Most of us find moving extremely stressful, time-consuming, and expensive. Companies that offer moving and storage Brooklyn are supposed to make the process smoother, easier, and less stressful. But when we make the wrong choices, things can go south very quickly. This can be a real nightmare when done wrong; especially if we make bad decisions in the hope of saving money or get the wrong advice. Here are five things to consider when choosing the best moving company in Brooklyn for your next move. Continue reading “Tips for choosing the best moving company in Brooklyn”
Tag: safe relocation
How to Use a Moving Dolly
Using professional moving tools for your relocation certainly makes things way more efficient. One of the most important pieces of moving equipment for professional movers and DIYers is a moving dolly. It comes in many different sizes and types. You can choose a four-wheel cart dolly, a furniture dolly, a collapsible dolly, or any other type of moving dolly available. Soon after, you’ll find out why it is arguably the most important movers’ tool. As always, safety precautions are necessary for handling moving equipment. So, check out our easy tips on how to use a moving dolly.
Measures of precaution
Naturally, you’ll want your move to be as fast as possible but you also want it to be completely safe for everyone involved. That’s why you should always take a minute to prepare everything and have an accident-free outcome. Here are some of the basic steps you must take before rolling up your sleeves and using a moving dolly.
No obstacles
Your first step to a safe moving experience is having a clear pathway. That means your exit route should be obstacle-free all the way from your starting point to a moving truck. You should make sure that you or anyone helping won’t trip over a piece of furniture, home décor, another moving box, or anything else while pushing the dolly from your home to the truck. Another important thing to note when it comes to clearing the exit path is that your patio and driveway may also pose a risk so go ahead and clean the areas outside of your home as well – fallen leaves, snow, or ice should be removed for safe passing with a dolly.
Don’t overload
The next measure of precaution has to do with the number of things you load on a dolly. You should never load too many items and obstruct the view or you won’t be able to see where you’re going and you may end up with damaged items or even worse – injuries. The best thing to do when using a moving dolly is to have two people working together – one to push and the other to navigate the dolly from the front.
Use moving straps
The last preparation step for safe handling is securing your items to a dolly. It may seem like this is not necessary if your truck is only a couple of feet away but it is actually necessary to secure everything tightly in place, otherwise, you’re at risk again and may end up injured or have some broken items. The easiest tool to use is moving straps – not only they’re useful for securing the cargo to the dolly but they’re also quite handy for keeping the shipment in place once it’s loaded into the moving truck.
Load
Once you have made the clear exit path and have all the equipment you need, it’s time to get down to loading the dolly with your items. You should always have one person helping you, especially if you’re loading a bulky piece but regardless of how heavy the item you’re about to load is, the physics will pretty much do all the work for you, and here’s how – you’ll want to tilt the front part of the dolly slightly to create an angle and then slip that part underneath the item you’re loading.
Once the front part of the dolly is underneath, you should pull the dolly back into its original position and this is when the helper should hold the item to help it stay in place while the dolly is “lifting” it. Before you load your item, you may want to consider using a moving blanket to wrap it as this will keep it from any scratches or other types of damage while being transported.
Secure
Once your item is loaded, you’ll want to check if there are any loose pieces. Fasten them up so you wouldn’t trip over them while pushing the dolly. For example, cords or wires may pose a risk if you have to pack appliances for relocation. Also, doors or drawers should be secured in place if you’re moving chests of drawers, cabinets, or similar items. If you’re loading moving boxes, they should also be secured in place by using moving straps – this way, no box will slip off and end up on the floor or someone’s toes. While you’re at loading boxes, make sure you stack them properly – place larger and heavier boxes on the bottom and smaller and lighter ones on top.
Stay cautious
The last tip for using a moving dolly is to be patient and don’t rush through the process. The moving dolly will without a doubt make your relocation much more efficient. But it can also make it unsafe if you’re not cautious. Whenever you’re using professional moving equipment take one step at a time and keep safety your top priority.
Hire moving experts
Whichever type of moving dolly you choose to use, it will make the entire moving process way easier. Any DIY relocation will benefit from the use of a moving dolly. But you must remember to use it carefully and follow all necessary measures of precaution. By doing so, you’ll stay on the safe side of things. On the other hand, you can always hire professional moving services Brooklyn to handle the entire relocation for you.
Moving crews are trained for using professional moving equipment and they use them daily. They know the most efficient and safest way to handle any piece of equipment and perform the task the fastest possible. If you’re wondering how much it would cost you to have professional Brooklyn movers handle your relocation – go ahead and contact Dorothy And Martha Moving. We provide complimentary in-house moving quotes Brooklyn for your move so don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
The art of successful unpacking
Are you moving? Congratulations! Moving is an important step in a person’s life, and can really be a breath of fresh air. It gives you a chance to start over, decorate your new home the way you always wanted, and have a much-needed change of scenery. And while moving into a new home is certainly something to look forward to, there’s one thing every person moving dreads – packing and unpacking. Preparing your things for transportation and then taking them out one by one at your new house is time-consuming and to put it straight – downright boring. However, packing and unpacking aren’t nearly as hard as they seem – you just need some proper planning, organization, and the right supplies. The good news is that packing things properly will also make your unpacking easier. Most people focus on successful packing, but few think about successful unpacking.
The key to successful unpacking lies in organization and good packing – you can’t unpack with ease if you’ve just crammed everything into boxes and called it a day! But don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to make sure you can unpack smoothly – and only one of them is hiring long-distance movers Brooklyn to pack you. But in case you decide to go for a DIY move, here’s what you should know about the art of successful unpacking.
Successful unpacking means knowing where the essentials are
So you’ve just moved into your new place and put the last moving box down. Imagine you suddenly need some minor yet necessary thing, like toilet paper. No one wants to realize they’re out of toilet paper when they need it, right? But thankfully, you did bring some along. But…where is it? Is it in the bathroom boxes? Is it elsewhere? You don’t know. And, in order to unpack successfully, you should. You should pack your essentials, your necessities, the things it would be incredibly inconvenient to be without, in a box labeled as such. That way, you can open one box and have everything you need immediately on arrival. That can be toilet paper, yes, but it can also be a comfy blanket, a change of clothes, or maybe coffee for the addicts among us.
What is an essentials box? How do you pack it?
What counts as an essential? Just imagine what would suddenly be really inconvenient to be without. What goes in a moving day essentials box and what to pack in your essentials bag for a long-distance relocation are questions you should think about before the moving day. The art of successful unpacking lies in the organization – do you know what you’re going to do immediately on arrival? You should. Plus, hopefully, you’ve decluttered before the move so your boxes have only the things you genuinely want – and here are some guidelines and items you may find helpful.
Add “emergency bag” to your to-do list
For a successful moving process, having your to-do list is essential – when you have all the tasks written down, you can easily plan, track your progress, and prioritize as you go. As the essential items are definitely a top priority, you should write down the essentials box as a part of your moving checklist.
Cleaning supplies
Once you arrive at your new home, it will likely be cleaned already by either the previous owner or taken care of by the property manager but you will still want to make sure it’s nice and tidy for you to move in and be 100% sure that each surface is properly cleaned. And since you’re going to clean your new place upon moving in, your essentials box should have some basic cleaning supplies. Of course, you can skip this step in case you plan on hiring professional cleaning services to take care of your home.
Toiletries
You’ll need toilet paper and hand soap for sure but you’ll also need to pack some other basic toiletries like a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, and anything else you use on daily basis.
Medications
Your essential box should also have some painkillers and basic medications, just in case. In case you’re using any prescribed medication, they should be the first to go into the essentials box.
Clothing
A fresh change of clothing and a towel for everyone in your family – to tide you over until you unpack everything else.
Coffee
If you’re like most people on the planet, you probably need some coffee to keep you going, especially after a long moving day. A coffee maker should go into your essentials bag and so should coffee. No one wants the java jitters mid unpacking.
Utensils
Besides having coffee, you’ll also need to have a bite to eat so you definitely need a set per person – that includes a cup, a fork, a knife, a spoon, and a plate. You sure don’t want to have the first meal at your new home eating with your hands. Also, the important question is − how will you feed yourself? You either need to know you’re ordering takeout – and budget for it – or have a quickly made food item with you. Like, for example, pasta. However, if you have a grocery store near your new place, just go in and raid it. Or you can look at websites like Uber Eats or just look up takeout near you.
Cutters
Once you move in and have a huge pile of boxes all over your new house, you’ll want to start unpacking as soon as possible. Make unpacking easier and pack some cutters, scissors, or scalpels – plan ahead how you’ll open the other boxes!
First aid kit
An emergency kit is a must. After all, you’re going to be using sharp things for unpacking and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Pet items
Got a pet? If you are, for example, moving with pets long-distance, you mustn’t forget about their needs. You need to put pet food and pet dishes in your essentials box too so that your furry friend would be well taken care of during relocation. You can even pack a separate bag with their favorite toys, snacks, some comfort items, etc.
Get the kitchen in working order
And yes, that means working – doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be functional, so you can use it while you unpack everything else. But, with that in mind… Successful unpacking is an art, and art depends on the artist. In that vein, this is merely a suggestion – if you feel better straightening out every last detail, by all means, do so! But be aware of why you’re and how you’re doing it. Getting the kitchen ready will help you because you will have a kitchen to cook in – and that can make all the difference when you relocate! You won’t have to constantly dial expensive takeout because you’ll have a place to cook in.
The bathroom comes second in successful unpacking
This seems like a no-brainer, really. You need the bathroom for a lot of things, and getting it functional is a priority. Imagine really needing a shower, or really needing to use the toilet, with no toilet paper or shower curtain or towels or soap?! That sounds like a nightmare. Once again, the art of successful unpacking is prioritizing – just hanging up the shower curtain and bringing in the hand soap, toilet paper, and towels is enough to tide you over. You don’t need to worry about getting it lined up perfectly or anything, just making it usable until you’re done unpacking. The things you’ll need to use while unpacking should be the top priority when you’re unpacking. This way, you’ll have a working house while you’re working on your house.
What about specialty things?
There are some special things that might be difficult to unpack – because they’re difficult to pack. Things like pool tables or art – things that demand seasoned professionals. Especially art – though, if you’re working on unpacking, art shouldn’t come before the kitchen or the bathroom. However, there’s a reason art lovers search for seasoned art handling companies in NYC – because successful unpacking is difficult when it comes to art! You don’t want to dig around trying to remove your sculpture from its specialty crate and snap a bit off, right? And God forbid you to drop your priceless oil painting! Some items are just way too precious for you to risk damaging them so some things are best left to professionals − and there are no professionals that can match Dorothy & Martha Movers NYC.
If you’re wondering how much it would cost you to have professional Brooklyn movers handle every single aspect of your move, go ahead and contact Dorothy And Martha Moving. We’ll be more than happy to create a customized plan and provide complimentary moving quotes Brooklyn for your upcoming move.
How to pack and protect dishes for transportation
Everyone who’s ever had to prepare for relocation could share their moving story and tell you which part of it was the most complicated and tiresome. Among those stories, you will probably hear that there were those who struggled to figure out how to safely pack and protect dishes for transportation. And yes, this can truly be a great issue. Unless you have a bit of help from professionals and the necessary skills to pull this off. If this task is next on your to-do list, we suggest you take a look at the following text and equip yourself with useful information so that you can pack your household like a pro.
Continue reading “How to pack and protect dishes for transportation”
Why You Need Furniture Padding When Moving
If you plan on moving by yourself, it’s essential to lookup for fundamental tips and guides before the actual process starts. Especially when it comes to bulky items like furniture. Besides conventional packing materials like boxes, packing paper, and tape, it’s important to put an accent on furniture padding, to prevent any kind of damage or even breakage. Luckily, furniture padding is made out of different materials depending on your preferences and can be bought or rented. This is a great option for one-time moves and lower budgets. If you aren’t sure whether or not to use furniture padding while moving, read the following article on the subject.
What is Furniture Padding?
There are different names for furniture padding, including blankets, moving blankets, and thick covering in various dimensions and sizes.
Specific kinds of moving blankets are specially designed to incorporate shocks. They are usually made out of cotton or polyester (sometimes even the combination). Some pieces of moving blankets have additional cushioning on the inside.
Furniture padding is used for different purposes like protection from damage, dirt, stabilization, etc.
Protection of Items
One of the main purposes of using furniture padding is simply protecting different items, including furniture, electronics, glassware, antiques, and similar objects that are prone to damage.
When the moving box isn’t absolutely full, the remaining space can increase the risk of breakage. Using furniture padding to protect items before putting them in a moving box is highly recommended, especially regarding delicate items. Also, don’t hesitate to use an extra layer of protection if you plan on moving precious items.
Protection of Furniture
Protecting heavy and bulky furniture pieces is a problem of its own. However, most frequent damage usually happens on the incredibly fragile furniture legs.
For instance, only dropping the couch can damage the furniture piece and even the floor.
Covering the furniture in padding can significantly reduce the risk of damaging furniture legs.
Protection of Floors
If you wonder how to protect floors when moving, using furniture padding is crucial. It protects floors from scratching when moving bulky furniture. You can use furniture padding to provide floor protection on various items, including heavy furniture, consoles, etc.
This way, if you drop a heavy piece of furniture, an additional protective layer will ensure that your floors remain intact (especially wooden ones that are prone to scratches).
Prevention of Dirt
While moving, it’s utterly natural that the items attract a lot of dirt, dust, and other filthy particles from the moving vehicle and outdoor environment; that’s where furniture padding comes in. Using moving blankets and other types of furniture padding prevents items from getting dusty or dirty.
The additional benefit of using furniture padding excludes any kind of water from impacting the moving objects.
Large and Bulky Items
Customer reviews state that furniture padding is very important for covering large and bulky items, so it’s definitely the most popular use.
Every furniture pad’s dimension is different depending on the dimensions of the items you plan on covering.
It’s important to secure some types of furniture padding with different kinds of tape. If needed, apply additional layers of wrapping.
Moving Help
Since moving large and bulky furniture items can present quite a challenge, especially if you plan on relocating by yourself, using furniture padding can help you if you don’t have an extra pair of hands. How? Certain types of furniture padding allow the pieces to slide instead of merely carrying them. This applies only to wooden floors or tiles.
Unfortunately, this trick can only be done indoors, but it’s still a significant amount of help that will help you rest even for a moment or two.
Renting or Buying?
If you plan on hiring a professional moving company, they will most likely provide the furniture padding if needed. However, in some cases, you might need to pay an extra fee for this kind of service in agreement with the moving company called renting.
However, DIY moving also includes two options: renting or buying.
So, if you don’t want to store furniture padding and moving blankets for further moves, consider renting them from various retailers.
As for regulars moves, it’s wise to purchase furniture padding to avoid future complications, which can be bought almost anywhere, including Walmart, Uboxes, etc.
Additional Moving Supplies
There are additional packing supplies besides furniture padding that you’ll need if you’re opt-out for a DIY move. The ultimate packing supplies list includes: moving boxes, moving tape (duck tape), bubble wrap, wrapping material, labels, moving vehicle, covers, help. Check out some of the best places to find packing supplies in Brooklyn.
Hiring Professional Help
If it’s your first time moving furniture or similar (large and bulky items), consider hiring professional Brooklyn movers to do the whole thing for you, including packing, loading, unloading, unpacking alongside transportation. However, keep in mind not all moving companies are pure professionals. Hiring inadequate moving service can result in damage or even breakage of your furniture. While choosing the right moving company, make sure to explore all of the available options and choose a reputable company with a reliable and solid work ethic.
Your best parameter on deciding which company to hire is customer reviews and recommendations from friends and family.
Getting an Insurance Policy
Transporting pricey pieces of furniture isn’t an easy thing to do, especially if you have no prior experience on the subject. In that case, we advise getting an insurance policy in agreement with the moving company you choose. There are a couple of options; just be sure to inform yourself on time. Some moving services include insurance policies, while others don’t, depending on the moving company you choose.
In general, moving heavy and bulky items like furniture is heavy in every sense of that word meaning that furniture padding presents quite an essential if you want to prevent dirt getting in, damaging floors, damaging the furniture pieces, etc.
So, consider renting or buying the right kind of furniture padding in agreement with the moving company you choose. Here, at Dorothy And Martha Moving, we can help you with your furniture padding.
Can you maintain your sanity while moving?
If there are two words that can define moving a household, that would probably be overwhelming and hectic. Picking up and packing each and every item of your home and transferring it to another location, sometimes even thousands of miles away can be quite straining, both physically and mentally. So no wonder you are trying your best to keep it together. It is essential to make an effort and maintain your sanity while moving? But is it possible to do this? We can assure you it is. And you can do it without yoga and meditation as well! All you need to do is take a few pieces of advice gathered from people who have managed to stay sane during their relocation. Continue reading “Can you maintain your sanity while moving?”
Moving to Brooklyn with children
Living in Brooklyn. It sounds like a dream come true to so many of us. However, once we grow up and start families – we might change our minds. Moving to Brooklyn, and especially moving to Brooklyn with children can be quite challenging. And there are just so many reasons for that. Planning a move when you are young and have all the time in the world to get ready is very different than moving as a parent. Now you have to think about your kids and their needs. You are not alone in this. On the other hand, this situation can be good for some. Just like with everything else in life, perspective is everything. And because of that – moving to Brooklyn with children doesn’t have to be so scary. Keep on reading and learn how to move with ease!
Moving to California 101
So, have you thought about moving to California? If so, you’re among the many people eager to make the Golden State their new home. There’s a reason California is so popular! However, there are a lot of things to pay attention to before you can move. You don’t want to make mistakes, do you? And the number one cause of mistakes is bad organization. And the number one cause of bad organization is not having all the facts. How can you make the right decision if you have the wrong information? So, when it comes to moving to California, it’s important to do your research. Plus, doing your research will allow you to select the right long distance NYC movers! Continue reading “Moving to California 101”
Free Moving Quote
Archives
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
