HOLLANDER

The summer months are "peak" moving season, if you can be flexible about when you move, don't wait until the summer. The winter holiday season also tends to be busy so if you need to move during those time periods it is best to plan ahead. It is also important to note that the last week of the month is usually a busy time for movers.

Before the moving agent arrives at your house for your estimate you need to determine what items will be moved and what will be discarded. Don’t forget to check the attic and basement and be sure to show your agent everything you will be moving.

If you plan to do the packing yourself, start collecting suitable containers and packing materials. See our packing section for tips and advice. Set packing goals and deadlines so you are well prepared for your moving day.

Dispose of all flammables such as cleaning fluids, aerosol cans, fireworks and matches. Drain the fuel from your power mower and other machinery. See our section on Suggestions and Instructions for further information. Discard partly used containers of any substance that may leak.

If you are moving items of high value, obtain a current written appraisal of antique items to verify their value. Don't wax or oil wood furniture before moving, because some products may soften the wood, making it vulnerable to imprinting from furniture pads.

Unplug all electronic equipment such as television sets, personal computers, stereos, etc., 24 hours in advance of a move so they will be at room temperature on moving day. Visit our section on Preparing Electronics and Appliances for more information.

• Pack one room at a time and start with the areas that are least used such as a basement or garage.
• Start packing well ahead of time and pack a couple of cartons a day. This way the job will not seem so monumental.
• Mark all cartons designating the room and contents. As you finish packing the carton, list the room location and a description of the contents on the side of the carton.
• You must complete the high value inventory and notify your mover of any high value items that will be included in your shipment. Do not seal the cartons containing high value items until the mover has the opportunity to inspect the items.
• Be sure to have plenty of packing paper available to fill the cartons and to act as a cushion. After the carton is full, fill in any gaps with crushed paper to prevent shifting during transport. You can also use foam-packing pellets or blankets and towels for fill.
• Try to keep a per-box weight at a maximum of 50 pounds; it makes moving a lot easier for both you and your mover. Be sure that the bottoms of all cartons are taped securely and will hold the weight of the contents.
• Empty drawers of breakables and liquids, and anything that would damage the piece of furniture. For example, heavy books, candles, perfumes, and glassware should all be removed prior to transport.
• Similar items should be packed together. For example, delicate stemware should be packed in the same carton with your china and other fragile items, not with books or other heavy items.
• Keep items that belong together in the same carton. For example, remote control and wiring for electronic equipment.
• Wrap items individually in clean white newsprint. Use tissue paper for delicate china and stemware making sure that no edges, rims or corners are left unprotected.
• Use colored tissue paper for small items that may be lost during unpacking.

Select a dish pack or a comparable tri-walled carton and line the bottom of the carton with crumpled packing paper.

With your packing paper stacked neatly on your work table center one plate on the paper. Take the corners of several sheets of packing paper and pull the papers over the plate until sheets completely cover the plate. Take a second plate and stack it on the first than, moving clockwise, grasp a second corner and pull sheets over the second plate. Stack the third plate on top of the bundle and grasp the remaining two corners, folding two sheets of each corner (one at a time) over the plate. Turn your wrapped stack of plates upside down onto your packing paper. Finally, re-wrap the entire bundle: start with one corner of packing paper and pull two sheets over the bundle, cover bundle with next corner, then the third corner; and finally, the fourth. Seal the bundle with packing tape. Use this process on all saucers, bread and butter dishes, and other dishware.

Place the bundle of dish-ware into your cartons so that the plates are standing on edge. The tensile strength of your plates is stronger when placed on edge.

Delicate cups and stemware should be wrapped one at a time. Antique glass, china or stemware should be stuffed with crumpled tissue and wrapped one at a time.

Lay on the corner of packing paper and roll it two full rotations; pull sides of packing paper up and over glass/stemware and continue rolling to the far corner. Place glasses and stemware toward the top of your box. Heavier items (dish-ware, pitchers, etc.) should be placed toward the bottom of the box.

Delicate glassware and stemware should be placed in an upright position, not on its side. You should always use crumpled packing paper in between each layer to assure a snug fit wherever there is space. All boxes with breakable items should be marked with the word "fragile" on the outside.

Silverware -- Wrap each piece in cloth or low sulfur content paper to prevent tarnishing. Use an old blanket or moving pad as a wrap to prevent scratching the silverware chest.

Grandfather clocks should be prepared for moving by expert servicemen.

Lamps should have the bulbs, harps and shades removed. Wrap harp and finial (decorative knob at the top of the harp) with packing paper. Wrap the shades in tissue, not newspaper and place upright into a large, tissue-lined carton.

Mirrors and pictures should be wrapped in paper and placed on edge in cartons. Place large pictures and paintings on edge in heavy cardboard containers. Large wall or dresser mirrors will be taken down by the movers and placed in special cartons or pad wrapped by the mover. For added safety, place tape diagonally across mirror to protect better against damage. Do not place newspaper directly against paintings as this can cause damage.

Tools -- Drain fuel from power tools (do not ship flammables under any circumstances). Pack tools in small, strong cartons. Wrap separately if valuable.

Waterbed Mattresses -- Drain all water from the waterbed and, grasping internal baffle systems with external vinyl, fold mattress 20 inches at a time. Adjust folds to avoid making creases across individual baffles. Consult your owner's manual for special instructions concerning the care and transportation of your mattress. Do not place your mattress in a carton with sharp or pointed objects. If you're going to be storing your waterbed mattress for more than 30 days, add a recommended all-purpose waterbed cleaner to reduce bacterial growth and maintain freshness.

Lawn Equipment shipped on the moving van should be drained nearly empty of fuel and batteries should be disconnected.

Barbecue Grills and Propane Tanks -- Wrap grates and briquettes separately in a newspaper (or place all briquettes into a grocery bag) and place parts in carton. Pad carton with paper to reduce movement of contents. Propane tanks cannot be moved on the household goods van. Consult your local gas grill distributor for the safest method of disposal.

Firearms, along with their respective serial numbers must be registered with your van line representative before the move. It is against US Federal law to mark the carton on the outside indicating the presence of such items.

DVD & CD Players
Before moving your DVD/CD player, there are procedures to follow which will protect your equipment from damage or mechanical failure due to normal vibrations that occur during transit.

The safest way to move your DVD/CD player is to pack it in the original box with the original packing. In the event that the original box is not available use a box large enough to fully protect the entire unit. The packing materials should fill the excess room in the box so that the player will not move during transit.

All DVD’s and CD’s need to be removed from the player prior to packing. Failure to do so may cause the disc to jam the player. The mover is not responsible for damage due to the customer’s failure to properly service the equipment prior to transport.

All wiring will need to be disconnected prior to the arrival of the moving company. If you do not have the owner's manual, draw a diagram or take a photograph of the wiring PRIOR TO disconnection. Wrap wires separately; label to identify usage and place in a plastic bag away from delicate surfaces. The wiring should go into the box with the player. This will assist you during your reconnection.

Don’t forget to pack the remote control along with the player.

Computers and Video Recorders
Pack valuable electronic equipment in original cartons when available. Otherwise, use strong, corrugated cartons and place protective padding on the bottom of the carton. Wrap an old blanket or protective pad around the item and place it in its carton. Place additional padding between the carton and the computer or video recorder. Wrap cords separately; label to identify usage and place in a plastic bag away from delicate surfaces. Non-detachable cords should also be wrapped. Place cords between the padded computer or video recorder and the carton. Be sure your personal computer is "parked" and ready for transport.

If you have a printer, pack it in its original box. Remove the ink cartridges from laser and ink jet printers. If you are moving a pin printer, insert a piece of paper in the platen to secure the print head.

Major Appliances
Air conditioner’s, washer’s, dryer’s (electric or gas), and stove’s should be checked and serviced by your local appliance company. The mover can assist with making these arrangements.

Refrigerators and freezers must be completely defrosted one or two days prior to moving. We recommend that the inside be cleaned out with a bleach and water solution. The unit should be dried and aired to avoid mold growth and a musty odor. The mover is not responsible for damage due to climatic conditions and will not be responsible for any damage if the unit is not properly cleaned. All pans, trays, drawers, shelves, or removable parts should be removed and wrapped individually.

Television sets should be fully disconnected prior to arrival of the mover. Upon delivery, the television unit should not be turned on for a period of several hours until the temperature of the unit reaches the same temperature of your home.

It is best to make other arrangements for the transfer of certain negotiable items or articles of extraordinary value such as:

• Cash
• Personal documents (title, tax information etc.)
• Deeds, wills and other valuable papers
• Jewelry
• Furs
• Stamp and coin collections
• Photographs

If transporting these or any other items please list them on the high value inventory.

To guard against damage that can be caused by combustion, leakage, or explosion, we can not transport the following items in our vans:

• Aerosol cans of any kind
• Ammunition
• Cleaning fluids or liquids (Tide, Cheer, Dawn, Clorox etc)
• Fireworks
• Matches and lighter fluid
• Gasoline and kerosene (we can not move any containers, empty or full)
• Propane tanks, (we can not move any containers, empty or full)
• Paints and paint remover (mineral spirits, turpentine)
• Any hazardous materials
• Wine or Champaign (Items can freeze during transport in colder months)
• Carbonated beverage (Items can freeze during transport in colder months)
• All perishable foods (We do not transport items that require refrigeration)
• Cologne and perfume can only be moved if they are sealed in plastic zip-lock bags, we are not responsible for leakage or damage to other items do to leakage.

REMEMBER, THIS IS FOR YOUR PROTECTION.