As a professional moving company, we are always looking to achieve top-quality communication and collaboration with our clients in all our moving projects.
Our services can be individualized to fit the specific needs of each and every client. Meaning, whether the client wishes to pack independently of us or if they need us to handle the entire moving process from A – Z – we are at your service.
If you are the kind of DIY person who has the time, organizational skills and willingness to take care of the packing procedure, we recommend you skim through these tips to make our collaboration run smoothly.
• Properly label boxes with stickers that instruct us on how to handle the contents of each box.
• Use clothes, towels, linens, and pillows to keep fragile possessions safe.
• Please make sure you mark the term “fragile” on boxes containing glassware and other fragile objects.
• Use bubble wrap to prevent dishes and other fragile objects from bumping against one another and properly wrap all fragile items in several layers of bubble wrap.
• Pack fragile items such as plates, mirrors and picture frames on their edge.
• Keep box weight at a minimum to prevent injury to our staff.
• If you have any overweight boxes, make sure you mark them clearly so that our staff takes the necessary precautions.
How to Pack Your Bedroom for Moving Day
The day has come and it is finally time to set things in motion. You are going to be moving your whole life to a new location somewhere in another part of the country. Seeing as how your bedroom is the one that you probably spend the most time in and has almost all of your personal belongings, it could be difficult to put it all in a couple of boxes. Luckily, we are here to tell you how to pack your bedroom for moving day, and get the show on the road.
First, take only what you need
Take things that are going to be absolutely necessary, and then things that have deep sentimental value. Old clothes, bedding, pillows, and small pieces of furniture probably don’t need to be taken. Go through your closets and take the clothes that you like, and then give the rest away. Clean off everything and wash your clothes before packing them up because they are only going to get worse if you leave them in boxes to fester for a few days. Once you’ve decided what is going, then you can:
Disassemble the bed
This should be done before anything else in the moving stage. Why, you ask? It’s because this will not only free up a lot of room to move around, but it will also get the largest piece of furniture out of the way. Not only that, but it will also help you get a look at all of that stuff you’ve got hidden under the bed.
Pack the clothes and little things
Everything that you’ve chosen from the closets has been washed and folded. Now it’s time to pack them. Put them neatly in boxes and empty all of your drawers of the little trinkets that you keep in there. Try to fit them into as few boxes as possible.
Double check and clean
Go through the room with a fine tooth comb to make sure that you haven’t missed anything. Check the drawers and closets. Once it is all done, then you can vacuum the floors and clean the walls. The place should look nice for the new people coming in.
Don’t let the stress of moving day get too high. It really isn’t so bad. We’ve done it a million times here at Montreal Movers. If you know how to pack your bedroom the right way for moving day, then you can get one of the biggest and most important rooms out of the way.
How To Properly Pack Your Clothes For A Move
Moving can be stressful. Although it can often be tempting to stuff all your clothes in a box and call it a day, you’ll only be making more work for yourself once you’ve moved into your new home. You also want to make sure your clothing is packed properly to avoid moths and dirty clothes.
However packing doesn’t need to be stressful and there are a few things you can to make sure you pack your clothes correctly before moving day.
Re-evaluate The Clothing You Have
It’s essential that prior to packing your clothing you understand what you need to keep and what you need to get rid of. If your closet is packed with clothing you haven’t worn in years then it might be time for you to get rid of it. Donate your clothing to charity, or hold a garage sale, once you’ve determined which elements of your wardrobe won’t be making it to your new home.
Use Smart Packing Techniques
For the rest of the clothing you plan on bringing with you, there are some simple techniques which can save you time and energy when packing and unpacking.
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- One Box Per Drawer: If you have an armoire or dresser with folded clothing then assign a smaller sized box to each drawer. That way you can pack your things up quickly and unload them just as fast.
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- Use Wardrobe Boxes: No one wants to take all their clothing off hangers, fold them, unfold them, and hang them back up again. It can really be a tedious process. Using wardrobe boxes, however, mean that you can hang clothes in your storage units, and then right back onto the shelves of your new place.
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- Vacuum Pack The Big Stuff: If you have bulky items, like large winter coats or heavy sweaters, then be sure to pack them in vacuum seal bags. Not only will it preserve them (moth-free) until the next time you need them, but it’ll save you space in your moving truck.
How to Pack Belongings for a Move
One of the most important parts of a move happens before the truck rolls out of the driveway. Being prepared with the right packing materials can make the moving process a lot easier. Remember, the cost of replacing an improperly packed item is much more expensive than the cost of buying proper packing supplies.
If you are planning to pack your own possessions, make sure you have the following supplies:
- Sturdy boxes
- Wrapping paper (unused newsprint paper can also be used).
- Twist ties
- Bubble wrap
- Tissue paper
- 2- to 3-inch-wide plastic duct tape
- A felt-tip marker
- Scissors or a boxcutter
A general guideline in packing is not to over-pack or under-pack boxes. If you under-pack the boxes, they can be crushed when they are stacked. If you over-pack the boxes, they won’t close properly and this wastes space when stacking. Heavy boxes are more difficult to carry and stack.
Use lots of wrapping paper-a test for a properly packed box is to close the lid and gently rock the box. If it rattles, chances are it’s not properly packed. Fill empty spaces with wrapping paper, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, etc., to prevent items from moving around and causing damage or breakage.
Label the sides of boxes with the contents and the room the box should be placed in. If you label the boxes on the top, once they are stacked you won’t be able to read the label. If the contents are fragile, write fragile on all four sides.
How to Pack Curtains for a Move
Clothing wardrobes are ideal for packing curtains and draperies for a move. The specially designed wardrobe boxes come with an aluminum bar that spans both sides. We have put together for you a quick guideline on how to pack your curtains securely in a wardrobe box:
- Secure the bar with packing tape and place clean tissue paper at the bottom of the box.
- Remove the curtains from their rod, and pack all the curtain rings into a large Ziploc bag.
- Fold the curtains lengthwise, and place them over a padded hanger, pin securely and hang them evenly in the wardrobe.
- Do not overstuff the wardrobe box.
- After you are finished hanging all the curtains, place one large sheet of acid free tissue paper over them to prevent any dust from entering.
- Tape the carton shut with acid-free tape.
- Write the contents of the wardrobe box on the side with a dark sharpie pen.
- Don’t forget to include the Ziploc bag containing the curtain rings and ropes. The Ziploc bag should be taped to the bottom of the wardrobe box.
If you don’t have a wardrobe box or are not interested in purchasing one, you always have the option of folding your curtains in packed boxes lined with clean paper or plastic wrap.
Here is a quick guideline on how to do that:
- Make sure to pack your curtains in acid-free cardboard boxes.
- Before putting your curtains into the box, the box should be lined at the bottom and the sides with acid free tissue paper.
- Use white acid-free tissue paper to between every layer– never use coloured tissue paper because it can leave stains on the linen.
- Make sure the acid free boxes you get are large enough so that the curtains can be stored without being tightly squeezed, causing wrinkles and creases.
- Do not put curtains in plastic bags – the plastic will hinder ventilation, and may attract moisture, which can ultimately cause mildew growth.
- NB: The reason you need to use acid free storage materials is because acid causes fabrics to yellow.
Packing Fragile Items
Moving houses is a daunting task and many home owners require help in order to pack and organize all household items. When it comes to fragile items, home owners need to exert extra care as the slightest mishandling of an item will lead to breakage.
Fragile items in most homes include plates, drinking glasses, wine bottles and electronics such as TVs. Below is how to pack fragile items when moving in Montreal.
Glassware, you need to pack them with a fistful of packing paper and ensure that you pack each and every piece of glassware carefully in order to prevent breakage. You can use newspapers if you can’t find packing paper. Once you have finished wrapping the glassware, you need to pack them in labeled boxes so that it can be easier to locate them when moving to your new home.
Plates, you need to pack them vertically and ensure that you wrap them with bubble wrap. Wrap each plate with the bubble wrap before placing them in the packing boxes. If you are unable to find bubble wrap, you can also use towels or old newspapers.
Collectible items such as rare statutes, sports memorabilia among other items come in different shapes and sizes therefore it can be difficult to pack in a hurry. You need to plan in advance and find packing boxes that can be able to fit the collectibles. Once you find packing boxes that can fit, you can use bubble wrap to wrap each and every collectible. You also need to line the packing boxes with soft material to prevent the items from knocking into each other.
Dishes, there are often the most difficult to pack. They are so fragile that one poorly packed plate might break the instant it is placed in the moving truck. The trick to packing dishes is simple: paper—and lots of it! In fact, you can’t have too much. Start by layering the bottom of the box with crumped up packing paper or newspaper (if you don’t have packing paper). Plates and bowls should be placed on their side—not flat. Wrap your plate and bowls with multiple layers and ensure the spaces in the box between each item are also stuffed with balls of paper. Leave no wiggle room.
Electronics such as game consoles, record players, and computers can be packed inside a regular large box. Wrap each piece in its own paper pad before placing it, and like any other packed item, make sure you’ve laid out enough paper in between.
You can use bubble wrap or newspaper for most of your items. You can even use old towels, small blankets, but it’s always best to use reliable packing paper from professional movers; newsprint rubs dirt on your items and blankets tend to slip around, failing to keep items secure.
Lastly, be sure to mark “FRAGILE” in large block bold letters on all the proper boxes. You and your movers will be thankful when it comes time to loading and unloading the truck.
For larger items, find as many blankets as you can. Sturdy woollen throws from your living room, tough quilted blankets from the foot of your bed, or even towels. Large, thicker materials with plenty of surface area that you are prepared to wash when you’re finished moving.
Take a blanket and place your big breakable face-down on the blanket (if it’s a framed poster, monitor, or mirror, put the glass-side down directly on the blanket/towel.)
Much like wrapping a present, fold the remaining edges of the blanket over the sides, covering up the back side as much as possible.
If there is still a significant amount of the back showing, feel free to repeat the process with another blanket, this time placing the back of the object on the blanket. Then wrap the remaining edges of the second blanket around to the front. Don’t worry if there’s more than one layer of blanket over any given area – you can never have too much padding.
Take some thin rope, hardy string, or twine and tie it around each edge of the blanketed object, again, much like wrapping a ribbon around a present. Tie it firmly, but not so firmly so the string will break in the move or the glass inside with warp with the pressure.
Do this with all your larger valuables and you’ll have even less blankets, towels and quilts to pack away and your bigger breakables will be safe and snug.
How to Pack Computers for a Move
Computers are fragile equipment that we depend on in our everyday life. During a move, it is of upmost importance that they arrive on time and intact to the new location.
If you are moving homes or offices, there is a certain way you can prepare and pack your computer for a move. Whether you have a computer or a laptop, the first thing you need to do is back up all your important files into an external hard drive or burn them into data CDs. Burning files onto CDs may be time consuming, so it is best that you invest in a good quality hard drive that will prove useful over the years.
If you own a desktop computer, unplug all the cables, external drives and other peripheral devices. Place the cables and other hardware in bags or boxes and keep them close by.
If you do not have the original box your laptop or desktop computer came in, you can ask your mover to provide you with boxes, styrofoam inserts, bubble wrap and other protective fillers.
Cushion the computer with packing material so it does not shift around inside the box and potentially damage the hard drive and motherboard. Make sure the box is tightly taped shut and mark the outside as “fragile.”
If you own a light laptop, it is best that you pack it safely and take it with you when you travel by car. This gives you more control and ease of mind and there is less of a chance the computer will get lost in the jumble of unpacking.
How to Pack Delicate Items for Moving Day
Nothing is more disappointing than unpacking your belongings after a move to find that something was broken along the way. Delicate items such as glassware, ceramics and antiques are more likely to experience damage during a move so it’s important to make sure those items are well protected before boxing them up.
The most important things to remember when packing delicate items is to take your time and use all the proper tools. If you rush your packing job, you may end up cramming things into boxes last-minute and that kind of pressure can damage your breakable possessions. Without packing paper, bubble wrap, and sturdy boxes, packing becomes much more difficult and less secure. Here are some more tips and tricks for packing delicate items on moving day.
Plates
Pack plates vertically in a medium-sized box, using crumpled packing paper to insulate the top and bottom, and stuffing packing paper between each plate to secure them in place. Before packing, wrap each plate individually in bubble wrap and seal the wrapping with tape.
Glasses
Similar to plates, make sure you wrap each glass individual and line the insides with crumpled packing paper to diminish interior space and prevent the glass from shattering inwards while in transit. When placing the glasses into your box, place the heavier ones on the bottom and lighter ones on the top.
Picture Frames
If frames are under 8 inches when standing, pack them similarly to plates with packing paper wrapped around each frame and then frames placed vertically in a row into the box, with packing paper in between each frame. Place additional packing paper on top of the frames to ensure they don’t move around when you seal the box.
With the right care and preparation, you can ensure that your delicate items stay safe on moving day. If you need assistance packing your fragile items for a big move, the professional team at Montreal Movers provide experts packing services to help you in your moving preparations. For more information about our moving services, including packing assistance and relocations, contact us today at Montreal Movers.
How to Prepare Your Potted Plants for the Big Move
For some people, leaving their treasured indoor plants behind during a major move is out of the question. Some houseplants, like bonsais, orchids, and rare cacti are not only expensive, but may have also taken years to cultivate. While we do suggest downsizing the amount of plants you’ll be transporting from old house to new, here are some tips on how to make sure your indispensable indoor garden survives the journey.
Consider the Temperature
Plants need to be treated differently depending on the season. No matter what the month, your plants will likely go into shock when their environment suddenly changes from the bright and comfortable spot in your house to a shaky, dark box. Preparing your plants before the move will mitigate this shock.
If your move is scheduled for the winter, the most important thing to remember is that they must stay warm and dry. Water your plants three days before moving to ensure that the soil is well-drained. Line your moving box with newspaper for insulation and gently place newspaper on top of the box to avoid cold and wind.
For summer moves, the biggest problem plants face is desiccation and wilting. Make sure to water your plants the night before or the morning of your move so that the soil has enough time to drain but still remains moist. For particularly hot days, it might be helpful to spray your plants with water every hour or so to ensure they don’t dry out. Park your car in the shade away from the sun to avoid overheating.
Transport your precious plants in the passenger seat of your car to regulate the temperature and ensure their safety.
Trimming Branches
Moving plants is awkward. Branches and leaves stick out at odd angles, making it difficult to pack and easy for them to topple over. Consider pruning your more leafy or larger plants to maximize space and minimize potential disaster. Plus, pruning your stems will encourage healthy new growth and make your plants seem fuller.
How To Pack Boxes Like a Pro By Avoiding These Common Mistakes
Moving day is creeping closer and closer, and no matter how much you hate the idea, you’re going to have to deal with packing your life into cardboard boxes. Packing is one of the major stress factors of any move, so making sure you do it the right way will save you from major disaster—not to mention back pain—down the road. Before you even assemble your first box, read these pro packing tips.
For the Avid Book Collector
Books are often the very first things to end up in a box because they are easy and ready to pack and won’t likely be needed during that time. Since most of us are pretty gung-ho about packing in the beginning stages, we have a tendency to want to shove as many books into a box as possible, without considering just how quickly the weight can add up. Mass paperback novels are typically light, but hardcover or special edition books get heavy really fast. Shoving your entire bookshelf into a couple of boxes is a fast ticket to lower back pain. There’s a better way.
Tips for Packing Books:
-First and foremost, take inventory of what you own and give away books that you can live without. Shedding the load will make your move a whole lot easier.
-Pack the heaviest books on the bottom and fill the rest with lighter paperbacks.
-Use only small boxes to pack your books as this prevents them from getting too heavy.
For the Lazy Labeller
So you’ve just taped up your box, wrote “bedroom” along the side, and shoved it on top of your other similarly named boxes. While indicating the room on the box is a great start, it’s not exactly helpful when you get to your new home and start looking for that one thing you need before anything else. Let’s face it, unpacking happens in stages, and lazily-labelled boxes means we have to rip open every box just to find the things we need or want to unpack first.
Tips for Labelling Boxes:
-Underneath the name of the room, write down the main items in the box, which will allow you to make a quick inventory without ripping anything open.
-Use wide-tipped permanent marker.
-Write FRAGILE on every side of the box for delicate items.
-If you want to get really organized, number your boxes to indicate which ones should be opened first.
For The Tangled Techie
The sheer amount of electronics the average household uses is staggering. Old houses only have one or two outlets per room, whereas new builds feature at least one on every wall. Yes, we have A LOT of stuff that plugs in, turns on, and lights up. Which means that getting your wires tangled, lost or damaged is almost too easy. For your upcoming move, do yourself an enormous favour and don’t shove a ball of miscellaneous black wires into a box.
Tips for Packing Wires:
- Before disassembling anything complicated, like the back of your TV, take a picture of the wire setup for easy reinstallation.
- If your electronic has a detachable wire, remove it. Otherwise, tie it around the base of the electronic and tape it snugly.
- Tie all loose wires into a figure 8 and secure them with a rubber band.
- Using masking tape or something similar, label all wires as you pack them.
- Don’t throw out any mystery wires until everything is unpacked and installed in your new home and everything is accounted for.
How to Unpack the Right Way
You’ve loaded everything onto a truck, made your way across the country, arrived safe at your new home, and the moving truck got everything inside with no problems. Now all of your stuff is safely in your new home.
Sadly, everything needs to come out unless you plan on using cardboard boxes as furniture. It can be a stressful process as many people by this point just want everything to be done, but if you learn how to unpack the right way, then it can be a pain-free process. How should you proceed?
First, make a plan.
This should be done before you are even out of your original home. When you purchase your next house, you should already know where you want stuff to go. Before you get to pulling everything out of the boxes, have a plan down on paper for where all of the major items are going, and where other smaller parts will be placed. That way, with properly labeled boxes, you will avoid any confusion.
Next, place the boxes in the right room.
Place all of the boxes in the right rooms first. Do not open them. Have everything set and ready in its cozy new place before you get to tearing up the tape, and cursing the cardboard. Make sure it is where you want it, and that the labels match. If you open up boxes randomly, you are going to get confused, and the process will stagnate.
Then go slowly, room by room.
We know that you want to get the ordeal over with, and just be nice and settled in your new place, but it is important to take it slow. We’ve seen people go as fast as possible, only to realize everything was in the wrong place, or things didn’t fit, or they were too tired and dropped something. You don’t want that.
Also, go room by room. It can be easy to lose focus at times, but remember the final goal and keep it in mind. Do the master bedroom first, and then the kitchen – those are the two most important (hey, you have to sleep and eat, right?). Once they are out of the way, move on to the living room and everything else. This way, you will avoid errors and frustration.
Making the move across country can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Once everything has gotten to your new home, it can tempting to blow through it as quickly as possible. When unpacking, you can save yourself some time and headaches by learning how to unpack properly. For all your moving needs, you can always contact the experts at Montreal Movers
