Moving Supplies – Getting Prepared For The Big Event
Moving is one of the top ten stress inducers in today’s world. It’s right up there with losing your job and losing a loved one. Sometimes, even the best prepared moves can lead to disaster with unforeseen problems that no one could have planned on. The best way to avoid problems is to buy all your moving supplies ahead of time.
Depending on the size of your home, how you plan on transporting your belongings, and how far you are going, will have a major impact on the type an amount of supplies you’ll need. Supplies can be purchased almost anywhere from major mass retailers to moving companies. For novices who plan on doing it all themselves, it’s a good idea to head to a local storage company. Usually their front office has plenty of moving and packing supplies, and they are knowledgeable enough to help you figure out what you’ll need.
Although many of us have resorted to hounding local grocery and liquor stores for boxes starting months before the planned moving date, this can be time consuming. Keep in mind that these boxes are used – they have been weakened, and chances are they are missing tops. Also, you most likely will be collecting just about every box you can get your hands on, in sizes that aren’t going to be much help. Hint: Buy your boxes new. An added benefit is that they come flat. This saves you a bunch of room if you’re going to have to find a place to put them as you start packing.
Next, you need plenty of sturdy packing tape. Forget duct tape and household tape. You need to tape the bottom of the boxes, too… You don’t want to pick up a box only to have the contents fall out! Get a tape dispenser with a built in cutting edge. Forget trying to carry around a pair of scissors.
Think about special needs, too. Mattresses need extra protection. Buy a padded mattress cover – and put one on the box spring as well. A moving truck can be pretty dirty; you don’t want to get to your new home to find grease or dust all over them.
If you are using a professional moving company, you’ll see the moving pads they have. They are there for a purpose… To keep fragile items from being scraped. If you are not using a professional company, then you need to rent or buy some pads from a local storage or moving company. Get different sizes and thicknesses. Some are used to place on the floor of the truck, others are used to wrap around small pieces of furniture.
You’ll also want to get furniture covers. These come in material and plastic designs, again, of various sizes and thicknesses. You don’t want to put your sofas and chairs into a truck without protection.
One final tip: get waterproof covers! You never know what a pesky rain storm will kick up. You don’t want your sofa sitting in your driveway getting soaking wet!
