Any moving tips from the HHG drivers?

[TCLika]

I am getting ready to move 2 houses in the next couple weeks, any of the HHG guys have some tips on how to be efficient with moving? What you all can do in 4 hours would take me 2 days.

Thanks,

Travis

[One]

pack everything in boxes, disassemble whats bulky on not very solid. Prepare, prepare,prepare.

[Sabine]

mark your boxes, write down in big black marker which room they should go in. Make a couple of boxes with things you will need right away, like toilet paper, sheets, paper towels, cleaners and the like and mark them unload first. Put this in the truck last.

Keep valuables seperate, mark them as such for yourselves, do not ship if using moving company.

don't be cheap on wrapping breakables. Invest in packing paper instead of newspapers for dishes. Newspapers leave ink on things.

Utilize blankets to wrap mirrors etc.

No mover here, but a veteran of lots of moves with and without the military.

[Rev.Vassago]

Packing is the key. Box all the small stuff after wrapping it in lots of paper.

If it will disassemble, disassemble it.

Blankets, blankets, blankets. Wrap it tight, and wrap it full.

Pack it into the moving van TIGHT. Fill up those holes. The tighter it is, the less it will move.

Use dollies to move boxes and some furniture. Put down floor protection first. Using dollies as much as you can will not only save time, but save your back.

Moving something with water in it? Drain it first. Moving a garden hose? Connect the two ends of it together, to keep it from leaking onto grandma's antique couch.

Invest in some mattress bags, or put some blankets on the floor of the moving van, and put the mattress on that. Then drape a blanket over the mattress. They pick up dirt and marks easily.

Get a hump strap, and use it. Don't know what a hump strap is? Take a regular load strap (available at many truck stops), and have one person on each end of it wrap it around their wrist and hand until secure. Place heavy items on top of the strap. Lift up on the strap, and viola! The piece comes off the floor, and is a million times easier to carry.

Cover banisters, doors, etc. with blankets. It's real easy to put a hole in a wall if you're not careful.

Take it slow and easy. Don't rush. The faster you go, the worse off you'll be.

Did I mention blankets? (You can rent cheap blankets from U-Haul for $5.00 per 6 pads. They are thin and flimsy, but they are better than nothing).

[BanditsCousin]

Load the truck with the hard stuf first (couches) etc. As the Rev said, blankets are key, and tape them securely around the piece to keep them from moving. Dollies are key too...my philosphy is "everything should rol to the house".

If you can't do the loadng yourself completely, DO NOT rely on family and friends. You can usually contact a local moving company and request labor for (usually) $12/h (4hr minimum) to help you carry the heavy stuff.

Disassembling is key, but if you have the space to spare, don't. If space is tight, then you must.

I'm sure I left out some details, but I gave it a good stab :

[Rev.Vassago]

Load the truck with the hard stuf first (couches) etc.

You mean lamp shades DON'T go on the bottom, and the gun safe on the top? :shock:

[Mack2]

Load the truck with the hard stuf first (couches) etc.

You mean lamp shades DON'T go on the bottom, and the gun safe on the top? :shock:

No Rev. First goes the verry exspinsive China plates then go the guns that were in the gun safe then the lampshad and finally the gun safe.

[BanditsCousin]

You mean lamp shades DON'T go on the bottom, and the gun safe on the top? :shock:

You must have seen the Bekins training video