Start planning early, and you'll be happy to see how smoothly things can go. The following checklist is designed to help you plan.

Do-It-Yourself- Packing Tips from the Professionals

• Beginning well before your load date, pack one room at a time.
  
  
• Mark all boxes with room and box number and make a list showing the number of boxes packed per room, as well as the total number packed.
  
  
• Do not seal boxes in which you have packed items of high value, since the contents must be verified by your driver at time of loading.
  
  
• Keep the weight of each box under 50 pounds. This will help you in packing and unpacking if boxes need to be moved around. It will also facilitate quicker loading and unloading of your moving van.

Packing can be a tedious, time-consuming chore that takes skill and the right materials to prepare household articles for your move.

1st Choice Moving & Storage recommends that you have our professionals pack for you. We're trained in proper procedures, have the right materials, and can do it in about a quarter of the time.

We strongly recommend that we crate or pack and prepare these items for shipment:
Marble and glass table tops, heavy wall ornaments and mirrors 40" x 60" or longer, pool table slates, bulky fragile items like large trophies, statuary, chandeliers, antiques and other items that require crating.

Some things should stay with you as you move, such as:
Cash, securities, jewelry and furs, firearms (consult local laws), personal papers and documents (like birth certificates, insurance policies and deeds), prescriptions, coin and stamp collections, special family photographs and videos, moving-related documents.

Trade Secrets
If you decide to do the packing yourself, we want to help. Here are some trade secrets we'd like to share with you:

Trade Secret #1
Purchase the cartons and packing materials (unprinted newspaper, wrap and tape) you'll need from your sales agent. We can help you choose the right sizes for your move. You'll save valuable time, compared to trying to track down suitable cartons at supermarkets. More importantly, our cartons are specifically designed for packing household goods.

Trade Secret #2
Wrap fragile articles the way professionals do Use two layers of unprinted newspaper per glass, dish, figurine, etc. Wrap firmly, but leave a little bit of space, to provide a cushioning effect.

Trade Secret #3
Don't overcrowd boxes; the top of the box should close with slight pressure.

Trade Secret #4
Don't leave empty spaces on the top of the boxes. Pack boxes fully, and fill any empty space with wadded packing paper or other padding.

Trade Secret #5
Pack glasses standing on end, upside down, and not on their sides. Stack dishes on edge, and fill empty spaces with wadded unprinted newspaper. Before packing the dish pack box, layer the bottom of the carton with crumpled unprinted newspaper.

Trade Secret #6
Pack lampshades, mirrors, pictures, etc., in special cartons designed for them.

Trade Secret #7
Tape boxes across tops and edges. Seal every opening tightly. (See Types of Boxes, Tools & Materials You'll Need below.)

Trade Secret #8
Pack your belongings room by room to make unpacking easier. Label each box with your name, the room the box goes to, and a brief description of the contents. Mark items you'll need right away once you move with "Unpack First," and mark only truly fragile items with "Fragile."

Trade Secret #9
Professionals pack boxes so that articles cushion each other.. Don't combine incompatible items (like books with glasses). Pack clothing in special wardrobe containers, so that your clothes will hang straight and stay clean and virtually wrinkle-free.

Trade Secret #10
Don't pack paints, turpentine, pressurized cans, corrosive items like bleach or any flammable liquid. The law forbids movers to carry flammables. Properly dispose of or give away anything that could cause a fire or damage.

Trade Secret #11
When packing a personal computer, we strongly recommend that you use the computer's original carton and packing materials. If they're not available, use a box that is both strong and big enough to hold the computer, and pack it with unprinted newspaper. Your local computer dealer can answer any other questions. Specific to your computer.

Trade Secret #12
Indicate your name pickup state, and delivery state on box. You can print 'FRAGILE' and other labels from our Box Labels page.

Other Important Information:

Tools & Materials You'll Need:

• unprinted newspaper and tissue paper (newspaper ink can soil and even damage some items)
  
  
• 2" plastic tape (to assemble and close cartons)
  
  
• utility knife
  
  
• scissors
  
  
• permanent markers
  
  
• moving boxes
  
  
• labels
  
  
• bubble wrap

Types of Boxes:

• 1.5 to 2.0 cubic feet. Book box - Use for heavy or dense items including books, records, CDs, videos, canned goods, kitchen canisters, small appliances and hand or power tools.
  
  
• 3 cu. ft. General-purpose boxes. Good for toys, lampshades, pots and pans, kitchen utensils, etc.
  
  
• 4.5 and 6 cu. ft. - For large, lightweight items such as pillows, bedding and toys. Do not overload.
  
  
• Wardrobe boxes-Equipped with a bar for hanging clothes, curtains and draperies. The bottom is not designed to support weight; do not pack other items in the bottom of these cartons.
  
  
• Dishpacks-Specially designed with available cell dividers for transporting dishes, glasses, bowls and other kitchenware. Also good for lamps, small pictures, knick-knacks and light appliances.
  
  
• Mirror boxes- Available in telescoping, large and small sizes. Provide extra protection for mirrors, large pictures, and glass tabletops.
  
  
• Mattress boxes - Available in crib, twin, standard, double and queen/king sizes.

Before your move try to obtain a written appraisal of antique items to verify value. Avoid waxing or oiling wooden antiques (and fine wood furniture) before moving, because some products may soften the wood, and make it vulnerable to imprinting from furniture pads. Unplug all television sets a few hours in advance of the move, so that they will be at room temperature when the movers arrives. Moving a TV set in which heat is still retained can cause internal damage.

• Pets
  Obtain health records from veterinarian.
  
  
• Check destination state and local government requirements for Health Certificate, pet ordinances, "leash laws", and licensing requirements.
  
  
• Transporting pets by car is often less stressful for the animal and less expensive for the owner. Taking short car trips before the move may help your pet to adjust.
  
  
• Obtain your veterinarian's advice regarding medications that may assist your pet while traveling.
  
  
• Plan ahead for motels that accept pets. Don't give your pet food or water for several hours before departure.
  
  
• Once on the road, stop frequently for water and exercise, and feed once per day.
  
  
• If you are not able to make proper arrangements for moving your pet our representative can suggest a professional pet moving service.

Delivery Day

• Be available to check off items on the inventory as they are removed from the van.

US DOT 1078585
ICC-MC 448861

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