Packing Boxes

Making sure you prepare for your movers can be a confusing mission. Especially without a checklist. Before you prepare your boxes you should consider reading my previous article "Make Moving A Breeze" to download a checklist for your move.

A lot of the time people think the bigger the boxes, the heavier it can be but that's not always the best way to pack. In fact, if you cannot move the box after you pack it, it may be a sign that its over packed. As a professional mover I always tell my customers to pack the bigger boxes with lighter items and fill the smaller boxes with the heavier (and fragile) items.

To make the method more clear: There are typically three different sizes:

• small
• medium
• and large

Small Boxes:	books, electronics, glass, kitchen ware, tools, etc.
Medium/Large Boxes:	blankets, pillows, desk items, toys, shoes, clothes, etc.

Another key point is to pack your boxes properly so that way nothing gets damaged.

Taping all your boxes appropriately will allow movers to properly carry and stack the boxes together. The more sturdy your boxes are the more easy they are to work with. HAVE ENOUGH TAPE.
Put heavier items on the bottoms of boxes whilst putting lighter items on top, without leaving gaps in the box. If you leave extra space in the box items are more prone to shifting. Pack boxes so that way they fill up and cover majority of the volume of the box. And if you’re loading the truck yourself, pack heavier boxes first, toward the front of the truck, for balance.

Pack your boxes by individual rooms so that way you can keep your belongings organized. It will help the movers disperse boxes from the truck to the appropriate rooms upon unloading. Just to be safe, I suggest carrying a black sharpie so that you can label the boxes with appropriate tags.

The key to packing your boxes is being organized from the beginning. Separate the books from the fragile items before you start packing your boxes.

San Jose Moving has a great tip page for people preparing for their moves. It's free to the public so don't hesitate to give them a visit and download professional assistance.

Make Moving A Breeze

First things first: organize an appointment with a moving company a couple weeks in advance. The biggest factor in making your move go smooth is by making sure it's organized from the beginning: most of the times moving companies will provide you with some information on how to prepare for your move. For example: San Jose Moving has done a fantastic job in providing their customers with great pointers - and it's all online! Click Here to Download a Checklist. Not to mention, most moving companies give you quick over the phone estimates to help give you an idea of how much it will cost you. 

Now, moving companies vary by reputation and finding the best moving company for you can be really difficult, but through my experience I've found that Yelp Reviews make my decision making much easier. Make sure you do your research on companies before making the appointment. If you look at Yelp reviews for movers in San Jose you will notice that they have an extensive list of customer testimonials to filter through. Personally, I find it a lot easier on my body and mind to trust the hands of a Professional Movers to package and transfer my belongings. Experience does make a difference! 

Keeping an inventory or documenting a timeline can be quite difficult to manage, especially with the stress of moving already. Thankful for technology and smart phones, there are a few applications that can help you manage your timeline. Take a look at this article to start downloading. If you're low on data or simply cannot download the applications for whatever reason, you can use any other types of reminders to help keep track of when your movers are going to arrive. Making sure you reserved parking for the moving truck, making sure the freight elevator is reserved for moving day, vaccumming the rug before its about to be rolled up and taken away. These small things can be hard to remember at times, so using your phone to help you keep reminded is a great idea. Downloading a checklist can make your prep-period go a lot more smooth: just check tasks off as you knock them out!

Plan what to move. It will help you organize the packing materials to purchase. If your calculations are correct, you will have the right amount and type of moving supplies. Often people have difficulties deciding what to buy and how much and many have to run to the store in the last minute, or have plenty of packing supplies left unused. Both options are time consuming. A moving company can help with those estimations. 

Get the packing supplies. Do not wait till the last minute because there may not be one. Plan what sort and how much packing supplies you will need to use. Then go and get them at one time in the store. If you could avoid going several times for shopping the packing materials which you will need, you will save time. If you cannot make the calculations, again the movers could help you. 

Pack well, pack smart. Label the boxes with their content and to which room they belong. In this way you will find more easily what you need instead of going through all boxes one by one and losing time in searching. 

Read more: The Moving Blog

Hire The Right Movers

When choosing a moving company you should always make sure you do your research. Some companies, whether it's a moving service or any other professional services, do a lot of back end work to bring their company to the top. As an ex-professional mover I have experience in this field - getting to know how many of these companies operate. Every company has a different moto, a different way of satisfying customers: may it be by having the lowest rate, or by having the most qualitative service. How do you go about finding out which companies have the balance of both?

Yelp is probably the #1 way people find local services. Despite the rigorous algorithm Yelp has created to keep potential fake reviews off their website, they have an overall extensive list of active members that help create a some what accurate review system for local companies. A lot of times the reviews are vague and rate the overall companies service, and many other times members post a very thorough review: giving the names of the workers and supplying individual remarks for each worker versus the entirety of the company. Take a look at San Francisco Movers . A lot of their reviews include the names of the individuals part of the crew. This allows for customers to really choose which worker/foreman they would like to hire. Read through the companies reviews before making your decision. Sometimes someone else already experienced something you're trying to avoid.

Besides Yelp, there are many other review websites that could junction as an ice breaker. Lots of times a fake review will push people away immediately, despite the legitimacy behind the context. It's okay. That's why there are multiple listings websites that help find companies based off location. For example: Moving Order is a company that helps locate movers for you. They also supply people with a verbose list to follow to help prepare for your move.