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Sven's smooth move suggestions...
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- Make sure that you have moving permission from the building if you need it. Many New York buildings have rules about moving times and which doors can be used. If there is an elevator on either end, and it needs to be reserved through your building management for moves, remember to reserve it. (Talk to your super/door man). It’s a terrible moment to have a load of stuff ready to move and find out you’re not allowed in/out of the building or can’t use the elevator… Really. It stinks, especially when everything is already in our truck.
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- Be Packed. My service does not include packing. It’s loading, driving and unloading for the most part, so things should be boxed/bagged up before I come. This will save you stress and time (money). Make sure the boxes are taped on the bottom and top…. No, really. Boxes need to be stacked on top of each other in the van, so there can’t be a lot of open tops with things hanging out or I won’t be able to stack them.
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- Don’t pack a giant box full of books. Use book boxes, which are the size of a file box, or only put some books in the box, and fill the rest with lighter items. Yes, we move couches, but a 150 pound box of books is harder to get up the stairs than a sleeper sofa. Also, cardboard isn’t built to carry those kinds of loads and the box will burst. When possible, try to pack large boxes with light things. Use small boxes for books, files, magazines etc. This will also protect the contents.
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- Garbage bags are your friend. Buy, heavy duty ones, not dollar store specials. Contractor Bags (used by contractors to hold construction waste) are available at any hardware store and are very durable. Garbage bags are great for clothes on hangers. Grab a few hangers of clothing. Tape the heads of the hangers together. Cut a small hole in the bottom of the garbage bag. Pull hang clothes into the bag with the hanger hooks popping out through the hole you cut. You can tape off the bottom (formerly top) of the bag to add some protection if you like. It’s an poor-man’s garment bag. This will protect your clothes, so you can look sexy in your new neighborhood. Bags are easier to move than Wardrobe boxes, which are expensive to buy, and mostly end up holding a lot of vacant space. However, you are free to use wardrobe boxes if you feel more comfortable with them. Be sure to let us know.
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- In fact all kinds of stuff that is reasonably durable or soft can go in garbage bags. (Pillows, sneakers, Tupperware…). Also, lot’s of small loose items mean lots of small trips to and from the truck, which takes a lot of time, so try to put random non-fragile items in bags if you’re out of boxes - but boxes are best, when possible.
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- Protect your valuables. We won’t abuse your things, and we have blankets for furniture and televisions, but fragile items, like dishes, pictures and glass, should be protected. Wrap glass pictures in cardboard and/or bubble-wrap.Make sure you let us know in advance if you need mattress bags. We have queen size bags, but we need to make sure they are stocked in the truck for your move. If you have a king-size mattress, you will need to pick up your own mattress bag at the local UPS or hardware store.
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- Dismantle Bed Frames or furniture if necessary/possible. Sometimes a futon frame or an Ikea wardrobe closet needs to be dismantled to make it down 4 flights of stairs undamaged. Ikea furniture is not built for moving, and we can’t be responsible for pressed wood splintering the second we pick it up. Take the lamp shades off lamps and remove bulbs, etc. If you won’t be able to dismantle something that can/should be dismantled, please let us know ahead of time (before the day of the move), so we can make sure we have the right tools.
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- Empty all drawers. (unless the unit and contents are light/small) Besides the weight factor, it’s sometimes necessary to put dressers in sideways, and full drawers will be big mess or have damaged contents. Leave the drawers in the unit however. We usually wrap dressers in cellophane to hold the drawers closed while moving and then move the whole unit at once, to avoid numerous trips carrying separate drawers. This is also safer for the drawers.
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- Unplug Stereo/T.V./Computer setups. You’ll have a better chance of getting them set up right again if you don’t pull out the wires and plugs in a rush at the last minute and throw them in a random box.
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- Finally, all of the above can pretty much fall into the headline "Be Prepared". Don't wait until the last minute and wake up with a hangover the morning of your move. Moving is always stressful, so think ahead. The more you get done ahead of time, the less last minute stress. If you are packed and have already cleaned up for the landlord when we show up, you can stop worrying and leave the rest to us.
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- We're really not a up-tight moving fascists. We've just done a lot of moves and are trying to help you have as easy and smooth a move as possible. Even if you ignore every rule on this list, We'll still get you moved… but it will take a lot longer and be a lot more stressful.
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