Make a list of everything you need to do before, during and after the move. For example, make a list of all the places you need to call to inform them of your new address: credit card companies, phone/Internet companies, cable or satellite companies, the human resource department at your work, and/ or your child’s school. You will want to update your address on magazine and newspaper subscriptions.

Make sure to turn on utilities in time for your move-in date. Moving to a new location can mean you will have to set up new utility accounts if your current suppliers do not provide service in that area.

Next, you will want to pick among the moving companies Los Angeles to move you. There are many options, and you need to take your time to pick the best one for you. Ask around for referrals from your neighbors, friends, and colleagues. Read online reviews, and ask detailed questions when you’re speaking to a representative from a moving company. Are they licensed and insured? Are there hidden fees?

The packing and unpacking is probably the most dreaded part of the move. But there is
no way around it as it needs to be done. However, a Los Angeles moving company can do all the hard work for you, if you don’t want to do it yourself.  At Melrose Moving, movers can even bring all the supplies to your house, sparing you a trip to the store.

When packing antiques, you want to find the best type of packing materials: you need to consider box size, box type, as well as what to wrap the item with once it’s inside the box. If you are not sure how to properly wrap and move these fragile items, it may be a good idea to let movers Los Angeles handle packing these items. Moving companies in Los Angeles have plenty of experience in packing all sorts of items since they do this on a daily basis.

Packing antique pottery and porcelain can be tricky. However, with some preparation and thought, items ranging from an expensive piece of Shawnee pottery to a rare Amphora vase a can be moved successfully.

Some of the obstacles to packing porcelain are handles and spouts on tea and coffee pots. To provide extra protection for these easily damaged pieces, it’s a good idea to wrap them individually with bubble wrap, and then secure them with packing tape. Following that, wrap the entire piece with another sheet of bubble wrap, and tape it securely in place.

Be careful, however, not to perform overzealous packing. The harder it is to remove the packing materials, the more likely the items will be scratched or chipped as the packing materials are cut or ripped off.

If there is something you want to pack individually, then place the wrapped piece in a sturdy cardboard box that is appropriate for the size of the item, making sure to leave a little room inside the box. Then, surround the piece with packing materials, such as foam peanuts or plenty of crumpled paper, making sure the item does not move around in the
box before sealing it with packing tape. Place the box inside a larger one, and surround
it with more packing materials so that it does not move around within the larger container.

Remember that Los Angeles moving companies have all sorts of wrapping or packing materials, and are ready to help you with wrapping antiques or porcelain pieces.

There are certain things that moving services Los Angeles will not be able to do for liability reasons. For example, movers should not be disconnecting or reconnecting utilities, moving leaking or broken appliances, removing or installing window air conditioner units, removing or installing televisions or satellites dishes. It is important to remember that movers are trained for packing and moving, and a handyman may need to be called to perform these other duties if you cannot do them yourself.

One of the most important duties before moving is the cleaning process. It’s important that your appliances, such as the oven, refrigerator and freezer, be thoroughly cleaned and dry at least 24 hours before your move. This is even more important if it is a long distance move or a move to a storage. Grease and dirt left on you items can create a horrible smell and leave permanent spots. Moisture can also cause problems for appliances; it  can cause mold or mildew to grow on the items.

Below are a few tips when it comes to the usual household appliances:

Refrigerator –After the move wait at least 24 hours before using it. Once the ice maker is in service, dispose of the first few batches of ice because it is possible that impurities have formed from a new water line.

Oven/Range – If it’s a gas range, the unit will have to be disconnected by a qualified technician at least 24 hours before your move. At your new location, you will also need a qualified technician to check your gas supply, connect the oven to the gas supply, light the pilot and handle other hook-up procedures. Electronic ovens do not require major service. Although you should consider getting the power supply checked.

Washer/Dryer– Leave the lid open 6-12 hours or until all moisture dries. Make sure all the lint is taken out of the dryer, and it is unplugged and ready to go.

Appliances

Moving supplies can be purchased at different places: mail service stores, office supply
outlets, storage lots, or Home Depot or Lowe’s stores. You can also go online to compare prices and find more specialty items that may not be available to purchase at a local retail store. An LA moving company can also advise you on the best place to buy moving supplies.

If you have plenty of time to organize your move, you can save money picking up boxes at your local grocery or liquor store.  Call the store manager a week in advance to see if he or she can put boxes aside for you. Or, you can find out when the store receives large shipments and ask what time they will finish loading.

Another option is looking into moving/packing kits. These kits can be purchased for a particular room or for an entire households. These kits contain the basic items like boxes, tape, markers, bubble/shrink wrap and unprinted newspapers. Comparison on the total cost, and see if it is cheaper to purchase the items separately or in a kit.

When it comes to specialty items such as large mirrors, framed artwork, computers and
printers, you may need to purchase supplies outside of the kit. Artwork and mirror boxes come with frame protectors that can be secured to the corners of the items to prevent damage during the move. Corrugated cardboard can also help protect the glass surface and keep items separated during the move. These fragile and difficult to move items are usually safer being packed by Los Angeles movers.

However, if you are like most people, you probably don’t hold on to original boxes or materials. Don’t worry, though, there are packing materials that can be used to pack and handle each type of electronic device. Moving companies Los Angeles can come to your location, and pack and move all electronics for you.

If you would like to do the process yourself, here are some handy tips.

Television

If you want to move a television, make sure to disconnect the power from the outlet, and unplug all devices attached to the TV, such as a receiver, or a DVD player, and allow them to get cooled off. Once it’s cool, lay your television flat on the ground with the screen facing up. Measure the height and width of the television screen, and draw the measurements on scrap cardboard using a pencil and measuring tape. Them, use a razor knife to cut the cardboard. Next, hold the cardboard cutout against the television screen with a bundle of wrap in your hand. Loosely pull the wrap around the television with your other hand until you get back to the hand holding the original layer, and then do another loop around the television. This will link the two layers and make them stick together. Remove your hand from the cardboard, hold the television, and pull the wrap around it. When you wrap one end, pull it tight, then swing it around and go to the other side. Pull at this end, and go around the other side. Repeat until the television is wrapped up tightly. This type of procedure is done on a regular basis by Los Angeles movers, and they can wrap a TV carefully and in a speedy manner, if you want to utilize their help.

Computer
Please note that before packing your computer, be sure to back up all of your important files and programs. Store the backup disks with your original program disks, and keep them in a secure container. A computer tower or desktop unit should be packed upright or on its side, with the motherboard side lying flat on the bottom. Check your manual to be sure which side this may be.
Systems that are carried upside down or with the motherboard side at the top can cause
interior cards to loosen during the move. Although this will not cause permanent damage, it may require costly or time-consuming repairs afterwards. Los Angeles moving services are experienced when handling all type of electronic devices, and can safely move your computer for you.

Sort first, pack later
There is no reason to pack and move clothes you will not wear again. This is
the perfect opportunity to sort and get rid of things you no longer need. The fewer clothes you have, the less you will have to move.

Guidelines to get rid of clutter:
Get rid of outdated clothing. If the trend passed a decade ago, it won’t be coming back
anytime soon. Donate all the worn-out clothes. If you can’t reasonably wear it in public, then why is it in your closet? Don’t keep clothing that doesn’t fit the climate you live in. Living in California, you won’t need a parka. Definitely get rid of clothing that is too small or too big.

Pack by season
You can start packing out-of-season clothes first, saving clothes you’d wear this season for last. Packing in the spring? Then start packing your winter jackets and coats. This way you won’t pack something you may need before your move.

Pack correctly
If you have extra suitcases, pack your clothes in luggage first, before you get to
boxes. Suitcases are much more sturdy then the average cardboard box. Moving companies in Los Angeles are able to provide wardrobe boxes that are
designed to make moving clothes easier. These tall boxes have a build-in rod that will
allow you to pack your clothes on hangers, keeping them neat and wrinkle-free.

Tips
You don’t want to pack jewelry with your clothes.
Don’t pack shoes with clothing to avoid getting your clothes dirty.
Do not try to use clothes as padding for fragile items. You can damage both items.
For items like formal dresses or suits, place them in garment bags and move them
separately, or pack them in wardrobe boxes you can get from Los Angeles movers.
You can also save space by using the vacuum-sealed space bags available at many
retail stores.

Wardrobe boxes

Make sure to have a truck big enough for everything you are planning to move. One trip or two, at most. Several trips back and forth will make you very tired, and will run up gas costs, which can end up being very expensive.

You want to start loading the largest and/or heaviest items first. Items such as refrigerators, washing machines, and stoves should be loaded as close to the cab as possible. You can use furniture pads between the heavy items to cushion them and prevent damage. Movers Los Angeles trucks already come with all the moving equipment needed to make the loading of all these heavy items much easier.

Furniture should follow the heavy items. Large furniture such as sofas and coffee tables  should be packed close together to prevent sliding around while transporting. Use shrink or bubble wrap to protect glass and dresser mirrors because they are fragile. Arrange your mattresses and box springs in between long mirrors, headboards, chests and tables to help cushion and protect wood and mirrors.

Try balancing the load while you pack a moving truck. Place equal amounts of heavy items on either side of the truck for a smoother ride and for safety reasons. An unbalanced truck that’s too heavy on one side can topple over when making a sharp turn.

At the end, stack your heaviest boxes, balancing the load evenly on both sides. Put your lightest on top. Finally, load the most fragile items on top of the boxes. Don’t forget to make sure to have these boxes well-covered and marked ‘Fragile.’

Things not to load on a moving truck: 

Do not put any bed linens, pillows, towels and personal care items your family will need for the first night in the moving truck. This will be very helpful since it will most likely take you a couple of days to finish unpack.

Moving your own household is no easy task. You don’t have to spend a fortune to hire a professional moving company. After all there are reliable cheap movers in Los Angeles.

There are two ways to move a pool table. Either moving it on a dolly in one piece, or disassembling and then reassembling it back again. Both methods are somewhat risky because the slate of the pool table is the most susceptible part to get damaged due to mishandling. The slate is composed of three parts, and damaging one part would require replacing the entire slate.

Using a Dolly
You will need to get a four-wheel dolly with a cushion to move a pool table without disassembling it. The cushion will help prevent your table from getting scratched. Make sure to have help from friends or family. You need to hold the dolly steady so that you can lift the pool table on its side and place it on top of the dolly. This will help transport the table to its new spot. If it is being transported to an entirely different location, then you will need to wrap the entire table with bubble wrap and shrink wrap to prevent any damage from happening. You will need a lot of extra hands to load the pool table unto a truck if the truck doesn’t have a lift gate. Be aware of how you lift the table because you can seriously injure your back. A moving company Los Angeles would have the right equipment and the truck to lift your table.

Using the Disassembling Method
Disassembling and reassembling the pool table minimizes the risk of damage, but the
technique to do this requires some level of expertise. You can use the pool table manual for a guide on how to disassemble the table piece by piece. If not no guide is available, try to disassemble as best you can, but remember where each part goes. You can take several pictures and/or mark each piece to help with reassembling. Detach the rails and pockets
and unscrew the slate on its surface until it is mounted on the table.

To be on the safe side, do hire a moving service Los Angeles to make sure you pool table is moved without a hitch. Since they are professionals, they can move the table properly, eliminating the fear that the slate will crack, the rails will break, or you will hurt yourself or others.

Food Packing for a Family

For a family that normally stocks up on the essentials and extras, food packing for a long-distance move becomes trickier. In the months leading up to your move, slowly deplete your overstock of food.

Don’t open new containers unless you really have to. For example, if you need ketchup, don’t pry open a brand new bottle; instead, grab some ketchup packets at your local restaurant.

Focus on ridding your refrigerator and freezer of leftovers, frozen meats that are not in sealed boxes, and opened bags of frozen vegetables.

If your trip will take more than four hours, consider donating any frozen food to a local shelter. Or, have a going away party!

What Food to Pack

With a few exceptions, you want to pack only items in sealed boxes, cans or bottles. It might be easier to just replace things rather than dealing with spills.

How to Pack Food for a Move

The list of food you’ll be packing for your move should very short, especially if your move will take more than four hours. Follow these packing tips to move food safely and efficiently.

• Canned goods: Pack canned goods in a sturdy box. Make sure the box is not too heavy, or it can give in and rip. If you don’t want to risk injuring yourself, Los Angeles movers can be very useful in moving the boxes.
• Dry, boxed items: Pack these on top of cans and jars, or in their own box. If a package
is open, place it in a large zipper storage bag to keep any possible spill contained.
• Unopened beverages, condiments: Make sure to wrap any glass bottles or jars in kitchen towels or bubble wrap. Don’t put anything heavy on top of them.
• Sealed chips, cookies, cake: These are best in their own box or a plastic shopping bag, with heavier items like cakes and cookies on the bottom and chips and bread on top.
• Sealed flour, sugar: Use a plastic shopping bag, tied shut, for these items. Place each item in its own zipper storage bag and seal it shut with duct tape. You can then pack these safely in any box with kitchen items.

Packing Up Food

Your electronics may be the most valuable items in your home, and they can be pretty challenging to pack.  While it would be best to use their original packaging, not everyone holds onto such items. You will definitely need new packing materials to ensure they are safely packed. If you use materials that conduct electricity, they may cause some damage to the electronics.  To prevent this ,make sure to use only non-static bubble wrap, and foam.  Movers in Los Angeles always carry the right materials.

Before you start, make sure the items are ready to be packed. Once emptied and turned completely off, remove the wires and, at the same time, label them not to get them confused.

Tip: If you are concerned with not remembering how to reconnect your electronics, take a picture of the configuration.  When reconnecting you can use the picture as a reference.

Once the wires are removed, packing electronics requires a bit of work, since the slightest bump can cause severe damage to them.  Los Angeles moving services would be the best choice to wrap these items since they do this on a regular basis.  But if you want to try to do so yourself, its recommended to pack each item in a box that is slightly larger then the item itself. The more closely fitting a box is, the more protected your items will be.  Before placing item in the box, you will need to secure it with appropriate padding material.

When it comes to computers, pay extra attention to the central processing unit (CPU) of your computer.  It is the most sensitive part,and can be damaged by jarring.  Again, avoid using packing peanuts with the CPU as cushioning because they can cause static and can result in damaging the information stored on the CPU. To be on the safe side, you can consider backing up your files in case something was to happen.

Try to maintain appropriate temperature for your electronics.  Remove ink and toner cartridges from printer and faxes.

As you close your boxes, check again to make sure items are as snug fitting as possible. Once your boxes are sealed, remember to label the box as “Fragile” and/or “Top Load only,” so you and your movers Los Angeles know not to place other boxes on top of them when loading the truck.

When unpacking your television at your new location, keep in mind that plasma and LCD TVs often take a few hours after being hooked up to calibrate before they are turned on.