Do you plan to move anytime soon? If your answer is yes, then you must be feeling at least a little bit anxious about it. Moving can be exhausting and it requires so much of your time and money. But, hey, if you are up for it, there are ways to earn some money as well! How do you earn during your relocation? It’s really simple actually. All you need to do is to make a successful pre-move garage sale. So after you sort your belongings for packing and decide which ones you don’t need in your new home, it’s time to put them on display. Use the opportunity to make some extra cash while preparing for your new home. And here’s how you can do it most efficiently. Carry on reading to find simple tips for holding a successful pre-move garage sale. Continue reading “Tips for Holding a Successful Pre-Move Garage Sale”
Month: June 2021
How to Pack Glassware and Fine China for Your Move
Packing and moving delicate and fragile items requires a careful approach and necessary supplies, especially if you’re moving valuable or sentimental items. When it comes to moving glassware and china, packing can be accomplished on your own, but it’s always the safest and most convenient to hire a specialized moving company in NYC to handle the packing and transportation. The fine art movers are among the best for handling sensitive and fragile items. However, if you can’t hire professional movers, there are some things you can do to safely pack and transport your breakables. In the following text, we’ll share some tips and tricks on how to pack glassware and fine china for your move.
If you’re wondering about materials, steps, and precautions necessary for moving delicate items, we’ve got you covered. Carry on reading to learn how to pack glassware and fine china for your move.
Before packing
While moving to a new home is certainly a chaotic time, it’s important to know what are the best ways to protect and pack fragile items, as china and breakable glassware, before packing even begins. Here are a few tips to help you prepare.
Make inventory list
Before you proceed to the actual packing, go ahead and take inventory. Include all of your valuable glassware and china, write down and take pictures if your time allows. Having an inventory list will help you see better what you have and it will also serve as proof in case you need to file a claim in case any of your items are damaged during the moving company’s handling.
Get insurance
Consider getting additional insurance if the basic one won’t cover you (in most cases it won’t because it includes items in the home and those on the truck). To make sure you’re covered in all cases, check out all the insurance options before deciding what works best for your specific situation.
Gather quality supplies
While you can use almost any type of box for moving your clothes, that’s not the case when moving china and glassware. When you’re moving fragile items, you want to make sure that you have quality supplies that are sturdy enough and designed for a specific purpose. You’ll need moving boxes, packing tape, packing paper, bubble wrap (plenty of it), dividers, cushioning material, a sharpie marker, etc.
How to Pack Glassware and Fine China for Your Move
Get corrugated boxes
Before you start packing, you’ll need the necessary packing supplies. Get enough corrugated boxes and make sure they’re sturdy enough and in good shape, otherwise, they may break and your fragile items may end up on the floor.
Make cushioning
Before putting anything in a moving box, make cushioning at the bottom of the box. This will make the first protective layer and give you the best results along with the following steps.
Use dividers
To prevent your glassware from scratching or breaking, separate them from each other by using cardboard dividers.
Wrap glassware
Regardless of the shape or use of your glass item, it needs to be wrapped carefully. Use packing paper to wrap it and follow by bubble wrap for an extra layer of protection. You can also add packing paper inside for even better protection.
Fill in voids
After you place dividers and wrapped glass items inside the box, you’ll notice empty spaces. Use crumpled packing paper, bubble wrap, or packing peanuts to fill empty spaces and protect items from shifting during transit.
Wrap china
When you’re packing porcelain items like plates or bowls, or any other type of china, always wrap every single item separately by using packing paper and plenty of bubble wrap. Make sure to use packing tape to secure the wrapping in place.
Pack large items first
When you’re putting your china and glassware in a box, always start with the largest items. The bottom of the box should be filled with large or heavy items to prevent them from crushing smaller ones.
Pack medium size items next
After you’re done with the heaviest items, continue to placing medium ones in the moving box. Items in the middle should also be separated with padding to prevent scratching and breaking.
Smallest items on top
Eventually, place the smallest and lightest items on top, such as teacups, saucers, etc. After you place them inside, don’t forget to fill empty spaces with more crumpled packing paper or bubble wrap.
Stacking china
If you’re stacking china dishware, make sure to separate each item by using cardboard cutout and protect from scratching.
After packing
After you’ve placed everything in boxes, there are few more things to do in order to safely transport your glassware and china. Here’s what to do:
Label the boxes
Once you’re done with packing, it’s time to seal the box with packing tape to protect it from opening. The next thing to do is to take a sharpie marker and label moving boxes, writing the room these items belong to, or the content inside. Also, marking each box “fragile” is necessary because it will let your movers know that these boxes require special handling.
Keep inventory list inside
Another helpful step is to take inventory of items you’re placing in a specific box and keep it inside. It will make it way much easier to unpack and sort your things out after you move.
Double-check
Before you proceed to load boxes with glassware and fine china into the moving truck, go ahead and double-check once more if everything is properly secured. All boxes should be sturdy, without items shifting inside, and taped to prevent items from falling out in transit.
Ready to move?
As always, it’s best if you let professionals pack glassware and fine china for your move. Many NYC movers specialize in packing and transporting delicate items. You should know how to pick the right movers and choose a reputable and reliable moving company to take care of your valuable belongings. If you’re looking for a licensed and trustworthy moving company, check out Dorothy And Martha Moving. Contact us so we can chat about your upcoming relocation. We’ll be more than happy to answer all the questions and provide a moving quote completely free of charge.
Ultimate Moving Hacks for a Short Distance Relocation
Moving house can be quite a stressful experience, even if it’s only a few blocks away. Although there are some major differences between local and long-distance moving, a local move can be as challenging as a long-distance one, but there are some things you can do to simplify the process. Firstly, don’t underestimate short-distance move and organize everything in advance to avoid stress or unpleasant surprises. Give yourself enough time to sort out, pack, and organize your possessions. Reliable professionals from your local area will know the traffic patterns and other details necessary for the most efficient relocation, so you should definitely consider hiring them. But if you want to move on your own, here are some tips to help you. Carry on reading to find the ultimate moving hacks for short-distance relocation.
Make a game plan
When you’re moving long-distance, planning is extremely important and may take a lot of time. On the other hand, moving locally is usually way less difficult, but still requires planning to be successful and stress-free. Plan your move wisely and reduce moving stress. Start by writing down all the tasks and then mark the most important ones. The top priority tasks should be at the top of your list and you should also include a time schedule. Don’t forget to make a moving checklist because it will help you stay organized and on track – otherwise, you may easily forget something that’s important for a smooth process.
Sort out
Go through your things to figure what’s worth taking with you and what should stay behind. Each item should go into one of the three piles: keep, sell, or donate. Start from any room in your house and continue until you go through every single room in your household. If it’s difficult to let go of almost anything, you can invite your friend who will give you honest advice about whether it’s worth keeping something. You can also try a “12-month rule” and get rid of anything you haven’t used in a year.
Pack a personal overnight bag
Having a few essential things easily accessible will take the stress away after you arrive at your new address. Pack a bag with toiletries, a change of clothes, and anything you know you need for the first night after moving. The last thing you want to do is to rummage through boxes to find a hairbrush or toothpaste.
Measure your furniture
One great thing about moving locally is that you can visit several times before moving and get familiar with a new neighborhood. But you can also get familiar with your new home and work on your layout in advance, so check the measurements of new rooms and your bulky furniture to make sure they’ll fit. You can also move some of the things and move one room at a time instead of moving the entire household on a moving day. We suggest making your pre-move measuring checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything.
Set reminders
Make a list of any extra tasks that need to be completed before moving to your new home. These are some things you should include in the list:
- Cancel services and arrange them for a new address (utilities, internet, cable, etc.)
- Forward mail (through USPS)
- Change of address (for any documents or credit cards)
- Get a baby or pet sitter for a moving day
- Reserve a storage unit
Start packing
As mentioned earlier, you can move room by room and only have a little left to do on a moving day. If you’re moving just around the corner, you can visit frequently and move one part of your belongings any time you feel like it. Some things may help you stay on budget and move easier, like finding boxes from the nearest liquor store instead of buying new ones. Since your things will not spend a lot of time in the boxes, you can use the free ones you find. Another efficient way to move things is to use suitcases and bags instead of moving boxes, and you can also just leave your clothes on hangers and move them like that. If that doesn’t work for you, you can always pack and move everything when moving day comes.
Ask for help
When you’re moving short-distance, performing a DIY is possible in most cases, but you’ll probably need some help. Ask your close friends or family members to help you out with packing, loading, or driving. A few helping hands will make all the difference and you can say thank you by taking them out for drinks, dinner, or having dinner at your new place. Having friends during the process will make relocation less stressful and you’ll make new memories.
Hire movers or DIY
The last on the list, but not the least, is to decide whether a DIY option works for you or not. For example, you may be too busy at work to spend time packing, you may be moving in the same city but too far to visit a new place multiple times, you may not be able to find any helpers at the moment, or you may simply want to relax and let professionals handle your entire relocation. The DIY move requires some organization, such as renting a moving truck if you have plenty of things to move, packing and unpacking, carrying heavy boxes and loading them into the truck, etc. So if you prefer to hire a moving company, you’re not alone – many people decide to do the same.
Make sure to research in advance to find the best Brooklyn movers for your local move. Get online and read reviews and ask your friends or colleagues if they can recommend a trustworthy company. Your social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter can also be a great way to get recommendations – a single post may be enough. Once you narrow down the choices, always get at least three different quotes to compare prices and see what’s included in which price. All these steps are a bit time-consuming but only by following them, you’ll be positive that you found a credible and reliable moving company, such as Dorothy and Martha Moving NYC. Contact us anytime to get a free moving quote.
How to stay healthy on moving day?
Anyone who says that moving is easy is either joking or has never had to relocate before. Because moving is everything but easy. It takes a lot of time and consumes a lot of energy, nerves, and money. That’s why people dread it. Nevertheless, they go through it because of all the benefits it brings. Or because of necessity. However, in the meantime, since the process lasts for quite a while, you should find a way to take care of yourself. Especially if you don’t want the stress of moving to leave some serious consequences on your health. That’s why we have prepared this guide, to help you stay healthy on moving day. You should make sure to take care of your body and mind all the time, but you should step it up when you have a big thing like moving going on in your life. Continue reading “How to stay healthy on moving day?”
Moving Glossary: Moving Terms You Should Know
If you don’t move often we suppose you’re not quite familiar with the most common moving terms. Therefore, knowing and understanding the moving glossary is essential for professional movers and the whole moving industry. That includes estate moving companies, real estate agents, etc. So, this is important, especially when answering your clients’ questions and needs. You’ll find all the critical moving terms you should know in the following moving glossary. Therefore, keep our moving glossary nearby at all times.
Moving terms: A
Access
Access is the accessibility of the property or house where the moving company should pick up or deliver the items. Various factors influence accessibility. The location of the place, the infrastructure surrounding it, the number of stairs, the presence of the elevator, etc.
Accessorial Charges
Accessorial (Additional) charges are the fees for additional services, such as packing, unpacking, etc. These rates do not include basic services like moving.
Actual Charges
The total cost of moving from start to finish. Local and long-distance moving costs can vary significantly.
Agent
A certified employee or a representative moving company that acts on behalf of the mother company. The agents primarily handle booking, discounts and answer the client’s questions.
A.D.D and A.P.D
A.D.D ( Agreed Delivery Date) stands for two (or more) dates coincided between the client and the courier for the delivery.
A.P.D ( Agreed Pickup Date) stands for the precise time of the arrival of the shipment.
Adjustor
An individual employee that handles claims and appeals towards the moving company mostly for damage or loss of the items during packing, unpacking, transport, or even injuries.
AMSA
The American Moving and Storage Association is a renowned organization of moving and storage companies oriented towards improving and expanding the entire moving and storage industry while raising the quality of the offered services.
Moving terms: B
Bill of Landing
The lawful contract between the movers and the customer to transport the desired goods where the customer’s given signature grants the service. It also acts like a receipt containing the date, services, and absolute charge. Therefore, keep it close since it can serve as a tax deduction at the end of the year.
Binding/Non-Binding Estimate
A binding estimate: The offer in which the moving company states the complete charges of the relocation, based on the services you’ve chosen and the amount of inventory the company is obliged to move. Since the binding estimate ensures the final cost of the move, it can only be given after a visual survey of the items that need to be moved while agreeing to additional services you might need.
However, if by any chance the weight of the items you agreed on moving exceeds the binding estimate, an additional fee will be charged.
A non-binding estimate represents an approximation of the cost provided by the carrier based on the weight of the items and the desired services. A non-binding estimate is not precise, meaning that the price will range according to the exact weight of the items and chosen services.
Bulky Items
Bulky items include larger and oddly shaped objects that won’t fit in standard moving boxes and will probably require exceptional safety and individual parking spots. These are pianos, pool tables, large kitchenware devices, extensive electronics, musical instruments, campers, hot tubs, etc.
Special compensation is required for the transport of bulky items, which will not be included in the standard fee. The extra charge will vary depending on the exact weight and dimensions of the object.
Moving terms: C
Cancellation Fee
If the move is already confirmed and the customer cancels, the company will charge a cancellation fee.
Carrier
Properly licensed moving service that will transport your belongings.
Comments
Some additional information about the company.
Claim
A statement about loss, damage, or even delay of the goods that require transportation while in the responsibility of the carrier or an affiliated company.
Moving terms: D
Delivery
The actual act of transporting the desired goods to the agreed location, unloading, and handing them to the customer.
Deposit
A deposit is a specific amount of money ( usually 10-15% of the total amount) you need to pay before the fulfillment of the services.
Damage
When the item arrives at the property in a different state than when it was primarily shipped.
Moving terms: E
Estimate
An approximate evaluation of the value, cost, size, weight of the transportation service. Most certified estimates are free of charge.
Moving terms: F
Free-time
A specific period of time determined by the carrier in which no fee will be charged.
Full-Service Move
A service that contains all the tasks from start to finish, including packing, unpacking, loading, unloading, transportation, and clean up, is charged under the same fee.
Moving terms: H
High-Value Article
High-value articles include items that are of great value, mostly exceeding one hundred to two hundred dollars.
Moving terms: P
Packing Supplies
Packing supplies or packing materials include cardboard boxes, wrapping materials(bubble wrap), packing paper, packing peanuts, cushioning, packing tape, any other material used for packing services.
Moving terms: R
Refund
Refund-return of excess costs.
Moving terms: L
Local Move
Includes a move that will happen inside one state, mainly in a radius of forty miles or less.
Moving terms: M
Moving Company
It is a certified and reliable business offering a particular moving program and services while being in charge of the transport of your items.
Moving terms: P
Price
The price is a definite cost of the moving program you’ve chosen while not including charges of extra services you might want to include.
Paperwork
All forms, receipts, documents related to the moving process.
Packers
Professionals that offer various packing and unpacking services in order to prepare the items toward transportation for a certain fee.
Moving terms: T
Tariff
Includes the movers published prices, rates, charges, extra fees of the aforementioned services.
Moving terms: U
Unpacking
The entire process of unloading the goods while taking them out of their containers (mostly boxes) with the included disposal of the used packing materials. Unpacking services also include absolute unpacking of the transported items and placing them in a spot preferred by the customer.
Summary
We pointed out a universal moving glossary you should know prior to the move. Knowing these terms will help you to compare local movers. Don’t forget about the important questions to ask before hiring a moving company. Remember, if you are moving soon, explore all the available options and choose only a certified and reliable moving company that accentuates the client’s needs. Here, at Dorothy And Martha Moving, we have the answers to your questions.