Originally from The Golden City, Julie has explored the ins and outs of moving and has written all the tips down.
The Best Tips and Tricks for Moving Furniture
After a house and a car, household goods are the third most expensive items people buy in their lifetime. Knowing some of the best tips and tricks for moving furniture is essential if you want to have them moved in one piece without any scratches or damages. But, this task isn’t something you can do in no time – it’s enough to have one desk and one couch, and you’ll already have full hands of work to do.
Some people get attached to the items from their household, and it’s completely normal if you consider that an average American lives in one home for ten years. It’s a long period of time, and we all know how relocation can be stressful. Dealing with anxiety about relocation isn’t the easiest thing you had to do, right? It’s maybe strange if you have never moved before, but that one piece from your old house can assist you when going through some rough times after the move. So, here are some relocation hacks you can use to protect your household goods.
Make a Plan That Will Guide You Through the Process of Moving Furniture
The reasons for the move are various, and if you’re relocating for love or you’ve found a job opportunity that just can’t be missed, then you better do some planning first. The first thing you should do is to make a relocation to-do list. We all make mistakes, but the whole process will go smoothly with a helper like a list of tasks to keep you updated.
We all know that heavy and bulky stuff from our house isn’t the cheapest thing you possess, and if you’re wondering how much does it cost to move a couch, know that you’ll have to put aside some amount for it (from $200 to $600, depending on the type of it.) Notice that Yves Saint Laurent’s most expensive chair was sold for $28 million. So, creating a relocation budget and planning how much you’ll need for each service (including relocation insurance) is something you shouldn’t avoid. That way, the efficient move won’t be just a distant wish, but you also won’t have to deal with those unpleasant situations when you realize there are some extra expenses to be paid.
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Decide If Some Pieces Are Worth Relocating
Now, packing and transporting your heavy items could be quite a challenging task without a good plan and organization. When deciding where to live, start right away to make plans that will ease the whole relocation process. That means you should also decide which item to bring and which one to donate or sell. Examine every room in your home and check if some things are worth relocating. Know that the average life of a sofa is around 3,000 days, and if you have that one in your old place, you might reconsider taking it with you.
Decluttering could be a tedious job, among all other tasks you have to do before the relocation day. However, if you get rid of stuff you don’t need or use anymore, you’ll see all its benefits – not only will it save you money, but you’ll easily decide what to keep when relocating. Also, the unpacking process, once you settle in your new home, will take less time. Find some useful tips on how to declutter your house more efficiently in the video below.
Thorough Preparation Means Safely Going With All Tasks in This Process
Once you decide what will be in your future house, you should get prepared for the next stage of the relocation process. Before you begin the packing and lifting, you have to do some measuring. Check the hallway and doors that the bulky items have to pass through. This might seem like a reasonable and unnecessary step to mention, but it’s also the most forgotten one when preparing for cross country movers. The best way of doing it is to try to get a smaller item through the door and see if it passes smoothly (if it isn’t, you’ll end up damaging pieces and also hurting yourself.)
When you have to move furniture in the house, don’t forget to clear the pathway. The whole process is challenging enough, but imagine how it would look like to worry about not hitting other things and injuring yourself.
Clear the pathway and protect doors when getting bulky things out of your house
Gather the Proper Equipment and Don’t Think It Will Cost You a Fortune
The relocation process requires many packing supplies and materials. One of the most common relocation mistakes is precisely not getting enough of it before you start with the packing. It can be overwhelming, so if you opt for a helping hand, you can contact professional movers with packing services and other long-distance moving services.
When it comes to larger stuff in your household, it won’t be enough to purchase only packing paper and bubble wrap, as you would do for packing your glasses and other fragile things. So, here are supplies and materials you should buy, because, you know the saying, it’s better to use your head than your back:
Shoulder dolly – it’s a great way to take the weight off your back. Your hands are free, so you can hold the item if needed.
Carrying straps – these straps are adjustable to objects of different lengths and sizes (it’s a great solution for flat surfaces.)
Slides – avoid dragging and carrying when possible, instead put sliders and prevent damaging your floors.
Blankets and plastic wrap – getting the needed materials is something that just can’t be bypassed. The plastic wrap will keep your stuff safe from water and germs (especially if you plan on leaving them in a storage facility,) and blankets will ensure all the fragile and sharp edges are protected.
Everything comes with a price, and as you may assume, these supplies and equipment aren’t cheap at all. So, when creating a relocation checklist, include checking some free options first. Check online on Craigslist and find some usable materials that could save some money. On the other hand, you can check at your local stores and ask them if they have some similar materials that can come in handy.
Getting as much help as you can for this work is essential, so pick the right materials and check the local stores
Get Help and Hire Movers to Move Furniture or DIY?
The dilemma is whether to hire professionals and let them take care of all this tedious, and (in a way) dangerous work or devote your time and DIY? The struggle is real, and it’s only up to you to decide. If you have enough time and family and friends to call that can help you bring out the larger objects from your home, then you’re ready to go. But remember – it’s essential to contact a relative, friend, or neighbor because carrying a couch up and down the stairs and then loading it onto the truck isn’t a one-man job.
Can Movers Move One Piece Furniture?
If you hire a reliable and professional relocation crew, you can be sure they will take care of your bulky stuff. If you’re having second thoughts about hiring professionals because you’re looking to save money on relocation costs, you should think twice. Yes, relocation services aren’t free, but DIY-ing isn’t always the cheaper option. Having that in mind, letting the efficient crew do the harder things should be something to consider.
Having Help When Moving Furniture Within Homes – What Does It Mean?
Dealing with disassembling and lifting heavier objects without professional help doesn’t exactly mean you’ll be doing it completely alone. Did you know that the heaviest objects in a household are those we utilize the most – sofas, couches, chairs, refrigerators, and pianos? So, imagine you have to move a piano alone? It’s virtually impossible. If you own the precious instrument, you’ll have to call at least two more people to get this work done.
Some objects are easy to lift, while others require multiple pairs of hands
What Is the Easiest Way to Move Heavy Furniture?
The paradox of this question is obvious, right? Still, there are some things you can do to make the whole process easier (or should we say lighter?) This means that the bookshelf you want to move should be emptied first. Pack the books separately and then move the shelf. The same stands for all the bigger bathroom objects – pack bathroom things first and empty all the cabinets. Do the same process for each room and don’t forget to check all the storage spaces and separately pack all the stuff from the objects you want to move.
Another thing that will make your life easier is to remove the detachable parts of objects you wish to move. Remove all removable smaller objects from heavier ones – legs, cushions, knobs, drawers, and alike, wrap them separately, and move as regular things.
Hire Professional Long Distance Movers Near Me That Will Help You With Disassembling and Reassembling Process
As mentioned above, this work for some of us can become just too hard. The great news is that if you choose to hire professionals, the efficient movers will disassemble all larger objects from your household, and put it back together once you arrive at your new location.
Best Tips for the Packing Process
When it comes to the packing process, you want to be efficient and finish it at least one day before the relocation day. So, get as much needed supplies as you can before you begin (you can check with the local stores or even ask your family and friends who recently moved if they have some supplies left.) Then secure all of the parts with plastic wrap and reinforce them with sealing tape.
On the other hand, if you opt for a helping hand from a professional crew, know that their services also include wrapping up all larger objects and preparing them for a truck. Another great thing is that if you want to keep some things in a storage facility, all the stuff will be well-protected for the day you decide to use it again.
After you pack everything, put screws, bolts, and nuts in a ziplock bag, so they don’t get lost in the transportation. You can also label the bags and write down what’s in them.
Take advantage of each service professional crew will offer you
Learn Some Techniques for Safe Furniture Moving
There aren’t too many techniques you could learn for this job. Since there will be some lifting to do, the essential thing is to know how to correctly lift heavier objects – avoid bending and twisting your body and use the strength of your legs. However, here are some of the most important techniques that ease the whole process:
High-low technique – cabinets and shelves can’t be moved so easily, so lean them on one side, and your partner should take the other side. That way, you won’t injure yourself and the object won’t get damaged.
”L” method – no matter how easy it is to move them around the room, chairs sometimes can’t easily pass through the door. Therefore, you should lean them on the sides (creating L-shape.)
Contact a friend to give you a helping hand in this process
Let the Professional Long-Distance Moving Company Take Care of Other Services
There are many things you have to do before the professional crew comes and loads all of your belongings into a truck. However, having a trustworthy team means you won’t have to deal with questions like how does the storage service work, in which order to pack the boxes and objects, and similar stuff. Another benefit is auto transport. Not only is it another task you don’t have to think about, but you’ll be assured that your four-wheeler is in safe hands.
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