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Moving Tips

How to Pack and Move Bulky Items Safely and Easily

Expert Tips on Packing and Moving Bulky Items Safely and Easily

When it comes to moving, the items that most people dread are the large, bulky items. Not only are they heavy, they’re also hard to maneuver and, in cases like pianos and/or antiques, need to be handled with care. If you’ve ever tried to move these bulky items yourself, you know the challenges that come with it as well as the potential dangers like injuring yourself. While it’s in your best interest to hire professional movers to do the actual heavy lifting, there are a few things you should do beforehand to make the job a bit easier.

Make a Fully Proven Plan for Your Move

When it comes to moving anything, it’s always good to have a plan. Yes, even if you’re hiring professional movers to do it for you. Write down a list of all your heavy and large items that you need to move as well as where you want to put them in your new house. You don’t want to have the movers just put a heavy piece of furniture in the wrong room as you’ll need to move it again at a later date without their help.

Write up your plan a few weeks before your move. Get the floor plans for your new home and make sure they are accurate and to scale.Then, measure your bulky items you want to bring with you and create scaled down cut outs for each item. Make sure these paper models include all the fun protrusions and weird edges or corners of the real one. After you have the paper cutouts, place them on the floor plan and figure out the best location for each item. If something doesn’t fit, don’t bother moving it with you. You might be surprised with how much you end up leaving behind! Luckily, the less you bring with you, the cheaper your move will be.

Once you know what items you’ll take with you, make some copies of the floor plan, complete with the bulky items in their appropriate place. Keep it on hand during the move so you can direct the movers. And don’t throw out the original! Keep it in a safe place. You never know when you might want to redecorate and you’ll already have a floor plan ready!

Disassemble What You Can for Easier Moving

While many reliable New Jersey movers will do basic disassembly for you, it’s a better option for you to do it yourself. Check all of your bulky items to see if they have any removable parts. This includes the legs from your table and chairs, shelves from a bookcase, wheels from your bed frame, and so on.

Before you disassemble, make sure you have the appropriate tools on hand. In most cases, it should only be a screwdriver and/or allen wrench. If you don’t, see if you can borrow some from a neighbor or friend. While disassembling yourself might be more time-consuming, it also means you get to save money since the movers won’t be spending time doing it themselves. Plus, you can organize the dismantled parts how you want. Your best bet, though, is to tape any legs or shelves together and put all of the screws, nuts, bolts, etc. into a baggie and tape it all to the main body of the item. Trust us, you don’t want to dig through all of your boxes or bags looking for the legs to your table!

For more complicated pieces of furniture or appliances, you might want to call a specialist. Even reputable NJ movers don’t disassemble things like murphy beds or antiques. And if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can do more harm than good. It might cost you some extra money, but it will be worth it in the long run as you won’t have to worry about damaged items or walls.

Maintain the Highest Safety Standards While Packing

Most large items aren’t going to fit in any kind of box, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to pack it at all. After all, you want to make sure your items get to your new house unscathed. If you hire movers, most will provide some level of protection for your furniture such as padded blankets. While that might be enough for some things, for more delicate items you will want to go a step further.

Glass

Like your cups and bowls, you want to treat any large pieces of glass with care when moving. For flat items, place two pieces of tape in an ‘x’ shape. This will reduce shattering as it helps keep the glass intact. If possible, wrap any glass pieces in bubble wrap and inform the moving crew of the fragile items. This includes things like large mirrors and picture frames with glass!

Artwork

If you have large pieces of artwork, you might want to consider getting specialty art boxes for it. Pack each piece separately and make sure to wrap each one with bubble wrap and fill the inside of the box with butcher paper to prevent jostling.

Mattress

If your old mattress is still in good shape, there’s no reason to toss it out. If you have a foam mattress, you can compress it to an even smaller size by putting it into a plastic vacuum bag and vacuum-sealing it. For standard mattresses, get a new mattress cover before you move to protect the mattress itself from the elements, rips, and bed bugs.

Furniture

Yes, NJ movers will have mattress pads they can use to wrap around your furniture, but you might want to wrap delicate furniture yourself. That means you’ll need to get your own furniture pads, moving blankets, and foam padding. You might want to go a step further and wrap certain items with bubble wrap for extra protection. Just make sure any plastic doesn’t come in direct contact with the wood or fabric!

Piano

Despite their heavy size, pianos are quite delicate and require extra attention when it comes to proper moving. Cover the piano keys and pedals in bubble wrap and then wrap close the lid to the keys. The movers will wrap the legs and sides of the piano with moving blankets.

Hire Expert Movers for a Smooth Transition

Your best bet when moving these bulky items is to hire qualified movers. Not only will they have all the appropriate moving and packing materials, they also have the skills and knowledge to move bulky items with ease. When finding the right mover for you, make sure to mention the large items you plan on moving. Not all companies have experience with moving things like pianos, jacuzzis, pool tables, etc. so they might refer you to someone else, which could end up costing you a lot more.

Even if you’re just moving regular furniture, you should ask what kind of equipment they use and what they provide. Most trusted NJ movers wrap your bulk items free of charge and even put down things like wall and floor protectors. Always ask the movers if they provide this service. If not, you might want to look into another option.

Ready to move? Make sure to give us a call! We have years of experience moving pretty much everything you can imagine. Not only that, but we’re experts when it comes to navigating tight corridors and doorways. We’ll give you a free quote and answer any questions you might have so don’t wait! Contact us now!

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General

The Most Common and Important Moving Services for NJ Movers

Common Moving Services for NJ Movers

It doesn’t matter how many times you move, the process is often overwhelming and stressful. For many, hiring professional movers to take over some tasks can be a huge relief, but not all movers are the same. Even within New Jersey there some moving companies offer more options than others. That’s why it’s so important for you to figure out what you want to do yourself and what you want to hire NJ movers for. If you’re curious not sure what services movers might offer, the list below can help you plan your next NJ move.

Local Moves: Find the Most Remarkable Moving Services

Perhaps the most common moving service requested of NJ movers. As the name suggests, residential moves help regular people move their belongings from their old house to their new one. In its most basic form, residential moving only includes loading and unloading of boxes and furniture from your old house to your new one. Some moving companies might provide other free services including:

  • Basic disassembly/reassembly of furniture
  • Wardrobe boxes
  • Some light packing of items such as lamps, paintings, etc.
  • Uninstallation of AC units and dismounting of TVs

Not all movers will offer these options though so unless you have confirmed this with the company directly, don’t assume they will do this for you! Even if they do offer these services, it might be better for you to do the disassembly, uninstalling, and dismounting of your furniture. It will reduce the overall time the movers need to spend, which can reduce your overall costs. Of course, most movers charge a minimum for their services so if you think that you won’t go over that amount with the additional work, then you might as well take advantage of these free services.

Packing and Unpacking: The Most Important Part of Moving

Next to lugging your boxes and furniture on and off a truck, the next task most people hate when moving is packing everything and then unpacking. It’s a huge time commitment and improper packing techniques can lead to broken items. And no one wants to see broken glass when they open up a packed box. Not all NJ movers provide packing and unpacking services, but there are many who do.

Of course, adding on this service will cost extra money so make sure you have the budget for it. With that said, you don’t have to spend a fortune to have your items packed. Many moving companies have a partial packing option. All you need to do is let them know what rooms you need help with and then you can pack the rest of your house. This option allows you to save money and still organize your boxes and belongings for the majority of your house without issue. If you don’t want to deal with packing at all, you can choose a full packing service. As the name suggests, the movers will pack everything up for you and, of course, provide the appropriate packing materials.

In addition to packing, you can also hire movers to unpack your boxes. It’s a great option if you have the money as you can immediately get settled into your new home. With that said, the downside to having others unpack is that they won’t necessarily put everything where you want it so you might have to spend some time after to organize properly.

Regardless of whether you choose full service or partial, you’ll need to provide an inventory of the items you want packed not just for the movers, but for yourself. That way if anything ends up missing, you have a record of every item that should have arrived at your new home. Reputable movers will have basic coverage for lost and/or damaged items of $0.60 per pound per item. Make sure to let them know immediately when you notice something has gone missing. The best companies might even reimburse you more than the baseline amount as an apology.

Storage: A Less Popular Yet Useful Moving Service

Although not as common as the other two services, many movers in NJ do offer some storage options. There are many reasons why you might need storage:

  • Can’t move into your new home yet
  • Moving from a larger to a smaller space
  • Long-term travel (1+ month)

And so on. Whatever your reason, you need a place to securely store your belongings. While there are plenty of third-party options available in NJ and beyond, one of the benefits of booking storage with a moving company is that you get an all-in-one service. Not only will they bring your items to storage, when you’re ready to move to your new place, they will bring everything to you at no charge.

If you need storage, make sure to ask the movers about their facilities. Not all companies offer the same amenities. Some might have simple outdoor lockers while others have climate-controlled options. While basic outdoor storage isn’t horrible, there’s no guarantee that your items will be safe during extreme weather events. If you want to make sure your belongings don’t suffer any potential damage from weather or temperature related issues, always opt for climate-controlled storage. You should also ask about the security of their facilities. Some might have a guard on-duty but no security cameras. Finally, ask about their rental length. Not all companies offer long-term storage so if you need something for longer than that time, make sure to ask.

Moving Boxes and Plastic Bins: The Most Useful Options

Sure, you can get cardboard boxes for free, but that means you need to spend time looking for them and then lugging them back to your home. Not everyone has the time or interest in spending weeks looking for boxes. Plus, used boxes might already suffer from some damage and could fall apart during your move. You can buy new boxes from the home supply store, but you’re not guaranteed high quality materials.

If you want to make sure your belongings are safe, you should purchase directly from movers. Not only do they source their boxes from high quality vendors, they also have a variety of sizes to choose from so you’re not stuck with comically large or small boxes. These boxes can withstand the moving process and you can always save them for later or donate them to someone else in need. For those looking to be more environmentally friendly, you can rent plastic bins from moving companies. These bins are a great option as they are easily stackable and water-resistant so they won’t break down in even the heaviest downpour. Plus, since they’re rented they don’t take up any unnecessary room in your new home. Just call up the movers and they will pick them up.

Which Is the Best Service for Your NJ Move?

There are a lot of options available so it can be overwhelming. Your best bet is to figure out your needs as well as your budget. From there, you can decide what options make the most sense for your move. If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask! Reliable NJ movers will work with you to create a personalized moving experience that works within your budget.

Categories
Moving Tips

Moving Terminology You Should Know

Moving Terminology You Should Know

As with most industries, professional movers use certain terminology to refer to specific types of services, charges, and fees. Understanding these moving terms can help you better understand your quote and final bill. Plus, it can save you money in the long run as you may end up paying more for your move than you expected or getting a service that you don’t want.

Below is some typical moving terminology you might hear or find on your quote and/or final bill. If there are terms your movers use that you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to stop and ask. The more knowledge and understanding you have about the process, the better.

Frequently Used Moving Terms

Accessorial Services – these are additional services provided by professional movers that are not part of standard service. This could include bulky article moving, stair fees, etc.

Actual Charges – The final cost of the move from start to finish including all additional fees.

Advanced Charges – These charges are for moving services the moving company does not perform, but by a professional, craftsman, or a third party at your request. A good example of this is disassembling a custom-made closet or murphy bed. You could ask the movers to bring on a professional to do this if they do not provide this service. The charges will be paid by the mover and added to your invoice.

Appliance Service – the preparation of major appliances such as stoves, refrigerators, etc. to make them safe for transport

Arrival Window – the set hours or dates where your movers will arrive at your pick-up location. This is normally a 2-hour window where the movers will plan to arrive at your location to start the move.

Assembly and Disassembly – taking apart furniture before loading it onto a truck and putting it back together at the destination.

Bill of Lading – A legally binding document that outlines all the details of the move from moving date to items loaded onto the truck. The receipt for your goods and the final contract for their transportation. This also services as a receipt of your agreement with the moving company.

Binding/Non-Binding Estimate – before you choose your movers, you should always get an estimate on the cost of the move. In general, you want to go with movers that provide a binding estimate as this guarantees the total cost of the move based on the quantities and services shown on the estimate. A non-binding estimate provides a general estimate of the final cost including accessorial services, but the final bill can change based on the actual time/weight of your belongings. This means you could end up spending more money than you initially expected.

Bulky Article – Some moving companies will charge you extra for large items such as pianos, pool tables, big-screen TVs, and more.

Booking Agent – The person that accepts the order for the move and schedules the moving crew and truck for the move.

Cancellation Conditions – This policy governs the conditions and timing in which customers can cancel their booking without incurring any costs. Most moving companies (including NJ Great Movers) provide clear guidelines as to how much notice is required for cancellation.

Carrier – another word for moving company

Cash on Delivery (COD) – When you agree to pay upon delivery of your items to the destination.

Certificate of Insurance (COI) – a form that confirms your moving company has an insurance policy that covers liability and loss up to the insurance limits required by a building. For many apartment buildings, these forms are required in order to move into the building. Your moving company will be the one to supply this certificate directly to building management or the building super.

Claim – An insurance claim filed for loss, damage, or delay or delivery of your belongings during any stage of the move or storage.

Contactless Move – with the advent of COVID-19, contactless moves have become the norm. These moves enable a customer to not be in attendance the day of the move. This option does negate some liability options.

Delivery Window – This sets the hours and/or dates when the movers will arrive with your belongings at the destination. These dates will be listed on the Bill of Lading and Order for Service so make sure to double-check both these documents.

Expedited Service – an agreement with the mover to transport your belongings by a set date in exchange for additional charges.

Flat Rate – a flat rate is an upfront price based on the information you provide during the initial quote. NJ Great Movers customer service team has a 99 percent accuracy rate on our estimates, so long as you provide all the necessary details and services you want to include.

Flight Charge – an extra charge for carrying up and down flights of stairs.

Full Service – If you opt for this service, the movers will take care of every aspect of the move including packing everything up, disassembling and assembling all the furniture, and, of course, getting your items to their destination. This service will cost more money than if you pack yourself, but it’s great for people who don’t have the time or ability to do it themselves.

Full Value Protection Insurance – an insurance policy that covers the current market value of an item, an item’s replacement, or the cost of repair if it’s damaged or lost. You generally need to go through a third-party insurance company to get this protection. This is worth the cost if you happen to have a lot of high-value assets.

High-Value Article – items that cost more than $100 per pound should be disclosed to movers to ensure they are protected accordingly. Examples include computers, flat-screen TVs, artwork, etc. Make sure to list all of these items on the high-value inventory form provided to you by the movers.

Interstate Move – relocation of your belongings from one state to a different state. If you are making an interstate move, make sure to ask the movers if they have these three things: a US DOT number, a license from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and adequate insurance as a condition of maintaining the license. We at NJ Great Movers have all three!

Intrastate Move – This is the most common move in the United States. You are simply moving your belongings within the same state, just to a different city. These moves are not regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Inventory – a list of all your belongings and the number and condition of each. Your inventory is linked to your chosen insurance option.

Linehaul Charges – the charge for the vehicle transportation part of your move.

Long Carry – An added charge for carrying items an excessive distance between the mover’s vehicle and the final destination. NJ Great Movers does not charge for long carry!

Minimum Carrier Liability – Also known as Basic Protection or Released Value Protection, this is the basic insurance that covers your belongings should anything get lost or damaged during a move. There’s no additional charge, but you’re only covered up to 60 cents per pound per item.

Moving Crew – the team assigned to you for your move. This typically comprises of 2-3 people including the foreman, who you can go to with any questions or complaints.

Non-Allowable List – a list of items that movers will not transport such as ammunition, gasoline, and other hazardous items. Other items might include live plants, pets, chemistry sets, and perishable foods.

Order for Service – a document authorizing the moving company to move your items. This is included in the Bill of Lading.

Packing Supplies – items used to protect and buffer items for transportation such as boxes, packing paper, stretch wrap, moving blankets, etc.

Packed by Owner (PBO) – As the term indicates, this acronym means that you have packed everything yourself. While this can save you money, many movers will not reimburse you if any damages are caused due to poor packing on your part.

Storage-In-Transit (SIT) – Temporary warehouse storage of your items pending further transportation. So if your new house or apartment isn’t quite ready to occupy, you will request this service.

Special Handling Fee – If you request a special service such as moving a piano, TV dismounting, full packing, etc. these are considered special handling services and will incur a unique fee.

Tariff – a list of the moving company’s rates, rules, and regulations. The tariff may vary based on the type of move.

Transit Time – the time spent in transit between your old home and the destination.

Travel Time – the time spent by the movers getting to and from your old home and destination to the mover’s garage.

USDOT Number – A registration number for any vehicle that transports cargo across state lines. This number is regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under the US Department of Transportation.

Conclusion

Moving can be overwhelming for most people, but knowing the right moving terms can help make it less confusing. Whether you’re planning a move or just thinking about it, you should familiarize yourself with the above. If nothing else, print out this list so you can have it on hand as a cheat sheet when you decide to call movers.