Nobody enjoys moving. It takes all day and most of the next day. It’s tiring. It’s often expensive, and it causes generally rational people to consider abandoning their property instead of hauling it up three flights of stairs.
Human technology, however, is a magnificent and adaptable thing, and over the course of civilization we’ve come up with some pretty nifty ways to move several heavy objects from one place to the next. From NYC’s best moving companies, here are some best practices for loading and unloading a moving truck.
First in Last Out
The order in which you arrange your items for storage on a moving truck is of vital importance. If your items and boxes are out of order, it will likely automatically add to the time and exhaustion factors of moving. It may also make your moving truck harder to maneuver and could damage your property.
In general, tallest and heaviest items should be loaded first, followed by the longest/widest and lightest items. The main practical reason for this is simple. Taller items can’t be stacked efficiently, and heavy items should always be as close to the moving truck’s deck as possible to avoid tipping accidents.
When you begin loading, your heavy items should start as close to the truck or loading area as possible, with your lightest items further back. This will not only encourage proper ordering but will also reduce exhaustion.
Square Off
If possible, everything should be packed in boxes (check out these by cheapcheapmovingboxes.com). Boxes can be efficiently stacked, arranged in rows and organized by size and type. Moving boxes should also be packed until full, which means if whatever is in the box doesn’t fill its volume completely, the rest of the available area should be packed with protective cushioning or packing paper to prevent items in the box from shifting during the move.
Anything that can be disassembled should be, as smaller items are far easier to navigate into storage containers than larger objects.
Don’t Overload
It is tempting to just put all your books in one box. You will recognize the error of this concept when you need three people and a small horse to help you move that box up the three-inch step on your front porch. When in doubt, start another box. Unless necessary, no moving box should exceed about 40 pounds in total weight. This limit is both for safety and practicality.
As always, safety should come first, and hurrying is almost always a bad idea. Moving doesn’t necessarily have to be unpleasant. You will often find moving companies, truck rental companies, and even furniture stores can be an excellent resource if you are looking for advice on how to best move from house to house or business to business.