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Packing for Relocation – Tips To Get A Good Packing Kit

May 21, 2010

What these kits actually offer you differs from company to company, and on the package that you purchase. While some companies offer new material only, others make cheaper kits by using old and used boxes in good shape, which is a great idea when you are looking to save every penny.

So what exactly goes into the making of these supply kits? The first things of course are, boxes. They are conveniently made in small sizes for books and CDs, which weigh too much when stacked in large cases. The cube shaped boxes are good for packing glass barware and cutlery of smaller sizes. The medium size eighteen inch boxes are perfect for large and light animals etc. The very large boxes are good for fans, stuffed toys and the likes of those. The extra large boxes can hold the rest of the items which do not seem to fit into any of the other categories. You could order custom made boxes for large paintings and rugs and carpets.

A packing kit of the kind mentioned above can easily pack the belongings of a three room house. You could always purchase a few extra boxes for your unique requirement. Oh, and the kits come with strong packing tape and marker pens, so you know exactly what goods are in what box later. A kitchen kit comes with the proper packing material for knives and breakable and dangerous kitchen items, and can be purchased separately if required. Some companies very often throw in a few extra boxes for odds and ends like coat hangers etc. This article should give you a good idea of what you can expect out of a ready made packing kit. Once you have this idea you can decide if you want to purchase one of these.

Remember, by no means are we saying that a kit like this will ensure that every little item is packed when you finish. You may very well need to customize your kit by adding a little to it here and there in the form of more boxes. However, it is a good skeleton plan to start with.

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Top 10 Tips to Ensure a Smooth Experience on Moving Day

Most people know someone who has a horror story about moving companies. If you follow these tips you won’t get caught.

1. You’ve chosen your mover so ask them to send you a copy of the contract in advance.
It’s boring but you really need to read the fine print. The person you booked the job with over the phone was concerned with getting your business. There may be differences between what he said on the phone and what’s on the contract. The crew that shows up probably will not care what the person on the phone said.

2. Additional charges to watch out for and ask about. Your moving company may claim these are industry standard but they are not. You won’t have room to negotiate once they show up and you sign the contract. Things to consider: are they charging for steps? Do they bill on the hour or half hour? Do they charge travel time for local moves? Are they going to demand payment before unloading the truck?

3. Book at least two weeks in advance. You’ll get cheaper rates and you’ll have the opportunity to take a look at the contract they sent you. As well, be less concerned with the cheapest quote and more concerned with the companies reputation.

4. Boxes. If you require over 50 boxes give yourself plenty of time to accumulate them from local businesses. If you’re reusing boxes check the bottoms for rot. Don’t fill any box over 50 pounds. Finally, have at least some of them stacked and ready to go by the door and don’t have them randomly scattered about the place. This will save you $50-$100 off the bill at least.

5. Was there anything that was difficult to get into your home? Let them know. Think through whether your pull out couch or armoire is going to present an obstacle to a timely move. If you have press board furniture like Ikea do not load up the drawers and then tape it shut. Take the shelves out of things. If something is very fragile consider taking it in your car.

6. Insurance. Contrary to their advertisement, most moving companies self insure. They will not pay full value for any damage. In fact normally the base insurance is 60 cents a pound which is negligible and there is usually a cap on the damages they will pay per item. Read the contract. Luckily your home insurance is a great resource. Call your insurance agent and ask what they would recommend.

7. If it’s a dusty environment then wipe down everything as much as possible. Try to avoid having the movers get a face full of dust or cat hair. They will look after your stuff better if they can see you’ve taken some effort.

8. Have the tools to take your furniture apart. We’re talking Allen keys, pliers and wrenches. It’s Murphy’s Law that you will need them if you don’t have them and the movers may not have a tool box.

9. If your job is going to take more than 3 hours then buy the movers something to eat. They will be padding their time if they leave. As well, discuss the route that will get them to the destination in the shortest time.

10. If they have a done a good job at the end, tip them appropriately. They will be grateful and it will add to your feeling good about how the day went.

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Bubble Wrap vs. Packing Peanuts – Which is Better?

May 18, 2010

Packing peanuts and bubble wrap are two very popular products use for protecting the contents of articles that are stores in boxes or being shipped. But there is a never ending debate on which is best for providing packing protection? Here is help in deciding between packing peanuts and bubble wrap, which is best?

What are They?

Packing peanuts are a loose fill material made of primarily Styrofoam. They get their name because they are similar in size and shape to that of a peanut. There are different versions of packing peanuts made. Some are made of corn starch and will dissolve in water making them popular for biodegradable reasons.

Other versions have unique characteristics based on the color of the peanut. Green is 70% or more recycled polystyrene, white is 79% or more virgin resin, while pink is anti static.

Bubble wrap is a transparent and pliable plastic material with regular spaced bubbles filled with air. It is sold in sheets or rolls. The bubbles that provide the cushioning come in different sizes to accommodate the different sizes of objects that need protection. To provide adequate protection of items in many cases multiple layers of the bubble wrap may be necessary.

Some versions have anti static characteristics to dissipate static charges that could cause problems for some sensitive electrical products and components. There are also versions of bubble wrap that are biodegradable.

Unique Characteristics

Generally speaking packing peanuts work best to fill the voids in a box or container. Their shape and soft nature allows them to take on the many shapes necessary to fill spaces quite well. Because they provide loose fill packing, the contents will still be able to move in the container slightly. This option works well for larger less fragile items.

Considering the best use for bubble wrap, fragile is the key word here. If an item is of a fragile nature, bubble wrap works great because it can be folded around the item for protection. Sometimes multiple wraps around an object will be needed.

On occasion, both bubble wrap and packing peanuts will work great together. This is especially the case for smaller items and those that are more fragile. Use the bubble product to wrap around the fragile items and then place in a box. Then fill in the voids of space in the box with packing peanuts.

Final Thoughts

In general packing peanuts can be a bit of a nuisance in that they are messy and hard to clean up. Bubble wrap on the other hand is pretty neat; it doesn’t scatter all over the floor and it can be fun to pop the bubbles!

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A-PLUS MOVING & STORAGE is fully licensed and insured. We carry cargo, commercial liability, general liability, and workers' compensation policies. Certificates of insurance are available upon request. A-PLUS MOVING & STORAGE. Is licensed by the Massachusetts DTE, certificate number 31283 (MA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation

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