HOUSEHOLD : Change of Address : The Pain of Moving Can Be Lessened by Organizing and Planning Ahead
Organization, planning and some muscle will make moving yourself to a new house or apartment easier. Most of the supplies you’ll need--cartons, padding, clean paper, tape--can be purchased or rented from a truck rental agency.
Here are some moving tips:
Measure Space
Before moving, measure the rooms in your new home to be sure that your appliances and furniture will fit into allotted spaces. Measure all doors to be sure that everything will go through. Make a floor plan of your new home and label each room with a name and number.
Appliances
Arrange with your plumber, utility company or appliance service shop to disconnect major appliances such as washing machines and kitchen ranges. (Keep in mind that movers will not do this, nor will they take down television antennas.) Have this done several days before moving, and be sure any water is drained off. Clean each appliance inside and out and leave it open for a day or two. Then tape its doors and lids shut with a strong filament tape and tape the power cord to the back of the appliance. Protect the appliance with blankets or pads. Note that some appliances, such as washing machines, may require special buttressing to withstand the move; check your owner’s manual for each appliance.
Truck Rental
Before you rent a truck, get comparative prices. Moving yourself may save hundreds of dollars, but beware of such hidden costs as mileage rates, drop-off charges, overtime charges and rental of dollies, pads and packing cases.
A truck rental agency should provide guidelines to help you take an inventory of your possessions and estimate the size vehicle you will need. Find out the truck’s capacity in cubic feet, not just length. The rental agency’s literature should also tell you how to pack.
Packing
A move to a new home is an ideal time to ruthlessly sort and throw out. Give good, usable items to a local charity.
As you pack, label each box with the destination room name and number. Take an inventory of each box and keep a list of the boxes for each room. Separate into marked cartons those items that you will need as soon as you arrive. Designate a specific delivery location for these few special boxes.
Some Packing Tips
* Pack carefully--when you move yourself you pay for any damage. If you hire a mover, he won’t pay for breakage in cartons you pack.
* Rent wardrobe boxes for hanging clothes.
* Pack books and records in small boxes so that they are light enough to lift.
* To protect breakables, line the bottom of the box with wads of crumpled newspaper and wrap each piece in newspaper.
* Pack heaviest items in the bottom of the box and add crumpled newspaper between the layers.
* Don’t stack plates; stand them on edge.
* Wrap lampshades in clean paper and pack them in cartons separate from the lamps.
* Stand mirrors and pictures in boxes. Protect them with layers of paper and separate them with corrugated cardboard.
The Physical Job
The key to moving something heavy by yourself is to use more brain than brawn. First, make sure any large item, including any protruding parts, will fit through openings and around corners. Then give careful thought to how you can do the job with least strain. Once you decide on a strategy, be patient; going slowly may take time, but it also may prevent injury. If necessary, get help.
Here are some tips:
* Pushing is easier than pulling. Put newspapers, blankets or cardboard under a large object before pushing it.
* To move a large object such as a refrigerator, get behind it, lean it toward you and walk it slowly from side to side.
* To move a couch or anything with legs, lay it on its back and slide it.
* To move a bulky chair, put the seat on your head and stand upright with the back on your back.
* Take the drawers out of a desk or dresser.
* If you can reassemble a large object, take it apart and move it piece by piece.
* To get an object down a flight of stairs, use two boards as a ramp. Slowly slide the object down the boards as you back down between them.
* To get a dolly under a heavy object by yourself, put the dolly against the wall to keep it from scooting away, then walk or slide the object to it. Improvise a dolly with a child’s wagon, skateboard or roller skates.
* To carry a box on your back, wrap a strap around it (or use a belt, beach towel or blanket). Or loop a strong rope around the box, twist the rope once, and loop the longer end of the rope around one bottom corner of the box. Pass it under the box as though wrapping a package. Grasp the free ends of the rope and hoist.
