Smooth Moves

When Harvey Ackerman moved to California from Ohio 19 years ago, getting his possessions halfway across the country was done with a simple phone call. “My company wanted me to take a job out here, and so I called a mover that packed and shipped everything, from my car to a half-used bar of soap in the shower.�

Ackerman and his family flew west, then spent a good two weeks settling into their new home before he had to report to work.

“Of course, nowadays you don’t see companies spend that kind of money on their employees. If they want you in another city, they might give you a day or two to move, and if you’re lucky, they might pay to ship your bed and some clothes,� says Ackerman, who sees the situations from all sides now--he now owns the Packaging Store in Huntington Beach, which sells moving boxes and handles light moves.

Professional movers generally charge $60 per hour and up, with a three-hour minimum. Having one’s employer pay for a full-service move is becoming an infrequent experience, with many companies tightening the belt on expenses. The result is that more people are moving their households themselves, relying on rented trucks and friends with good backs.

Although moving yourself can be considered a necessary evil, it can be made a less traumatic experience with some planning. Here are some tips from the pros on how to make your next move palatable.

Getting It Together

Your first step should probably be a deep breath. “Moving is incredibly stressful, and it’s even more so when you only have a couple of days to do the job,� Ackerman says. “Make a list, and check off the items once they’re done.�

Arrange for a “staging area,� such as the garage or living room, where there’s easy access to the door and moving truck. This is where boxes will be stacked after packing. Then take inventory of items that will need special packing--dishes and glasses, antiques, porcelain and other breakables.

During this period you’ll probably find junk that’s been sitting under beds and shoved into the corner of the garage. Now’s the time to give away and throw away; taking it all with you is a major waste of time and effort.

If you saved the original boxes for TVs, computers or other electronic equipment, you’ve also saved yourself a big step.

“Many people find that their stereo or VCR just doesn’t work like it should after they moved it,� says Matt Wallace of Santa Ana, a retired mover who logged thousands of moves during his career. “But they probably drove it over on the front seat of their car with a bunch of plants and books on top of it.�

Boxed Out

A good box when you’re moving is like a full canteen in the Mojave.

Priceless.

If you haven’t moved since getting out of Mom and Dad’s house during the Johnson administration, you might be in for a shock. Boxes are big business. It’s not easy to find a ton of them behind the supermarket anymore.

“Most grocery stores are disassembling the boxes they get as soon as they’re unpacked and sending them off to be recycled,� says Laurie Simpson of Boxes on the Move in Anaheim. “But most food boxes aren’t well suited to moving anyway.�

Beat-up boxes can harbor pests such as roaches and silverfish, giving you some unwelcome neighbors in your new home. And an older box is more likely to break when you need it to be the strongest, such as when it’s carrying a load of books.

New boxes can cost from $5 to $20 each.

In assessing your boxing needs, if you have lots of small, heavy items such as books, use many smaller boxes so they’ll be easier to carry. Extra-large boxes are good for linens and blankets, and wardrobe boxes can transport your clothing.

Packing delicate items such as china and porcelain can be a trying experience.

“The key is patience,� Ackerman says. “If you have some dishes that need special care, you pack each one in tissue, then in a dish pack, which is like a foam paper. After that, it’s wrapped in a bubble pack, and you put no more than 12 of the dishes in a small box.�

Also, when using boxes, unfold them as you need them. Some box sellers will refund you for unfolded boxes if you have your receipt.

If you’re moving a refrigerator or washing machine, rent an appliance dolly on moving day. You’ll also want to pick up a utility dolly to make carting boxes easier. (Both are about $5 to $10 per day.)

The Big Drive

The best advice regarding moving trucks is to shop around.

The big two rental firms, Ryder and U-Haul, have a large selection of trucks in various sizes as well as items such as dollies, boxes and wrapping paper. There are also independent dealers listed under “rental� in the Yellow Pages. Prices are about $30 to $60 per day depending on truck size. Check for midweek discounts on renting a moving truck.

A 26-foot truck can move a 2,000-square-foot household, while a 14-footer can be used for most small apartments.

When renting, check to see if your auto insurance’s collision coverage covers a rented moving truck. Most rental firms offer a damage waiver for an extra fee, but you may already be covered.

Rather than stuff your car with boxes and make several trips, rent a small cargo van ($20 per day or less to rent) that can carry boxes, bicycles, plants and other hard-to-carry items.

In One Piece

If you’ve moved your belongings from one place to another without so much as a scratch, congratulations. You’re in the minority.

“If your truck isn’t packed tightly and correctly, you’re probably going to have some damage,� Wallace says. “Even though you’re not driving very fast, boxes hit appliances and break open, and when you open the back doors you find a mess.�

Most moving trucks have an overhang area above the cab. Use this area to store boxes with glassware, dishes and other fragile items. Use flexible rubber cords to secure them.

Place heavy items, such as the refrigerator and large pieces of furniture, as close to the cab as possible to keep the weight centered. If there’s enough headroom, stand the couch on its end to save floor space.

When you rent your truck, you’ll get plenty of furniture pads. These heavy blankets should be placed on top of furniture to prevent scratches.

“Use the rubber cords to secure the large pieces to the sides of the cab,� Wallace says. “When securing two or three pieces together, put blankets between them.�

Use the rest of your boxes to fill in, stacking them between the furniture as high as the ceiling and securing them with rubber cords.

Unloading

It’s probably late afternoon by now, your back’s getting a little stiff, hunger is setting in and you’ve still got to unpack.

“Take a break,� Wallace says. “In fact, plan on taking three or four. Moving is a very physical activity, and you’re tired and excited at the same time. Most of the injuries I’ve seen have been from people cutting hands and fingers with the knives they use to open boxes. They’re not thinking, they’re just trying to hurry and get it all done.�

If you’re smart enough to have labeled each box, you’ve saved a huge step. If you’ve coerced friends and acquaintances into helping with the move, you should also label the destination of each box.

When emptying the truck, use a staging area as you did at the old address, putting the boxes and appliances in a central area before distributing them.

Before taking the truck back, make sure you’ve got all the pads and dollies you’ve rented and give the truck and cab an inspection. It’s no fun getting home and finding a couple of table legs are missing.

Once you’ve got everything in place, fold up your used boxes and stick them in a closet or the garage--you never know when you’ll be needing them again.