South Beach Moving Tips

Easing the Transition to Your New Home

Use the right boxes, and pack them carefully

Professional moving companies use only sturdy, reinforced cartons.

The boxes you can get at your neighborhood supermarket or liquor store

might be free, but they are not nearly as strong or padded, and so

can't shield your valuables as well from harm in transit.

Use sheets, blankets, pillows and towels to separate pictures and

other fragile objects from each other and the sides of the carton.

Pack plates and glass objects vertically, rather than flat and

stacked.

Be sure to point out to your mover the boxes in which you've packed

fragile items, especially if those items are exceptionally valuable.

The mover will advise you whether those valuables need to be repacked

in sturdier, more appropriate boxes.

The heavier the item, the smaller the box it should occupy. A good

rule of thumb is if you can't lift the carton easily, it's too heavy.

Label your boxes, especially the one containing sheets and towels,

so you can find everything you need the first night in your new home.

For your family's safety and comfort

Teach your children your new address. Let them practice writing it on

packed cartons. You can lighten your load and reduce any storage space

you need to rent by hosting a garage or yard sale.

Fill two "OPEN ME FIRST" cartons containing snacks, instant coffee or

tea bags, soap, toilet paper, toothpaste and brushes, medicine and

toiletry items (make sure caps are tightly secured), flashlight,

screwdriver, pliers, can opener, paper plates, cups and utensils, a

pan or two, paper towels, and any other items your family can't do

without. Ask your van foreman to load one of these boxes, so that

it will be unloaded at your new home first. Why the second box? In

case the movers are delayed getting to your house on the day of the

move.

Keep your pets out of packing boxes and away from all the activity on

moving day.

Let all your electrical gadgets return to room temperature before

plugging them in.

Since you may need to call old neighbors or businesses from your new

home, pack your phone book.

Work hand in hand with your mover

Give the mover's foreman your reach numbers and email addresses so

you can stay in contact.

Read the inventory form carefully, and ask the mover to explain

anything you don't understand. Make a note of your shipment's

registration number, and keep your Bill of Lading handy.

If you're moving long distance, be aware that your property might

share a truck with that of several other households. For this reason,

your mover might have to warehouse your furniture and belongings for

several days. Therefore, ask your mover whether your goods will remain

on the truck until delivered. If they have to be stored, ask whether

you can check the warehouse for security, organization and

cleanliness.