Tag: #renovation

The Top 5 Benefits of Reusable Moving Boxes

Plastic moving boxes have saved many people from undue stress and hardship, especially when moving between homes. For one, they are a lot less expensive than cardboard boxes and can be used over and over again. Plastic moving boxes also make for very easy and stress-free packing, as it makes it possible to compartmentalize household items effortlessly, for easy sorting later on. They offer users many more benefits, with some of the top 5 outlined below.

1. Highly Durable

Plastic moving boxes are made of high-quality materials such as 100% recyclable materials and hard plastic, which make them highly durable. They can comfortably and securely about 40-50lbs of your possessions, without the fear of them getting damaged. Plastic moving boxes, unlike cardboard boxes, do not break or quaver under heavy weight, providing an extra layer of protection for your items and greater peace of mind.

2. Weatherproof

Another benefit of plastic moving boxes is that they provide increased protection for your items by protecting them from all weather conditions. With cardboard boxes, however, a downpour of rainfall can damage not just the your items in it as well. Exposure to harsh sunlight can also have damaging effects on cardboard moving boxes as well as your goods. None of these issues arise with the use of plastic moving boxes, as whatever is contained in them will remain exactly as you packed them regardless of the weather.

3. Easy to Stack

Stacking your moving boxes when moving from one home to another makes it easy to transport them. However, not all moving boxes can be stacked on top the other. Cardboard moving boxes, for instance, cannot be stacked very high, which means they take up more space in trucks, resulting in making multiple trips or increased moving costs. Plastic moving boxes, on the other hand, can easily be stacked on top of each other, allowing more of them to be conveyed at a given time, and thus going on fewer trips. about 1.5-2 hours with the movers, saving you money.

4. Affordable

When moving between homes, the last thing anyone wants to extra money on a thing such as moving boxes. Most people make the mistake of using cardboard boxes – which cost a lot of money, to move their things, when they could have chosen a better and more affordable option such as plastic moving boxes.

5. Easy to Carry

Moving boxes should be easy to carry and not cause the user any undue labor. Plastic moving boxes are designed with easy-to-carry handles which them easy to lift or to place on a dolly. Not only do cardboard boxes not have this special feature, but once filled makes carrying them very awkward and tedious; which is something no one wants to experience.

In conclusion, boxes or any other moving in terms of benefits as clearly outlined above. Therefore, if you are moving it is best that you get high-quality plastic moving boxes that will serve you better than cardboard boxes. At A SMART MOVE, we offer clean and sanitized quality plastic moving boxes for rent at affordable prices.

Place an order now or call us 858-790-8394 if you need more information.

Proudly serving San Diego and surrounding areas, A Smart Move is your number one moving supply specialist!

What to Leave Behind When Moving – 10 Top Tips

When moving between homes, deciding on what and what not to pack can easily fray your nerves and take you off schedule. Although we all long for a clutter-free home, letting go of certain items can be so difficult, which is why it is important to know which of your possessions to leave behind when moving. Making this tough, yet important, decision ahead of time will not only prevent a lot of the hassle involved in moving, but also save you some of the costs associated with moving supplies and truck trips. The following are some suggestions of things to leave behind when moving.

1. Old Clothing

Leave clothing which you haven’t worn in the last year or two behind, as moving with all of your old clothes is a sure way to create congested closet spaces in your new house.

2. Bathroom Items

Do not move your new home with expired bathroom items or cosmetics. Any bathroom item or cosmetics which you have had for more than 18 months should be left behind when moving.

3. Papers

Papers are heavy and can take up a lot of room in your moving , the truck, and your new space. Destroy any unimportant document and move with only important ones like real estate or financial records.

4. Old Furniture

Furniture is bulky and very heavy to is why you should let some of them go before moving. organizations will be so happy to receive your old furniture, provided they are in usable condition.

5. Garage Junk

The garage is one part of the has a lot of items that you never need. Garage items, especially those you have no use for, are known to clutter houses, and should not make it to your new home.

6. Bedding

The best time to replace the bedding in your home is after a move. Old bedding can be uncomfortable and take up a lot of room in the moving truck, and as such should be left behind.

7. Houseplants

When moving, leave behind your houseplants or find new homes for them. They might not even make it to your new homes, as the truck movements and lack of water can harm or kill them.

8. Leftover Paint

Leftover can paints other heavy items which you should leave behind when moving. The new residents of the house will appreciate having the right paint color to touch up scratches caused when moving.

9. In-Ground Features

Anything which is secured to the ground is not your property and considered real estate, so they should remain with the house even after you move. Things like mailboxes and fire pits should be left in place and not carried to your new home.

10. Warranties

Leave behind warranty paperwork for siding, appliances or replacement you recently remodeled, because these materials have transferable warranties, which remain in place after your relocation.

Purging your home of these things before moving will greatly reduce the amount of time involved in packing your possessions.

It is also a way to ensure a stress-free relocation and enjoy a clutter-free home. And, with A SMART MOVE plastic moving boxes, you can move the rest of your belongings safely to your new home.

Place an order now for quality boxes at affordable prices or call us 858-790-8349 if you need more information.

Proudly serving the Del Mar and surrounding areas, A Smart Move is your number one moving supply specialist!

7 Top Tips for Protecting Fragile Items in a Move

Improper packing of household items when moving can cause devastating consequences. In order to prevent moving tragedies from happening, you will need to ensure that all your household items, especially the fragile ones are properly packed. However, packing fragile items requires certain methods and techniques which you may not be familiar with, hence the need for you to learn the proper way to have them packed. Outlined below are some of the top tips and tricks to employ when packing fragile items for your move.

1. Make Use of Small Boxes:

Pack fragile items such as porcelain or glassware into small boxes, to prevent them from moving freely inside boxes. Also, it is important to make use of strong and sturdy boxes for fragile items, to aid easy transportation to your new home. Packing fragile items in large boxes make them prone to damage and make it difficult to carry.

2. Stuff Hollow Items:

To prevent damage to hollow and fragile items like vases, jars, and bowls, it is important to have them stuffed with packing paper or bubble wrap. Stuffing hollow items with packing paper makes them heavy enough to prevent them from easily bumping into one another, or the moving box they are placed in.

3. Wrap Items:

Fragile items can get shattered easily when they are placed together. To prevent them from shattering, you should consider wrapping each item with bubble wrap or packing paper. Fragile items should also be wrapped individually and according to weight and size. pieces such as covers, handle, etc. be wrapped separately in an insulating material.

4. Insulate the Bottom of the Box:

Before you place properly wrapped fragile items into moving boxes, you need to first insulate the bottom of the box. You can use soft materials like towels, bubble wrap or packing paper to insulate the box. Doing this will help to fortify the boxes as well as provide adequate padding for fragile items while they are in transit.

5. Mark All Boxes:

All the boxes containing fragile items should be labeled clearly and properly before they leave your house. Marking such boxes with the word “fragile” will ensure that anyone that handles it will do so with the utmost care. If you fail to label boxes containing fragile items properly, helpers or movers might carry them carelessly, which can lead to their damage.

6. Heavy Items:

Should be placed the Bottom as how you arrange the box containing fragile items when moving can play a huge role in what state they will arrive in. To prevent them from getting crushed or broken, you will need to first place the heaviest items at the bottom before placing less heavy items. Avoid moving boxes, to prevent damage to your fragile items.

7. Tape the Entire Box:

To provide moving boxes with extra strength, you will need to tape the entire box with heavy duty packing tape. Also, ensure that the bottom of the box is properly taped, to prevent fragile items from slipping through. Taping the surface of moving boxes containing fragile items will also prevent them from jiggling.

With these few tips and tricks, you can be confident that your fragile items will arrive at your new home in one piece.

In addition to following these tips, you should also get durable plastic moving boxes, instead of cardboard boxes, to ensure the safety of your items when moving.

A-Smart-Move provides high-quality plastic moving boxes for moving fragile items and other belongings. Order Now, or call us 858-790-8349 for more information.

Proudly serving the Solana Beach and surrounding areas, A Smart Move is your number one moving supply specialist!

Top 5 Tips for Packing Your Kitchen Like a Pro

When moving, a lot of people tend to leave out the kitchen for last because it is the part of the house which involves the most work. Even if you are the most organized person, packing your kitchen for your move will require a great deal of your concentration and time. What’s more, you may end up with a lot of broken dishes and glasses in your new home, if you do not know how to pack your kitchen properly. Therefore, it is important to learn how professional movers pack kitchens, to prevent you from losing precious kitchen fixtures.

The Step-By-Step Guide to Packing Your Kitchen for a Move

This ultimate step-by-step guide outlines how to pack all the items in your kitchen like a pro, and ensure that all your kitchen tools and equipment it safely to your new home.

1. Packing Dinnerware

These are one of the most fragile items you will find in your kitchen. will need to take special care when packing them. Before you put your dinnerware into moving boxes, place bubble wrap/packing paper at the bottom of the box; to cushion them from any gravitational impact. You can then begin by individually wrapping each item with paper/bubble wrap before placing them in the box.

2. Packing Silverware

Silverware like spoons, table knives and forks can damage fragile items if they are packed in the same box. Therefore, you will need to get a smaller box to put them in, before placing them in the moving box. To make it easy for you, sort your silverware according to type/size and tie them up with a rubber band or tape.  After sorting them into type/size, you can then place them into small boxes, like a shoebox, and tape shut it to prevent any spill.

3. Packing Appliances

A great way to pack kitchen appliances like microwave, dishwasher, toaster, etc. to place them in their original boxes. However, if you do not have those, you will need to get plastic moving boxes, big enough to house them. When packing kitchen appliances, remove and place all loose parts a separate box, yet keep the cords together for each item, to prevent them from loss/damage while in transit. Also, remember to label each box and avoid placing heavy items on boxes containing kitchen appliances.

4. Packing Pots & Pans

An easy trick to pack your pots and pans is to place them into one another, starting with the smallest, until they are all arranged. You can decide to arrange them in threes or fours so that they can sit comfortably in the moving box. For their covers, simply place them beside the pots, inside the box. If you have glass covers, wrap them up before placing them inside.

5. Packing Foodstuff

This is the best time to do away with spoilt or expired food items. Pack only those items which can withstand the trip to your new house, and avoid packing perishable foods. If you have dry foodstuff, you can place them in plastic bags for easy transporting. Wet and frozen foods should be given out before moving, but if you must move with them, ensure that they are properly wrapped or packaged to prevent spills.

Follow this ultimate guide to pack your kitchen like a pro when moving. Not only will it save you a lot of stress and time, but also make it easy for you to access and arrange kitchen items in your new home quickly.

To help you pack your kitchen like a pro, A-Smart-Move provides you with the highest quality plastic moving boxes in San Diego.

Our boxes can accommodate most of your kitchen needs – except your refrigerator and other large equipment, of course. Place an Order Now, or call us 858-790-8349 for more information.

Proudly serving the Escondido and surrounding areas, A Smart Move is your number one moving supply specialist!

The 5 Best Ways to Move Plants to a New Home

Moving houses deciding what to pack and what to leave behind. Sometimes, not knowing how to pack some important items may cause you to leave them behind, costing you money and time to replace them in your new home. Thus, it is important to know the right ways to move certain items in your home, to avoid leaving them behind and prevent them from damage while in transit. For instance, when packing glassware, there are certain techniques you need to employ to ensure that they make it to your new home in one piece.

Most people do not think moving their plants when moving house because they do not think it’s possible. However, plants can be moved, and just need to be handled like glassware and other fragile items. This is because are very delicate and require great care when handling, otherwise, they might die before they make it to your new home. The following steps outlined below will teach you how to move your plants to your new home.

1. Give Your Plants a Trim

Before moving plants, it is important to give them a good trim at least 2-3 days before your moving date. Pruning your plants before moving will make them more manageable and less likely to wither while in transit. Trimmed plants also tend to grow healthier when they are eventually re-planted in their new homes.

2. Water Plants Generously Before Moving

Plants that are well hydrated are a lot easier to move. Therefore, you should water your plants religiously in the days leading up to your move. Also, depending on the temperature and duration of the drive, you may need to water the plants while in transit. If you have plants that have bare roots like shrubs and daisies, soaking them in a bowl of water can also work.

3. Uproot Gently

Next, you will need to uproot your plants with as much care as you can muster. Well-hydrated plants are easier to uproot, so all you need to do is dig a ring round the plants and uproot. However, you need to ensure that you dig wide enough, to avoid cutting through the root. Using a trowel; measure at least 15 inches on both sides before uprooting.

4. Re-pot Uprooted Plants

Immediately after uprooting your plants, you need to re-pot them in smaller pots for easier transportation. Although you watered the plants before uprooting, you will need to water it again after . The pot should be filled with soil and watered before you place your plants in it. Alternatively, you can wrap the plant’s root and soil foil and place in a damp burlap sack, if you do not have small moving pots.

5. Pack Plants in Boxes

After your plants in smaller pots, you can now place them in plastic moving boxes. The boxes you use for your plants should be open and sturdy to prevent them from withering. If there are spaces around the boxes containing the plants, use bubble wrap, packing material or newspaper to fill them up, to prevent the plants from tipping.

Moving with plants can be very risky because changes associated with moving can be very hard on them. However, with the steps explained above, your plants are more likely to survive these changes and successfully make it to your new home.

A SMART MOVE provides sturdy plastic moving boxes, which you can use to move your plants, as well as the rest of your belongings safely to your new home.

Place an order now for quality boxes at affordable prices or call us 858-790-8349 if you need more information.

Proudly serving the Lemon Grove and surrounding areas, A Smart Move is your number one moving supply specialist!

How to Pack a Moving Truck Perfectly

When it comes to moving, there are many effective ways to ensure a smooth and less stressful move. Some of the popular options people use include hiring professional movers, enlisting the help of family and friends, and do-it-yourself move. Most home movers typically opt for the DIY move because it allows them to move at their own pace, and it’s generally less expensive than the other options. If you are planning a DIY move, there are vital tips you need to be aware of, including how to pack a moving truck.

A DIY move makes it possible for you to move by yourself, without hiring a moving company. However, in order to execute this moving method, you will need to learn how to pack your belonging, as well as the moving truck effectively to save space and time. Unlike regular vehicles, a moving truck requires strategic ways of loading it, to maximize space, and prevent multiple to-and-fro trips. Therefore, it is important to know how to go about packing a moving truck perfectly by following the steps outlined below.

1. Load Heavy Items First

Loading the moving truck with the heaviest or largest items first is one way to pack it perfectly. Therefore, items like mattresses, refrigerators, bed frames, couches and so on should be loaded at the bottom of the truck first. Packing this way will prevent lighter items from getting crushed.

2. Dismantle Furniture

Before you load your moving truck with furniture, you need to dismantle them first. Loading up assembled furniture will take a lot of space in the will cause you to make several trips. Thus, to maximize space, you should dismantle them before loading. Also, the weight of your furniture should be distributed evenly across the truck.

3. Roll Rugs and Carpets

All the rugs and carpets in your home should be rolled up before they are placed into the moving truck. When you roll your carpets and rugs, you get more room in your moving truck. However, before you load up your rolled rugs/carpet, be sure that they are well cleaned and wrapped in a plastic wrap to prevent bad odors.

4. Use and Stack Moving Boxes

When moving, you don’t just load all your belongings directly into the truck. You should get durable plastic moving boxes to store items, such as clothing, kitchen utensils, toys, books, and more. Then, stack the other in the moving truck to maximize space. The heavier boxes should be at the bottom, and the lighter boxes and those containing fragile items should be on top.

5. Evenly Distribute Weight

When packing your moving truck, it is important that the weight of your belongings is evenly distributed. When the weight is evenly distributed, it makes it a lot easier to load as well as unload the truck without your possessions tumbling over. An evenly distributed moving truck also makes it easy for you to control when driving.

6. Fasten Items with Moving Straps

After loading your household items the truck, make use of moving straps to properly secure them. Moving straps will prevent your belonging from moving and falling off while they are in transit. When strapping your items, begin with a section of the truck after which you continue to other sections. Moving boxes should be strapped as that they are securely held in place.

The improper loading of a moving truck makes it difficult to maximize its already limited space. However, by following these steps to perfectly pack a moving truck, you do not only get to maximize space, but also make it easier to unpack after moving.

You can place an Order at A-Smart-Move today, for quality plastic moving boxes that will stack easily in moving trucks without causing damage to your belongings, or call us 858-790-8349 for more information. 

Proudly serving the Vista and surrounding areas, A Smart Move is your number one moving supply specialist!

5 Common Packing Mistake & How To Avoid Them

Moving between homes can be very chaotic if you do not take the time to plan adequately for it. If you fail to prepare ahead of your move, when the day finally arrives, you will become frantic and prone to making many mistakes along the way. One of the easiest and most common mistakes you can make when moving is packing mistakes. To prevent you from making them, here are 5 of the most common packing mistakes you should avoid.

Moving takes time and effort to pull off successfully, so it is easy to make these mistakes, albeit unknowingly, when packing your possessions to move. This is why we have outlined some of the top mistakes you may make when packing, and added tips on how to avoid them.

1. Lack of a Packing Strategy

One mistake people make when moving is not having a packing strategy. The lack of a packing strategy results in many hours of wasted time and resources. Also, it will cause you to eventually pack haphazardly, leaving you with extra work when unpacking. You can avoid making this mistake by designing a packing strategy for each day until your moving day. Fill the days up with defined tasks to be carried out and ensure they are completed before the day runs out.

2. Not Enough Supplies

The abrupt stop in your packing due to packing supplies like moving boxes can be frustrating, especially if you have been on a roll. Running out of supplies means having to dash to the store to buy additional items, taking away from your already limited time and even making it difficult to get back to the you were initially. As a rule of thumb, always give room for excesses when buying or renting supplies just in case you run short.

3. Keeping Junk

Filling your boxes with junk is a waste of space, time, energy and supplies. It also makes packing a lot more difficult than necessary. Before you start the packing process, go through all your things and donate or sell those you no longer need. You can also recycle appropriate items and trash the ones that no longer serve any purpose. This will make room for the important stuff in your box as well as help keep it light.

4. Not Labeling Boxes

Packing your possessions without labeling them is another common mistake people make which you need to avoid. If you do this, you will experience a difficult time in unpacking as you would be unable to determine which items are in what box. Labeling your boxes when packing will give you a clue as to which boxes contain what and thus make it easy to unpack.

5. Over-packing Your Boxes

Boxes that are full to the brim become too heavy for the carrier, which can cause injury to them. It can also cause valuable items to spill and become damaged when they fall out. Boxes should contain just the required load which makes for easy stacking and hauling into the truck. It also helps to ensure that the integrity of your possessions remains intact while in transit.

These are some of the most common packing mistakes you can make when moving, and making a mental note to avoid them can ensure you have a successful and stress-free move.

To help you avoid making these packing mistakes, A SMART MOVE, offer the highest-quality plastic moving boxes for rent at affordable prices, which will help you pack adequately.

Place an order now or call us 858-790-8349 if you need more information. 

Proudly serving the Santee and surrounding areas, A Smart Move is your number one moving supply specialist!