How to properly label your moving boxes

When it's time to move, you want to make sure your move is a success. Part of a good move is organization, which includes labeling your moving boxes. There are ways to label your boxes that will make it much easier when you arrive at your new place.

Before you get out the markers and start writing all over your boxes, it's important to have a plan. Here are some tips to help you properly label your moving boxes.

Top 5 Tips for Labeling Your Moving Boxes

1. Get All the Right Supplies

The first thing you need to do is gather your supplies. You want reliable markers that are permanent, waterproof, and come in multiple colors. You might also want to get actual labels for the boxes, but this is optional. It's possible to write directly on the boxes you are moving.

2. Use a Color-Coded System

The reason you want multiple colors for your markers is so you can use a color-coded system. Of course, if you're just moving a studio apartment, this might not be necessary. However, when you have multiple areas in your home, assigning a color for each area can make unpacking easier.

For example, you might assign the color red for your kitchen boxes. This means when you arrive at your new home, every box with red writing can go directly to the kitchen and you don't even have to read the writing. Using a color-coded system will likely save you time when it comes to unpacking.

3. Don't Wait to Label

Make sure you label your moving boxes as you are packing. It's too easy to forget what you packed and once you seal the box with tape, you don't want to open it back up. As you pack up things, just label each box with the proper color and you will be in better shape.

4. Label in Multiple Places

If you are using packing labels, you can place them on the top of each box and on two sides of the box. When you're writing directly on the box, you might have to write in specific areas, but you always want to place your labels in multiple places. This will make it easier to see the label when boxes are stacked.

5. Write Out the Items in Important Boxes

While you don't need to write out every single item in the box, it's good to include general categories, such as silverware, cooking utensils, frying pans, etc. You should also make sure you are specific when it's very important items or items you might need very soon after you move.

It's common for people to take their time unpacking in a new place. If you label your moving boxes properly, you will be able to find the most important items fast, even if you're not all the way unpacked yet.

Use these tips to properly label your moving boxes for your next local move in Chicago.

How do moving companies safely move furniture in the rain?

Have you ever wondered what happens when you plan for a moving day, with everything that is involved in it (here’s a moving day checklist!), just to find out it’s going to be raining that day? It’s not like you can move the date when you’ve already made the arrangements with the schools, the office, your utility companies, and your moving crew.

The fact is that sometimes rainy days happen and the show must go on. That is why it’s important to be prepared ahead of time that in the event of rain, moving companies know how to safely move your furniture regardless. Take a look at what you can count on from the moving company when it comes to inclement weather.

Pack extra well

The good news is that you can move on a rainy moving day but you will have to be prepared for some additional steps in the process. You’ll need to not only ensure that all items are sealed in their containers, but you’ll have to be carefully prep both the home you are leaving and the home you are moving into in order to avoid accidents. The first step is to make sure everything is packed extra well.

For wood furniture, you can use heavy furniture blankets to protect it from getting wet. If you have large artwork, you’ll want to wrap it in plenty of plastic wrapping to avoid moisture getting to it. If you have bulky items that aren’t going into a container, make sure you cover them in a large trash bag to avoid rain getting to them.

Your local moving company should have everything from plastic covers to mattress pads for you to rent for the process. Everything going into cardboard boxes should be sealed well with packing tape and checked for any possible openings where rain could get access. You may want to avoid having anything outside of containers in order to avoid any possibility of the items getting rained on.

Prepping the moving space

The home you are moving out of was probably going to need some protection to avoid any issues on moving day, such as coverings on the edges where the walls meet in order to avoid damage or a room where the pets can stay in order to stay out of the way of the movers. When it comes to a rainy moving day, you’ll have to also consider how to avoid slip and falls, as well as tracking in mud and water.

The first step would be to line your entryway and porch with towels to help with tracking in water or mud since everyone would step on that before entering the house. Next, make sure everyone is in all-weather shoes or boots to avoid slips while carrying boxes. Lastly, have the movers show you that the moving truck has no leaks so that if small leaks are causing water dripping through, you can duct tape them to ensure your belongings will not be affected.

Your new home will need some attention to. Make sure to lay down rugs or towels in front of the front door to avoid tracking in anything that might cause a slip. Your utilities should be set up in advance which means that you’ll be able to warm up or cool off the space during the moving process.

They’ll work in an assembly line

Lastly, your moving team will likely work in an assembly line on a rainy day to help things get done a bit faster during this rainy day, as well as to help protect your floors. One person will stand on the inside and another will stay on the outside, avoiding any shoes tracking in through the house. This can also work well for moving into the new house so that moisture and mud can stay outside the home.

Tips for Overseeing a Move In or Move Out

When you're moving, you will likely be overseeing both a move in and a move-out. Hiring The Professional Moving Specialists will go a long way to making the move in and move out easier, but you will still need to be in charge of overseeing both. 

You want to do everything within your power to remain in control and ensure efficiency during your move. Proper planning will help and here are some of the best tips you can use for overseeing a move in or a move-out.

1. Arrive Early and Prepared

If you're not currently living in your old home, you want to arrive for the move out before the movers do. It's good to arrive prepared and ready to start the day when the movers arrive. 

You'll want to be there to start planning everything, help direct the mover to the correct parking spot, and avoid getting charged for movers waiting for you.

2. Know What You’re Taking With You

When moving out, you want to know what you'll be taking in your vehicle. Valuables, paperwork, and other items you don't want the movers packing should be separated to help you remember what you plan to move in your own vehicle.

You can block off a corner of a room or dedicate a specific room to the items you plan to move yourself. Make sure you pack these items ahead of time and you know what's going with you and what's going with the movers.

3. Have a Furniture Floor Plan Ready

During a move in, you want to have a furniture floor plan ready for the movers. This will help them bring in heavy furniture items, put them in the right place, and leave them there. If they have to rearrange furniture, you could get charged extra for their time. 

In fact, some moving companies will only arrange furniture once. If you want to avoid having to arrange the furniture yourself, create a floor plan ahead of time for the movers to follow.

4. Inform Movers of All Fragile Items

While fragile items should be well marked, it's also a good idea to separate these items and inform movers they are fragile. The more you communicate with the movers, the easier it will be for them to ensure your things are properly packed into their truck.

5. Be Prepared with Waters

Movers appreciate the small gesture of offering them water or sports drink. They work hard and need to stay hydrated. Especially in the summer, have a few bottles of water or sports drinks ready for the movers when they arrive. 

Let them know where they are and that they can help themselves when they are thirsty. This will help save a little bit of time, as well, as they won't have to ask or go to the truck in search of their own drink. 

When you're moving into a new home and/or out of an old home, you want to stay on top of the moving process. With these five tips, you'll be better prepared to oversee moving in and moving out when hiring movers for a residential move.