How to Pack: Tips, Tricks and Web Sites

Written by dan the roommate man


You've just signed a new lease onrepparttar apartment of your dreams. As soon asrepparttar 110446 initial excitement wears off, you realize you're facing a daunting task, packing forrepparttar 110447 cross-town move. You have only 30 days and you want to make sure all of your belongings, including your big-screen television, your grandmother's china and your collection of miniature unicorns, arrive safely. Fortunately, moving experts of all sorts have compiled tips and suggestions for novice movers.

Generally, smaller items can be wrapped in newsprint, packed together in appropriate-sized moving boxes and surrounded with Styrofoam peanuts. Put heavier items (e.g., books) in smaller boxes. Dishes should be protected with bubble wrap and packed on edge, rather than stacked. Use dish towels or pot holders to cushionrepparttar 110448 bottom and sides of these boxes. Bubble wrap secured with tape can be used to protect furniture as well. Wrap it around lampshades, chair arms, table legs, bed frames andrepparttar 110449 like.

Don't use tape directly on wood or painted furniture, however, becauserepparttar 110450 sticky residue can ruinrepparttar 110451 finish. Instead, wrap these items in mover's pads and tie them with rope to securerepparttar 110452 pads. To pack a large mirror or picture, cover both sides with bubble wrap and heavy cardboard, then run masking tape aroundrepparttar 110453 entire object. Or use a large flat packing box.

Inexpensive clothing, towels, bed sheets, pillows, stuffed animals and other soft items can be packed in large garbage bags that are tightly tied atrepparttar 110454 top. Suits, gowns and other fine clothing should be placed in portable wardrobe boxes, which can be purchased from a moving company or packing store. These boxes are a good solution for packing drapes too.

One ofrepparttar 110455 most challenging items to pack is a computer. Be sure to back up all your files before disassembling and packing your system. Pack your diskettes in a separate box that doesn't contain anything magnetic. Bundlerepparttar 110456 cables and wires, and use color coding if you're uncertain about how to reconnect them. Allowrepparttar 110457 computer to cool completely, then wrap each component in a large heavy-grade plastic bag. If you haverepparttar 110458 original boxes, by all means use them to move your equipment. Otherwise, double box each component by placing it in a small box filled with packing peanuts. Then place each small box in a larger box also filled with peanuts. Be sure to mark allrepparttar 110459 boxes "FRAGILE."

Moving Day Etiquette

Written by dan the roommate man


Moving day stinks. There's no two ways about it. You've spent hours packing up and preparing forrepparttar arrival of your movers. Then you hold your breath as they beginrepparttar 110445 arduous process of transporting all of your worldly possessions from one place to another. You hope your furniture survivesrepparttar 110446 journey and that your new home survivesrepparttar 110447 move-in process unscathed. Few of us are able to claim that our homes or furniture didn't suffer a single scratch, that a mirror didn't break or that at least one item wasn't mysteriously lost in transport.

Amidst all ofrepparttar 110448 stress, we often overlook a few details of varying importance. You can't clone yourself or your family on moving day, but you can create a checklist of reminders. In fact, even if you're not a habitual list-maker, it's high time you started. Because a list is probablyrepparttar 110449 only way you're going to get through your move without overlooking something you shouldn't. What could possibly require your attention, aside from guiding Mannyrepparttar 110450 Mover downrepparttar 110451 hallway as he creeps backward with your priceless and extremely breakable possessions?

Take, for instance,repparttar 110452 last impression you make upon your neighbors as you move out of your house. Blocking your neighbors' access to their own street and/or driveways, causing them to be tardy for work, is likely to cause some resentment - particularly ifrepparttar 110453 movers aren't outside whenrepparttar 110454 neighbors discover that they can't back out of their driveways and intorepparttar 110455 street.

Byrepparttar 110456 same token, watch that your movers don't block your neighbors' driveways andrepparttar 110457 street with your furniture. Ifrepparttar 110458 move-out process is going to consumerepparttar 110459 better part of an afternoon - and it often does - keep an eye onrepparttar 110460 crew as they make their way into and out of your home. Some movers have been known to take a shortcut throughrepparttar 110461 neighbors' front yards, or worse, their flower beds, which could very well cause World War III.

If you have a choice of what time of day to move, opt for between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on a weekday, if possible. Your neighbors have already arrived at work by this time (unless they work at home), giving yourepparttar 110462 ability to move without cramping anyone's style. Avoid havingrepparttar 110463 movers arrive too early or too late inrepparttar 110464 day, or on a weekend. Advise music-loving movers to cutrepparttar 110465 loud music blaring from their moving van radios; noise pollution won't win them - or you - any friends.

As you concluderepparttar 110466 move-out process, remember to pick up any debris that has fallen outside your home and alongrepparttar 110467 sidewalks, driveway and street. This rule is particularly critical in your new neighborhood. You're probably going to have a lot of trash during all stages ofrepparttar 110468 move, but especially after you unpack your boxes. Don't pile it outside and wait forrepparttar 110469 next trash pick-up. Haul it torepparttar 110470 dump yourself.

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