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Start packing early. For example, pack a box
per night and you will be pleasantly surprised
at how effortless the chore of packing can become.
Reserve your moving truck well in advance of
your move date and advise the rental company
of the estimated size of your load. If you are
moving at the end of any summer month, reserve
at least a month ahead as this is peak moving
season.
Organizing your move is the
key to success.
You will have to decide what type of truck
you are going to need, as well the required
equipment such as cartons, dollies, refrigerator
carts, moving pads, etc.
Make sure you wrap all of your unpacked goods
in blankets to avoid scratching.
Don't forget to include goods at other locations,
such as the office or a friend's home.
If you live in an apartment building make sure
you reserve the elevator with your superintendent
or property manager (on both ends).
If you are moving locally you can rent a smaller
truck and make 2 or 3 trips, but if you are
moving long distance make sure you have a truck
that will carry all of your goods in one trip.
Keep in mind that loading a truck is an art.
Always place the heavy goods on first i.e. appliances
etc. Next, place the lighter goods on the top.
Use cartons and small items to fill in all of
the empty spaces. Keep in mind the tighter the
goods are packed, the more safely they move.
For more information about loading, contact
your truck rental company. They usually supply
a very good instruction package.
1.5 to 2 Cubic Foot Cartons
(2 cube)
These are used for small, heavy items such
as books, files, tools, CDs, records, etc. A
2 cube is just that - 2 cubic feet in size (a
little bigger than a breadbox). As one full
2 cube can weigh up to 50 lbs., it is important
to identify extensive collections such as books,
records, files etc.
To calculate the size of a 2 cube carton, first
extend your measuring tape to 2 feet. Hold the
tape up to the bookshelves. The number of books
in the 2-foot measurement will fit into a 2
cube box. Use the same process for records and
extend the tape to about 3 feet for CDs.
4 Cubic Foot Cartons (4 cube)
These are cartons used for pots, pans, shoes
and all the things that we keep in our cupboards
and closets excluding linen and clothing. These
cartons are also used for things such as small
garden tools, gardening pots, small appliances,
etc.
The rule of thumb for this type of carton is
one single door cupboard is equivalent to one
4 cube box.
In the kitchen, for example, if the bottom
cupboards are full of pots, pans, etc., check
off one 4 cube per cupboard. Think of this cupboard
size when you are calculating items such as
sports equipment, balls, hockey gear, toys etc.
5 Cubic Foot Cartons (5 cube)
These are mainly used for linen and clothes.
One cupboard equals one - 5 cube box. A clothes
hamper full of clothes and linen would be equal
to one- 5 cube box.
TIP: Leave all of the clothes inside your dressers.
Do not count them when adding up as packed items.
Breakables, however, must be removed from your
cupboards and included as packed items. SEE
PACKING TIPS
China Cartons
This is a carton with thicker cardboard walls
designed to give china and glass extra protection.
They are about 5 cubic feet in size. A china
carton will hold the contents of a kitchen cupboard
- approximately 2 feet by 3 feet. If you are
estimating in your kitchen, mark one china carton
for every cupboard full of glassware. In the
dining room, use the same principal. If the
china cabinet has 4 cupboard size sections,
4 china cartons would be required. Rule of thumb:
1 china carton for every room in your house.
Therefore, 8 rooms are equivalent to 8 china
cartons.
Picture/Mirror Cartons
All paintings and mirrors are packed in picture
cartons. Generally, 2 to 3 items may be packed
into each carton. For this estimate, use 2 paintings
or mirrors for every one carton. For example,
3 hanging paintings and 1 mirror would equal
2 picture cartons.
Mattress Cartons
Always count the box spring and mattress separately
as they are placed into individual cartons or
mattress bags. King size beds usually have two
single box springs, so you would need 1 king
and 2 single mattress cartons for most king
size beds. For other beds the box spring and
mattress are same size.
Crating
Items such as glass shelves in china cabinets,
glass and marble table tops, mirrors without
frames, marble table bases, grandfather clocks
and very rare antique pieces have to be crated.
Be advised that crating is expensive so only
have necessary items crated.
For round tables, measure the distance across
the piece and use that for length and width.
For example, a circular table that measure 35
inches across would be crated in a box 35"
x 35" x 4". Use the back of the inventory
sheet if you need more space and the transfer
the info later.
Chandeliers should also be crated. Measure
the extreme edges of the piece as well as the
height. Add 2 inches to the height as the chandelier
is actually hung inside the crate.
Miscellaneous Items
Most homes will have a catchall area - usually
in the basement, garage or locker. The easiest
way to estimate what needs to be packed is to
measure the area that the items fill. For example,
you may have an 8-foot high room, which is piled
to the ceiling with items. The goods come out
4 feet from the wall and they are 6 feet across.
Write these dimensions and general contents
in the "other items" section of the
Inventory Sheet.
(If you are interested, you just multiply the
3 numbers together - 8 x 4 x 6 = 192 cubic feet.
Multiply this number by 7 to get the weight
- 192 x 7 = 1344 lbs.)
Pianos
Pianos require special equipment and, in some
cases, extra help to get it out of the basement
or down the stairs.
Other Bulky Items
Make note of any other bulky items such as
boats, garden tractors, outdoor swings, TV dishes,
above ground pools, utility sheds, building
material, motorcycles, etc.
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