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You will be able to save
money if you do the majority of the packing yourself. We advise that you limit yourself to sturdy items such as linens,
books, clothes and shoes. You might also be comfortable packing replaceable items such as dishes, small kitchen appliances
and the like. These items will cost less to replace than china or silverware in the event of damage. It is recommended
that you leave the furniture, mattresses and heavy appliances to be packed by Big Brothers Moving! Check out our tips
below! Take With You
Valuables: cash, securities, jewelry, furs, coin and stamp collections, important documents such as deeds, insurance policies, personal papers. The reason for this is in the event of loss or damage, the insurable value will not come anywhere near the value you would place on them. Move these items either in your car or carry them with you in your suitcase. What Not to Pack Some items are dangerous to pack and may be illegal to include with your shipment. Do not pack anything that could damage your shipment if it were to leak. The following items should not be packed: gasoline, oil, aerosol cans, paint, solvents, bleach, corrosives, ammunition. Flammables such as nail polish remover, matches, candles, lighter fluid. Perishable foods, plants, prescription medications you may need. Big Brothers Moving will not transport or allow you to pack hazardous materials. General Tips Use moving your house as an opportunity to sort out your possessions. Throw away your rubbish and separate any items that can be given to friends or charity shops. Start early. Packing will almost certainly take longer than you anticipated. Before you start, make sure you have the correct packing materials - bubble wrap, stretch wrap, packing paper, tape, markers and boxes (all sizes.) Big Brothers has all the boxes and supplies you will need. A good rule of thumb is: the heavier the item, the smaller the box it should be packed into. Don't put everything into one large box. It will make moving of the box much more difficult and will increase the chance of damage to the items. It is important to get the proper size boxes for your items. The correct size and strength of the carton does make a difference. It may sound obvious, but pack heavier items on the bottom of the box and lighter items on top. Begin at the top of the house and move downwards. If you have an attic, it's a good idea to sort it out first. You will probably discover several things you didn't realize you owned! Pack one room at a time, clearly labeling each box with details of its contents and the room to which it belongs. Clearly label any boxes that contain breakables. Wrap items individually and place in a box that has been lined with several layers of newspaper and a sheet of bubble wrap. Any breakables should also be wrapped in bubble wrap. Small Appliances Wrap small appliances in inkless newsprint or your kitchen towels or linens. Tape the bottom of a medium box security and put down a layer of inkless newsprint for padding. You can pack several small appliances to a box. Tie up electrical cords to prevent them from getting tangled. Use rubber bands or bag ties to secure the cords. Large Appliances Prior to the arrival of your move team, unplug and prepare your refrigerator, dishwasher, stove, washer and dryer. Furthermore, make sure you back up your computer files and prepare your computer for transportation. In the event you are not comfortable disconnecting these items, a third party can be used to perform the necessary tasks. Please defrost your freezer two (2) days before your move. Make sure you check your owner's manual for any special instructions before you start to pack. Make sure the inside and outside of all appliances are clean. You can stuff the inside of some appliances, such as washing machines and dryers, with towels or linens. Tape down any parts that could come loose - the burners on your stove, the electrical cords, etc. Art & Collectibles Put corrugated corners on and wrap each piece in bubble wrap. Pad the bottom of a large box with crumpled inkless newsprint. Give the items plenty of space and make sure you add lots of packing material on the sides, between items and on top. Remember to label the box "fragile." Lamps Fragile lamps need the same care in packing as with china and crystal. Use dishpack cartons. Small lamps may be wrapped and placed in cartons with bedding or clothing. Take light bulbs, harps and lampshades off lamp. Wrap lamp shades in bubble wrap and stack them in a large box with wadded paper, or put them in an armoire or large chest. Wrap the cord around the lamp and pack the lamp in bubble wrap. Alternatively, you can pack your lamps with bedding or wrap and place them individually in an upright, tissue-lined carton. Wrap the harp and finial (decorative piece) with packing paper and tape it to the inside wall of the carton. Wrap the shades in tissue, do not use newspaper. Place the shades upright in large, tissue-lined cartons and place them in boxes with wadded paper. Make sure the inside of the shade is stuffed with unprinted newsprint or styrofoam peanuts so the shape of the shade remains intact. Lastly, seal the box and mark it "Lamps." Compact Discs Pad the bottom of the box with wadded-up blank newsprint. Place a stack of CDs in the middle of the box. If your box is big enough and you don't have a lot of CDs, put your entire CD holder in the center - CDs and all. CDs can weigh a lot, so you'll probably have to divide them into several boxes. Fill in tightly all around and on top with wadded paper so the CDs won't jiggle. Tape and label CDs. Books Use only small boxes for books - they get very heavy, very fast. You can use small paperbacks to fill the sides of the box if there is extra space. Clothing This is where wardrobe boxes come in handy. You can move clothing on hangers straight from your closet to the wardrobe boxes. Clothing in drawers should be packed in suitcases or boxes. Big Brothers has heavy duty wardrobe boxes for purchase or rent. Electronics Ideally, you should pack electronic equipment such as stereos, TVs and computers in their original boxes with their original packing material. If this is unavailable, wrap the equipment in plastic bags. Wrap each piece in bubble pack and pack in a heavy duty box such as a dishpack. Furniture If you can take your furniture apart in any way to make it easier to move, make sure you put all nuts, bolts and screws in a small ziplock bag and tape the bag to the furniture. Tape drawers shut where necessary. Wrap exposed legs (on tables and chairs) in bubble wrap or inkless newsprint. Wrap in furniture pads and tie securely. Kitchenware Wrap breakable items in bubble wrap or inkless newsprint. Put layers or bubble wrap between each plate or bowl. Fill the top bowl with crumpled inkless newsprint. Make sure you put the heavier items on the bottom of the box. Wrap non-breakable items in inkless newsprint before packing in a box. Use cell packs to separate delicate items. Make sure you pack all the items you'll need for your first few days in your new home in one box and label "open first". Mirrors & Framed Art Tape an X of masking tape across mirrors and paintings framed with glass. Wrap each item in bubble wrap. You can use our shipping cartons for these pieces. Make sure you label everything "fragile." Lawn & Garden Tools Clean your lawnmower underneath of all grass and debris (use a hose.) Lawn tools and equipment should be cleaned prior to move day. Drain gas and oil out of the lawnmower into storage containers. Contact your local recycling company or Environmental Protection Agency office for information on disposing of the gas and oil. Tape or tie handles of rakes, shovels and other garden tools. Pack smaller garden/lawn items in a box. Drain your garden hose down a hill, roll up and put in a box. |