PACKING TIPS

Packing can be a tedious, time-consuming chore that takes skill and the right materials to prepare household articles for your move. Reliable Transfer 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, glass tabletops, heavy wall ornaments and mirrors 40" x 60" or larger
• Pool table slates
• Bulky, fragile items like large trophies, statuary, chandeliers and other items that require crating
• Antiques

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.

If you decide to do the packing yourself, we want to help all we can. Here are some tips we'd like to share with you:

• You can purchase the cartons and packing materials (unprinted newspaper, bubble wrap and tape) you'll need from Reliable Transfer. We can help you choose the sizes and kinds you'll need. 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.
• Wrap fragile articles the way professionals do; use two layers of unprinted newspaper per glass, dish, figurine, etc. Wrap firmly, but loosely enough, to provide a cushioning effect.
• Don't overcrowd boxes. Professionals pack boxes so articles cushion each other. The top of the box should close with slight pressure. Don't mix incompatible items (like books with glasses). Pack clothing in our special wardrobe containers. That way your clothes will hang straight and stay clean and virtually wrinkle-free.
• 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 dishpack box, layer the bottom of the carton with crumpled unprinted newspaper.
• Pack lampshades, mirrors, pictures, etc., in special cartons designed for them. Ask your North American representative for guidance.
• Tape boxes across tops and edges. Seal every opening tightly. (See Types of Boxes, Tools & Materials You'll Need below.)
• Pack your belongings room by room to make unpacking easier. Label each box with your name, North American contract number, 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."
• 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.

Other Important Information:

• Typically, a move requires the loading and unloading of appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators with ice makers and gas or electric dryers.
• Important: These items can only be moved if they're prepared for shipment by an appropriately qualified or specialized service provider, like a plumber, electrician, gas company or carpenter. The same is true for reinstallation at your new home. Our drivers and movers are not qualified to perform these services.

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

For more information on the types of boxes that you may need, please refer to our general freight page.