The first step is to decide if there are some books you do not want to pack. You can share them with friends and family or donate books you don’t want to a school, charity or library.
Packing:
Use a small sturdy box – a box of books can get heavy quickly, so using a smaller but sturdy box can help to distribute the weight.
Secure the bottom of the box – Packing tape layered around the box seam and edges can add support to a heavy box of books.
Line the box – Create a layer around the covers of your book collection by lining the box with newsprint paper.
Organize books by size – Grouping your books by size makes them easier to place in the box while you pack.
Wrap rare collections separately – Individually wrap your rare collectibles, and consider whether to move this with you, rather than in a moving van.
Pack the box – Place your books in the box on their edge, alternating the bound edges. (See video: How to Pack Books)
Fill in any gaps – Use crumpled packing paper to fill in any gaps between the books and box sides.
Secure the top of the box – Close and seal the top seam of the box with a couple of layers of packing tape.
Label the box – Using a dark, permanent marker, label the sides of your box with the contents.
For more tips read the full article from United Van Lines.
It is critical to have list of all the supplies you will need for a household move. United Van Lines has provided a guide to assist you in creating one for your move.
If you’re planning a move during the snowy season, keep these tips in mind.
Confirm Dates and Details: Stay in close contact with your mover or move coordinator, especially in the two or three days leading up to the move.
Pack With Extra Caution: If you’re moving something particularly precious to you, consider taking it with you in your car. Don’t skimp on boxes and packing materials.
Prep Your Vehicle: Schedule a tune-up with a reputable mechanic to make sure your car’s ignition, fuel, heating and computer systems are in good shape.
Prep Your Loved Ones, Too: If it’s cold and snowy outside, make sure you and those traveling with you are bundled up. Dress in layers so you can easily add or remove clothing throughout the day.
Make Sure All Access Points are Clear: Driveways and sidewalks at both ends of your move must be clear of snow, ice and slush as much as possible.
Take Care of Your Utilities: Utilities (particularly heating) need to be carefully coordinated at both ends of a winter move, especially if there’s an unplanned interval between your scheduled move day and your actual arrival.
Protect the Floors: Pick up some inexpensive plastic tarps from a hardware store and lay floor mats down at every outside door to protect hardwood, tile and carpeting.
A “green shipping corridor” is a route between ports that offers bunkering options for vessels running on low or zero-carbon fuels to decarbonize international shipping. The US and Canada have launched an initiative to establish one for the St. Lawrence Seaway System which extends into the heartland of North America, extending more than 2,000 miles and containing more than 110 ports.
The first step is to decide if there are some books you do not want to pack. You can share them with friends and family or donate books you don’t want to a school, charity or library.
Packing:
Use a small sturdy box – a box of books can get heavy quickly, so using a smaller but sturdy box can help to distribute the weight.
Secure the bottom of the box – Packing tape layered around the box seam and edges can add support to a heavy box of books.
Line the box – Create a layer around the covers of your book collection by lining the box with newsprint paper.
Organize books by size – Grouping your books by size makes them easier to place in the box while you pack.
Wrap rare collections separately – Individually wrap your rare collectibles, and consider whether to move this with you, rather than in a moving van.
Pack the box – Place your books in the box on their edge, alternating the bound edges. (See video: How to Pack Books)
Fill in any gaps – Use crumpled packing paper to fill in any gaps between the books and box sides.
Secure the top of the box – Close and seal the top seam of the box with a couple of layers of packing tape.
Label the box – Using a dark, permanent marker, label the sides of your box with the contents.
For more tips read the full article from United Van Lines.
These tips help create a healthy, happy & safe transition to your pet’s new home:
Take your pet to the vet for a checkup and obtain their health record.
Talk to your vet about options for reducing your pets stress during transit.
Locate a new veterinarian and transfer records.
Update your pet’s identification and microchip information.
Make a transportation game-plan and if your trip takes more than a day, research pet-friendly hotels along the way to get some much needed rest together.
Consider boarding your pet upon arrival.
Purchase supplies.
Check your destination’s pet entry regulations.
If you are moving and have pets we can help. We have over 50 years of experience helping people relocate with their pets. For more information on moving with pets click here.
CARB (California Air Resources Board) was established, “to promote and protect public health, welfare and ecological resources through the effective and efficient reduction of air pollutants.” CARB enforces air quality rules and regulations. CARB regulations require a financial investment on the part of carriers and shippers alike: retrofitting trucks for compliance ranges from $10,000-$40,000 per unit. Trucks that are not compliant that enter California can experience delay and fines.
Crown’s fleets (local and interstate) are 100% compliant. We engage only CARB compliant trucks for all domestic and international goods hauling. We invest in our future and the future of California by purchasing the filtration systems on the market to reduce the diesel particulate matter impacting both our state and planet.
When budgeting for an impending move, there is more to consider than money when evaluating cost. You’ll want to understand the true financial, physical and mental investments before making your final decision. After all, if you underestimate the cost of your time, health and emotions, your move could cost you a whole lot more than originally expected.
Evaluate Your Financial Costs
1) Packing Supplies An investment in proper supplies will pay dividends when your belongings arrive at your new home. Sturdy boxes, packing paper, dollies, wraps and straps will ensure that items are secure when being loaded and delivered. Ask your local agent about the supplies they furnish and sell before buying supplies on your own. They may be able to estimate your needs more accurately.
2) Hired Help Friends and family are attractive options for those willing to stomach the inherent risks, but if you are looking for a little more peace of mind, professional movers can help the process go as smoothly as possible.
3) Professional Packing It is all too easy to underestimate the time, materials and effort required to pack and move your home, especially when all of your belongings are all stored neatly away in your closets and cabinets. Consider the following.
Do you have special household possessions? You may not want to risk packing and loading all of your belongings on your own – especially if they carry a higher value. You may want to seek the advice of a specialist before moving antiques, electronics and large furniture. It’s absolutely necessary to consider potential damage and breakage as you calculate the cost of packing and moving yourself.
Make a supply run. You’ll need to purchase boxes, blankets and bubble wrap when moving yourself. Proper packing demands professional materials including special boxes, wrapping paper, furniture padding and tape. And don’t underestimate your needs or you’ll be making multiple trips to the store to restock.
Can you drive large moving van? If you live in a moderately-sized home, you may need up to 1,600 cubic feet of moving space. This endeavor is more than many drivers can handle – especially if you are tasked with navigating narrow suburban streets and alleyways.
Your time is money. Don’t forget to calculate the cost of your time, especially if you are taking off work to pack, load and deliver your own belongings. If you opt to handle the entire move yourself, consider setting aside 2 or more days for both loading and delivery.
4) Transportation When planning a move, your choice of transportation is potentially the most cost contingent. When it comes to containers, trailers and trucks, your expense will likely scale with the level of your need. You’ll want to consider the timing, distance, volume and complexity of your move before contracting services or renting equipment.
5) Travel & Living Regardless of distance, the moving process tends to inflate travel and living expenses. In addition to potential lodging and air fare, incremental purchases like food, fuel and convenience items can add up unexpectedly, especially when you are doing most of the packing and moving yourself.
6) Distance Adds Up As a rule of thumb, the longer the distance, the more cost-effective professional movers tend to be. This is due to a number of factors.
One-way rental price may include additional fees. The price you pay may include fees to cover the cost of inventory maintenance and truck relocation when you return your moving truck to a location in a different city.
Mileage, fuel and insurance costs add up. Truck rentals may require that you pay these fees on top of the base price. This can end up being rather significant considering that some moving trucks only get between 6 -15 mpg.
Unexpected delays add to rental costs. Just when you think everything is going according to plan – something always tends to happen, right? If you fall victim to Murphy’s Law during a move, delays could cost you extra in rental fees.
Longer trips are a greater risk. Let’s face it, you may be able to pack like a pro, but can you drive like one? The longer you are on the road, the more you’ll face opportunities for damage and accidents. When you rent, these risks are placed squarely on you.
7) Real Estate Expenses For most of us, the moving experience comes coupled with at least one real estate transaction. Whether buying, selling or leasing, you’ll need to calculate the costs associated with your real estate to properly budget for your move. After all, contracts, estimates, titles and utilities can put a significant dent into your bottom line before you even start to pack.
8) Incidentals Every major move comes with incidentals. They are virtually unavoidable given the scale of the undertaking. Even the most careful shippers are susceptible to mishaps. No matter how well you plan, or how careful you are, it is inevitable, supplies will run low, pictures will break, bulbs will burn out and paint will be spilled. It’s best to budget a couple extra dollars for human error.
Evaluate Your Opportunity Costs
9) Missed Work Even when everything goes according to plan, a move can be a timely endeavor. The effort required to research, coordinate, pack, and move is significant. Consider contracting a couple extra hands or a full-service solution so that these tasks don’t translate into missed work. Just remember, vacation days have a monetary value too – so don’t waste them on anything less than a trip to the beach.
10) Personal Time As moving day approaches and critical tasks intensify, time can seem to escape you. Without professional help, you’ll likely be consumed by paperwork, appointments and last-minute packing; unable to negotiate a single moment for family time or rest. For these reasons, you may want to consider the cost of your free time when weighing a do-it-yourself solution.
11) Recovery Time You should carefully consider your ability to handle the physical demands of your move long before you start packing and loading. With a couple days of intense lifting, cleaning and traveling ahead of you, personal limits and recovery time should be at the forefront of your thought process.
Closed: Port Tampa Bay, St. Pete, Seaport Manatee, and Port of Key West Closed for inbound vessel traffic: Port of Ft. Pierce, Port of Pensacola and Port of Palm Beach Open while preparing for storm impacts: Port Everglades, Port Miami, Port Fernandina, JAXPORT, Port Canaveral, Port Panama City and Port St. Joe
Understand the Real Costs of Moving