Self-packing

If you decide to do the packing yourself, we recommend the following to make your packing time more efficient and to ensure that the packed items are in a state ready for us to load onto the truck.

You should purchase/obtain the following moving supplies:

• packing tape
• thick dark markers for writing on boxes
• scissors or box butting knife
• white newsprint for packing items (regular newsprint is messy for your hands and may stain some items)
• bubble wrap
• screw driver set
• sturdy cardboard boxes (We can provide suitable boxes at a fee. Especially useful are wardrobe boxes for packing up the contents of a closet. Free boxes are available at supermarkets, liquor and book stores.)
• extra blankets for padding items
• plastic storage bins
• rope
• a hand truck for moving heavy items

Packing Rules of Thumb

• start early with your packing (Pack away items that you wont be needing until after you have moved. Leave the everyday items to be packed last.)
• pack a few boxes every day so that you wont be overwhelmed with packing 50-100 boxes in the last few days before your move
• if possible, pack electronic equipment in their original boxes
• keep the boxes under 50 lbs in weight
• pack heavier items in smaller boxes and light weight items in larger boxes
• make use of your bath towels or bed sheets to package fragile items
• keep a few extra boxes for last minute items to be packed on moving day
• wrap each fragile item individually. (For example, wrap each dish piece separately in paper before placing them into a box.)
• make sure that all boxes are labeled with the contents and is marked with the name of the room to which it belongs
• you may also wish to consider numbering all boxes for easy identification and for keeping track of the total number boxes (Make a list of box numbers, their contents and destination room. E.g. Box #23 contains knick knacks and belongs in the living room)
• make sure that any fragile boxes are clearly labeled

Review your packed boxes and determine which ones should be loaded first and which ones loaded last. The last boxes to be loaded should contain items that you may need up to the last day before the move and that you may need as soon as you arrive at your new location. Make sure that this box is clearly labeled. These boxes should include:

• Bed sheets
• Toiletries
• Vacuum cleaner (if you wish to vacuum after the home is emptied)
• cleaning supplies
• Clothing
• Some kitchen items
• Hand tools for disassembling/assembling furniture
• Packing tape/scissors
• Other daily necessities

Preparing your belongings for the move

Before All Canada Moving arrives to load your belongings onto our truck, you may need to prepare some of your belongings (namely the larger items such as furniture) for the transport. Some of this will be done by our packers and movers, while there are other that must be done by you or by a professional appliance serviceman.

Here are some tips for packing the home items if you are packing yourself. Otherwise, these are items that our movers will handle as part of our service.

• Beds: Take apart the bed frames and tie them together with tape or rope. Make sure that all the screws are taped to the frames so that they are not lost.
• Dressers: Don't remove clothes or any non fragile items. We will move them with the contents in the drawers. Secure the drawers so that they do not open during transport.
• Clothing: For hanging clothes, pack them in wardrobe boxes which we can provide.
• Tables: If possible, remove legs and tie them together. Tape any screws or bolts under the tabletop.
• Chairs: Use bubble wrap to wrap and protect the arms and legs.
• Kitchenware: Stack pots and pans, and cushion with paper.
• Mirrors and artwork: Wrap in large cloth materials such as bath towels or bed sheets if you have them and store them in mirror boxes. Otherwise, wrap them up in cardboard and tape securely.
• Rugs: Roll up along the short end and secure with rope or tape.
• Bicycles: If possible take apart to make into a smaller package. Cover with plastic wrap to prevent the grease of the chains from dirtying nearby items.
• Small appliances and electronics: If you still have them, pack small appliances in their original boxes. otherwise, pack them into boxes sufficiently padded with newsprint paper or bubble wrap.
• Power and garden tools: Make sure that any batteries are detached. Wrap all sharp edges with towels and tape securely.
• Water beds: Follow manufacturer's instructions on how to drain and prepare the bed for transportation.
• Medicines: Store medicines in leak proof bags. Seal caps with masking tape. Don't forget to bring some with you during the move.

Larger Applicances May Require Special Care

Larger appliances and electronics may need to be prepared by professional service men to ensure safe transportation. If you are unsure about your particular appliance, please consult All Canada Moving or consult an authorized dealer for more information.

• Refrigerators and Freezers: Refrigerators must be emptied and defrosted a few days before the move. Remove any loose accessories and store them in a labeled bag.
• Washer and Dryers: Prevent the washer tub from rotating by stuffing towels between washer sides. Wrap with blankets and tape down.
• Gas appliances: These items need special attention by a professional to have them properly disconnected and reconnected. We are not able to disconnect any of your gas appliances before the move.
• Electric Stoves: Stoves must be disconnected. Stove rings, oven racks and other loose parts must be removed and stored separately.
• Television Sets : All wires and cables should be disconnected and separately packed. Some colour TVs may need to be checked before and after transportation.
• Grandfather clocks: Remove the pendulum. An experienced servicemen should be consulted on how to prepare the clock for moving.
• Pianos: All Canada Moving is experienced with moving large musical instruments such as pianos. Please see the specialty section for a list of other specialty items that we can move for you. You may wish to have the piano properly tuned after the move.
• Lawn mowers and gas powered garden tools: Drain all the fuel and check for oil leaks.
• Computers: It is best to use the original box that your computer arrived in. However, if you no longer have it, we can provide a suitable box. Make backup copies of the data on your computer and store them in a safe location. You must also protect your computer from mechanical failure due to physical shock. Specifically, you need to park the recording heads of the hard disk before transport. Most computers will already do this when powered down by retracting the recording head to a safe zone. If this feature is not available on your computer, there is a program called SHIPDISK.EXE that is located on the diagnostic disks that came with your computer. Run this program to park the recording head. You will know that the hard disk is parked when a red light on your computer blinks on and off. The hard drive will automatically reset itself the next time you turn on your computer. For more information, please refer to your computer's manual or refer to the maker's website. Unplug all cables and store them in a separate box.
• Printers: They should be stored in the original boxes if possible. Remove ink cartridges and pack them separately.