers’ experience, if you go the latter route.  Most packers and movers are careful, but some will just toss whatever they can into a box and seal it up with little regard for whether something will break or bend.  Be proactive in selecting your movers!

Other miscellaneous fees
Live in a two-story house or moving to one?  You’ll likely be charged extra.  Moving to or from a 10th floor apartment?  Ditto.  Have a narrow street that won’t fit a moving van?  Expect a surcharge for the transfer of your belongings to a smaller truck for delivery.  These aren’t necessarily scams, but they are certainly charges that could be avoided with the right movers.

The difficult reality of distance estimates
A mover who doesn’t insist on an on-site inspection of your household goods is giving you a sight-unseen estimate, and those are usually too good to be true.  Homeowners typically have many more belongings than they think they do, and good estimators aren’t looking at specific items as much as guesstimating their bulk and weight.  Moving prices are based not only on mileage, but also on the weight of your belongings and the amount of room your goods take up in the truck.  Carefully examine all of your contracts and make sure you’re not paying too much!

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