How to Pack Heavy Furniture

As you begin packing for your big move, you may suddenly become aware of the fact that you have a lot of big items. From your sofa and dining room table to your football table and big area rugs … there’s a lot to pack that won’t fit into boxes. As you begin to pack those big items, use these tips from our professional San Francisco Movers to prepare your big belongings for transport.

Get Rid of the Unnecessary Big Items

Before you start packing that old sofa, ask yourself, “Do I really need to bring this thing across the country?” Moving is a great time to take stock of all your belongings and toss what may have overstayed its welcome. If some of your furniture has seen better days, take this opportunity to start fresh and donate them. This will lighten your moving load and also make hauling easier for your professional movers.

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Gather Appropriate Packing Supplies

When packing big, bulky items, the name of the game is protection: protection of the items (because big items can be fragile too!), and protection of the movers (which is you if you don’t hire professional movers) as you move the items.

• Strong Boxes – Some of those items will fit into the bigger boxes, but you want to make sure those boxes can withstand the weight and size of the item as it moves around on the truck. If you have really heavy items, you might consider plastic or even wooden crates that can protect your items better.

• Thick, Durable Packing Materials – Bubble wrap and packing blankets will be essential when wrapping your big items. The more times you can wrap bubble wrap around the corners and delicate or asymmetrical edges of an item, the better. But don’t forget the soft white packing paper, too! This paper acts as the first layer of packing material.

• Invest in High Quality Packing Tape – All that packing material won’t do much good without proper adhesive. Make sure to buy a few rolls of packing tape to secure your packing materials and keep your items from jiggling around.

Packing Heavy Furniture Safely

When packing your furniture, the first rule of thumb is to dissemble your furniture as much as possible. This includes tables, beds, dressers, entertainment centers, and bookshelves. Remove the drawers and wrap them separately and also to make the base furniture lighter. Once you begin wrapping the furniture, make sure to use soft paper BEFORE the bubble wrap to prevent damage to the paint and stain on your wood furniture.

For additional support and protection on the more fragile sides of the furniture, use extra pieces of cardboard and moving blankets. Moving blankets provide essential cushioning while thick cardboard provides additional support.

As you being wrapping your furniture with moving blankets, be careful not to let any of the moving tape get onto the furniture, as this can also strip the paint of stain and leave a sticky residue on your furniture.

Once you have all of your heavy furniture safely packed, it’s time to haul it onto the truck! For your safety, it is advised that you leave this part to your professional movers. They are trained to lift heavy items and positioning them safely in the truck.

Still looking for professional Movers in San Francisco? Call Moving Forward San Francisco for your FREE quote!

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You Quick Moving Day Checklist

Your belongings are packed, labeled and ready to go, and the movers will arrive any minute–but you can’t help but worry you’re forgetting an important detail. Moving is an emotional and stressful time, and it’s easy to forget to return that leaf blower to your neighbor … or your keys to the landlord. Don’t stress, take a look at this moving day checklist to be absolutely sure you haven’t forgotten anything once you’re on the road.

Wake Up Early – By moving day, you probably have the big to-dos taken care of, but it is still helpful to wake up early enough to take care of last minute tasks before the movers arrive. Even if you did a great job tackling your moving checklist before the main event, you will want to enjoy one last morning in your home before you say goodbye to it for good.

Take Care of Last Minute Errands – Stop by the dry cleaners, drop off any library books, and make your last round of goodbyes. You will enjoy more peace of mind knowing all those nagging tasks are taken care of and the loose ends are tied up.

Pack Your Immediate-Use Belongings – Put together a bag of clothes, electronics, toiletries, keys and other items that you will need during your travels and upon arrival to the new house. Think of this like a carry on bag of sorts (without the restrictions of course!).

Take a Final Lap Around Your Home – Once all the boxes are packed into the truck and you’re getting ready to say goodbye, take one final lap around the house. Double-check the cabinets to make sure nothing was left behind.

Greet and Guide The Movers – When your movers arrive greet them and show them around. It’s best if you stick around while they are moving so you can answer any questions along the way (another reason to take care of those last minute errands before the professional movers arrive!)

Arrive At Your New Home – You have arrived! Guide the movers and show them around the new space so they know where you want everything to be unloaded. After a long day, it’s important not to forget to provide food and water for you professional movers as well.

Only Unpack The Essentials – Don’t worry about your ski gear or your precious collection of DVDs just yet. Only unpack the essentials so you can enjoy your first night in your new home. Think bedding, pajamas, cookware if you plan to cook dinner, and maybe the TV if you want to just kick back after a long day.

Tip Your Movers – Before your movers leave, don’t forget to tip them! It’s an easy thing to forget, but professional moving is in fact a service that we tip, so don’t skimp after all their hard work.
Are you just getting started with your full moving checklist? Take care of scheduling professional movers now and call Moving Forward Professional San Francisco Movers for a FREE quote.

How To Pack Clothes For Moving

Remember when you moved out of your parents’ house, a plastic garbage bag filled with your belongings slung over shoulder? Moving was a simple game then, because you didn’t have much to pack, and you didn’t really have anything worth losing.

Now that you’re moving for real, it’s tempting to stuff all of your clothes into a few trash bags like you did in college, but when you’re moving an entire household of belongings with your whole family, it’s time to update your moving strategy.

Packing clothes during a move can feel a lot like working retail. But when you do it right, you will be so much happier when you arrive and all your clothes are neatly packed and waiting to be placed in their new home.

Skip the trash bags and use these tips to properly pack your clothes for your move.

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Take Advantage of Your Dresser

Want to save some time during packing? Leave your clothes in the dresser and simply pack the dresser. As long as the dresser itself is wrapped and secure so the drawers don’t fly open, this can save you time and space on the moving truck. If, however, you have a lot of heavy and bulky items in the dresser, check with your professional movers before doing this.

Label Your Clothes

As you remove all your clothes from the closet, take the time to fold them before putting them in the boxes. This will save you time when you’re tired and unpacking in your new home. Organize your clothes by type so you can more easily access the clothes you will need immediately. Use labels if some of your clothes–like coats and costumes–are going to the garage, basement or hallway closet.

Ask for Hanger Wardrobe Boxes

For your high quality or delicate clothes that you want to keep on hangers, ask your professional movers for hanger wardrobe boxes. Here at Moving Forward San Francisco Movers, we provide boxers to all our customers. Just ask!

Use Vacuum Seal Bags

Save more space and keep your bulky clothes clean with vacuum seal bags. This way you will be able to fit more clothes into bags or in luggage, which will allow for you to put more stuff on the truck. The vacuum seals also keep you clothe dry, just in case any leaks or weather threaten the safety of your belongings.

Make Use of Your Luggage

Before you wrap up your luggage, use that extra space to pack extra clothes. Your luggage was designed to transport clothes, so make use of the space. When it comes time to unload the truck, you will also be able to easily identify your clothes and set them aside.


Ready to get moving? Call Moving Forward to get your FREE quote today!

7 Tips For Relocating Your Elderly Loved One

There comes a time when your parent, grandparent or elderly loved one cannot live on their own anymore. Helping them understand it is time to move to either an assisted living facility or to your home can be a difficult experience. Not only are you handling the logistics for your loved one, but the emotional challenges can be exhausting. It is not easy to move from a home where your family as made so many beautiful memories together. It’s also not easy losing your sense of independence. All this and more are hard realizations your loved one will be going through, and it will mean the world if you handle all the details so they don’t have to.

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1. Get their Medical Needs in Order - First and foremost, if your loved one will not be able to see their current doctors, make sure they have new doctor referrals before they arrive. Medical needs should be first priority, especially if your loved one will not be moving into an assisted living facility. 

2. Prepare the New Floorplan Ahead of Time - If your loved one is moving into a smaller home or  simply a new location with a assisted living, request the blueprint of the space beforehand so you can plan the layout to suit your loved one’s needs. This will also help you get a feel for what can move with them and what may need to go into storage. 

3. Out With The Old For a New Experience - It’s likely your loved one has been in their current house for a long time, so their will be plenty of donatables to sift through. Organize three bins into “Donate”, “Throw Away” and “Sell” and together go through clothes, knick-knacks and even furniture to determine what stays and and what goes. Remind your loved one that this is not just an ending but a fresh start. 

4. Get The Family On Board - This is an event when all family hands should be on deck. The more love and support you can provide, the easier the move will be. Of course, request assistance from family members well in advance, and don’t expect them to do all the moving. Hire professional San Francisco Movers to take care of all the heavy lifting and hauling. 

5. Rent a Storage Unit - There are bound to be some belongings that hold tremendous value but are too big and bulky to go into the new space. Rent a storage unit to store these items and provide your loved one with some piece of mind. If it is important for your loved one to be part of the planning, let them be in charge of choosing the storage unit facility, as it is a relatively stress-free decision and they will know exactly where their belongings are at all times. 

6. Create a Travel Plan - Your loved one is likely to have certain health needs that could complicate their relocation. Prepare a list of procedurals and necessary items to make the move as comfortable as possible. This may include an itinerary that includes meal and bathroom breaks and medication or mobility considerations. If your loved one is travelling by plane, be sure to call the airline ahead of time to brief them on the situation so they can make proper accommodations. 

7. Hire Professional Movers in San Francisco - You have a lot of details to take care of, moving and hauling should not be one of them. Save your energy for the details that truly matter to your loved one, so you can make this experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. HIring professional movers with great ratings and reviews will give you a bit more peace of mind.

Preparing to relocate your loved one? Call Moving Forward Professional Movers in San Francisco to get your Free Quote. 

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.

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