How to Pack Your Car For A Move - Redwood City Movers

As you pack up your belongings for your move, you will probably notice there are some items you would rather pack in your car, as opposed to the Redwood City Movers truck. Items like plants, electronics, and jewelry will most likely be riding with you in the car. Many of these personal belongings are also valuable, so you will want to be careful with the way you pack your car. Here are 7 tips for packing your car properly before your move. 

Redwood City Moving

1. Take Advantage of All Space - The first mistake people make when packing their car is fitting two or three boxes in the back and thinking it’s completely full. Consider all the spaces in your car that you can fit items, including storage compartments, the trunk, seat pockets, and ever underneath the seats. 

2. Pack Your Most Essential Items First - As you pack, things might feel a little chaotic, so make sure you pack the essential items like your smartphone, wallet, keys, identification cards and other valuable items first. You don’t want to get halfway to your destination and realize you’ve left the keys to your new house at the old house! 

3.  Pack Upon Arrival Items Last - If you packed strategically, you will likely have a “survival” box with necessary toiletries, electronics, medications, and other items that you will need on hand. Make sure this box is packed last so it doesn’t get buried as you pack.

4. Think Outside The Box - While moving boxes might work inside the big rectangulare moving truck, they aren’t as practical in a car because they are so bulky. Consider what belongings would be best packed outside of boxes. Try bags, hangers, and vacuum sealed bags. This will save you tons of space.

5. Keep Your Car Balanced - As you pack your car, make sure you evenly distribute the weight in your car so you don’t risk turning over in it. Start by spreading heavy items through the care to keep it balanced. While this will keep you safer, it will also help keep your fuel bill low. 

6.  Keep You Windows Clear - While it’s tempting to stuff your car to the brim, make sure you are considering safety first and leaving plenty of clear space through the windows. It is extremely important to keep your window clear so you can see behind you while you drive, especially if you are moving across the country. 

7. Be Careful With Fragile Items - Take special care to pack all your fragile and valuable items with plenty of cushion. It is also a good idea to keep them in plain site so you can check on them throughout the ride. 

Need assistance with the bulk of your belongings? Call Moving Forward Today For Redwood City Moving FREE Quote.

Tips for moving into a smaller house

If you’re moving to a larger city, like San Francisco, chances are you will be moving into a smaller place. In fact, many people are downsizing simply because it suits their lifestyle. While moving into a smaller place has plenty of upsides, there are a few challenges that take some getting used to. Here are 7 tips for moving into a smaller space. 
 

Set Your Top Priorities

 

Think about what makes you happy about your current space. What do you want and need in your living space in order to feel truly at home? The tricky part here is being honest with yourself: Maybe it’s your DVD collection, despite the fact that DVDs are no longer necessary. Maybe it’s the first piece of original art you’ve ever purchased. Whatever it is, acknowledge it and make sure it’s coming with you. If you focus on your top priorities, then you will set yourself up for success in your new living space. 

Let Go of the Somedays

 

Do you really need two camelbacks? How about that mixology set you’ve never opened? When you’ve got a big house with tons of space, it’s all too easy to stash extra items for someday. Now that you’re moving, it’s time to toss those. If you haven’t used these items in the last 6 months, donate them to someone who will. That’s part of the fun of downsizing, you can only focus on what’s serving you right now. If you need some support getting rid of your stuff, host an invite only “Somedays” Sale, so you know all those items that didn’t make the cut will go to a good home. 

Discuss the Logistics With Your San Francisco Movers

 

Your San Francisco movers have likely seen everything, but they will have no way of knowing you are moving into a smaller space unless you inform them. Giving your movers as much information about the move as possible will help make everything go much swifter. On the day of your in-house estimate, make sure you only have what you’re taking with you. Otherwise you could spend more money on packing and hauling than you need to. It is also helpful to separate the items going to storage from the items going to the new house. 

Be Open Minded 

 

American culture mostly tells us that bigger is better, so it can feel limiting to move into a smaller space. In fact, downsizing your living arrangement could actually be liberating. Millions of people all over the world live in small spaces, including collaborative living spaces and tiny homes. This includes San Francisco! Small living spaces are the modern solution to growing populations and expanding urban areas, so there are plenty more resources online to help you do it right. Embrace the change!
 

List Your Keepers 

 

Sit down and make a list of everything you absolutely cannot get rid of. Whether that’s your guitar, your surfboard, your desktop computer or your grandmother’s antique armoire, jot it down so you can plan around it. Any lifestyle essential will probably make it onto the list. Remember, the longer the “Keeper” list, the more difficult it will be to throw things away. So be ruthless with your selections. 

Rent a Storage Unit

 

If there are some keepers that you know won’t fit in your new space, consider getting a storage unit. Many San Francisco movers also provide hauling services, so take advantage of your resources and keep those things that don’t fit in your new space. 

Expect to Get Rid Of More When You Arrive

 

As San Francisco movers, we see this all the time. People think they’ve shed all the stuff they don’t need, only to arrive at their new house and realize they will need to comb through their belongings all over again. Maybe your dining room table is too big, or there’s not enough wall space for your art. That’s OK (don’t forget about that storage unit!). Once you are actually in your space, distinguishing between what you need and what you think you need will become much easier. At least you got rid of all that obvious stuff before the move.

Helpful Tips for Decluttering Before Your Next Move

Moving your belongings from one location to another is an enormous responsibility. It can be difficult to know where to begin with all the careful planning, organizing, and packing of your items. This task can look to be overwhelming due to the amount of stuff you have in your home. Your high-trained Palo Alto moving company have gathered some useful tips for you to help you declutter, ease the stress, and be ready for your upcoming move. 

Sort Items into Categories 

Moving to a new home is a great time to sort through all of your items and discard anything that is not useful or no longer holds some purpose for you. Moving items to your new home that you no longer use or need make no sense. To begin this process, simply sort the items in each room and divide into three categories: toss, donate, and keep.  

Have a Sale 

When sorting through all your belongings, if many of them are still in good condition, consider having a sale or possibly sell them online at sites such as Craigslist or eBay. In addition to decluttering your home, this is a way to earn some extra money to put towards moving expenses.  

Develop a Plan 

Sorting through all your belongings takes time. Set aside specific times where you can go through each room. Do not try to accomplish this large task in one or two days. Having the ability to relax without rushing through the sorting process allows you to reduce stress and make packing your belongings go much easier.
  
Assign Task

If you have friends or family nearby, ask for their support during the moving process. Having assistance from other people with organizing and packing allows you to get more accomplished in less time, and is also is also a clever way to have an objective view on items you are having difficulty parting with. 

Carefully Label

While you are going through and packing all your items, take the time to carefully label each container or box that you fill and make a quick note of the contents inside. This is an ideal way to see a breakdown of your items and help you stay organized. 
Before your next big move, contact your trusted Palo Alto moving company to learn more useful tips and tricks to help your moving experience go smoothly.

What to Do Prior To The Arrival of Professional Packers

If you have decided on using a professional San Francisco moving company for your packing and transporting needs, preparing for the professionals to arrive should be a priority. Consider the following things to do prior to the arrival of your experienced packers: 

Rid Your Home of Useless Belongings 

Professionally packing and moving items to a new residence only to never use them makes no sense. Especially for those who pay based on the total weight you need to be transported. If you have not used an item for at least 12 months, consider getting rid of it before the packer arrive. Donate, sell, or throw them away instead of spending more time and money.

Dispose of Any Items Your Packers Will Not Pack 

There are several hazardous items professional packers are unable to pack and transport for you due to safety reasons. Three of the major household categories include:

Hazardous – This includes explosive, flammable, corrosive materials which include oils, paint, ammunition, weapons, cleaning fluid, chemicals, etc. 
Plants – Due to the fragility of plants, they are your responsibility to transport. 
Perishables – Fresh, frozen, and refrigerated foods. Prior to your packing team’s arrival, be sure to use up any food supply you have left. 

Create an Inventory

After you rid yourself of any items you are not taking on your move, it is time to make an itemized checklist detailing all items ready to be packed. This inventory list is a great idea or more than one reason: 1) If any item becomes damaged or are missing, this helps to make a damage claim with your professional mover, or file a claim with your insurer. 2) you will be able to quickly check off items in your detailed list as you unpack. 

Use a traditional pen and paper or use the one found online to make a home inventory list.

 

No-Pack Zone 

Select one room in your home or a portion of a room where all items traveling with you to the new residence will be located. Inform the packers before they begin work or be on the safe side and hang a piece of paper stating DO NOT PACK on it.  

Household Appliances

Unplug and empty any appliances the professional San Francisco moving company will pack and transport. If you find the time, clean them as well.

Take Photographs 

Although you hire a reputable company, it is best to stay on the side of caution by taking plenty of pictures of your household belongings before the arrival of your packers. Pay extra attention to antiques and valuable. These photographs can be useful for the moving company and yourself.

Top Reasons Why You Should Not Hire Non-Professional Movers

Sunnyvale Movers 

People have found new ways of outsourcing their packing and moving needs with sites such as Craigslist and mobile apps like Dolly. For pennies on the dollar, you can hire a resourceful individual or even your neighbor to help you move to a new location with just a couple of click of a button.  

 

While this new approach may be convenient, it comes with its share of problems when compared to traditional moving practices. In the long run, many of these issues may impact you and your family.  
 
You should not hire non-professional movers due to the following reasons:  
 
Do Not Have the Proper Equipment

 

 There a numerous variable to consider the complex process of moving. For example, are there stairs or another structure that might be difficult to maneuver? Will a moving truck be too large for your street or will another alternative be needed? Professional Sunnyvale movers are prepared to handle every situation and will not let these troubles interfere with your move. 

 

  
They Lack Oversight 

  

The Federal Motor Carrier Administration placed regulations on all professional moving services to provide customers with a copy of their consumer rights and responsibilities. This resourceful guide summarizes everything you must know, such as how to lodge a complaint or important contact information. Non-professional movers do not cover this irreplaceable form of protection, in the event, something does go wrong, you will be on your own.  
 
Non-Professionals Do Not Provide Protection 

 

 Professional movers offer some sort of protection, unlike non-professionals. While it is not identical to standard insurance, a similar level of protection is provided for your possessions. A few different forms of valuation are usually offered by the best professional Sunnyvale movers, such as full value or minimal protection. However, protections such as these are not provided by non-licensed movers, leaving the cost to replace or repair damaged items solely on the homeowner.  

 

 
Do Not Provide Planning or Support 

 

Most moves not only require various pieces of equipment, but some can be quite complex, logistically speaking. While moving to a different town may not be as complicated as moving to another state, considerations must still be made for such things as possible lodging, times, and dates for the whole moving process. Also, how much gas will be needed to travel as well as other vital considerations that must be made. Professional moving companies understand the distinctions between any size move, ensuring the correct planning and support is put in place to make your move successful. 

Factors to Consider When Deciding on A Moving Date

Moving day matters for many reasons. It’s important to learn what should and can influence your moving day decision. The following factors should be taken into consideration when deciding on a moving date:

Moving Budget:

Your moving budget and the date you choose to move is directly related. Some days are slightly more expensive, such as when the Palo Alto moving company are busiest. Busy periods include holidays, weekends, summer months, and the beginning/ending of the month. Winter is the best time to move if you want to avoid paying more. 

Your Needs:

Aside from your budget, your needs are the most important factor to consider when deciding on a moving date. Will you be starting a new job, or will your children be starting at a new school? Do you prefer to wait to move after your child finishes the school year? 

Moving Company Availability:

Most reliable moving companies have more work, of course, meaning you should schedule 2 to 3 weeks prior to ensure they will be available when you need them. Do not wait until the last minute to hire your trustworthy Palo Alto movers company. 

Once you know the date your rental contract is finished, begin planning what date works best for you and your moving company.

Source: https://movingforwardsf.wordpress.com/