Our experience with household and commercial moves since 1930 allows us to share a wealth of tips for successfully planning and packing for your home or office relocation.

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Moving Tips Newsletter

Residential

Some things should stay with you as you move, such as: Cash, securities, jewelry and furs, firearms, (consult local laws), personal papers and documents (like birth certificates, insurance policies and deeds), coin and stamp collections, special family photographs, moving-related documents. If you decide to do the packing yourself, we want to help all we can.

Here are some suggestions we’d like to share with you:

  • Purchase the cartons and packing materials (unprinted newspaper, bubble wrap and tape) you’ll need from your local Sitterly agent. We can help you choose the sizes and kinds you’ll need. You’ll save valuable time, compared to trying to track down suitable cartons at supermarkets. More importantly, our cartons are specifically designed for packing household goods.
  • Wrap fragile articles the way professionals do; use two layers of unprinted newspaper per glass, dish, figurine, etc. Wrap firmly, but loosely enough to provide a cushioning effect.
  • Don’t overcrowd boxes. Professionals pack boxes so articles cushion each other. The top of the box should close with slight pressure.
  • Don’t mix incompatible items (like books with glasses).
  • Pack clothing in our special wardrobe containers. That way your clothes will hang straight and stay clean and virtually wrinkle-free.
  • Pack glasses standing on end, upside down, and not on their sides.
  • Stack dishes on edge, and fill empty spaces with wadded unprinted newspaper.
  • Before packing the dishpack, layer the bottom of the carton with crumpled unprinted newspaper.
  • Pack lampshades, mirrors, pictures, etc., in special cartons designed for them. Ask your Sitterly representative for guidance.
  • Tape boxes across tops and edges. Seal every opening tightly. (See Types of Boxes, Tools & Materials You’ll Need below.)
  • Pack your belongings room by room to make unpacking easier. Label each box with your name, Allied contract number, the room the box goes to, and a brief description of the contents.
  • Mark items you’ll need right away once you move with ‘‘Unpack First’’, and mark only truly fragile items with ‘‘Fragile.’’
  • All loose items must be packed in boxes to prevent damage during transport. Non-fragile, light-weight items such as clothing and linens can be left in dresser drawers.
  • Waterbeds need to be drained completely. Fiber-filled waterbeds need to be professionally vacuum-drained in advance of your move date. Your moving counselor can refer you to a professional to perform these services.
  • Appliances such as washers, dryers, and refrigerators must be disconnected, and the washer must have a stabilizer installed. Again, your moving counselor can refer you to an appropriate professional to perform these services.
  • Don’t pack paints, turpentine, pressurized cans, corrosive items like bleach or any flammable liquid. The law forbids movers to carry flammables. Properly dispose of or give away anything that could cause a fire or damage.

When packing a personal computer, these steps will help you prepare it for safe transport:

  • To pack your computer we strongly recommend that you use the computer’s original cartons and packing materials. If they’re not available, use a box that is both strong and big enough to hold the computer, and pack it with unprinted newspaper. For more advice, your local computer dealer can answer other questions.
  • Back up your software and data files. Take these with you or send to your destination via insured mail.
  • Unhook all cables and power cords, indicating their positions for easy setup. Pack cords separately.
  • Use only static-free packing materials like clean, wadded unprinted newspaper (not standard bubble wrap or packing peanuts).
  • Create a base layer of wadded unprinted newspaper and place your computer on top of that layer. Then surround sides and top with more wadded unprinted newspaper until firmly packed. Then seal carton with packing tape.
  • Remove all ink cartridges from the printer.

Other Important Information:

Typically, a move requires the loading and unloading of appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators with ice makers and gas or electric dryers. Important: These items can only be moved if they’re prepared for shipment by an appropriately qualified or specialized service provider, like a plumber, electrician, gas company or carpenter. The same is true for reinstallation at your new home.

Your local Roger Sitterly agent can arrange to have these services provided. Our drivers are not qualified to perform these services.

Tools & Materials You Will Need:

  • Unprinted newspaper and tissue paper (newspaper ink can soil and even damage some items)
  • 2’’ plastic tape (to assemble and close cartons)
  • Utility knife
  • Scissors
  • Permanent markers
  • Boxes

Purchase packing supplies

Commercial

New Office Floor Plans

  • Provide Sitterly Movers with new location floor plans.
  • Post floor plans at several locations in new facility.
  • Each office and work station should be numbered and color-coded on the floor plan and at the new facility.

Labeling

  • Use Sitterly Movers’ color-coded labels – we have these in 10 colors.
  • Every item to be moved must have a label.
  • If an item must be dismantled to be moved, be sure to label all the parts See our labeling guide.

Tote Cartons or Crates

  • Your Sitterly Move coordinator will help determine which system is best for your move.
  • Do not overfill cartons as they will be stacked when they are moved.

Desks

  • Pack all contents of desks and items on top of desks.
  • Place small items such as paper clips, rubber bands, etc. in an envelope before packing.
  • Place labels on the desktop and on the carton (or crate) used for packing.

Office Machines

  • Computers – Each component of the computer should be disconnected and labeled.
  • Place all cables, cover, and small parts in a moving crate or carton and label the carton.
  • Sitterly Movers will blanket wrap the larger computer hardware (CPUs’, Terminal, Printers, etc.) and transport them via carts specifically designed for moving computers.
  • Copiers – Check with your service vendor. They may need to service your copier to prepare it prior to being moved. Many copiers risk serious damage if not properly serviced in advance to enable them to be safely moved.

File Cabinets

  • Vertical files can be moved “full” with their files remaining intact in the cabinets.
  • Lateral files must be emptied prior to being moved, and their contents need to be packed and labeled, too.

Storage Cabinets

  • Storage cabinets need to be emptied. Pack the contents in labeled crates or cartons.

Bookcases

  • Remove books and pack in labeled crates or cartons.