MTB's moving tips

The save-a-ton-of-money, get-it-done-fast guide to safely moving your smallish apartment or home with My Truck Buddy

Below is the short version of our moving tips, but for something a little more comprehensive, please download our Moving Guide. It's a work in progress, but it's a pretty good summary of all of our experience helping people move quickly, safely, and cheaply.

Moving Guide v. 1.2 (1343 KB)

General Tips:

Reserve all elevators, loading docks or parking areas for adequate time periods. I can't stress this enough. Condo associations are very often extremely sensitive about this. I could tell you stories...

• Plan ahead. Trust me -- it's going to take longer than you think, so don't wait until the last second. (I know this from personal experience).
• Note the contents of each box with a magic marker, whether or not it is fragile, and in which room it will be placed at the destination.
• Tape all cartons carefully on both top and bottom. Double tape boxes that will be carrying heavy items like books.
• Stuffed animals, soft items and sweaters can be packed in large trash bags. This helps to save space and helps the packing process go faster.
• Disconnect all electronic equipment and wiring prior to moving day, and try to pack components in their original boxes if possible.
• Please disassemble all particle board and pressed wood pieces prior to moving, if you would like them to survive the move. Otherwise, these pieces are unsturdy and prone to cracking with even small movements.
• Complete all packing prior to my arrival. I can help pack items if you'd like, but you'll have to request this before I give you my quote.
• Be happy! You've got a buddy with a truck to make your move go smooooth!

Wrapping & Packing Tips

• Get prepared - Packing is mostly good old common sense.  Heavy items at the bottom of the box and lighter weight items at the top. First, clear a large area of a table or bench top for wrapping items. 
• Dinnerware & Glassware - White wrapping paper, also known as butcher's paper, is idea for wrapping dinnerware and glassware.  Newspaper should not be used for wrapping because the ink is messy and sometimes stains. Newspaper is best used for padding on the bottom of boxes and for filling in. To wrap dinner, salad and bread plates, place the plate on the middle portion of the paper and fold a corner of the paper over to cover the plate. Place another plate of the same size on top and fold the other corner over.  Keep repeating that process until the paper is completely used. This will prevent paper waste.
• Don't wrap with newspaper! - Many times while unpacking, belongings inadvertently end up in a trashcan. To avoid this happening, use wrapping paper for wrapping items and newspaper only for padding and filler.  Before throwing away butcher's paper, inspect every piece to ensure no items are left in the paper. The messy newspaper can be thrown away without inspection.
• Glass & Fragile Items - To avoid breakage and crushing, always put heavier items toward the bottom of the box and the lighter, fragile items toward the top. To protect cups, glasses and ornaments, wrap each loosely, making each puffy, as air space between the items; the paper cushions the movement.  Pack cups, glassware and lighter items toward the top of the box. Check the weight of each box as you pack making sure it doesn't get too heavy. Leave approximately one inch at the top of the box; the empty space cushions fragile items when the box is taped shut.
• Fridge - Have ready an ice cooler for frozen goods. If necessary defrost your fridge the day before you move.  Check water overflow on the day of the move, if the fridge leaks it could ruin carpet as its being transported to the moving truck.  Even inside the truck, a leaky fridge could damage your goods packed in the boxes that are sitting on the floor of the truck.
• Pantry - Use your packets and cardboard containers from the pantry between glass jars and bottles. Glass bottles such as of wine stand up in our smaller boxes; wrap every other bottle with our wrapping paper.  If the bottles rattle, stuff newspaper between the bottles. Use newspaper to fill up the empty spaces. Make sure all jar lids are firmly sealed; tape the lids to prevent leakage.  Stand each upright in box after wrapping.
• Books - Pack books only into the smaller boxes because books become very heavy. Continually check the weight of the box as you're packing to ensure it doesn't become too heavy. Beware of packing too many encyclopaedias or magazines together; they become very heavy, very quickly.
• Bedding - For each bed in your new home, put a clean set of sheets, pillows and pillowcases into a plastic bag in your car so beds can be made as soon as the beds are assembled. The last thing you will want to do is search for bedding after a long day of moving and unpacking.
• Plants - Potted plants can make a mess if they are wet when you move. Water them two days before the move, and then let them dry.  Otherwise, water can run through the moving truck and damage boxes, and/or mattresses that may be sitting on the floor of the truck.  If it looks like rain before you pack the truck, move the potted plants so they do not get wet. Once you move, give them a drink of water.