Local Mover - All My Son's Packing Tips Lesson #3

Hello... I'm back with the last of my packing tips that will help you with your local move or your national move! Below I have provided you with little tips on packing the miscellaneous items such as lamps, plants, electronics and firearms:

Artificial Flowers

1) An arrangement of artificial flowers should be packed in its own carton.

2) Wrap the arrangement/flowers carefully in plastic wrap, tissue paper or paper towels.

3) Make sure you fasten the base of the floral arrangement to the bottom of the carton.

4) Do not forget to label the carton "FRAGILE" & "THIS SIDE UP."


Lamp Shades & Bases

1) Remove bulbs, harps and shades and set aside.

2) Make sure you handle lampshades by their wire frames only.

3) Carefully wrap each shade in three or four sheets of newsprint or tissue paper.

4) Shades can be nested inside each other, as long as they are separated by paper.

5) Use a sturdy box at least two inches larger all around than the largest shade.

6) Line your box with clean paper, using crushed paper under the lamp shade to create a protective layer, but not around the shade.

7) Wrap harp and finial (decorative knob) with packing paper and tape to the inside wall of the carton that contains the shade.

8) Label cartons "LAMP SHADES" & "FRAGILE."

9) Wrap the base, harp and bulb separately in newsprint.

10) Place them together in a carton, filling spaces with crushed paper.

11) More than one well-cushioned lamp may be packed in a carton.

12) Label cartons "LAMP BASES" & "FRAGILE."

Computers, Stereos and other electronics

If possible, pack electronics in their original cartons. As long as proper packing materials are used electronics can be safely packed in sturdy boxes. Refer to the manufactures' guide or user's guide for special moving instructions. If you no longer have a user's guide, visit the manufacturer's website for an online version or to request a copy.

1) Before disconnecting any wires or plugs, mark the wire or cable and the port you're removing it from with the colored labels. Color code the ports and cables so you can reconnect them later. If you run out of different colors, you can also write a number on the label that will match the port and the cable.

2) For extra protection, write down detailed step-by-step instructions on how you're dismantling the equipment so you can refer to it later when assembling it. Keep this instruction guide in the box with the equipment.

3)Place the cables and wires into a sealable bag (i.e. ziplock baggies) and tape it to the piece of equipment.

4) Remove all parts that can be disconnected and wrap each piece with 3 - 4 sheets of paper.

5) Pad the bottom of the box with a generous amount of newsprint.

6) Place the largest piece of equipment on the bottom and fill holes with additional paper.

7) Place smaller protected items on top.

3) Fill all remaining spaces with paper, making sure nothing rattles or that nothing will shift during the move.

4) Firmly seal the carton.

5) Label each box with the contents and which room it belongs in and also label each box as "FRAGILE" & "THIS END UP."

Note: When you unpack your electronics, let them reach room temperature before plugging them in. Also, Cd's and software can not tolerate high temperatures. If you have sensitive media, you may want to carry it with you as opposed to moving it on the local movers truck.

Live Plants

If you are fond of your plants it is wise to put some time and effort into making the moving process as quick and painless for them as possible. Almost all moving companies will NOT cover plants. They are just too easy to damage. So, you need to take extra care yourself. You also need to bear in mind that certain movers will not carry plants or may have restrictions on those they carry according to your destination. You can move a plant successfully from one house to the next only to see it wither and die a couple of weeks later. To avoid this you need to do some preparations well ahead of your move to get them in peak condition.

1) Get some sturdy boxes & line these boxes with plastic so that they are ready for your moving day.

2) Assess all the plants you want to transport a couple of weeks before you move and prune them, feed them and administer any pest control treatments to get them into peak condition.

3) Think about the pots they're in. I recommend that you re-pot the plants into plastic pots.

4) Check that all your pots are whole and not cracked or broken. A cracked pot stands more chance of breaking in transit and thus damaging the contents.

5) Make sure that the pots are not too big for the actual plant. This can cause them to move about and damage themselves.

6) On your moving day (or the day before if you're pushed for time) make sure that none of the plants are water-logged and drain away any excess water.

7) Pack them snugly (but not too tightly) into the boxes you have set aside and put some packing paper around the pot hold them firmly.

8) Make sure you tell your movers that these boxes contain plants.

9) Plants in large pots should be wrapped in plastic or placed in bags, you can also wrap the actual plant in plastic to avoid damage and to keep the plant together. If you do this be careful to make sure that the plastic is not tied together too tightly, plants still need to breathe!

10) If you're moving garden plants the best time to dig them up is on your moving day. This minimizes disruption.

11) You should dig up the plant so that you have a 'root ball' at the base. Wrap this in plastic and make sure that the earth in it is not too dry.

12) At delivery take your plants out of their boxes and any wrappings as soon as you can.

13) Garden plants need to be put in the garden as soon as possible. Keep in mind you can always move them later.

14) Keep an eye on both house and garden plants for a few weeks after the move and make sure they are well watered and fed as necessary. Your garden plants may be transplanted into soil that is different to that they are used to and they may need extra help and attention.

Firearms

1) You are responsible for transporting handguns and ammunition.

2) Other firearms such as rifles or shotguns must be unloaded.

3) Make sure you get a specific inventory of these items from your local mover or national mover, also make sure your driver includes the serial numbers on the inventory.

I hope that the tips that I have provided you will help make your move easier. As you can see All My Sons wants to help you prepare for your move! Not only can All My Sons be your local mover - but All My Sons can also be your Long distance mover as well! In my next blog I think I will share a couple of heart warming stories that I am blessed to be able to share with you!

Top of Packing Tip #3