You know where you want to go, and when you want to get there, but it’s the “how” of your move that seems like a mountain of impossibility. Knowing what to plan for and how to execute it can make your move easy and your fresh start in a new home enjoyable. We’ve taken some of our most common questions on moving from our customers and put them here so you’ll have all the answers. Consider it our Student Movers cheat sheet.

Plan the Move:

Call your mover well in advance so you know they will be available on the day you need to move. Student Movers is always happy to help accommodate last minute moves, but knowing you will have a team to help you in advance can help settle your nerves and provide a problem moving solution.

Have your mover review all of your belongings you wish to transport and discuss special packing services or containers for some of your more abstract or valuable belongings.

Consider your move date and availability. Do you have a lot of items to move? Do you HAVE to be out of your current residence by the 1st or 31st? If so, it may help to have Student Movers packing service come earlier in the week to guarantee you are ready to go on the last day of your lease or escrow.

Evaluate your belongings:

Are you leaving some of your current belongings for the new resident? Will you be taking everything down to the light bulbs? Here are a few tips for moving some of the items you may not have given your full attention:

Air Conditioners: Consult a local dealer or service provider to see how you should best move your AC unit. Some sealed units should be bolted down for transport.

Bedding: Put your clean sheets in a clean container. Nobody wants to wash everything after they’ve moved because you put it in a dirty box. Consider throwing light articles into dresser drawers or other pieces of furniture.

Beds: Will you or your mover dismantle the bed and set it up in your new home? Should you need Student Movers to help you assemble or disassemble any items we provide this service at no additional cost. Queen and King size beds do take up a lot of space in a moving truck. Let your mover know if you have a specialty bed, such as a tempurpedic or adjustable bed, that needs to be moved.

Boats: Moving a boat or yacht is a job in itself. Don’t surprise your moving company with extremely heave items that you forget to mention like yachts, gun safes, pool tables and pianos.

Books: Stack your books in a strong container with the bindings alternating directions. This will help the pages from sticking together. Books are heavy and can blow out the bottoms of boxes, as well as weigh down furniture, making it impossible to move.

Canned Goods: Make sure you pick a solid box or container to hold these items, as they are heavy. Remember to keep individual containers under 50lbs. A really neat program that the Student Movers is involved with is Move For Hunger. Should you want to donate some canned goods to the local food banke we would be more than happy to deliver the items for you.

China: Wrap these fragile items individually, with large pieces going at the bottom of a container, typically standing on their edge. This means plates going in vertically. Plates are much stronger on edge than they are when sitting flat in a box. Pad the bottom and edges of the container before putting your valuables in them. Please keep in mind that we recommend specialty boxes from HP Corporate Group or Box Bros for specialty packing needs.

Clothing: Clothing is typically light and packs well in suitcases, boxes or trunks. Ask your mover if they can move your hanging items on the hanger. Student Movers does provide free wardrobe boxes through our loaner program. We bring the requested amount of wardrobe boxes the day of your move and you return them when done. If you want to keep them, $10 per box not returned will be added to your bill.

Clocks: Pendulum on clocks should be removed or secured before transport to avoid damage. Small clocks can be wrapped and placed in containers.

Curtains and Drapes: Before moving day, remove your curtains from rods and place them in a container or a dresser drawer. You may also choose to have them dry cleaned while you move and pick them up once you are at your new home.

Drawers in Furniture: Light articles can typically be stored in furniture drawers for transport. Do not place heavy items, liquids, breakables, or firearms in drawers.

Documents: Make sure you have all of your important documents, including, but not limited to: medical records, x-rays, MRI’s, tax documents, receipts, logs, photographs, passports, birth certificates, insurance records, and other important documents.

Dryers: Check with your service technician to insure safe transport. Motors may need to be secured before moving them.

Food: Dispose of food in open containers that might spill or spoil en route. Perishable foods should never be stored or shipped.

Freezers: Completely defrost your freezer one to two days before moving. Your unit should be dried and aired to avoid musty odors building up.

Glass Tops to Furniture/Mirrors: Typically, these items should be crated to avoid breakage. Consider investing in mirror packs.

Glassware: Stemware and glassware should be wrapped individually and placed in a padded container. Do not nest unwrapped glasses inside of each other. Place glassware right side up, not on its side.

Grandfather Clocks: Remove chimes. Secure weight chains tightly against the base of the clock with wire or strong string and remove weights and pendulums. Consider contacting a reputable clock technician to prepare the works against damage.

Hangers: Moving is a great time to down size by donating extra hangers and clothes, or even get more if you need them. Ask about Student Movers’ wardrobe box loaner program.

Jewelry: Keep valuable jewelry in your immediate possession to insure its safety.

Kitchen Utensils: These items should be clean and placed in containers, with larger items placed on the bottom and lighter ones on the top. Consider padding or wrapping each piece to prevent dents or scratches. Small kitchen appliances such as toasters or waffle irons may be wrapped and placed in the container with your utensils.

Lamps: Remove any ornamental pieces and wrap them individually. Large lamps will typically be transported outside of a container and small lamps can be wrapped and placed in boxes or containers.

Mattresses: Contact your moving service to see if they provide a plastic wrap for your mattress, like Student Movers does. You can also protect your mattress with an old sheet or blanket.

Medicines: Seal bottles and jar stoppers and place in a container upright.

Mowers and Gas Powered Tools: Gas tanks should be drained and oil reservoirs emptied. No flammable mixtures should be transported on public carriers.

Paintings/Pictures: Small pictures can be safely placed in blankets and wrapped for safe travel. Large or valuable paintings should be crated. Ask your mover for details.

Stereos: Secure any tone arms and remove any CDs from the unit before travel.

Records: Place records vertically in a padded container, individually wrapped. Records on edge are more resistant to breakage.

Plants: These should typically be transported and handled personally.

Refrigerators: Defrost and thoroughly dry your refrigerator before moving. This is VERY important, and the doors should be left open for several hours prior to transport to avoid mold and odor build up. All removable parts should be taken out of the refrigerator and packed up separately. Motors may have to be bolted down prior to transport, contact your local serviceman for details. Be sure to allow enough time for your refrigerator ice to melt before the movers arrive. You don’t want the ice to melt during transport. The moving truck will get quite warm, especially in summer, and will cause ice to melt even faster. We recommend you consult your user’s manual for your refrigerator so that you know the manufacturer recommended way to move the unit.

Rugs: Remove any tacks you may have in your rug or carpet. You mover will roll them up for safe transit. If you are storing your rug, consider having it cleaned prior to storage.

Sewing Machines: These are safe to transit in their case. To avoid any rubbing damage, wrap them in a blanket or place them in a padded container.

Silverware: Wrap silverware individually and place in a padded or original container to avoid scratches.

Stoves: These must be disconnected prior to pick up. Be sure gas lines are shut off tight and capped, if possible. If there are any loose burners, coils, griddles, deep fryers or other removable parts, wrap and pack them separately.

Television Sets: Remove any television antennas, and check with your local service technician to make sure that your unit is ready to move.

Toilet Articles: Seal corks, tops and stoppers of cosmetics, medicines and perfume bottles with natural nail polish, paraffin or masking tape before wrapping separately in paper and placing upright in a container.

Tools: Tools can generally be placed in a strong container without wrapping. Valuable tools should be wrapped to avoid damage.

Valuables: Legal documents, important papers, jewels and currency should be handled by you personally. Keep them in your immediate possession.

Washers: Automatic washers must be serviced by an authorized service man. Motors should be checked and secured, tumbler action protected and fastened in place.

Transfer of Services:

Make sure you check with the services you already have at your home to send them your change of address. This includes:
Cable, Newspaper, Trash, Post Office, Banks, Schools, Medical Services, Netflix, Libraries, and Utilities (telephone, electricity, gas, water, fuel oil). Your electric company can turn on and off and transfer your services by visiting them online – SoCal Edison, PG&E.

Get familiar with your new area:

Check out local amenities that you will plan on using, including: parks, schools, libraries, shopping centers, movie theaters, malls, and restaurants. Have fun and make it a scavenger hunt for your new favorites, or utilize a service such as yelp to find the best places around town.

Day of the Move:

Moving can be stressful. Make sure you remember to turn off the utilities, lock the windows and doors, and turn in any and all keys you have to the residence. Nylon rope and packing tape are always handy to have around on a moving day. You never know when they’ll come in useful. Make sure you putty or repair any holes in the wall left after you have removed your belongings. If you can, touch these items up with paint to avoid costly expenses and the possibility of your security deposit being billed.

Finally, RELAX. Know that you have hired a credible mover and have taken the time to plan your move ahead of time. Leave everything to your mover; they’re expertly trained for the job.