Category: Moving Tips

 How to prepare for a move out

When it comes to moving out of your current place it is no surprise that there is a lot to prepare and get ready for. Knowing how to prepare for a move out will ensure that everything goes well on move day and will also help to ensure that you don’t end up going crazy due to all the stress. With this in mind we have put together a list of 11 steps that will help you to prepare for a move out. There will always be other things to do when preparing for a move but if you follow our 11 steps you will be in a good place and ready for your move out.

13 Steps on how to prepare for a move out

1. Make a checklist Create a checklist of all the tasks you need to complete before the move, and cross them off as you go. This will help you stay organized and on track.
2. Create a moving budget: Determine how much money you have available for the move and make a budget for all the expenses involved, including hiring a moving company, renting a truck, and packing materials.
3. Hire a moving company: Consider hiring a professional moving company to help with the heavy lifting and transportation of your belongings. Get estimates from several companies and choose one that fits your budget and needs. Check out our post on How to choose the right moving company.
4. Start packing early: Begin packing as soon as possible, starting with items you use less frequently. Use sturdy boxes and wrap items in bubble wrap or packing paper to protect them during the move.
5. Disassemble furniture: Take apart any large furniture items that can be disassembled, such as beds and tables. This will make them easier to move and also help protect them during the move.
6. Take an inventory: Make a list of all your belongings, including serial numbers and descriptions of valuable items. This can be helpful for insurance purposes in case any items are lost or damaged during the move.Label boxes: Clearly label each box with its contents and the room it belongs in at the new residence. This will make it easier to unpack and get settled in your new home
7. Collect important documents: Gather important documents, such as birth certificates, passports, and insurance papers, and keep them in a safe place where you can easily access them during the move.
8. Have a garage sale: Consider having a garage sale to get rid of items you no longer need or want. This can help reduce the amount of stuff you have to move and also bring in some extra money.
9. Arrange for childcare: If you have children, make arrangements for childcare on the day of the move. This will allow you to focus on the task at hand and not have to worry about your children’s safety.
10. Set up utilities: Arrange to have your utilities turned off at your current residence and set up at your new one.
11. Change your address: Notify the post office of your change of address, and make sure to update your address with any subscriptions, banks, and other institutions.
12. Make travel arrangements: If you are moving a long distance, make arrangements for transportation for yourself and any pets you may have.
13.  Hire a cleaner -Consider hiring a cleaning service to clean your old home when you move out. When you complete your move the last thing you want to do is to have to keep going back to your old home to clean it. Hiring a cleaning service will also help to make sure you get your deposit back from your landlord.

 

How to load a tape gun

Listen it’s ok we have all been there, struggling and wondering how to load a tape gun so you can get them all important boxes taped. The good news is it is super easy when you know how. Below is a  video showing you exactly how to load a tape gun video as well as a step by step guide on how to do it.

• First, grab your roll of tape, make sure that the end of the tape is on the left with the sticky side facing down.

 

• Next grab your roll of tape and push it fully onto the large roller

 

• Position the end of tape so that it ready to go under the other roller

 

• Grab the tape gun with your right hand and with your left hand pull the lever down and use your right index finger to hold it in place.

 

• Take the end of your tape and pull it underneath the roller and up towards the blades. Let go of the lever and use the blades to cut the tape.

 

And there you have it, you are now ready to tape your boxes. Check out our how to video on it below.

 

How much should you tip your movers

 

How much to tip

We know that this is a question that a lot of people out there are asking. The simple answer to this question is whatever you feel appropriate. You by no means have to tip your movers but if you do they will certainly appreciate it.  If you do decide to tip your movers a general rule of thumb is to tip them 5% to 20% of the bill.  A lot of people prefer to simply give them a flat rate tip and this is totally fine also.  Having been a mover for more than 10 years, I would say that the average tip for a days work is $40.

When to tip

The answer to this is pretty simple. If you feel that your movers have worked hard, taken care of your items and  have been polite and respectful then it is definitely time to reward them with a tip. People tend to tip a little more when their movers have gone above and beyond what is typically asked of them.  This may include moving the same piece of furniture around multiple times without complaints, helping with extra items that they were not supposed to move or having to move items up a crazy amount of stairs.

When not to tip

Not all movers deserve a tip at the end of a move as unfortunately  we are all only to aware of.  If you feel that your movers haven’t listened to your requests, haven’t taken proper measures to protect your furniture, have been rude or have had bad communication throughout the move do not feel the need to tip them. If they ask you why you didn’t tip (which no mover ever should) calmly tell them your reasons why and hopefully it will help to make them better in the future.

What else to do for your movers.

As well as tipping there are a few other things that you can to to keep your movers happy throughout the day.  We are also fully aware that moving is already expensive and not everyone can afford to tip so taking our advice on what else to do for your movers can be a great alternative. Moving is an extremely physical job so it’s always good to make sure you have plenty of refreshments on hand, which will also hopefully help to speed them up.  Keeping your movers well feed will also help to keep them happy so feel free to buy them lunch if you think they deserve it.  Speaking from experience I know that movers really appreciate when customers are organized.  With this in mind, make sure you are fully packed, everything is well labeled and that you give them clear instructions and then step back and let them work, believe me sometimes this will make them as happy as a tip.

Do you add the tip to the bill or leave cash

It is perfectly acceptable to either add the tip to the final moving bill or simply just leave it in cash for the movers. My personal advice is to give the movers their tip in cash as opposed to adding it to the final bill.  The reason for this is because if it gets added to the final bill there is a chance the movers will get taxed up to 40% on it. As being a mover isn’t typically a high paying job getting taxed on their tips can really affect their take home pay.

Who do you give the tip to

Typically the tip is given to the crew leader and then he in turn will divide it up among the rest of the crew.  It is also perfectly acceptable to personally hand each crew member their tip. If your move has taken multiple days and there has been different movers on your move on different days it will be easier and fairer to simply hand it to the crew leader and he should divide the tip up equally based on the number of hours that each crew member was on the job.

Steps to take before your moving truck arrives

 

So moving day is finally here. After months of planning it’s finally time to take a step back and let the movers do all the hard work.  You have spent the last few months researching movers, looking at new apartment, packing and getting everything organized for the big day.  With all that hard work already done it’s easy to feel worn out and to think that there is nothing more that can be done and whatever happens happens, but don’t put your feet up just yet.  We have come up with a list of steps that tend to get done the night before or on the morning of the move and completing these last few steps will help to ensure that all your planning was worthwhile.

 

Clear a spot for the moving truck

Making sure the movers have somewhere to park their truck when they arrive will help to ensure that your move gets off to a great start.  If you have been saving spots with your cars make sure that you know where all the keys are so you are ready to spring into action when the moving truck arrives.  If you have paid for parking permits, make sure that no one has parked there and if they have, call the tow people asap as it will normally take someone at least 45 minutes to come out and tow them away.  If neighbors have been holding spots for you let them know when your movers plan to arrive so that they are ready to go

 

Make sure everything is clearly labeled

With so much going on during moving day it’s easy for you to forget what goes where, what items stay, what goes to donation etc but remember it’s not only you that needs to know these things, your movers need to know these details too in order to ensure a smooth move. .Before your movers arrive, take one last walk around and make sure everything is clearly labelled.  Label all boxes where you would like them to go at your new home, mark anything that stays so that it doesn’t get loaded onto the truck by mistake and mark any items that are super fragile or require special attention. Not only will these steps help ensure a smooth move but it will also mean that you don’t have to explain everything over and over again to the movers.

 

Make a dedicated “Safe Zone” in your house

There are always a few items in your home that are essential to you during the day of your move and it’s important that these items don’t get loaded onto the moving truck by mistake.  Theses may be items like your car keys, medicine, your kids favorite teddy bear etc.  Our advice it to designate a certain corner of a room for all these items and call this corner the safe zone.  When your movers arrive, show them the safe zone, explain to them that everything there stays and is not to be moved and this will help to ensure that you are not stressing out later when you realize your car keys have been packed onto the moving truck.

 

Go over your contract

Before your movers arrive look over your contract in advance and ensure that you understand what’s expected of you and what you can expect of your movers. Make sure you understand  when your movers will arrive, how much you will be charged, what insurance options you have etc. If you have any questions be sure to contact a representative to talk about any questions you may have before the move begins.

 

Find a safe spot for your pets

We know you love your pets and enjoy having them around but having them running around during a move can be distracting and also dangerous.  Make sure you have a clear plan on what do do with them on moving day. You may decide to put them in a basket, ask a friend to take care of them or put them in a shelter for a night. Whatever you decide, having them out of the way will mean you have one less thing to worry about and will also make in safer for you and the movers.

Pack an overnight bag

Even if you expect your move to be completed in a day we highly recommend still being prepared and packing an overnight bag just incase.  Although you may never need it there is always a small chance that the moving truck may break down, you lose your only set of keys to your new home or your new landlords decides you can’t get into your new apartment until the following day. Having an overnight bag prepared will help to make a night in a hotel a little less stressful.

Be fully packed

If you have told your moving company that you plan to pack yourself then it is super important that you are fully packed when they arrive.  Many people think that they will be able to pack during the move but you will typically have so many other things to do during the move that this really isn’t a great idea.  Being fully packed before your movers arrive will mean you are less stressed and will be able to coordinate the move much more efficiently, also your estimate will typically be based on you being fully packed so ensuring that you are will mean that the moving company will have to stick to their estimate and will not be able to increase the price.

Learn how to tape moving boxes correctly

What you will need to tape moving boxes correctly

1. Correct size moving box
2. Correct type of Tape

Moving can be a stressful process, but knowing the right way to put a box together can make all the difference to your move and ensure that your items end up safely at your new home and not broken on the floor. You may not even know that you’ve have been taping moving boxes wrong all these years but by following our advice you will be taping moving boxes like the pros in no time.

Moving can be a stressful process, but knowing the right way to put a box together can make all the difference to your move and ensure that your items end up safely at your new home and not broken on the floor. You may not even know that you’ve have been taping moving boxes wrong all these years but by following our advice you will be taping moving boxes like the pros in no time.

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Choose the correct size moving box.​

As a general rule there 3 main sizes of boxes, small, medium and large. Small boxes are typically used for smaller heavier items such as books and canned food ect. Medium boxes are more used for items like plates, glasses and electronics. The larger boxes are typically used for large light items such as bedding, pillows and toys ect.  Choosing the right size box for your items will mean that the items will arrive safe and that the boxes will be the correct weight and easier to move.

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Correct type of tape​

There are a number of different types of tapes you can use when taping moving boxes, duct tape, masking tape, shipping tape and filament tape. Having been in the moving industry for over 15 years we feel that your best option is shipping tape. It is cheap, easy to use, and strong enough to seal boxes. It is also water-resistant and very sticky. Having used shipping tape for over 15 years and never been let down by it we feel that this is the best tape option for taping moving boxes.

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How to tape moving boxes

• Make sure the box is completely flat to start with.
• There are 2 flaps at the top of the box that are connected by a small piece of cardboard, these are used for the flap lock feature. Fold the 2 sides that have the flaps down so that they are against the box.
• Next, open the box up so that it is square, the 2 flap sides should have stayed attached to the box, the part where the flaps are folded over is going to be the top of your box.
• Next flip the box upside down, we are now ready to tape the bottom of the box.
• First fold in the 2 small flaps, then fold in the 2 longer flaps.
• Run a piece of tape along the opening of the 2 long flaps, ensure that there is at least 3 inches of tape going up the side of the box.
• Repeat this process twice but make sure to put the next 2 pieces of tape an inch either side of the first piece. This will help to improve the strength of the tape.
• Flip your box back over and [ack up to the top of the folded flaps.
• Finally break apart the flaps that were being held by the small pieces of cardboard and repeat the taping process we used for the bottom of the box. Label it correctly and you’re done.

There is nothing worse than watching your movers stand around waiting for the elavator. If possible try and reserve the elevator with the building to keep you move on pace.

This is a great way to help keep the cost of the move down. Items that usually need to be disassembled are things like beds and tables. Always to remember to put the hardware in a zip lock back and keep it in a safe place.

Moving is a great time to get rid of all your unwanted items, plus the more you get rid of the easier your move will be. Give yourself plenty of time so that by the time moving day comes you have got rid of all that clutter. Ask friends if there are any items they want, contact goodwill or even put them on the free section of Craigslist.

Lets face it, after a long hard day of moving the last thing you want to do is to start unpacking boxes looking for them essential items you need to get through the night and next day. Pack a bag or box with all your essentials such as a change of clothes, phone charger, laptop, medication ect. When you have done this clearly mark that it does not go in the moving truck and place it in a safe place.

As a mover I cannot stress how important this is. Don’t assume that you will have time to do it when the movers are moving the big items, you will not have enough time as packing always takes longer than you think. Having everything in boxes will make the move go so much faster, which will save you money and will also keep your movers happy.