Boston Movers Blog

When you are moving into a new home, relieving any portion of stress seems like a good idea. Saving money on the move can be a great stress reliever for many. Often this means self-packing. For others having the moving company pack and move you is money well spent and well worth it.

If you are a self packer, don’t try to save money by cutting corners on moving boxes. You may consider yourself a savvy penny pincher by collecting boxes from grocery and liquor stores and the office supply room. This may seem like a great cost saving idea, but in addition to the time, energy and effort this takes, the boxes themselves are compromised.

Marathon’s moving boxes are manufactured for moving household goods. Our packing supplies provide the best protection for your special belongings. The boxes are sized to fit across the floor of the moving van and are also designed to be stacked 4 or 5 high without damage. This saves time loading the moving van but also reduces movement among the boxes which can cause damage to your belongings.
 
Marathon Moving offers free delivery of moving supplies to your home for orders over $100.

Self packing certainly can save you money over a full-service move, but not if it is at the expense of your valuable, sentimental or special possessions. You can put no price on the loss of those items. Often self-packers and movers will regret irreparable damage to photos, LP collections, artwork, breakables, books and DVD’s.

Often these items are irreplaceable, if not in monetary value, certainly in sentimental value and importance. Breakable items and items of sentimental value need to be given special attention during packing up and during the actual move.

Pack photo albums, CD’s, LP’s and DVD’s vertically, not flat, for the best protection. Gravity and heat work together and warp electronic media and stick photos together.  Books should also be packed standing upright as well, with the books bindings facing outward. This gives the best care to the book’s bindings.
 
When Marathon Moving packs these types of items for you, we  pack and transport treasured items in center position. Boxes in center position are surrounded on all sides and benefit from protective insulation. For moving and packing tips, watch our videos. For help with your move, contact Marathon Moving.

There are ways to make your move less stressful, and allow it to be the enjoyable life event that it should be. You are beginning anew, enjoy it. In order to decrease stress, the more time you give yourself preparing for the move, the less stress you will have during the move. Here are some things to think about well ahead of time (a couple months in advance if you can), in order to reduce stress, stay organized, and stay calm. 

• Make a moving file so all your move information is in one place.
• Make the decision: Will you hire a moving company or move yourself?
• If you are hiring company do your research and hire a moving company.
• If you are making a long-distance move, check to see if there are any special considerations you need to make like arranging for auto shipping.
• Set up a moving budget.
• Do some research on the area you will be moving to and research local schools.
• Find new care providers, like doctors, child care, for you and your family.
• Look into transferring any school or medical records.
• Make a list of who to notify about your move and when. This is a list of friends, creditors, doctors, schools, and any church or professional organizations.
• Start gathering and purchasing moving supplies and moving boxes.

There are plenty of moving checklists and timelines available with the intention of a stress free, or at least, stress free move. In order to set up an appointment for an in home estimate, contact Marathon Moving.

For a commercial or local move, you could get boxes from the grocery and liquor stores in which to pack your personal possessions. But why? Using boxes from grocery and liquor stores opens you up to stained or compromised boxes, pests, and boxes that are hard to label.

When you are packing for a commercial move or residential move, organization and safe and clean moving boxes are necessary. You are packing your personal possessions or, in the case of a commercial move, you are packing up your business. Nothing is more important than the care of these items.

Order clean moving boxes and all of your packing supplies from Marathon Moving. Marathon makes it easy with free home/office delivery of your supplies with a minimum $100.00 order.

For any box delivery between September 15th and December 15th 2011, buy $100 in packing supplies or boxes and receive the next $50 worth free. Maximum of $50 in free materials per move. All you have to do is mention the website-only box promotion when ordering your boxes. And don’t forget about the free home/office delivery. Contact Marathon Moving for your Moving supplies.

You are moving and you need packing supplies. Besides moving boxes and packing paper, you may be considering packing peanuts and bubble wrap for your more fragile items.

Packing peanuts and bubble wrap are two popular packaging products but which is best for providing packing protection?

Bubble wrap is very popular for those who want to store or move artwork. But it is also perfect for moving electrical components, glass, china and all things breakable. And, if you are going to self pack, it reduces the time you are going to spend packing.

While packing peanuts are good for filling the spaces in moving boxes, when you are wrapping fragile items, bubble wrap is best because it can be folded around the item you are packing for protection. It is unmoving and the item is perfectly protected and insulated.

If it is fragile, bubble wrap can ease your state of mind because it offers protection from damage caused by shock or vibration.
 
Contact Marathon Moving for your moving supplies.

Many people opt to pack themselves when they move. If you decide to do this, be sure to take enough time to do it so that the packing doesn’t become a race to the finish. When you pack in a hurry, things get broken. Also, be sure you have the right moving and packing supplies.

Be sure that everything is in the right sized box. Boxes that are too small allow your items to get damaged, but also, they don’t stack properly, making your move inefficient and precarious.

Be sure that you use enough packing paper, newspaper or peanuts. If you leave extra space in a box, that area needs to be filled with paper or peanuts so that the item does not move in transit. Using too much packing paper is better than using too little.

Sofa pillows also make great packing filler.

When packing books, face the spines of the books to the outside of the box. This protects the book ends and has them in there at their sturdiest.

CD’s should also be placed on their ends, not flat. This is how CD’s are at their sturdiest.

Be sure that all of your boxes are labeled in multiple spots to make it easiest to know where the boxes should go. It is better to label the boxes by the room rather than the contents. You are paying the movers by the hours, so you definitely want them to easily be able to find where the box goes.

When you are packing fragile items in a box, be sure there is a cushioniong at the bottom of the box. Either a sofa pillow, a layer of packing peanuts, or some rolls of packing paper.

At Marathon Moving, we have all kinds of moving tips for you. Watch our videos for more information on packing  moving boxes.

Moving is a fun and exciting event, however it can also be time consuming and stressful. When you choose a moving company, the next question is usually, “should we pack ourselves, or pay to be packed?” Packing your home can be a very daunting task that requires a significant commitment of time and energy.

There is a time/cost benefit to having someone else pack for you. Your job is to consider if it is worth the time and stress savings to have Marathon Moving pack up your personal belongings. Moving companies, the good ones at least, are professional packers. So your items will be efficiently and safely packed, that you can rely on. Many Marathon customers choose to use our professional packing services for their most treasured possessions, while others have us pack all of their belongings.

Let us put your mind at ease with our careful and efficient handling of your belongings. A professional pack by Marathon has many benefits. The first of which is the added convenience of access to your belongings right up to the day of your move or the days immediately prior to your move. In addition, your goods will be protected by professional packing methods, and you will have more time to tend to other matters.

Regardless of how you choose to pack up, your move consultant will tailor your service request to meet your needs.
If you are packing yourself, we have provided some helpful tips on our packing tips page and we offer free to home delivery of all your packing supplies.

Moving Companies in Boston

Marathon Moving Company wants your move to go as smoothly as possible. If you have decided to pack your own belongings, we would like to offer the following packing tips to help ensure a safe arrival of all your possessions.

• Use professional packing materials as these will save you time and ensure the safety of your goods.
• Make certain all cartons are taped securely, top and bottom. Use carton sealing tape and not masking tape or duct tape.
• Label all fragile boxes and stack them separately from your other cartons.
• Label all cartons. Cartons should be labeled for contents and destination on two sides of the box to make it easy for your movers to identify where each carton should go.
• Tightly secure the lids to any containers that contain liquids.
• Leave clothes and light linens in bureau drawers. Your movers will be able to move your bureaus full. Any breakables such as perfume bottles or costume jewelry should be removed and packed into a carton.
• Small, 2 drawer file cabinets can be moved full. Four drawer filing cabinets should have the bottom two drawers full. All lateral style cabinets must be completely emptied.
• Empty desk drawers. Desks often need to be turned on their side to get through doorways and loose items may fall out and be lost.
• Make a list of all items you will need for a few days prior to and immediately following your move. These items should be separated and labeled “DO NOT MOVE”. These items should include: soap, towels, toothpaste, toilet paper, cereals, bowls, plates and utensils, cups, sheets, blankets, and immediately needed clothes.
• Pack heavy items in small cartons, i.e. books, records and canned goods, etc.
• Fill all cartons to the top as half-filled cartons tend to crush. Do not, overfill cartons because rounded top cartons are hard to stack.
• Pack all items snugly into cartons using unprinted newspaper for fragile items. Use crushed paper to fill any gaps in cartons to prevent items from shifting

We know that moving into a new home and relocating your family can be a very stressful time. Marathon Moving Company wants your move to go as smoothly as possible. If you have decided to pack your own belongings, we would like to offer the following packing tips to help ensure the safe arrival of all your possessions.

6-8 WEEKS PRIOR TO YOUR MOVE

• Clean out basement, attic, garage, and closets.
• Determine items to keep, discard, donate, or sell.
• Make arrangements for a tag sale for approximately 1 month prior to your move (this will allow time to donate or discard unsold items).
• Contact moving companies to obtain quotes for your move.

• Send furniture, drapes, and carpets for cleaning or repair.
• Research moving companies you are considering with the Massachusetts DTE (licensing board for MA moving companies), through company provided references, and the BBB.
• Do not be afraid to request proofs of insurance from companies you are considering.  Hiring an uninsured mover can leave you with unpaid damage claims, or you can be found liable for property damage and or personal injury claims.
• Select a moving company and confirm your moving date.
• Order packing supplies and arrange for their delivery or pick up.
• Secure elevators, loading docks, or parking permits if necessary.

• Begin packing seldom used items such as china, holiday decorations and basement or attic storage areas.
• File a change of address form with Post Office.
• Contact charities to arrange pickup of items to be donated.
• Notify utility companies and arrange for transfer of services.
• Notify all banks, insurance companies, brokerage houses, service providers and creditors of address change.

• Begin packing all but essential items.
• Finalize closing times with real estate attorney or mortgage company.
• Organize all bills, stocks, insurance policies and bank account statements.
• Make special arrangements for children and pets on moving day.
• If not moving locally, obtain all medical, dental and veterinarian records.

Those who plan early and educate continually throughout the relocation process enjoy the smoothest and most cost effective experience.   We are proud to offer “continuing education” on the moving process and the Boston area via our Facebook page and the Marathon Moving blog “RSS Feed”.  The feedback is universally positive regarding the valued lessons learned that we regularly provide you on Facebook and within our weekly blog.   
 
Moving you and your family’s household goods both safely and economically need not be a daunting task, however it is something you need to stay on top of from the moment you decide to relocate.  We’ll send you answers to frequently asked questions, money saving tips on moving supplies, insights into Boston area living, and much more.  We like to think of ourselves as more than just Boston’s most professional moving service, we like to think of ourselves as a friendly neighbor.

To sign up, please visit our Facebook page and click the “Like” button.  Also, navigate to our blog page and click the “Grab the marathon RSS Feed” link at the top of the page.  You’ll get the week’s lesson on Boston moving sent to you in real time.  
 
Regarding this week’s continuing education……class dismissed.