Archive for January, 2010

How To Organize Your Move and moving boxes

Friday, January 29th, 2010

593737_boardA technique favored by most people as well as professional packers is numbering each of your cardboard boxes and then noting down the number as well its contents in a notebook. This way no one can know about the contents of a box en route. Another popular technique is color coding the moving boxes using colored stickers and then writing down the contents either in a notebook or on the inside of the flap of the box. Moving boxes containing fragile items should be clearly marked to avoid damage. Also, these packing boxes should be well balanced during transit and should not be placed under any heavy load. Also using moving supplies such as bubble wrap is helpful.

Apart from labeling the moving boxes, it is also important to follow a few rules while packing boxes. As much as possible, pack your items in cardboard boxes of identical sizes. The moving boxes used should neither be too small or too large. It’s also important to balance the weight of the boxes. If everything inside a box is lightweight (but not fragile), it should be layered with something heavier. For instance, a box containing clothes and bed sheets is not likely to weigh much, so adding a few cook wares or heavy pans should even out the weight. This is helpful in piling up the boxes in a stable stack to save space.

A last bit of advice would be to make sure that the things you’ll need right away should be placed in a box that goes last in the truck. The whole process of moving should be a lot easier for you now that you know how to organize your moving boxes. It’s sure to save you a lot of trouble!

Making Moving Easy

Friday, January 29th, 2010

happyMoving can be a very strenuous exercise. The whole idea of packing up your entire household, transporting it to another location and then reopening every single box and replacing every item in its new place is enough to give many people sleepless nights. The first few days after relocating can get especially annoying since one has to deal with pile upon pile of moving boxes to open but with no idea of what’s inside them. However, a lot of time and effort can be saved if you plan ahead and know how to organize your moving boxes.

One common mistake that most people commit is packing up in a rush without any planning. This inadvertently leads to misplaced goods, damage during transit and of course, a lot of hassle during reopening the cardboard boxes. You can however easily avoid some major heartburn if you know, or bother to ask someone who knows how to organize your moving boxes. The basic thumb rule is to carefully label all your boxes. There are a number of ways to do this and you can adopt the best method according to your own needs. Boxes can be labeled based on either different rooms (such as kitchen stuff, master bed room etc.), their contents or fragility. Make sure to use plenty of moving supplies as well to help with protecting your items.

Buying the Right Moving Boxes

Friday, January 29th, 2010

1184226_boxes 2Anyone who has ever had to deal with moving boxes will tell you how there can be a number of differences between any two boxes, even if they appear to be the same. They are usually categorized based on the fiberboard used to manufacture them and this information is normally stamped on the inside along with its weight limit and size which is ordinarily measured in cubic feet. A 1.5 cubic foot box for instance, is typically 16 by 12.5 by 12.5 inches and is suitable for packing books, lamps, kitchen items and small appliances, among other similar things. A 3.0-cubic-foot box on the other hand is good for clothing and cookware while a 4.5 cubic foot box is used for linens, large lamps and appliances. Under no circumstances should the weight of a packed box exceed its prescribed limit.

Various specialty cardboard boxes are also available in the market which are designed keeping a particular item in mind. Artwork boxes, for instance, are stronger and are shaped so as to provide a perfect fit for mirrors and artworks. These usually come with frame protectors which can be secured to the corners of the item to prevent damage during transit. Other examples of specialty cardboard boxes are guitar boxes, mattress boxes and file boxes. These are usually easily available in all major shops and stores dealing in packing and moving supplies.

So, the next time you have to pack up and relocate, make sure to utilize your new found knowledge about the boxes to use to move and always remember that when it comes to boxes, one size does not fit all.

Moving Boxes Basics

Friday, January 29th, 2010

1216018_box_vectorPicture this: You are moving to a new location. You’ve spent considerable amount of money on buying various types of moving supplies such as bubble wrap, packing paper and packing peanuts for packing up your household. You personally pack or supervise the packing of each and every item of your household using Styrofoam balls and bubble wrap and label everything carefully.

To ensure safe delivery of your goods, you even hire the best transportation service available, even if it means paying through your nose. Nevertheless, all your precautions not withstanding, you still find your favorite bone china dinner set shattered to pieces and several dents on your college trophies.

It’s the worst nightmare which comes true for anyone who has ever had to relocate. Despite one’s best efforts and safeguards, these mishaps occur more often than not because of one minor oversight – the moving boxes to use to move. The choice of the boxes used plays a major role in the safety of the transported goods. No matter how well an item is wrapped or padded, it will get damaged if the box used is not strong enough or is not designed to carry that item. To ensure that your goods arrive unharmed in perfect condition, it is advisable to carry out a little research about the moving boxes to use to move.

Most Important Moving Supplies

Friday, January 29th, 2010

1924_checking_factsTopping the list of the most important moving supplies are perhaps boxes. These are an unavoidable part of moving and are perhaps considered a necessary expenditure. What many people don’t realize, however, is that instead of spending money on them, you can get them for free!

Your local grocery stores and even supermarkets get their own shipments in these very boxes and are most likely to throw them away. You can instead chat up with these store owners and ask them about the kind and number of leftover cardboard boxes available and the best time for you to pick them up. Liquor stores especially come in handy since the boxes used to transport bottles have protective dividers in them and can thus be used for packing cutlery and other fragile items.
Another must have on the list of moving supplies is Styrofoam, packing peanuts or bubble wrap.

These can however be replaced by blankets and bed sheets for wrapping fragile items. The basic idea is to wrap them in anything soft that can absorb an impact and provide some sort of a cushion. Substituting packing paper with newspaper and buying used moving blankets instead of new ones can also help bring down costs considerably.

Keeping these tips in mind and maybe even coming up with some of your own can go a long way in addressing the problem of how to save money with packing supplies.

A Dummy’s Guide on How to Save Money with Moving Supplies

Friday, January 29th, 2010

coinsAnyone who’s gone through, or is planning to go through the whole ordeal of moving, knows just how tiring, stressful and time consuming the whole process can be. And of course, not to mention, expensive. Ensuring that one’s goods arrive safely at the intended destination in perfect condition requires a lot of planning in advance. Right from deciding on the kind of moving supplies needed to categorizing the different items based on various factors such as size, fragility and shapes, packing one’s stuff for moving requires a lot of thought. Also, one should be prepared to burn a hole in the pocket as everything from packing supplies, transportation and even labor, costs a lot of money. However, using a little imagination and ingenuity, one can easily cut down on these costs, especially on the supplies. In this article, we give you a lowdown on the top ideas on how to save money with packing supplies.
A number of packing and moving kits are available in the market which include pretty much everything one needs to pack up one’s household. Although, these kits make the whole task of packing and moving a lot more easier, these are not the ideal choice for people looking to save some money. Starting from around $40 and going all the way to thousands of dollars, depending on the type and size of the household, these kits do cost a lot of money but make it easy to figure out “how many” moving boxes and supplies to buy. So the obvious question would be, “How to Save Money with Packing Supplies?”