Category: NYC moving tips

If you are moving locally, there is no reason why you should leave large appliances at your old place. You can relocate them safely, and if they are in good condition, use them in years to come. The only trick here is that you should follow our step-by-step guide in order to do this right.

Damaging large appliances during relocation is quite common. Luckily, this can easily be avoided and you can relocate your appliances like a pro by preparing large appliances for a move in advance. Of course, if you don`t want to risk any damage or simply do not have time, you can always rely on a reputable moving company to assist you.

Prepare Heavy Appliances for a Move Like a Professional

In order to do this right, you will need the following equipment:

• Detergent
• Cleaning gloves
• Tape
• Moving boxes
• Furniture dolly

Once you have assembled what you need, you can start preparing your items for relocation.

Take Photos First

Take pictures of your big appliances before and after moving. Capture all angles and the inside too. You can also make a video. This helps you see if anything got damaged during the move.

If you are hiring movers NYC, after the move you will check whether the items are in the same condition. If not, you will need to file a claim, and photos are the best way to prove your point.

Call the manufacturer or read the manufacturer`s guide

When you bought larger appliances, they came in with the manufacturer’s guide. Most likely you threw this away after you have learned how to use the appliance in question. However, these guides contain important suggestions as to how to prepare them for relocation.

Our suggestion is to check the guide from the manufacturer for instructions on how to move the product. If you don’t have the guide, you can find it online quickly. If you can’t find it online, you can call the manufacturer for help.

Find the original moving boxes

Your fridge, stove, washer, dryer, and dishwasher came in original packaging. If you did not throw this away, now is the perfect time to use it again. This will enable you to prepare your larger appliances for relocation in the best way possible. However, don`t worry if you don`t have these. Your professional movers will know how to deal with them, and you can always order custom moving boxes.

Prepare your refrigerator for a move

First of all, you need to take all the food out of the refrigerator. Then use the mild detergent to clean the fridge thoroughly. You don`t want any mildew or unpleasant smells coming out of your fridge. At least 24-48 hours before the move, you should completely unplug the appliance. Refrigerators have a few racks, that you need to take care of. You can either remove them from the fridge or secure them with tape. What is important is that they do not fall out and break during transport.

Stove preparation

When it comes to preparing the stove for relocation, it is important to determine whether you have a gas stove. These types of stoves should be prepared by the professional crew member. This is because you need to disconnect the gas line from the stove, which can be dangerous for an amateur. Once you have this covered, you can clean the stove with a detergent. Just like with the fridge, you need to take out the rack and pack it separately to avoid any damage.

The dishwasher is fairly easy to prepare for moving…

When you want to prepare a dishwasher for moving, you need to remove all the dishes from it first. You should clean the dishwasher by running a circle while it is empty. All that you need is some detergent and hot water. Leave the doors open and let the unit dry completely before relocation. The next thing you want to do is to disconnect the hose from the unit. Now you can tape the hose on the side or the back of the unit. Tape it as many times as you need to make sure it won`t fall off. Another option is to wrap it in packing paper and place it inside the dishwasher machine.

…just like the washer and dryer machines are

Just like with the dishwasher, make sure there are no items left inside these machines. Clean the washer machine by running a cycle while it is empty. The dryer machine can be cleaned with some detergent and a sponge. Disconnect the hoses and tape them on the side of the machines. You can also choose to pack them inside the machines, as well. It is best if you can use the original packaging for these units.

Use the furniture dolly for transporting your items

Once you have prepared your large appliances for relocation, it is important not to damage them on their way to the moving truck. You can rent, or buy a furniture dolly. This item has saved many large appliances from damage. Not to mention wooden floors, carpets, and stairs. It is easy to make a scratch, dent, or any other damage to these fragile surfaces. So, instead of pushing heavy appliances, place them on the furniture dolly and carefully take them to the moving truck. Move heavy items with ease.

Hire professionals to protect your large appliances

Once you have prepared your large appliances for relocation, you can leave them in the safe hands of professionals. Heavy and bulky items are prone to damage when not handled properly. This is why we recommend that you hire professional Brooklyn movers to relocate your appliances in the safest way possible. Plus, if the items get damaged you will always have moving insurance, so it is a win-win situation. Good luck!

Without proper organization and planning, moving to another place is always a challenging process. Despite your thinking about every detail, there is some chance to have some unexpected damages. There are a lot of different reasons why this can happen. Some of them we can control and avoid but some, unfortunately, we can’t. Here is a list of the most frequently damaged items during a move and how we can protect them.

Drinking Glasses

You need to be extra careful when packing glassware. These kinds of items are very delicate because they are very fragile, and in case they crack or broke this can cause deep cuts and injuries. Except for this, you need to be extremely careful and not to hurt yourself during packing.

It is important to take note of the appropriate storage method for the glasses within the box. The key factor is to select a box that is of the appropriate size and to wrap each glass in paper prior to placement. The paper should be folded on the side and the glasses should be positioned vertically within the box. Once the first layer of glasses has been arranged, it is recommended to place packing paper on top and in between each glass, if space permits.

Plates

Usually, during a move, you can hear and feel how they shake in the box because we didn’t pack them completely. Packing the plates is very simple, place them vertically with paper between the plates and on the side to make them more secure, and choose the right moving boxes to pack them in.

Lampshades

Lampshades can pose a challenge when it comes to packing due to their size and shape, making them susceptible to breakage if not handled with care. To ensure their safe transportation, it is recommended to utilize bubble wrap as a protective measure. This involves covering all sides of the lamp with the wrap, while also placing packing paper in any empty spaces. Additionally, it is advisable to insert more paper between the wrap and the box to prevent any shifting during transit.

Wine and Liquor Bottles

Moving a wine collection is very difficult because most of the bottles are glass bottles, and if you do not store them correctly, there is a big chance to damage them. Therefore, roll every bottle in 4-5 layers of paper, secure with tape (especially on the bottom side), and make sure there are no loose ends. Always use the divided or cell box with a smaller size, because caring a big cardboard box can be very heavy and unsafe. If you have some open bottles, make sure to seal them properly before rolling in paper and place in the box.

Mirrors and Glass Pictures

The common mistake people make when packing mirrors/glass pictures is- they don’t cover the items enough with packing paper and protect them in the box. After opening, as a result, we have broken or scratched stuff. When you are doing packing alone, the best option to protect them is using a bubble wrap before setting into the appropriate box. All gaps, pad with crumpled paper inside the box. When you finish, close the box with tape and mark FRAGILE with packing labels or write with marker on the cardboard box, from both sides.

Artwork

Collecting art requires a lot of love and affection. There is not only about the material value, usually, is some private feeling connected with a particular piece, and seeing them broken or damaged can make you very disappointed or sad. Well, if you would like to prevent this kind of situation, a better option is to hire professional packers. However, if you decide to do these alone, line the bottom of the box with crumpled paper, cover the picture with bubble wrap, and place it in the box. Make sure the box is full of the packing paper without space inside.

Books

We think packing books is an easy and fast job, but the surprising fact is, we don’t consider how these simple things can cause damage to our precious possessions. For that reason, when you are packing books, place heavier and bigger books on the bottom of the box, and put them flat and horizontally in the box to avoid folding the pages and their damage.

Electronics

Today electronics are taking a massive place in every home, except that, can be a bit expansive too. Generally, the most common mistake while packing electronics are people forgetting how these objects can be fragile and stuff a couple of items together in the same box and damage them. Packing electronics is not too different from packing other things from your home. Take precautions every time when you are moving larger sizes of electronics (TVs, computers, etc.) they can slip easily. To protect them, you can use anything, a blanket, pillowcases, towels, or if you feel safer, you can use anti-static bubble wrap too. Don’t forget to place some packing paper inside the box to prevent potential movements and damage during transportation. When you wrap and pack everything, mark on the box THIS SIDE UP and FRAGILE.

Sporting Equipment

Similar to electronics, moving this kind of item requires to be done very carefully because replacing them can be a little costly. Moving a treadmill or rowing machine can be hard. The best way is to read the guidance for oversized and sensitive equipment before you start.

Furniture Edges

When you are lifting a heavy object, there is always a possibility to damage them. The best way is to disassemble furniture in smaller pieces. Otherwise, it will be hard to take them out, and there is a possibility to get broken or damaged. All smaller disassembled items, wrap them and pack in one box before you lose them. If you need help to disassemble your furniture, call your friends or hire experienced movers to help.

Liquid Cleaning Supplies

People forget very often to protect bottles with cleaning liquid, which can make issues if they start to leak inside the box. Before stuffing them in the box, make sure you closed the bottles because the liquid can spread out and damage other items too. Every bottle you should cover with plastic or paper, and wrap with tape before placing them in the box. Again, write on every box what sort of liquid is inside the box, and do not pack flammable items!

We hope this list of the most frequently damaged items during a move can help prevent some damages. If you are at all unsure about packing the fragile items listed above and your packing skill, ask for help. Do not hesitate to call full service moving NYC today to request moving quotes NYC.