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THINK GREEN!!PROTECT THE LAND WHEN IT COMES TO MOVING

August 14, 2009 By emovingstorage Leave a Comment

recycle

Saving the environment should be something to consider when you are planning to pack and move. Whether you are using a company mover, or moving yourself and trying to cut movers cost. Here are some simple steps that will make you look like “Green Movers”.

PACKING GREEN

When packing, it’s a good idea to consider using old blankets and pads for packing some of your items, and furniture, if you are not using a professional to do this for you. This will save you money and is eco- friendly. Using recyclable paper is a good idea like newspapaper, (also remember, try to use the newsprint without the ink, this can be purchased from a moving company) that way it does not get all over your items.

BOXES

Try not to purchase boxes; you can get boxes from grocery stores, craigslist, friends, etc. Try to reuse old ones if possible. Try to stay away from materials like bubble wrap and Styrofoam as it is not recyclable. Another option is to use plastic bins or containers that can be reused again. There are also rental companies that you can get rentacrates from or tyga boxes, these can be used over and over again, and stack well for loading and carrying.

GARAGE SALES

Instead of filling up the dumpsters with unnecessary waste, host a garage sale. Your unneeded items may be used or of value by someone else. You can also make some cash while you’re doing so. Some cities do require a permit, so make sure you check with your village or city to see if one is necessary.

DONATE

If you don’t have time to host a garage sale, another option would be to donate your items to charities, shelters, and the hungry. Charities, Shelters, Churches will take furniture; clothing, perishable items (canned and boxed foods, frozen meats, etc). This will save you on throwing away these items or having to waste food, and it is still helping those in need.

HAZARDOUS ITEMS

Do not throw away hazardous items in the dumpster like ammunition, propane, fuel, explosives, bleaches, etc. Check with your city, they may have a disposal day where you can have them pick the hazardous items up, or may have procedures to follow when disposing of these types of items.

RECYCLE –RECYCLE

Don’t forget, don’t throw away your boxes when you are done, check with friends and family to see if they want them, some moving companies will even come and pick them up from you at no additional costs.

Remember don’t pollute and protect your environment.

PIANO MOVING

August 14, 2009 By emovingstorage Leave a Comment

Piano moving can be difficult so it’s important to use reliable movers with experience in the field rather than light movers who do apartments and less complicated transfers. Even nationwide movers don’t always have a lot of expertise in pianos, so it’s important to check on who can move your piano. One of the first things to do is to determine the types of pianos, their sizes and suggested crew size to move them.

SPINET:

Spinet pianos are the smallest of upright pianos (spinet, console, studio and upright). They are generally 36”-39” tall and 58” wide ranging in weight from 250-300 pounds. 2 men can handle these, unless flights of stairs are involved. If stairs are involved, a 3^rd mover is probably a good idea.

CONSOLE:

A console is a little larger than the spinet measuring 40” to 43” tall and approximately 58” wide ranging around 300 to 350 pounds. Like any spinet, 2 men can handle without stairs and a 3rd man is better when flights are added.

STUDIO:

Studio pianos are popular in schools and music studios because of high tone quality. They are generally 45” to 48”tall and 58”wide. The weight usually ranges from 300 to 400 pounds, and the preferred crew size should be 3 movers without stairs and 4 movers with stairs.

UPRIGHT:

This is the largest and heaviest of the four pianos; they range from 48” to 50” tall and weigh 400 to 500 pounds, with the width of 58”. These pianos require a 4 man crew and can be even heavier if they are the “player” variety due to more internal guts.

PETITE GRAND:

Petite grand pianos are the smallest of the horizontal pianos measuring 4’5″ to 4’10″ long. At least 3 movers are required for all horizontals because of disassembly of legs, removal of lids, music racks, and pedal assemblies. A “piano board” is also required for proper moving of horizontals. If the piano is moving up or down flights of stairs, a 4^th mover is recommended.

BABY GRAND:

This is the most popular size of horizontal measuring 4’11″ to 5’7″ long. 3 men are fine for “baby grands” unless flights of stairs are involved, then a 4^th mover is a good idea.

PARLOR GRAND:

A parlor grand is similar to a “baby” ranging from 5’9” to 6’1” long. All other aspects resemble a “baby grand”. 3 movers are required for moving this piano, unless there are stairs involved, then a 4^th mover should be used.

SEMI-CONCERT OR BALLROOM:

A semi concert or aka Ballroom piano measures about 7’ long. 4 men are preferred for handling this style of piano and anything larger. A 5^TH mover can be added if there are flights of stairs involved.

CONCERT GRAND:

At 9’ long this is the largest of all the horizontals and requires at least 4 men without stairs and should probably have a 5^th or 6^th man with flights of stairs.

The horizontals are definitely not for novices, because of the complicated disassembly, you should look for a company with extensive experience with these types of moves.

This list should provide you with tips and knowledge, in determining what style of piano you have when calling movers for estimates, and give you an idea of how many movers you will need to have your move done efficiently. Your accuracy in description can be the difference between the movers being prepared and unprepared to do your move properly.

Filed Under: How To Guide, Moving Tagged With: home moving, Piano Moving

MOVING WITH PLANTS: CROSSING STATE BORDERS

July 30, 2009 By emovingstorage 1 Comment

plant

You may not realize, but before moving plants, you should do a little more research on this before you assume you’re moving company is going to take them. Here are some tips whether you are moving locally or long distance, where you will be crossing state borders.

Don’t just assume your home mover is going to transport your plants, especially when it comes to local or interstate moves. Most interstate home movers will not transport them unless they have a permit from the APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and PPQ) When moving out of state, movers are required to have a permit issued by this administration into and out of the this country and throughout the states to transport, load, unload, plant products, plants, and soil in cargo throughout the United States per the USDA-APHIS to ensure they are being transported safely, Under the Plan Protection Act of 2000,). If you are a moving company or transportation company looking to obtain a permit, you can contact USDA-APHIS-PPQ at 4700 River Road, #133, Riverdale, MD, phone # 1-877-770-5990.

Many states have very strict laws when it comes to allowing plants into their states, especially states like California, Arizona, and Florida due to their precious crops. Some states do not have pests and diseases, and by allowing other state plants/fruits etc, that may contaminate other states if items are transported from state to state, and in the long run pose as a threat to everyone. That is why it is very important to check your state rules and regulations ahead of time, before assuming you can take your plants with you to another state. Also after doing your research, you may want to consider before transferring your plants to another state is contacting your local Dept of Agriculture and have them inspect your plants of pests, molds, mildew, and disease, anything that can be transported to another place. Once the inspection is made, they will provide you with a Certificate of Phytosanitary (this document serves the purpose of stating your plant is pest free, treatment free, disease free, etc). If your state does allow plants they may only allow uncontaminated soil from indoor grown plants, the soil must not be contaminated, treated, etc, and not taken from the outdoors.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine Program, Plant Health Agencies, and the US Dept of Agriculture regulate the transfer and shipment of all plant in the United States. By contacting the states Dept of Agriculture, you can find out what laws are in effect for transporting plants in and out of your state, and if you need your plant or plants inspected contact them to come out and do an inspection for you, in case the state you are moving to requires a stamp, seal, certificate, etc. Find your state representative here. Another link you can check with is the National Plant Board, they have information on the state laws and governing bodies when it comes to transporting your plants.

If your home mover does transfer plants, after getting the Certificate of Phytosanitary, check with your company to see if they need to package them up specially or whether you are required to do so yourself. If your moving company does not transfer plants, another option to consider would be to take the cutting of the plants. Place them in a wet moss or wet peat moss and newspaper, you can put them in a plastic baggy or Ziploc bag (do not seal it, leave it open so they can breathe). Then you can regrow the plants at your new location. You may want to check with a specialty transportation company if your moving company does not take your plants if you are set on having your plants moved, and your state allows it.

So remember, check with your state administrations, check with your home mover before assuming your plant is going to be welcome in another state.

Filed Under: Moving, Plants Tagged With: home moving, moving plants, plant moving

MOVING WITH WINE

July 28, 2009 By emovingstorage Leave a Comment

wine

When it comes to moving your wine collection, there are many considerations and tips to consider to ensure a safe transport for your valuable collection.

The first thing you should consider is getting your wine collection appraised before you move. A wine appraiser will be able to evaluate the quality and worth of your spirits and wine collections, along with telling you proper age of it for maximum satisfaction and fullest flavor.

If you are only transporting a few cases of wine, you may want to move your wine yourself in your vehicle, avoiding too many long stops and any drastic temperature changes. Your wine should be at least 55° of temperature. You also want to avoid your wine being shaken too much as it could result in a loss of flavor.

If moving out of state or long distance, it is a very good idea to check with your local beverage control or the states to see if there are any restrictions on the amount of alcohol brought in the state or to check if alcohol is prohibited because the state has dry counties.

If you have a large collection you may want to use safe movers, and use national movers versus small movers that are not familiar with this type of shipping. A major Van line or national mover is a good option to use when it comes to shipping your wine and spirits, A temperature controlled vehicle may be needed and the larger, national movers are generally more equipped to do so.

Additional charges may be added for special transport and you should let your movers know in advance so they can come properly prepared. Commercial airlines are another option for shipping wine, but you should have it professionally packed by someone experienced. A high value inventory should be completed if Shipping with a professional mover.

Some additional tips you should remember when it comes to shipping wine is to:

Avoid extreme changes of weather and temperature as this can interfere with the integrity of the wine. The best temperature for wine to be stored at is 55°.

White wines are generally less expensive than red wine and are less likely to be affected by the temperature.

Corked wine should be kept on the side or upside down so the cork does not dry up.

It’s a good idea to pack wine in a wine container or a box purchased by a national mover or someone who sells and ships wine and spirits. Don’t pack open bottles and make sure to label your box as fragile and this side up depending on how the box is packed.

Avoid the bottles shaking too much as this can affect the appearance and flavor of your spirits.

After the move is complete, it is a good idea to let your wine rests for about 7 to 10 days before opening.

Filed Under: How To Guide, Moving Tagged With: home mover, home moving, MOVING YOUR WINE, wine moving

MOVING A HOT TUB

July 28, 2009 By emovingstorage Leave a Comment

When moving a hot tub, there is some special planning you should do to ensure a safe transport. If you’re using home movers, make sure you show the moving company ahead of time, so they can come properly prepared, or refer you to a third party service company if necessary.

Some home movers may charge a bulky article charge to do this portion of your move which should be included in your quote ahead of time. When moving a hot tub, there are certain steps you should take before your hot tub is relocated.

The most important thing to remember is the equipment pack of the hot tub: which includes the plumbing, electrical, power , pump heater, and your filter, you may want to remove this per the manufacturer’s recommendation and pack it in a separate box. Some models will allow you to leave it on.

Next drain the hot tub, you can also call a hot tub dealer if you do not want to or do it yourself. Your home mover will not be responsible for this aspect of your move and there will be some remaining water left after you drain the hot out so you may want to use a wet vac to drain the rest of it. Remember depending on the temperature or weather outside of the place you are moving to, you want to make sure this is done properly and caution is taken.

Make sure your home mover knows any specifications, weight, how many people, lighting, electrical where it is going, whether over grass and mud, and if there will be a long carry, etc. This should be shown to the mover well in advance, and will all be included in your moving costs at the time of your delivery. It is a good idea to call a local hot a dealer or hot tub company that reinstalls hot tubs to reset it up for you, or another option would be to call the company that moved your hot tub originally like the hot tub dealer and have them move it, disassemble and reassemble themselves, this can lead to higher costs.

Filed Under: Moving, Other Tagged With: home mover, home moving, hot tub moving, MOVING A HOT TUB

MOVING PLANTS: LOCAL MOVES

July 25, 2009 By emovingstorage 1 Comment

Stop. Before you assume, that your smart movers are going to take your plants, you may want to make a phone call to confirm this, whether they are an agent for a van line, or an independent local moving company, call them first. Most local movers will not move plants due to the fact that there is no way you can strap a plant in a truck, they do not want to get their equipment dirty, and liability on the life of your plant, and other reasons (insects, pests, mold, mildew). If your mover does transport plants, this is usually pretty rare and they are specialized in doing so. So what do you do, most movers will tell you to move them yourself. So here are some tips for transporting your own plants, or if your mover does take plants then here are some tips for packing your plants properly.

Ceramic and glass pots are too heavy, so you may want to consider transferring your plants into a plastic, non breakable pot, usually like a month before you are going to make a move. Your plant can be very sensitive to moving so you want to make sure it is nourished and adjusted to the container well enough, to make the trip.
Check for pests, mildew, mold, insects, anything that can infest your new home. You can call the Dept of Agriculture to do an inspection, to ensure they are pest free.
Move only plants that have been in sterile soil. You do not want to transfer any plants that have been outdoors due to the fact you may be bringing some unknown creatures to your new area.
If you cannot take your plants, you can cut the trimmings and replant at your new destination. Cut the trimmings; place them in wet peat soil, or wet soil, and newspaper. You can place these in an unsealed plastic baggy, so they have air to breathe.
Remember if you are using movers, you will not be able to insure your plants since they need to have a certain temperature, air to breathe, and enough water.
When packing your plants, you may want to use a wardrobe box for large plants and small trees, or a box like a dish pack, that is open on the top and cushioned on the bottom with plastic if a little damp, and paper in-between, so the plants are not tipping around and are in the box snug. In the cold weather, when the weather is low in temperatures, you can put your plant in a plant sleeve, plants slide through them to provide the plant with warmth. Moving smaller plants in a car or SUV can be a good option.
You should trim back any leaves or stems to condense space taken by the plant.
Make sure you are watering your plant on its regular schedule and giving it the appropriate nutrients, so it is strong for the move. Remember do not overwater, or underwater as this can have different effects on the plant depending on the time of year it is and season.
You may want to consider pruning your plants to allow the best delivery for them and the stronger they will be, but do this about 2-3 weeks before you are going to move your plant so they are strong.
Remember when packing, you should pack you plants last, since they do need the most care, and will be confined for the shortest amount of time. If you transport your plants in your car on a multiple day trip, make sure they get some sun every day.

When transporting your plants in the winter, remember indoor plants need warm temperature to survive, so move your plants quickly, avoid them touching the inside of cars, doors, etc since this can damage the plant. Try to avoid putting your plant in a trunk, so they do not suffocate.

When you arrive at your destination, try to take your plants out of the boxes right away and avoid moving them too much, as too much movement is not good for your plant and they need to get acclimated to their surroundings.

Remember your plant will experience some sort of damage after being moved, since being in a new environment, they will need to adjust to different lighting, air, atmosphere, etc.

Filed Under: Moving, Plants Tagged With: home moving, independent local moving company, local movers, moving plants, plant moving, smart movers