You have been busy working on packing up the house and you think you have everything under control until you go into the garage! Packing up the garage can be a little more time consuming than you first think. It’s usually filled with an odd mix of stuff, from lawn mowers to tools to sports equipment and beach chairs. Here are some tips from SMARTBOX for getting your garage equipment ready to move:

Gas-powered Machines
To prepare your gas powered equipment for moving, drain them of all harmful liquids. This includes oil and gas from lawn mowers, weed whackers and chain saws. Remove all attachments and pack these separately in well-protected boxes. Be sure to label them. Purchase protective covers for chain saws and lawn mower blades.
Tools
Gather your tools that are the same length and secure them together using strong plastic tabs or cord. Keep your small tools in the toolbox. For tools that do not fit, use a strong box and pack the items well to ensure they don’t shift during the move. Protect any sharp edges or blades with bubble wrap, or rags before you pack them. If you’re packing sharp-edged tools in a box, make sure you label it.

Proper planning is critical when it comes to moving. At SMARTBOX, we have some tips for your next move when it comes to moving furniture. Furniture can take up a lot of room in your SMARTBOX, so there are a few pieces of furniture you should disassemble before moving if possible. You will need a wrench, a screwdriver, and some plastic bags.

Here are some suggested pieces of furniture to take apart in order to move:

Desks – Most desks will break down for easier moving. If so, mark where the screws go as you take them out. Grab your digital camera and take pictures as you take it apart. You can refer to the pictures when you put it back together. Put all the screws and small pieces into a plastic bag and tape them into one of the desk drawers.

Entertainment centers – Large pieces of furniture like entertainment centers can get damaged during moves because of their size. Taking it apart will free up space in your SMARTBOX, make it easier to move and prevent possible damage. You should take a picture of what your entertainment center looks like before you start dismantling it and throughout the process. Mark where the pieces that join together go with tape. Keep all loose pieces in a plastic bag.

Tables – Take the legs off your dining room table if at all possible. This will make it much easier to store in your SMARTBOX. Tape all the legs together, along with the screws so they do not get misplaced during the move.

It can be so frustrating when you first move and you can’t find anything you need. At SMARTBOX, we have the solutions to make your move frustration free. Whether you are making a long distance move or simply moving across town, you can count on us for your moving needs plus smart tips to help you every step of the way.

As you pack, create a priority box for every room of the house. This will be a clearly marked box with the essential items you will need to use within the first 24 – 48 hours of being in your new home. Here are suggestions for packing your kitchen priority box:

Aluminum foil or plastic wrap
Trash bags
Paper towels
Scissors
Coffee maker – don’t forget coffee and filters
Plates, cups, flatware – disposable recommended
Dish detergent
1 Frying pan and spatula
1 saucepan
Salt and pepper
Pet dishes and pet food

It is time to move! At SMARTBOX, our goal is to make your entire moving experience as easy as possible. When it comes time to notify individuals and businesses of your new address, here is a quick list to make sure you don’t forget anyone:

Post office – fill out a change of address form on-line or at the post office
Family members and friends
Power company, phone service – home and cell
Doctor, Dentist, Orthodontist, Pharmacist, Physical Therapist, Chiropractor
Veterinarian
Social Security Administration, Dept. of Motor Vehicles, Passport Office
Schools – get a copy of your children’s transcripts before you move
New employer, previous employer
Banks – savings and checking accounts, mortgage loans, auto loans, home equity loans, IRA’a
Credit card companies
Professional organizations, Alumni organizations, health club
Insurance providers – auto, health, life
IRS – fill out form 8822, Accountant/tax preparer
Maid service, lawn care service, pool service
Child care provider, babysitter(s), pet sitter(s)
House of worship
Magazine subscriptions, newspaper subscriptions

At SMARTBOX, we have learned some things along the way and have advice for every aspect of your move. Making a long distance move? Need to use our temporary storage between your moves? It is likely you won’t remember what you put in every box so it is important to label your boxes clearly. Here are some SMART tips for labeling your moving boxes:

Use thick, black markers for marking your boxes. You want to be able to see the writing from a few feet away.

Mark the boxes on both sides of the box. This avoids having to constantly stop and search the box for the writing.

Always put the name of the room on the box. You can come up with an abbreviated system to identify each room.

Have a priority box for each room. This is the box that holds the essentials that should be opened first.

Mark as FRAGILE where necessary.

Identify the contents. Write a brief description of what is in the box. This will help prioritize the order of opening the boxes after you move.

What if there was a way to know how many boxes and supplies you would need to move. Wait a minute, there is. SMARTBOX offers moving kits specifically designed for your moving needs.

SMARTBOX offers a packing starter kit. A combination of 11 boxes in three different sizes along with bubble wrap, tape, and a marking pen. Everything you need to get started. Buying supplies in bundles like this will save you money.

There is a kit for moving your kitchen equipment. It includes special boxes for packing your dishes. The bedroom moving packages include wardrobe boxes for moving your clothes. We have done a lot of the thinking for you and offer moving supplies bundled together for your moving needs. SMARTBOX even offers a box for your flat screen t.v.!

Check out the packing supplies section of our website by clicking here. Count on SMARTBOX for your moving and storage needs.