How to Prepare Your Paintings for a Move?

When you’re relocating, many of the things you do will simply require common sense and some logic. But on the other hand, depending on what possessions you’re relocating – you may come across some specific moving challenges that require more thought and expertise. For example, art lovers out there may be asking themselves – how do you prepare your paintings for a move? It’s not an easy thing to do – but don’t worry, Dorothy & Martha Moving NYC is here to help you with that very issue! So take a look at the useful tips and tricks we’ve prepared for you and learn how to prepare your paintings for a move.  Continue reading “How to Prepare Your Paintings for a Move?”

Moving to Canada – What Should You Know?

Are you planning on relocating up north? If you don’t mind harsh winters and snowbound streets, moving to Canada is probably your first and only option. Natural beauties combined with the convenience of modern cities make a perfect blend. Yes, there are strong reasons the Land of the Maple Leaf keeps increasing immigration levels. And the number of people that immigrate to Canada every year is truly remarkable! Nearly 1 million newcomers are expected to arrive in the period from 2018 to 2020. If you would like to know what northern neighbor has to offer, there are things you should know before you pack up and hit the road. Continue reading “Moving to Canada – What Should You Know?”

Tips for Packing and Moving Delicate Furniture

Moving can take a big toll on your belongings, especially on delicate ones. Luckily, there are things you can do to minimize the risk of damage and have your items arrive safely at your new home. Read on to find tips for packing and moving delicate furniture.

Don’t move delicate furniture alone

The first and probably most important thing about moving fragile furniture is that you should never do it completely alone. Not only do you risk damaging an already fragile item but a DIY move also poses a high risk of injuries. Just imagine yourself trying to lift that vintage chest of drawers alone! After all, have you ever seen a single mover carrying something alone? Chances are you haven’t, and there’s a good reason for it – safety! So for your own safety and safety of your goods, always find help when moving, especially when dealing with sensitive items. Your first option is to ask a couple of friends to help you out. You can, later on, treat them to dinner, some drinks, or anything else you find suitable to show your appreciation for their hard work.

Your next option is to hire professional antique furniture movers NYC such as Dorothy and Martha Movers. They’ll bring quality packing supplies, prepare your fragile furniture for moving, and have it transported safely to your new home. This is usually the most expensive option but it’s usually worth it, considering you don’t risk damaging your belongings. In case you don’t want to hire full-service movers and you can’t find any friends available, you could also go for moving labor services. In this case, you’ll pay an hourly rate and you’ll get help for only a part of your moving process. For example, for lifting or hoisting your furniture piece.

A Couple Is Moving A Heavy Sofa Together

Pack like a pro

Another extremely important thing about packing and moving your delicate furniture is that you can’t rush it. In order to get the best results, you must take as much time as you need to pack each piece properly. Find a guide for packing your household like a pro and follow professional tips for efficient packing. Use proper packing strategy and quality packing materials. Invest in some quality bubble wrap, packing paper, packing tape, and other materials necessary. That depends on the type of furniture you’re moving. Some items may even require special moving containers. So, do take the time to understand what’s needed to keep your delicate item protected during the move.

Waterproof materials may also be beneficial in some cases. So, look into that if you’re moving off-season or you expect bad weather conditions on your moving day. You should also use plenty of packing materials to create soft padding inside the box before you pack items inside. Also, add a bit of extra padding inside before you close and seal the box.

Disassemble

Once you have your packing materials and you’re ready to start packing, take a moment to see if your furniture piece can be disassembled. If you wonder how to disassemble furniture when moving, that’s usually an easy task. Take your furniture apart as much as possible. Moving smaller pieces is much easier and faster than moving one bulky and fragile piece of furniture. Sometimes, only a few inches and a couple of screws can make all the difference and keep your item and your property away from getting damaged. So check if furniture legs can be removed, carefully remove the doors, shelves, drawers, and anything else that could make the item lighter and your job easier. While you’re doing so, be sure you keep all the tiny parts in a separate bag so they wouldn’t get lost in the process.

A Man Disassembles A Small Table While A Woman Is Helping Him

Make space

When taking your delicate furniture out, you may find that it’s too big or too awkward to fit through the doors. In this case, you may feel like forcing just a little bit is the right thing to do, but you’d be wrong as even the tiniest pressure can make a delicate item permanently damaged. So the right thing to do in this scenario is to be extra cautious and find an alternative way to carry your item out. That may be by removing doors of the hinges or removing the glass from windows, as long as it allows you to pass with an item without forcing anything.

Use sliders

One great tip for packing and moving delicate furniture is to use furniture sliders. They’ll help you protect floors when moving and avoid damaging your moving items. You can find plastic ones or soft ones or you can make your own using plastic container covers, even bedspreads and towels could do the trick. The main idea is to slide your delicate furniture instead of carrying it, making the process easier, not to mention safer for your back.

Label

Once you’re finished packing, you should make sure that each box with delicate items is labeled accordingly. You can use a red sharpie marker and write “FRAGILE” on several sides of the box, and then add an arrow pointing upwards so the boxes wouldn’t be placed horizontally. You can also use premade labels to label moving boxes but make sure you mark each fragile box. This may seem unnecessary and you may think that you’ll remember that specific box with your favorite antique lamp, however, moves are notoriously stressful and busy, and identifying one box among the pile of other boxes can be more difficult than you think. So save yourself the trouble and label boxes before loading them.

A Label Saying Fragile On A Box

Load delicate furniture carefully

Whether you’re moving mirrors, artwork, antique furniture, or any other type of delicate furniture, you should follow a general rule and not place anything on top if. When loading a moving truck, make sure your delicate items are top-loaded and there is no risk of something crushing or damaging them. Once you pack everything that’s being moved, continue to pack your delicate belongings last. That being said, there are some delicate things that should be left out of your moving vehicle entirely so if you’re moving things like small electronics make sure you move them yourself, preferably by car.

How to Pack Glass Bottles Before Moving?

If you have to move wine or liquor to your new home, you should pack and handle them carefully. Transport them safely and make sure they reach the final destination in one piece. Glass is notoriously difficult to move – not only it’s fragile but it also tends to get really heavy. So naturally, packing your glass bottles for moving may seem challenging. Luckily, there are simple steps to have your bottles arrive at your new home intact. All it takes to pack bottles is a bit of time, a few simple supplies, and some easy guidelines from professional movers. To help you prevent any damage and transport your liquor safely, follow our guide on how to pack glass bottles before moving.

Wine Bottles In A Wooden Box

Sort out

Before you start packing every single glass bottle you have in your household, go ahead and sort them out. Do a small inventory and see which bottles are almost empty. Also, check if some are broken and decide which bottles are worth moving. It’s no secret that relocation can get expensive. So, choose wisely what you’re taking with you and what you leave behind. Moving companies usually charge based on the overall weight of your shipment. So, you’ll want to be cautious about liquor and wine bottles that are heavy. Sorting your glass bottles out will help you declutter and move only what you truly plan to use. Downsizing is one of the easiest ways to cut costs when moving. Keep this in mind when packing your bottles.

Gather packing supplies

Now that you have separated bottles you want to move, you can go ahead and gather the necessary supplies. In case you’re moving wine bottles, you’ll benefit most from getting specialty wine shipping boxes. They are helpful since they’re designed to keep bottles completely secured. These specialty boxes are easy to find in a store or online. They come in various sizes so you can find the one that works for you. In case you’re moving on a budget, you can go for regular cardboard boxes. Just place cardboard dividers inside to get a design similar to a specialty box. You will also need to get packing paper as well as packing paper. The last supply you need is one you probably have in your home already – a sharpie marker.

A Man Places Cardboard Dividers In A Cardboard Box

Wrap each glass bottle before packing

Now that you have packing supplies you need to pack glass bottles, you’ll want to use packing paper first and wrap each bottle to protect it against scratches. It’s one of the best ways to protect and pack fragile items. That way you will create the first layer of protection for your bottles. Before you do so, make sure each bottle is properly closed and caps are tight – you can also wrap the tape around the cap of the bottle a few times to make sure it doesn’t come off in transit. To wrap each bottle, you must first place a stacking paper on a flat surface – a table or kitchen worktop will be best for this.

You will then want to place the bottle on its side and roll it pushing forward, using two or three sheets of paper for best results. Make sure the neck of the bottle is tightly wrapped and then use packing tape to secure it in place.

Box up

Once all of the bottles are packed and ready to go, it’s time to place them inside boxes. Make sure you’re careful about putting the bottle inside the box and add more crumpled paper if it looks like they will shift in transit. There should be no movement at all while moving so use as much additional padding as needed. If you’re worried that this is not enough protection, you can also create soft cushioning at the bottom of the box before placing bottles inside.  Use packing tape to seal to box and prevent it from opening during the move.

Label

Your last supply is a sharpie marker and you’ll use it now that everything is packed, sealed, and ready to go. Label moving boxes that contain glass bottles as “fragile” and draw arrows pointing upwards. This will let all of your helpers know that these boxes require special handling as well as to keep them in the horizontal position. Bottles should never be placed vertically as this will increase the chances of damage.

A Woman Is Labeling The Moving Boxes With A Marker Pen

Load

Your last step is to load the boxes into a moving truck. Liquor boxes can get extremely heavy so check how heavy each box is and get help if needed – never try lifting by yourself because it can lead to a nasty back injury. While loading, avoid stacking the boxes since this can make them fall and break the bottles and also make sure nothing is placed on top or boxes can crush from the weight.

 

These easy steps should help you pack your glass bottles before moving and have them intact at your new home. If you’re performing a DIY move, you should be able to still have a smooth and efficient relocation. As always, the best way to move is to hire professional moving services Brooklyn and not worry about a single thing. Full-service movers will pack all of your household items and transport them safely to your new address. But in case you have an expensive wine collection or plan on moving some extremely valuable liquor, you may benefit the most from specialized movers, such as NYC art movers, specialized in moving expensive and fragile cargo.

Before you decide what the best way to move bottles is, go ahead and check your options. Request several moving quotes Brooklyn from reliable and licensed Brooklyn moversit may pay off more than doing things yourself and risking damaging your precious liquor. If you’re thinking about hiring professional movers to help with your upcoming move, feel free to reach out to Dorothy And Martha Moving NYC. We’ll be more than happy to assess your belongings and provide an accurate moving quote completely free of charge. Let’s connect!

7 Essential Moving Day Tips

Between loading all the moving boxes into the moving truck, checking your property for damage, preparing yourself mentally for a new beginning, and ensuring everything goes smoothly, you may be concerned about how will your moving day go. We all know that moving days are stressful, even for the best of planners. Luckily, there are some simple tricks to help you go through it with ease. Read on to find the top 7 essential moving day tips.

A Man And Woman Are Packing Household Items In Cardboard Boxes

Have a checklist on hand

One of the first essential moving day tips has to do with going through the process like a pro. Complete every single task, no matter how small, and also try not to overlook anything important. To do so, make a perfect moving checklist so you could track your progress and check off tasks one by one. Include everything you need to do on moving day and then decide what has priority. Simply use pen and paper to write your checklist. You can also use a free moving checklist app for your phone or tablet. Whichever way you choose will work just fine, as long as you have all the things included and do a follow-up as you go.

Have some cash on you

A Wallet With Some CashMost people rely on their credit cards and don’t use cash but this is not something you want to go by on your moving day. While you should always pay for moving services with your credit card, it’s necessary to have some cash on hand too, just in case anything goes unplanned. For example, if you’re moving long-distance, you may have two different moving crews, so you’ll want to tip the first one after loading your items into the moving truck. Running to the ATM at this time only to find out it’s out of service is certainly not something you want for this already stressful day. You may also want to get some drinks or snacks or anything else and you may need to use cash for it so make sure you have a sufficient amount, just to be on the safe side.

Keep your “survival kit” close

The next moving day tip is to have your essentials bag ready to go. You can use either a bag or a box to pack all the necessary items like a toothbrush, basic toiletries, fresh bedding, change of clothes, medicines, snacks, etc. Whatever you need for “surviving” those first couple of days after moving in should be in this bag. The reason why you should prepare an essentials bag for your moving day is that you may not have the access to all the necessary items straight away – you may experience delays with your shipment, or you may have a few days between your move-out and move-in day, or you simply may not feel like searching through a pile of packed and sealed moving boxes only to find toothpaste or a clean bed sheet.

Also, you should move your valuable belongings like jewelry or personal documents by yourself and keep them close to you during the entire relocation. While you will definitely benefit from hiring specialized movers to relocate your valuables, it’s a good idea to move personal ones by yourself.

Have some cleaning supplies handy

Once you leave your current home, it only makes sense to leave it nice and tidy for the next resident. Naturally, you’ll clean your house only after all the boxes are out and everything is ready to go, so your last step is getting down to cleaning. But you already packed your cleaning supplies, so now you have to rush to the nearest store to get a few and spend additional few bucks on things you can’t even take with you. To avoid this situation, make sure you separate a few basic cleaning products that will come in handy on your moving day. Instead of packing them for moving, use them to refresh your home before leaving and then just leave them behind.

Home Cleaning Supplies In A Cardboard Box

Dress comfy

If you’re having a DIY move then you’ll have a lot of physical activity going on but even if you hire full-service movers and you don’t have to deal with lifting and carrying boxes, you’ll still be pretty active on your moving day. You will have to coordinate, go in and out multiple times, then you’ll have to travel to your new home, and be somewhat active throughout the day so dressing accordingly is certainly a smart thing to do. For safety reasons, avoid open-toe shoes and clothes that are too loose – opt for closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothes are the best choice. Also, make sure you’re prepared for current weather conditions and get your rain gear ready if bad weather is expected, or opt for lightweight natural fabrics if you’re moving during the summer months.

Do a final walkthrough

We all know that annoying feeling – you leave the house and after a while, you wonder if you left something on or if you locked the door. There’s already enough stress going on so thinking about whether everything is in order after leaving is something to be avoided. To make sure you’re good to go, do a walk-through of your property before saying goodbye to it. Check if nothing is left behind, see if there are any damages your overlooked, and get a final glance to confirm everything is nice and tidy as it should be when you’re moving out. It’s a good idea to take pictures of the property too and double-check those less used areas like the attic or basement, just to make sure nothing is left there.

A Couple Is Doing An Apartment Final Check Before Moving

Pick the best mover

The last but not least of the essential moving day tips is to find the best mover. It will make your entire moving experience go smoothly. Your choice of a moving company can make you remember this day as a pleasant event or a nerve-racking experience. You may be wondering how to pick the right mover? To have peace of mind and a stress-free moving day, only hire licensed and reliable Brooklyn movers, and do a thorough background check of Brooklyn moving services before choosing the best one. One of your trusted movers is Dorothy And Martha Moving – we’re at your service and we’ll gladly provide a free quote for your upcoming move.

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