Reliable Moving and Storage knows that your belongings are precious to you, and we want to help ensure that they arrive at destination in their same condition. As professionals in the moving industry, we know what it takes to make a move successful and damage free. With that in mind, we'd like to offer some tips in order to give you the best opportunity possible for a successful and damage-free move.
Lifting
When lifting, stand close to the item with your feet shoulder width apart, elbows tucked in, and chin down. Always lift with your legs and not your back, keeping your back as straight and as vertical as possible. Don't twist your back while carrying items. Have an available helper to assist in lifting of heavy items. Keep a firm grip on the object using the entire hand.
Equipment
If you have a lot to move or heavier items, consider renting a dolly or two. Appliance or carton dollies are typically reasonably priced and can greatly reduce the strain on you.
Using a Dolly
When using a utility or appliance dolly, make sure the blades are centered and completely under the load. Always walk and keep the dolly in front of you. Keep the load balanced, with heavier items on the bottom, and never load items on a dolly higher than chest level. We recommend that you do not use a dolly to move furniture.
Utilize the strap on an appliance dolly to help hold the item on. When going up or down the ramp or steps, we recommend that a second person be used to help support the item.
Ramp
The entire apron surface of the ramp should rest firmly on the tongue of the trailer. For safety, each time you go up or down the ramp, be sure to check that it is positioned properly. Never run up or down or jump off the side of the ramp, nor should you ever jump off the back of the trailer. Ramps are designed to handle 1,600 lbs. total, which includes the weight of the item and person(s). Report any damages or concerns with the supplied ramp prior to or during use.
Getting prepared to load is an important part of the moving process. When the preparation is done properly, moving your belongings becomes easier and your chances for success increase. Key drivers for success are in preparing the home, preparing belongings, and preparing the trailer before you load your items.
Preparing the Home for Loading and Unloading
Preparing the home properly will reduce the chances for property damage to walls, floors and doors. Here's what we suggest:
- Remove interior doors, which may be too narrow for the furniture, which is coming out of their respective room.
- Release the shock and/or chain on any exterior storm doors to prevent from having to continually open it each and every time you enter and exit the home.
- Place flattened cartons on any hardwood surfaces where you will be maneuvering furniture. Be sure that the cartons do not slide on the surface(s) by taping them to a carpeted surface. In doing so, you will be less likely to scratch, dent, or gouge these surfaces.
- Place "rug runners" on walking surfaces to prevent transporting of dirt and debris which could stain or scratch flooring.
- Raise any ceiling hung lighting fixtures to prevent running into them after furniture has been removed.
Preparing Your Belongings for Loading
Properly preparing your belongings before your move will help to increase your chances of success and help you to be efficient. Here's what we suggest:
- Defrost refrigerators 24-48 hours prior to loading. Hang a bag or nylon sock full of charcoal or coffee beans/grounds inside to prevent "musty" odors. Disconnect water/ice-maker lines and tape the cord to the back of the unit. Drain all water out of washing machines 24 hours prior to loading. Tip the washing machine backwards to drain as much water out as possible.
- Pack all trays from microwaves and glass shelves from refrigerators inside of a carton.
- Disassemble furniture such as kitchen tables, entertainment centers, bed frames/headboards/footboards, and dresser mirrors. For many, this will take more time than expected so it's best to do prior to load
day. Because of its lack of durability, furniture made of particle
board material is only meant to be put together one-time, therefore,
we recommend that you do not take it apart. - Remove any shelves from furniture and place any hardware in a separate bag for reassembly at destination. Label the bag(s) for the item. Place all bag(s) in one carton for easy retrieval at destination.
- Pack your items. See Packing Tips for details.
- Stack or "stage" cartons based on size, in their respective rooms. Be sure that all cartons are labeled for their destination room location. Do not block doorways or walkways, as it will then be difficult to remove items during the loading process.
- Pad items prior to load day. Concentrate on covering all surfaces with special attention given to the ones that are most visible such as corners and legs. Use clear packing tape to secure pad(s) to the item(s). Be generous with pads to alleviate scratches, gouges, and broken items while in transit and during the loading process.
Preparing the Trailer
- When trailer arrives to residence, it will be positioned in a spot designated by the customer. (Note: We are not able to position on a concrete or asphalt driveway). Remember to allow about 15' for the walkboard placement.
- The trailer should be free of debris. If for some reason it is not, please inform the driver, and it will be swept clean for you.
- The driver will also set up the ramp for you.
Moving Large and Heavy Items
- Move your belongings out of the exterior door of the home that best accommodates the size of furniture you are moving out. This may not always be the door that is closest to the trailer. Often times, the front door of a home is the easiest to maneuver larger furniture out.
- As much as possible, prevent from sliding heavy items (i.e. refrigerators, washing machines, etc.) on any surface. This will prevent the feet of these items from slicing, cutting, gouging or damaging the floor surface. We suggest placing a cloth pad underneath the item(s) to slide them out to a point where these items can be hand carried or dollied.
Using Dollies
- Do not place furniture on dollies if at all possible. Instead, we suggest that you carry furniture by hand.
- Use dollies on appliances and cartons. When using dollies, always walk forward keeping the load in front of you, especially when going up the walkboard.
Walkboards
- Check the positioning and condition of the walkboards, remembering to check each time you enter and exit the trailer to make sure the walkboards are still securely in place. Note that wet walkboards can lose their grip, please be careful. Most injuries to professional movers take place when going up and down the walkboards.
Creating a "Tier"
Create a "tier" of household goods by loading items from floor to ceiling as tightly as possible with heavy items such as dressers, chests, appliances, heavy and solid book cartons or dishpacks. These heavy items act as a "base" for lighter items such as medium and large cartons, large plastic toys, and end tables. Load sofas on ends and not on their feet with the feet against a wall of the trailer. Fill all openings (i.e. between the arms of sofas, entertainment centers, shelving units, etc.) with light items such as cartons containing lamp shades or linens, or other items like large plastic children's toys. Keep your most fragile items toward the top of each tier.- Construct your load by building one tier at a time; keeping in mind that it is also important that items similar in width be loaded in the same tier. Each tier should be completely built before beginning another one, and the first tier should be built inside the very front (nose) of the trailer. When building a tier, completely fill any/all possible voids with smaller items. Constructing your load in this fashion will give you the best opportunity for success and utilize the least amount of space possible. A "tight" load construction minimizes shifting from normal road transportation. Keep clothing in dresser drawers to save on space. Keep the carton containing all hardware from disassembled furniture and load it last on the trailer.
General Tips
- Bring items out of the home as needed, to match the space that you think will be best suited to fill a void, remembering that heavy items are best suited as base and lighter/fragile items as top load. As you are building your load, focus on loading your furniture first.
- Keep electronics in their upright position and flat items on their edge.
- Save energy by carrying an item on every trip to the trailer during loading, instead of walking empty-handed.
Securing Your Shipment
- Tie off or secure your shipment with straps at a minimum of every 6' of space used. Items on wheels, such as large toolboxes, must also be secured separately to keep from rolling during transit. Items on wheels should not be loaded in the last tier, but instead, somewhere in the middle of the load.
Your load is best secured when the last tier of your load is completed from floor to ceiling. When the last tier of your load does not go from floor to ceiling, it leaves opportunity for tiers behind to move forward, and the potential for damage increases. To minimize the chances of this occurring, we suggest that the load be finished with items such as your mattresses. In essence, when your last tier is completed from floor to ceiling, it allows for a smooth transition when the agent secures your shipment for transit. (Click here for photo of last tier of a load.)
- Prepare your home for unloading, just as you did prior to loading.
- Use the exterior door(s) of your home that best accommodates the furniture you are moving in. This may not always be the door, which is closest to the trailer. Often times, the front door of a home is the easiest to maneuver larger furniture into.
- Map out where you plan to place furniture in its final position and keep from stacking cartons in those areas that you've designated. Although you may decide on a different position later, this will keep you from having to unnecessarily move items more than once. Communicate and map out these areas with those who are assisting you with unloading.
- Locate the carton you placed the hardware for disassembled furniture. Place the carton in a location where you will remember it.
- Unload items into the residence, keeping in mind where you plan to put each item in their respective room.
- Save energy by carrying an item on every trip from the trailer during unloading, instead of walking empty-handed.
- Remove the pads from items after you've placed them in their designated area inside the home.
- Reassemble furniture using the hardware from the hardware carton.