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Summertime moving tips

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Summertime is usually the month that most people choose to move home; the fact that the kids are on break from school and the weather is mostly sunny makes this time of year a particularly popular one. But even while summer conjures up brilliant sunshine in the nation, one also must not forget the rainfall that is also likely to show up as well.

True, the rain is a welcoming change especially when there have been days of record-breaking heat. And while those who work outside would welcome the rainfall to keep them cool, rain is indeed a mover’s nightmare that could very well impede progress during moving.

A little bit of rain would never cancel a move. However, if it is a thunderstorm type of scenario, then you are better off changing the moving date. For those who are unable to put off moving day because of legal landlord issues, then be prepared to put in that extra work to protect your furniture from the elements.

For your furniture, it is best that you use some heavy duty tarp to wrap or cover as well as plastic, the latter especially when covering mattresses and sofas. Avoid the use of shrink wrap as water can still seem into it.

Moving the furniture to and from the truck in the rainy weather can also be tricky. True, the top portion is covered and protected but what about the bottom part of the furniture that may have to touch the wet or muddy ground?  Moving experts would advise that you make a walkway out of either old carpets or rugs for which you can drag the items into the house. On moving day, ensure that you make the movers’ job as easy as possible. You can do this by using lots of sheets, towels, blankets, whatever you can find to lay in the house to prevent the movers from slipping. You want to lay them out smoothly so that the movers would not trip or fall. You simply cannot ask the moving crew to remove their shoes when they enter your home. That’s why it is important to either spread material on the floor or simply have a mop handy to clean up the mess.

Moving cabinets and armoires – the quick and easy way

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Armoires and cabinets are indeed attention catchers, the beauty of this decorative furniture can suddenly be diminished especially as moving day draws near. It’s the type of cumbersome furniture that one would rather leave behind if it were not for their effective storage qualities. Plus relocating with this type of furniture can be a great challenge. Here are a few ways in which you can easily move armoires and cabinets without the fuss and stress.

One of the first things that you should do is to remove the items that are packed into the armoire and cabinet and place then in boxes for moving. If they are fragile items such as porcelain ornaments and the like, be sure to bubble wrap them a few times before gently placing in them in the box. When it comes to your cabinet, it would be wise to remove the shelves (if they are indeed removable) and put them aside. These shelves should be placed in another part of the truck for moving since you do not want it to slide out and damage other items in the vehicle. You should also think about removing the doors of the cabinets as well; a rough drive can make it catapult to God knows where in the back of the truck.

There are some who may have armoires and even cabinets that have glass doors; these can be very tricky to move. When you get to this part you can either call on professional movers to assist you if you think you would make a mess of it or simply use a moving blanket over the area as it is made for protecting fragile items such as these.

We also recommend that you also remove the drawers in the cabinet or armoire rather than taping it to stay sturdy. By taking it you would be giving yourself an extra headache as most of the times the tape would is hard to remove and would ultimately destroy your furniture.

Another option for holding the drawers and doors in place is to get it shrink wrapped. Shrink wrapping an item such as this is a tedious job, but it’s worth it especially when you are trying to protect items such as these.

If you want to remove the doors and drawers instead one of the first things to do is to remove the screws and set them aside in a Ziploc bag and label so that you can locate them easily when you move. Once that is completed and set aside, then it times to remove the drawers and doors those of which you should also wrap in moving blankets.

 

Moving day and your groceries

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Moving with existing grocery items is not something that most people would consider doing. There are some who would rather throw out everything that is in their pantries and refrigerator opting to purchase a fresh set of groceries. For those that may purchase new groceries, the best thing that you can do is to sort of hold out on buying more grocery items as moving day approaches. This will allow you to have enough money to fulfill a huge grocery list. However if you are going to take your groceries with you, here are a few tips that you can use in order to relocate with everything in tact.

For those who buy grocery items in bulk for their large family, take into consideration that there are some things you would have to get rid of and others that you can take with you. It would make no sense at all if you were to take along items such as half used meats, vegetables or milk. You have the choice of either using them up within a week before moving or you can donate the unopened frozen foods to a local pantry or to a family or friend.

Bulk buying means that you would probably purchase the large family pack of meats and if this is so, one way you can get rid of it is to host a moving party where you invite your friends and family for lunch or dinner. Experts would tell you that some of the foods that you should not move with include frozen foods as we mentioned before, defrosted meats and cold cuts as well as opened sugar and flour, eggs and even opened bottles of soda and juices.

These are items that you can readily replace because of how inexpensive they are especially when you use a few coupons.

Items that you can take with you include anything from unopened boxes of cereal, crackers, sealed bottles and cans, unopened cookies, bread and chips and pasta to name a few. Canned goods and jarred goods that are sealed can also be packed for moving. Once you have gathered the groceries that you want to take with you, the next thing would be to concentrate on how to pack them. Experts say that items such as cookies or big bag of sea chips should be fitted in a small sized trash bag or any other small plastic bags that would hold the items. If you have a heavy item in the plastic bag then it should be placed at the bottom of the bag to avoid squeezing the other delicate items.

Heavy items such as canned goods must be placed in a durable box.  Even if you use the smaller box you can still find items such as unopened bags that are currently held together with twist ties.

Inventory List

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If you talk to a moving expert and ask them about one of the more essential parts of the moving process, they would immediately tell you that keeping a list of inventory is a good thing. This list is essential in that it would allow you to see exactly what you have in your household so that should something go missing, you have your list to show to the movers. A list is also important to track damaged items as well should the unfortunate happen.

Making an inventory list is easy; you simply go to each room in your house and itemize every item that you own there. It would be best to actually list them by room example Matt’s bedroom or upstairs bathroom etc.

In addition, keep inventory of all the valuable items that you may have in your home as well as a list of all the electronics too. Separating each category would help you keep a better tracking system for which you can quickly scan and immediately address, while the movers are still there.

You should also try to pack your items according to how they are written down and grouped on your list; you should also label your boxes accordingly as well.

Thanks to the power of technology, keeping moving inventory has also become much easier.  By using your digital camera, you can take pictures of your items or put the camera in video mode where you can not only see pictures but also vocally record each item. If you are using the still picture function, detailing is very important to capture on film. For instance if you have brand new items you should zoom in to show how impeccable the items are before moving day. That way should they get damaged the movers would never get the chance to say that they picked up the items from your home in that condition. When you start talking your still pictures, also ensure that the date and time is set on the camera. Videotaping inventory is quick and easy than still pictures; you can also use the zoom feature to identify special detailing on your items. Remember that even if you are using the above form of technology for inventory, you could never go wrong with having a backup paper list. If you can’t get both the list and videos done, ask a family member to assist you.

 

Beating the heat while moving

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As recording breaking heat continues to sweep the nation, the show must go on when it comes to your home relocation. Summertime is undoubtedly the most popular time for moving and when it is stacked up with winter, summertime is definitely the lesser of two evils. You have waiting for a few months for moving day to happen and now that it is a month away, here are a few things that you should be aware of during a summer move. Even before attending to your household items, you should ensure that you stock up on a lot of cold liquids so that you and your movers can consume on moving day. A small investment in a portable water cooler would definitely keep you and the moving team hydrated so as to avoid the repercussions of the brutal heat to your health.

As you start packing your items in boxes, remember to reinforce your tape with two or three layers during the box sealing process as the summer heat may add moisture and cause the tape to eventually peel away. You would be better off if you purchase a moisture resistant, heavy duty packaging tape which also prevents against bursts and splits.

Boxes aside, the heat can really do a number to your wooden furniture as well as your electronic items as well. By using bubble wrap or even a piece of fabric, you would be protecting your electronics from the harshness of the sun. Even your wooden furniture runs the risk of getting cracked and peeled with the moisture of the sun. This can be prevented by apply a coat of vanish or by covering the surfaces of your wooden furniture. Remember that most of the moving trucks and without climate control settings. Protect your furniture to avoid headaches and unwanted out-of-pocket expenses.

Next, if you are still setting the day and time to move, you should select either the early morning hours or the nighttime hours from six o’ clock onwards as these are the times when the sun is less brutal. On moving day, try to make the atmosphere in your new home a comfortable one by turning on the air-conditioned unit before the movers get there so that they can enter a cool place when they arrive. Also, before they start unpacking your items, allow them to rest for a while with some refreshments on hand. The sun has a tendency to make one feel lethargic and the rest and refreshment would definitely energize the moving crew.