Customer packing tips

If you plan on doing your own packing, here are a few suggestions to keep in mind during the process. Always remember if you get tired, or run out of time you can always give Hansen’s Moving and Storage a call to finish up the job.

1. Purchase Quality Materials – The boxes and supplies sold at the box stores, or the Uhaul dealer are typically single corrugated cardboard and less effective than professional grade. It does not seem like a big deal, but as soon as those boxes get heavy they do not handle a move very well. We recommend buying your boxes from Hansen’s Moving, or a reputable move who sells professional-grade supplies. The pro-quality is cost-effective and will help prevent damages during the move.
2. Use Wrapping Paper – It is important to recognize how a mover will pack your items. Boxes and furniture are tightly and neatly stacking in the truck in order to make it all fit, generally on the first load. Boxes often get turned on their side (unless marked fragile) and can get moved around much more than if they were being transported in the back of your car. Pack your local move as if it were going across the country. It is worth taking a little extra time while you pack to prevent damage.
3. Properly Identify Boxes – Marking the containers will help the move go very smoothly. You want to make sure to write the room in which you want the items to go in the new home or office, not necessarily where they came from. Always make sure to identify if a box is fragile, has glass or dishes, or if there are liquids and the box needs to always remain upright.
4. Pack Everything – On big factor that can cause an overrun on a move bill is being under-prepared. Again, keep in mind that things need to stack neatly on a truck. Small desktop and countertop items cannot be safely or efficiently stacked in a moving truck. When you get done packing, look around the house and see if there are any small items left. You can never be too prepared on move day.
5. Organize Packed Boxes – Once you have the room packed up, stack all the boxes neatly about shoulder-high. This will give the movers the ability to take neat stacks directly using a hand truck. having the boxes for each room stacked neatly will help the boxes come off the truck at unload by room. Keep in mind that you always want heavy boxes on the bottom, and light boxes on the tip.
6. Unhook and Unbolt – If you want to save time and money, make sure everything is unhooked and unbolted before the movers arrive. If you have the ability to take bed frames apart and disconnect your appliances, that will really help the move go quickly. One king-sized bed can take two men fifteen minutes to unhook and put back together. These small tasks can add up over time. Keep in mind that movers will typically not unhook or hook up electronics or televisions from the wall. We also recommend purchasing new washer hoses to be installed at the new home. Washer hoses can become less effective one they have been unhooked after a long period of time, leading to leaks and flooding.
7. Sell or Dispose of Unwanted Items – There is no better “spring cleaning” than moving. Take advantage of this time to dispose of, sell, or donate any unwanted items before you spend money moving them.
8. Use the Correct Boxes – Sometimes it can be temping to pack as much as you can into the biggest box you can find. This can end up with boxes that are too heaving to lift, and boxes that will tear during the move process. Make sure you are using the small book boxes for your heaviest items, and use the larger boxes for the light items.
9. Damages – Keep in mind that movers are not responsible for any containers packed by owner (PBO). Moving companies are also not responsible for any items they pack into boxes provided by the shipper. If you choose to do your own packing, make sure you consider the risk of damages during the process.
10. Valuation – Make sure you visit our Valuation Coverage/Options page in our Resources section. Moving companies are responsible for .60 cents per lb for items they pack, and carry no responsibility for items they do not pack. Always take time to consider whether full-value valuation is a valuable option for your items, or standard coverage is suitable.

These are just some helpful tips to make for a smooth move process. If you have any further questions about how to pack or want to schedule a team from Hansen’s Moving and Storage to handle the packing please call (661) 834-2411.