Packing and Moving Tips

Moving is stressful, but as long as you do a little bit each day you will keep the stress level down.

Plan ahead by starting your packing at least a month or two ahead.

Get good packing material. Some boxes you can buy are weak. If you buy boxes that tear at the seams, get some extra tape to tape the corners and edges of your boxes. Plan to use about 1 roll of tape to fully seal about 10 boxes.

You can find the best price on packing tape from a local "moving supplies company"

Newsprint type packing paper is the best to use for fragile items like dishes and glasses. We have some tips below on using paper:

• For fragile items, pack the heaviest articles toward the bottom of the box
• Delicate items should be placed closer to the top of the box
• Line the bottom of boxes with several layers of padding paper

Packing Dishes

Pack flatware by stacking plates and folding the paper sheets between each plate. Placing one plate in the center of your packing paper. Pull a corner of paper over to completely cover plate, stack 2nd plate, grasp another corner of your paper, pull over the plates. Keep stacking until you can make a bundle of 3-6 plates. Turn wrapped stack of plates upside down onto your packing paper, re-wrap entire bundle with couple sheets. Seal bundle with tape. Place bundle in the box so the plates are standing on edge.

Flat ceramics, stone or glass will break easier if its flat, rather than on it's edge.

Some cups and glasses can be nested where you place one inside the other with 3 or 4 wrapped in a bundle. Use small sheets of packing paper between each glass or each cup. Stemware can be wrapped with packing paper. Use a sheet to wrap the stem, crumple a sheet for inside the glass, and use another sheet to wrap the whole glass, and tuck the paper into itself.

Pack flatware by placing one plate in the center of your packing paper. Grasp about 2 sheets of paper at one corner, pull over to completely cover plate, stack 2nd plate on first plate, grasp 2nd corner of your paper, pull over and cover stacked plate. Stack 3rd plate, take remaining two corners (one plate at a time) and fold each over your stack of plates. Turn wrapped stack of

plates upside down onto your packing paper, re-wrap entire bundle. Start with one corner of packing paper, and pull two sheets over the bundle, cover bundle with next corner and finally the 4th. Seal bundle with tape. Place bundle in the box so the plates are standing on edge.

Dresser drawers usually do not need to be emptied. If you have solid wood furniture just check for anything fragile or liquid. The dresser / chests that we would suggest you empty are the antique pieces where the glue joints have dried out, furniture with thin legs and particle board furniture. Of course, also empty china chests, desks, wood and lateral file cabinets, wall units, any hutch tops and small tables with storage compartments.

On local moves, Short Moves doesn't feel it is necessary to encourage the purchase of boxes for lamps, beds, pictures, mirrors and TVs. We can protect those items with our moving pads. Boxes are a big money maker for a lot of moving companies. If you use our services, we will supply free use of wardrobe boxes on your moving day for hanging clothes. We will do all we can to help you avoid any unnecessary charges for your move.

Suggestions to help keep your costs down are:

• Move small easy items yourself (boxes, lamps, pictures, plants, bikes, garden tools, etc.)
• Complete all breakdown and setup necessary
• Breakdown beds
• Remove attached mirrors
• Remove lamp shades

• Unplug electrical items
• Unhook washer / dryer / water lines to refrigerator
• Remove adjustable shelving in china cabinets
• Keep boxes stackable
• Do not over pack

Anything that you can do to prepare an item where it is ready to go out of the door the faster we can load, unload the cheaper your bill!

Request an estimate from us to learn more about our moving services.