A change of address is always exhilarating, but moving house is rarely a pleasure - and that's saying something! You have to gather and pack all your belongings, dismantle and protect the furniture to be moved, load and unload kilos of boxes and furniture, deal with administrative formalities... All laborious chores we'd all like to avoid! If you can't entrust all these tedious and time-consuming operations to a mover, there are a few tricks that can make your move a whole lot easier. From preparation to reinstallation, handling and transportation, every stage of a move is covered!
Our tips for packing your moving boxes
Recover old cardboard boxes from stores
Not only is it economical, it's also eco-responsible, since you're recycling in the process. To take this a step further, dispose of your boxes in containers after you've moved in, or give them to prospective movers for reuse.
When moving, always use boxes of different sizes and thicknesses for the heaviest items. To reinforce the strength of one box, you can slide it into a slightly larger one. Double thickness will give you a much stronger packing for heavy items, such as crockery or books.
Get rid of what you no longer use
Before you move, start by sorting your belongings and clearing out your cupboards. This way, you can avoid moving boxes that could clutter up your new home unnecessarily. The icing on the cake: this will save you time, make people happy if you give them away, and enable you to rent a smaller truck for the move!
Identify the contents and destination of your boxes
As you pack your belongings, take the time to indicate the contents of each box: this will help you know which one to open in case of urgent need.
You can also color-code each box to indicate its destination room. To do this, use coloured tape or stickers: red for the kitchen, green for your bedroom, and yellow for your children's room, for example. On arrival, simply place the boxes in each room, according to their color code, to make unpacking and putting them back in place easier.
Protect your crockery against shocks
To avoid shocks and limit breakage, we strongly recommend using cardboard boxes specially designed for moving crockery, and in particular glasses. You can also slip towels into your crockery boxes to protect them.
To prevent plates from colliding during loading/unloading and transportation, you can also insert disposable plates between each one. They act as a buffer and limit the risk of breakage.
Use special closet boxes
If you're in a hurry, leave your clothes on their hangers and use special closet boxes. If you don't have any (or don't want to invest in this type of packaging), simply slip all your clothes and hangers into new garbage bags to protect them during the journey. It's practical, quick and very economical!
To transport drawers and their contents without emptying them, you can line them entirely with cellophane paper, which can then be removed on arrival and returned to its original position. This will save you time if you run out. Be careful not to leave any empty spaces, however, to avoid losing items during loading and unloading.
Create handles on your boxes or use suitcases
If you create handles on your boxes, they'll be easier to grip and carry, especially if they're heavy. This moving tip is particularly useful for boxes of crockery and books, which are generally the hardest to carry.
You can also put your books in suitcases with wheels to move them more easily. This will save you from taking up space in the truck with empty suitcases, and from carrying books accumulated in boxes. But beware of stairs if you don't have an elevator!
Our tips for moving furniture and appliances
Take photos of your connections
Take photos of the connections of your electrical appliances before removing all the cables, so you don't have to pore over the instructions when reinstalling them. This moving tip is especially useful for HI-FI/TV appliances, which can be relatively complex.
Defrost your fridge and freezer
Defrost your fridge and freezer in advance so that they're completely empty and clean on the big day: this will avoid leaving water marks in your apartment, stairwell and truck.
A few clever transport ideas
Tape your mirrors in the shape of an X, and put cardboard in the corners to protect them.
Tape furniture drawers to prevent them from opening and causing damage in transit.
Store dismantled furniture screws in individual, clearly identified plastic bags, to avoid losing them or chasing them for reassembly.
Our moving tips for transporting and loading boxes
Equip yourself to save time
Don't hesitate to use a hand truck or boards on wheels to move your belongings more easily. And if you're renting a truck for the move, opt for vehicles with a tailgate, which will make loading and unloading much easier. Depending on the situation, you may also want to rent a furniture lift.
Anticipate where your removal truck will park
You should also consider reserving a parking space close to the entrance to your home, to save loading time. Procedures vary from one commune to another.
Reservations may be free or subject to a charge, depending on whether you're moving to the city or the country. In all cases, the Town Hall and its Sailing Department will advise you on the procedure to follow to ensure you have one or more spaces to park your vehicle as close as possible on the big day.
Load the truck wisely
Professional movers know: the truck must be loaded in a certain order to optimize loading. Don't put the boxes at the very bottom of the truck first. They will be used to fill the gaps.
Load heavy equipment on the bottom first (washing machine, fridge, tumble dryer), then long, bulky items on the sides (mattresses, furniture, sofa). You can attach them to the sides of the truck if you have straps.
Then fill the remaining empty spaces with cardboard boxes, preferably in the center. Soft objects stored in plastic bags (blankets, comforters, pillows) can be used to wedge furniture and fragile objects.
Our tips for efficiency on moving day
There's an old saying: "He who wishes to travel far, spares his mount". To be efficient on the big day, take time out to hydrate and eat.
It's better to stop from time to time and keep your teams at full strength, rather than lose half the workforce along the way. And to deal with the inevitable little mishaps, always keep a first-aid kit close at hand.
Finally, plan a good meal at the end of the move to keep the troops motivated throughout the day. After the effort comes the comfort, to everyone's delight!
Moving tips: how to move cheaply?
Put the competition to work
To move cheaply, start by getting a quote from several movers or truck rental companies, so you can compare offers. To choose the best offer, take into account the level of service, and compare quotes for the same moving date.
Move during the week
You may not realize it, but mover and truck rental rates vary according to supply and demand. Demand is lower on weekdays, so you can get better prices if you schedule your move outside vacations and weekends.
This will help you avoid traffic jams, and pay less for your truck rental or mover. Depending on your company and collective agreements, your employer may even give you days off for moving during the week. It's worth asking!
Find out about moving assistance
There are a number of moving aids available to help you with the cost of changing address.
Young people, private-sector employees, civil servants, job-seekers and pensioners are all eligible for these subsidies, which help reduce the cost of moving house. Available on a means-tested or non-means-tested basis, these grants are awarded by various social organizations, including the Caisse d'Allocations Familiales (CAF), Action Logement, Pôle Emploi, the Fonds Social pour le Logement (FSL) and pension funds.
Find out before you move whether you are eligible for any of these grants, and apply in good time. Please note, however, that some moving aids are subject to specific deadlines, which means you'll need to plan ahead, or comply with certain rules when sending supporting documents.
Remember to recover the security deposit
If you've drilled holes in the walls to hang your pictures and decorations, remember to fill them in before you leave. And don't hesitate to give the walls a lick of paint before you check out, to avoid having your rent guarantee withheld because of any work you've done.
Now all you have to do is pack your bags, reassemble the furniture and empty the boxes in your new home. Happy moving! For a moving quote, please contact us.