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Cross-Country Moving: Items to Pack Separately

Keep Your Valuables Close And Protected

Before the packing starts, take an inventory of your valuables so you that you know where they are and how they are packed and transported to your new home. There are some items we recommend you consider not including in your United shipment and, instead, that you keep with you or close to you during a move:

  • Address books
  • Car titles
  • Cash and credit cards
  • Cell phones
  • Checkbooks
  • Computer data files / backups
  • Family photos and videos
  • Financial documents
  • Insurance policies
  • Jewelry and furs
  • House and car keys
  • Laptop and tablet computers
  • Medical, dental and veterinarian records
  • Moving company forms and documents
  • New home documents
  • Personal documents
  • Prescription medicine
  • Professional files and research
  • School records

Packing Jewelry

If you have the original packaging for your jewelry, these may be the best option for moving your valuables.

Packing Financial and Legal Documents

Before you begin packing financial documents such as tax records, bank statements, stocks, bonds and deeds, consider downsizing your paperwork. Scan any documents you need a copy of but do not need the physical document, then shred the original. This will not only cut down on the number of personal boxes you need to transport in your personal vehicle on moving day, but also result in fewer things to keep track of.

Packing Medications & Prescriptions

Perhaps the most personal of all the items you will need to pack, your medications and prescriptions should be kept close to you during your move. If you pack a First Night Box, your medications should go in this box. If they are packed separately, be sure all lids are tightly closed and medications are individually wrapped and placed upright in the box.

(Source: United Van Lines)

How to Declutter Before a Move

Why Declutter Before A Move?

Save money – The scale of your move will likely be quite a bit less after you declutter, which saves you money in moving supplies, equipment, and time on the clock. You might even make money by selling some of those items!

Clean less – You’re going to want to enjoy your new place as soon as possible. Transporting fewer dusty knick-knacks and household goods means you can spend more time exploring your new neighborhood and home and less time cleaning those space-taking items.

Feel organized – When you start to declutter, you may run across things you thought you misplaced or lost. Having a better grasp of where your things are as you prepare to move your belongings into your new home will make all the difference in settling in.

Gain freedom – Whether you’re moving across town or to another state, clutter can tie you down, emotionally and physically. In addition to cutting down on the logistics of your move, you’re likely to find that letting go of items you thought you couldn’t give up is quite liberating.

Start new – Unpacking fewer items makes it much easier to decorate. You can start to visualize more functional furniture placement and see each room through a fresh lens.

United Van Lines’ guide has tips on efficient ways to declutter before a move

Office Moving Checklist Tips

Selecting a qualified mover is paramount if you want to have a successful office move. As a member of the Commercial Relocation Network, Crown is affiliated with 50 of the largest office and industrial relocation companies in the country. Members of this group are the best commercial relocation companies available in the United States.

The moving process can be easier than you anticipate, if you follow the plan provided by your move consultant and think about these questions when creating a pre-move checklist:

  1. Have all desks been cleared and emptied?
  2. Have file cabinets been secured and are there spare keys available if original keys are lost?
  3. Have tall supply cabinets and shelving units been emptied?
  4. Have all electrical assets such as computers, printers, monitors, peripherals and phones been disconnected and labeled properly?
  5. Have all printers been serviced and ink cartridges removed if required?
  6. Are all pictures and dry erase boards off the walls and ready to move?
  7. Did you empty and disconnect the break room refrigerator if you have one?
  8. Is all perishable trash emptied?

Full Story

(Commercial Relocation Network)

When You Get to Your New Home Before Your Belongings

You and your mover have planned everything carefully. Your belongings are packed in the van, your car is tuned up and a whole new adventure is about to begin. You’re well aware that there will be a gap between when your valuables are scheduled to arrive and when you cross the threshold of your new front door. So how do you make the most of it?   

Use the Time to Get Things Ready 

If you don’t expect the moving van to show up for several hours, it’s the perfect time to get the new space cleaned up. Buy cleaning materials and dust, polish and scrub all surfaces, assemble any furniture and organize any items that may have arrived from places other than the moving van, and check the condition of walls, floors and windows. If you have outdoor space, sweep the patio and sidewalks and make sure your movers have easy access to where they’ll need to go. 

Be sure you stay in touch with your mover and try to get as accurate an ETA as possible, so you’ll be there to supervise once they arrive.  

Take Care of Your Co-movers  

If you have kids, be sure you’ve got some toys and games handy to help them pass the time. You can also channel all that excess energy into a small cleaning or spruce-up project (like papering pantry shelves or dusting built-in bookcases). Teens might be happy exploring their new neighborhood and reporting back what they found. And your partner might go online to find a great restaurant, or takeout place – or even ask a next-door neighbor about services like gardeners or housekeepers.   

Will It Be More Than a Day or Two? 

When you know in advance that your belongings won’t be there right away, here are a few options worth considering: 

If it makes sense to stay in the new space, be sure you bring or items such as inflatable mattresses, bedding, towels, linens and personal care items. Disposable napkins utensils and plates could come in handy, too. A couple of first-night boxes that have essential supplies may be a good idea. 

Another option would be checking into a hotel or motel. This way you’ll avoid the hassle of dealing with things like beds, linens and Wi-Fi connectivity and just relax until the big day. You may prefer to book long-term stay or efficiency style accommodations which would give you the flexibility to make your own meals and additional space to be together as a group.  

If you have family or friends in the area staying with them might be an option. However, it’s important let them know as far in advance as possible – and to give them a definite departure date. If they’re locals, it’s also a chance to find out the go-tos and must-sees in your new city – and take them out for a nice evening to show your appreciation for their hospitality.   

Could You Use a Vacation? 

Before you settle in, it might be a good time to take a break from, well, everything. If work and school schedules allow, consider a road trip to a national park or resort. It will make the move feel more like an adventure and help de-stress everyone with you on the journey. You’ll arrive at your new home refreshed, energized about settling in, and with lots of memories to share.  

(Source: United Van Lines)

Port of Oakland Resumes Full Operations

There has been a cease to a trucker protest of California’s AB5 legislation at the Port of Oakland. The protest blocked Port access and stopped both the flow of cargo and the unloading of ships as longshoremen refused to cross picket lines. There is a possibility of future protests at California ports due to the AB5 law. Though there was no official statement regarding the end of the protest, the understanding is that truckers did not want to hurt the Port and needed to return to work for financial reasons.

Full Article

(Source: theloadstar.com)

Packing Electronics

Computers and tablets contain valuable work-related, personal and financial data most of us cannot afford to lose. Naturally, you want to safeguard it from loss or damage. With careful planning and proper packing, your computer can be transported safely when you relocate.

ELECTRONICS ARE SENSITIVE TO TEMPERATURE AND STATIC

Computers and tablets contain valuable work-related, personal and financial data most of us cannot afford to lose. Naturally, you want to safeguard it from loss or damage. With careful planning and proper packing, your computer can be transported safely when you relocate.

BEFORE THE MOVE

If you do not have an exact record of the cost of your computer equipment (including accessories and software), you may want to obtain a current retail cost estimate, taking into consideration its current condition, prior to selecting a protection plan from your mover. United Van Lines can offer full-value protection against possible loss or damage.

PACKING

A qualified moving company like Crown is best qualified to properly pack your home computer. If you choose to pack it yourself, your computer should be placed in its original carton and packing material when possible.

If you have discarded the original packaging, choose a sturdy box large enough to permit you to surround the computer with packing material. Crumpled, unprinted newspaper and plastic bubble wrap are recommended as a protective cushion and can be purchased from your mover.

All electronics are sensitive to heat and cold. Among other things, warping can occur with extreme temperatures that build up inside a moving van. As a precaution, you may choose to back up your files to an external drive before your move and place it in a separate box.

If you are moving a printer, remove the toner and any ink cartridges. You should carry the cartridges with you, especially if your move occurs during hot weather. For other types of printers, the printer head should be secured – preferably with the original cardboard or plastic parts – to prevent it from shifting. Be sure to refer to the owner’s manual for preparations specific to your printer model.

The remainder of your accessories should be packed in crumpled, unprinted newsprint in the bottom of a sturdy box. For additional instructions on packing specialized electronics, please refer to your owner’s manual.

AT DELIVERY

Carefully check and mark off the inventory when your shipment is delivered.

Allow the computer to reach room temperature before attempting to use it. If it has been particularly cold, watch for condensation as moisture also can cause damage.

For more tips on packing click here.

(source: United Van Lines)

The Moving Industry’s Busiest Season: Summer

Summertime has traditionally been the busiest moving season.  Longer daylight times and summer breaks for children make it a prime time for people to move. It is also a prime time for scam artists to prey on unsuspecting consumers.

The California Moving & Storage Association (CMSA) wants to make sure that consumers know how to avoid being a victim of a moving scam.

Here are some helpful tips:

  1. Don’t book your move on-line or over the phone without verifying that the mover has a location in your area.  Drive by the location.  Go in and meet the company’s personnel.  Use your instincts to discern if the company’s personnel appear to be professional and trustworthy.  Let your common sense guide you…  but don’t stop there!
  2. Verify the company’s license.  All movers are required by law to demonstrate their legitimacy on all their documentation.
  3. Verify the license number with the California Moving & Storage Association (CMSA) or the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
  4. Obtain written estimates for moves of three or more rooms.  Legitimate movers are price competitive.  Make sure the estimates are based on the same factors (i.e. move and pack; move only, etc.)  If a company provides an unusually low bid… beware!  The company could be illegal, or they may have made an error while estimating the move.  If the latter is the case, the price will likely escalate on moving day.
  5. Illegal movers may charge by the cubic foot.  Legal movers charge by the hour (local moves), and by weight/mileage (distance moves).
  6. Bandits “rip off” innocent consumers by charging exorbitant fees for extensive and unnecessary packing on items that should be pad wrapped.  Furnishings should be wrapped with shrink wrap or protected with special moving blankets.
  7. Bandits will intimidate consumers to tip the crew.  Tipping is not customary but it is accepted when the customer has received exceptional service.

*The CMSA is a nonprofit trade association representing almost 400 licensed and insured movers operating in California.

Home Moving Trends in 2022

Home moving trends from 2021 are continuing in 2022. People of all ages are moving desiring, more space and to be closer to family.

Top States People Are Moving to in 2022:
Arizona
Florida
Idaho
North Carolina
South Carolina
Texas

Full Article

(Source: extraspace.com)

Experts Predict a Difficult Summer for Ports

There is some hope for fall and winter, but experts are predicting that port congestion will get worse before it gets better. National logistics issues are leaving imports sitting on docks. These containers leave less room for vessels to unload and increase unload time. This leads to the inevitable backlog of vessels waiting in line to be unloaded.

Full Article

(Source: JOC.com)