Traveling with plants can be tricky that’s why our first rule to moving houseplants is this: don’t let other people move them for you… Plants are fragile and if you move them yourself, you’ll have more control over their environmental conditions.

Also, it’s okay to consider other options like giving them away… Coming up with alternatives might be best for you and your chlorophyll friend (at Student Movers we love our Biology!).

There are several environmental factors that could potentially harm your plant, which you should consider:

1. Shock:  it depends on what genus or species (there it is again, Biology!) that you have, but some plants are more susceptible than others are and moving can create a need for recovery.
2. Temperature: This is most important. Plants exposed to temperatures that are below 35 degrees or exceed 95 degrees will most likely die…However, the plants transported safely in either breathable boxes or the correct containers have a better chance of surviving in temperatures for more than an hour.
3. Light: Plants cannot be left in dark for too long because they with “etiolate” or start to show abnormal growth, which makes your plant more susceptible to disease. If your plant has been in the dark limit it’s exposure to direct sun light.

By the way, cuttings can sometimes survive for several days if put into a bag containing anything from peat moss, vermiculite, paper, or even a towel. This process aids in saving space as opposed to taking your whole house plant…

By air???

Ø    Make reservations or arrangements in advance. Follow airline instructions.

Ø    Obtain a shipping container a week or two in advance. Familiarize your pet by placing him in it, gradually increasing the length of time until they seem at ease.

Ø    Carefully schedule boarding and shipping arrangements so that your pet is well cared for until you are able to receive it at your new home.

Ø    Feed your pet no less than six hours before flight time. Give your pet water no less than two hours before flight time.

Ø    If pet accompanies you allow extra time at airport. If shipping pet, allow two hours gap for arrival.

Ø    Be certain your information in accurate i.e. address, contact name and number if something were to happen.

By car???

Ø    If your pet is not used to traveling by car, try to make short trips. This will accustom your pet to the motion and teach it how to behave.

Ø    Dogs should be taught to lay quietly down. Your pet should never endanger the lives of you or your passengers.

Ø    Some cats may never feel comfortable; some may find their own spot in the car. You must decide whether or not your pet should remain in the carrier or not.

Ø    If you must stop overnight, make sure your animal is not restricted to lodging with you.

Ø    Be sure your pet is properly tagged and that you hold all the required documentation for up-to-date shots.

Ø    Take with you a Pet Travel Kit: food and water dishes, a can opener (?), treats, a favorite toy, blanket, and comb or brush.

Ø    Consider taking a scooper, some plastic bags, and paper towels in case there are any unfortunate accidents…

Ø    Check with your doctor about sedatives, sometimes they are necessary. Ask about alternative methods if your pet is not prescribed.

Information provided by: American Movers and Storage Association

Student Movers has joined up with the Move for Hunger!

As you are aware, many people throw out a good deal of “stuff” when they move. Unfortunately a lot of this “stuff” is food that can be delivered to a family in need. That’s why Student Movers has teamed up with Move For Hunger to support the Orange County Food Bank & Family Services.

Please set aside any unwanted, non-perishable food items before your move and Student Movers will deliver the food to the Orange County Food Bank & Family Services.

Move For Hunger is a non-profit organization that works with moving companies across the country to support the efforts of local food banks. Your donations will directly impact families living right here in California. Student Movers is grateful for your business and truly thankful for your generosity.

Student Movers is the featured member for June.

http://www.amlpa.org/members/featured-member

Student Movers is now members of the AMLPA.

About the AMLPA

The AMLPA is a non-profit organization designed to oversee and organize the moving labor services industry. The moving labor industry is a fairly new market segment of the moving industry however its exponential growth over the years mandates that an organization must provide structure to the industry.

Similar to the AMSA (American Moving and Storage Association) that oversees the full service moving industry, the AMLPA is designed to provide certifications, guidelines, compliance and a level of consistent quality not yet available in the moving labor services industry. The primary reason for the lack of structure is that the industry itself is new and the dust has yet to settle. As with any large industry, consumers need a certain level of recourse and industry professionals across the nation need a trade association for support and compliance.

Mission Statement
The goal of the American Moving Labor Professionals Association is to provide a high level of quality within the moving labor services industry. To create industry awareness of our services and ensure that consumers are received a quality service. As with any trade organization, the AMLPA will require certification of moving labor companies by verifying license, insurance, local and state compliance and quality of work.

The AMLPA will provide industry professionals with compliance measures, resources for business growth, marketing assistance and assistance with legal matters. The AMLPA will provide consumers with dispute resolution, qualified member listings and information on the moving labor services industry and how they can benefit from the service.

Student Movers has also sponsored one of the contestants from the blue team in the Pound For Pound Challenge. We are so happy to be apart of the Pound For Pound Charity because we want the community to know that Student Movers is more than a moving company. Local food shelters need help now more than ever. Student Movers is dedicated to moving and its community.

POUND FOR POUND CHARITY

As contestants shed their weight and strive for a healthy lifestyle, for every pound lost they collect a $.50 to $5.00 per pound donation for local hunger relief efforts.

Contestants are being helped in reaching their goals of fighting against the diseases that are caused by being overweight. They, in turn, are helping those less fortunate in our community.

• Clear out unwanted goods – hold a garage sale.
• Get rid of flammables – paint, petrol, gas cylinders.
• Empty fuel from mowers, clippers, trimmers and so on.
• Clothes – do you need them all? Charity shops may want them.
• Separate books – disposable, family reading, valuable.
• Check all electrical goods – will they work in the new home?
• Start making up your change of address list.
• Arrange to have mail forwarded.
• Arrange termination date for electricity, gas, oil, telephone and other main suppliers.
• If you are taking electrical goods such as a stereo, see if you still have their original boxes.
• Have rugs cleaned.
• If you have children, separate cherished toys to travel with you.
• Round up personal documentation – marriage/birth certificates, driving licenses and so on.
• Keep passports separate so they are not packed.
• Want to take the car? Check on import regulations and the duty payable.
• With regards to family pets– make sure vaccinations and documentation are up to date.
• Will your new home be ready? If not, you need to arrange temporary storage.
• Shops, schools, theaters, life styles – it’s never too early to find out about your new home.
• Start running down freezer stocks.
• Arrange your finances – close or transfer bank accounts, savings accounts and so on, if necessary.

Packing Materials
Use only strong, corrugated cartons with covers. We can supply you with specially made cartons, for everything from mattresses to clothing and mirrors. The added protection of mover-provided cartons may avoid damage that results from the use of poor-quality packing materials. Your alternative is to collect boxes discarded by your grocery or liquor store. Save old newspapers for use in packing, but remember that ink may rub off and stain clothing or other items. *WARNING: Insect eggs and insects such as roaches can travel in food boxes.
Keep this in mind when getting boxes from food stores. Here’s a list a packing supplies that will come in handy:

• Plastic bags and labels for easy identification.
• Foam peanuts, Styrofoam pellets or “popcorn.”
• Tissue or craft paper for delicate packing jobs.
• Corrugated paper rolls for figurines and fragile items.
• Gummed tape (1 1/2 to 2 inches wide) and/or strong twine for sealing cartons.
• Markers and labels for identifying contents of cartons.
• Notebook and pencil for carton identification log.
• Scissors and/or sharp knife.

Packing Pointers
Before actually packing-up, you need to have a game plan. For example:

• Pack one room at a time. This will help you when it comes time to unpack.
• Pack a couple of cartons a day, starting well ahead of the move.
• Mark all boxes, designating room and box number. Make a carton identification log to show the number of boxes packed per room, and the total number of cartons packed. It’s a good idea to leave space in your log for a special comments section to note carton conditions or location of high value goods. Notify your mover of any high value items.
• Be sure to have plenty of “filling” material available.
• Be sure that the bottoms of all cartons are secured and will hold the weight of the contents.
• Packing tape or gummed tape is better than masking tape.
• Pack heavier items toward the bottom of the box and lighter items toward the top. Try to keep a per-box weight of 50 pounds or less; it makes moving a lot easier. A general rule to remember on carton size — the heavier the item, the smaller the carton.

Packing Dish-ware

• Select a medium-sized carton (or mover provided dishpack) and line the bottom of the carton with crumpled packing paper.
• With packing paper stacked neatly in place on a work table, center one plate on the paper.
• Grasp a corner on several sheets of packing paper and pull the paper over the plate until sheets completely cover the plate. Stack a second plate on and, moving clockwise, grasp a second corner and pull sheets over the second plate.
• Stack a third plate. Grasp remaining two corners, folding two sheets of each corner (one at a time) over the plate.
• Turn your wrapped stack of plates upside down onto your packing paper.
• Re-wrap the entire bundle: start with one corner of packing paper and pull two sheets over the bundle, cover bundle with next corner, then the third corner; and finally, the fourth.
• Seal the bundle with packing tape.
• Place the bundle of dish-ware in a medium-size box so that the plates are standing on edge

Use this process on all saucers, bread and butter dishes, and other dishware. When packing smaller dishes, you may choose to stack in greater quantity.

Packing Cups

• With packing paper in place on the work table, position one cup six to eight inches from one of the corners.
• Now pull the near corner of the paper up and over the cup.
• Nest a second cup directly on top, with handle to left (second cup should “nest” itself in packing paper folded over the bottom cups).
• Pull the two side corners up and over, one at a time, and tuck corners inside the top cup.
• Hold the bottom and top cup in position and roll cups to the remaining corner. Fragile mixing bowls may be rolled in the same manner.
• Delicate cups, like china, should be wrapped one at a time. Antique glass or china should be stuffed with crumpled tissue and wrapped one at a time.

Packing Glasses and Stemware

• Stuff glasses and stemware with crumpled tissue or packing paper before wrapping.
• Lay on the corner of packing paper and roll it one or two full rotations (depending on size); pull sides of packing paper up and over glass/stemware and continue rolling to the far corner. Corrugated paper rolls or cellular boxes may be used for added protection.
• Place glasses and stemware toward the top of your box. Heavier items (dish-ware, pitchers,etc.) should be placed toward the bottom of the box.

Delicate glassware and stemware should be placed in an upright position, not on its side.
No matter what you’re packing, you should use crumpled packing paper in between each layer to assure a snug fit wherever there’s a gap. All boxes with “fragile” items should be marked accordingly.

Specialized Packing Tips
The list of individual household items is endless. Most can be packed by following our packing pointers. Here are some additional packing tips for major items. If you want a more comprehensive list of how to pack special items, drop us a line.
Bureau Drawers – Don’t overload. Too heavy a load can cause damage. Remove firearms and any items that might break or leak. Firearms, along with serial numbers, must be registered with your van line representative before the move.
Canned Goods and Other Non-Frozen Food – Pack upright with no more than 24-30 cans per carton. Don’t attempt to move perishables. Wrap glass containers and boxed foods individually and pack in small cartons.
Frozen Foods and Plants – Because of the delicate and perishable nature of these items, your mover is prohibited from accepting these packed items when your shipment is being transported more than 150 miles and/or delivery will not be accomplished within twenty-four (24) hours from the time of loading. Frozen food shipped within these guidelines must be packed in a freezer which at time of loading is at normal deep-freeze temperature.
Clocks – Remove or secure pendulum in large clocks. Grandfather clocks should be prepared for moving by expert servicemen.
Drapes and Curtains — Hang drapes over crossbars in wardrobe cartons, or pack folded in clean cartons. Remove curtains from rods, fold and pack in cartons or bureau drawers.
Flammables and Combustibles – Flammable liquids and aerosol cans must not be packed. Changes in temperature and pressure can cause them to leak, or even explode. For your own protection, you should know that if you pack these items and they cause damage to your shipment or others, you, not your mover, may be held liable.
Lamps and Lampshades – Remove bulbs, harps and shades. Roll up cord. Pack lamps with bedding or wrap separately and place upright in clean, tissue-lined carton. Wrap harp and finial (decorative knob) with packing paper and tape to inside wall of carton that contains shade. Wrap shades in tissue, not newspaper. Place upright in large, tissue lined cartons.
Medicines – Seal caps with masking tape. Wrap and pack upright in small cartons. If needed during travel, carry with you.
Mirrors, Paintings and Pictures – Tell your agent about valuable paintings for special care. Wrap small mirrors, pictures, paintings, and frames and place on edge in cartons. Place large pictures and paintings on edge in heavy cardboard containers. Large wall or dresser mirrors will be taken down by the movers and placed in special cartons. For added safety, place tape diagonally across mirror to protect better against damage. Do not place newspaper directly against paintings.
Personal Computers and Video Recorders – Pack valuable electronic equipment in original cartons when available. Otherwise, use strong, corrugated cartons and place protective padding on the bottom of the carton. Wrap an old blanket or protective pad around the item and place it in its carton. Place additional padding between the carton and the computer or video recorder. Wrap cords separately, label to identify usage and place in a plastic bag away from delicate surfaces. Non-detachable cords should also be wrapped. Place cords between the padded computer or video recorder and the carton. Be sure your personal computer is “parked” and ready for transport.
Silverware – Wrap each piece in cloth or low sulfur content paper to prevent tarnishing. Use an old blanket or moving pad as a wrap to prevent scratching the silverware chest.
Tools – Drain fuel from power tools (do not ship Flammables under any circumstances). Pack tools in small, strong cartons. Wrap separately if valuable.
Waterbed Mattresses – Drain all water from the waterbed and, grasping internal baffle systems with external vinyl, fold mattress 20 inches at a time. Adjust folds to avoid making creases across individual baffles. Consult your owner’s manual for special instructions concerning the care and transportation of your mattress. Do not place your mattress in a carton with sharp or pointed objects.
Cars and Motorcycles – Cars and motorcycles shipped on the moving van should be drained nearly empty of fuel. Motorcycle batteries should be disconnected. Automobile antifreeze should be ample to protect against severe cold in winter.
Barbecue Grills and Propane Tanks – Wrap grates and briquettes separately in a newspaper (or place all briquettes into a grocery bag) and place parts in carton. Pad carton with paper to reduce movement of contents. Propane tanks cannot be moved. Consult your local gas grill distributor for the safest method.