30 basic Moving Tips

Picking a reliable Cincinnati moving company is very important but you are reading about us so you don't need help with that.

What we can help you with is getting ready for your move. Moving can be extremely stressful and not everyone has a lot of experience with it. Here are a few of the things we have learned over the years...

1. The BIGGEST rule of moving is the heavier the item, the smaller the box.
2. Always stack dishes from the bottom up when packing.
3. Never use newspaper to wrap fine china. The ink can leave a permanent stain
4. Use boxes specifically designed for packing fine china.
   
5. Never use duct tape – use packing tape. If taping furniture use tape labeled "clean release".
6. Clearly label all boxes on top and side. This also means blacking out old labels.
7. Use a backpack or other container to pack important and sentimental documents separately. They need to be easily accessible including: children’s health records, passports, family records, insurance information and any other documents you might need in an emergency.
8. For large appliances be sure to check your owner’s manuals to see if there are special instructions for moving.
9. Clean your appliances BEFORE moving them. A few hours of sitting in the back of a metal moving truck can make a dirty appliance smell HORRIBLE.
10. As you take apart furniture and other items make sure to put any screws/nuts/bolts/pegs in a sealable bag and label it with the piece of furniture it came from.
11. Use only small boxes for books. It makes them easier to carry and your move go faster. Book boxes get very heavy, very fast.
12. Use wardrobe boxes to make closets easier to pack. Clothes in drawers can be placed in suitcases.
13. Try to pack all electronic equipment, like stereos in their original boxes. Otherwise use bubble wrap when packing these items.
14. If you don't have the original box for your flat screen TV, try a "picture frame box" or taking a box and cutting it into sheets of cardboard that you can wrap around your TV and tape together. 
15. Avoid mixing items from different rooms in the same box.
16. Pack a box of essential items that you will need immediately after the move and make sure it’s the last thing added to the truck.
17. Always pack and unpack breakables over a padded surface.
18. Always tape boxes. Don’t interlock the tops or bottoms. Folded box tops and bottoms will come apart, your belongings will fall out and they will get broken.
19. Make your reservations for movers two to four weeks before your moving day.
20. Clean out closets, the attic, and the basement as soon as you decide it’s time to move.
21. Don’t forget to arrange to transfer school records.
22. Make a “cleaning closet” of things for the last cleanup before you move out – broom, dust cloth, dust pan, mop.
23. Remember to get snacks for move day so you do not have to cook. Also lots of liquids if the weather is hot.
24. Don't forget to cancel newspapers, cable, pest control, cleaning help or lawn services.
    
25. Schedule disconnect times before your moving day  -- you don’t want to have to pay for cable, phone and utilities when you aren’t even there!
26. Make sure to keep receipts for turning in things like your cable box. Time Warner here in Cincinnati is notorious for charging customers $400 for items they turned in.
27. Mail in your change of address forms at least 2 weeks before your move date. You can do that directly from the USPS website or by going to the local post office.
28. Make sure to have enough cash to get you through moving day.
29. Take time to say goodbye to before your busy moving day. You don't want to be paying movers to wait on you while you are talking to your neighbor.
30. Don’t use boxes without tops. No tops make it impossible to stack items properly in the moving truck.