Moving Your Stuff

Moving your stuff becomes a lot easier if you get rid of a lot of your stuff. Look at all of your possessions and figure out what you can get rid of. Then look to get rid of some more.

• Sell the good stuff. www.ebay.com www.craigslist.org
• Have a yard sale. Not only will you get rid of stuff but you will come up with extra cash.
• Give the stuff you don't sell away. If you can't give it to people you know - there are many charities that will take it.
• If you can't give it away throw it out.

Packing your stuff

• Pack everything so it can survive being dropped. This means in boxes or containers.
• Boxes should have tops and be taped shut.
• Watch the weight of the boxes.
  • Pack heavy things in the smallest possible box.
  • Every box should be light enough for anyone to carry.
  • More light boxes are easier to move and it is less likely that the contents will get damaged.
• Use clothes, towels, linens, pillows, and other soft things as padding for more delicate items.
• Organize, clean and dust everything before you pack it.
  • It will save space during packing, and a lot of time unpacking.
  • It will also give you another opportunity to get rid of things before you move.
  • If you just throw stuff in boxes it will come out of the box in worse shape than when it went in.

Finding boxes

• Ask your friends if they have sources for free boxes.
• Copier paper boxes are a great size if you can get them.
• Liquor boxes are good for books. Look for them at liquor stores.
• Grocery stores are a good source.
  • You will have to get an employee to set them aside.
  • If you call the store they will often set them aside for you.
  • Don't try to go in the dumpster as most of them are locked these days.
• If you have to pay for boxes, get document boxes from Staples instead of buying "moving" boxes.

Other packing solutions

• Small plastic totes are great for small heavy stuff with a lot of parts.
• Large tubs are great for moving clothes on hangers and large linens like comforters and pillow tops for beds.
• Often times you can get packing materials from the people you are getting the boxes from.
  • If need be newspapers work well. They will leave ink on stuff so you will want to wash your dishes when you unpack them.

Labeling

• When you pack the boxes you are going to want to know what is in each box.
• You can mark each box with a number and keep a list of the contents by box number.
• I like to mark the boxes to what room they go in the new place.
  • You can use a number or color system for each room. Example: boxes marked in blue go in the kitchen.
  • Then label the room when you arrive so people now where to put the boxes.
• Do not write the contents of the box on the box. You don't want anyone interested in the contents while you are traveling to your new home.

Packing things that come apart

• When you break down a piece of furniture keep all the small parts with the piece of furniture. They should be in a container that is labeled according to what piece of furniture it is for. Example: Nuts and bolts to a table get packaged in a ziplock bag labeled "dining room table" and taped to the underside of the table top. There is nothing worse than not being able to find all the specialized parts to something.
• All cables should be packed with the items they are for and be labeled accordingly.
• All the tools needed for everything to be reassembled should be packed together and be one of the very first things off the truck.

First things off the truck

• Your cleaning supplies including cleaners, mops, brooms, and the vacuum should also be the first things off the truck.
• Have several days worth of clothes packed seprately from the rest of your clothes so you have something to wear the first couple of days after the move.
• Have toliet paper, towels, soap, sponges, and other stuff for the bathroom readily available.
• Have paper plates, cups and plastic knives and forks to get through until the kitchen is unpacked.
  • Also have enough on hand for the move-in party.
• Make sure you can find your bedding. Even if you don't have the bed assembled, you can at least sleep on clean sheets with a pillow on the matress.

Moving companies

If you are going to hire a moving company keep these tips in mind:

• Obtain the brochure "Ready to Move?" and the booklet "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" from the mover.
• Ask for recommendations from neighbors, friends, and relatives regarding the mover.
• Check with the Better Business Bureau regarding the mover.
• Find out what the mover's responsibilities are for damages that may occur to your belongings.
• Ask if the mover has a dispute settlement program.
• Obtain estimates from at least three movers, and compare costs of all services to be provided by the mover.
• Check to determine whether the interstate mover is registered with FMCSA, and has a USDOT number.
• Find out how and when pickup and delivery of your household goods will occur.
• Ask the mover how they can be contacted before the move, during the move, and after the move.
• Adequately insure your belongings.

Moving Day

• Be present to answer questions and give directions to the movers.
  • Stay until they finish.
• Accompany the movers as they inventory your household goods, and resolve any questions regarding the condition of materials being moved.
• Carefully read the information on the estimate, order for service, bill of lading, inventory, and all other completed documents before you sign them.
• Keep the bill of lading until your goods are delivered, the charges are paid, and any claims are settled.
• Before the moving van leaves, take one final look throughout the house to make certain nothing has been left behind.
• Give the driver directions to your new house.
• Inform the driver and the moving company of where you can be reached during the move.

Delivery Day

• Be present to answer any questions and give directions.
• Pay the driver, according to the terms of your agreement, before your goods are unloaded.
• Supervise unloading and unpacking of your goods.
• Note on the inventory list all boxes or other items that are damaged before you sign any document.

Renting a Moving Truck

• DO NOT USE U-HAUL. We have a large number of horror stories, and the latest was a main reason we wanted to write this article to warn others. A simple Google search will find plenty of other's stories, but we'll be listing our own here. We recommend Penske, Ryder, Budget, and others, and if any of those other companies want a lot of rental business, they should let us know by offering a discount to our participants.
• Book your rental as far in advance as possible. I suggest reserving it when you know the date you will move even if you don't know exactly where you are moving to. It is easy to cancel a reservation. It is very hard to get a rental last minute on the weekend you need it.
  • Get a confirmation number for the rental and double check the reservation a couple of days before you pick it up.
  • You can reserve a dolly for appliances and blankets to pad stuff with when you make your truck reservation. The cost is very reasonable.
• Before you sign off on the rental contract make sure you go over the truck and check for damage, dings and anything wrong with the truck. Check to make sure all the lights are working. This is very important if you are towing a car. If you don't note the damages to the truck when you get it you may get fined for them when you drop the truck off.

Things to keep in mind when you pack the truck

• Sweep out the truck before you load anything in it. They are usually quite dirty.
• Evenly distribute the weight along the entire truck. You don't want all the heavy stuff only in the front of or only in the back of the truck. If you distribute it evenly it is much safer and easier to use the brakes while driving it.
• If something might tip over and get damaged in the truck, it will. Everything shifts in the truck while you are driving.
  • Use lots of padding to prevent scratches and strap anything you don't want to move down. Most trucks have rails in the inside for this purpose.

Move in day

The Welcome Wagon would like to help you when you arrive.

If you want to talk to someone you can call any of the regional contacts or Margot Keyes who is the Welcome Wagon coordinator.
603-736-8877

If you would like help moving in please check the calendars and post your event.
One is on New Hampshire Underground

The other is New Hampshire Liberty Calendar

If you contact the Welcome Wagon they will put your move on the Liberty calendar. After the move they remove your information form the calendar.

You can post your moving party on the Underground calendar yourself. They will remove your address and contact information at your request including any of the forum postings after your move.