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As Cincinnati Movers, our customers often ask us for tips to help them be better prepared for their move. We've decided to list those tips here to help give you the best move possible.
Light Bulbs:
We feel it is important to share our wealth of moving knowledge with
our customers so that you can have a better moving experience. This
weeks moving tip involves light bulbs. We recommend to all of our
customers that they remove the light bulbs from all of their lamps,
entertainment centers, and other items to prevent shattering during
your move. What most customers don't know is that the inside of a
moving truck is constantly vibrating. This can sometimes cause loose
light bulbs to work themselves out of their sockets resulting in a
break, and in the case of larger bulbs, a large pile of glass. Before
your movers arrive, it is a good idea to place your bulbs in a separate
and well padded box marked as fragile glass for your movers to identify.
Flat Screen Televisions:
As a Cincinnati Moving Company,
customers often call us and ask how they should prepare their flat
screen television for transport. As the cost of these televisions have
fallen, nearly every household in America now has one. Here at Move Cheap Cincinnati Movers,
we want everyone's television to make it through the moving process so
it can be enjoyed in their new home. Here are a few tips that we
recommend when moving your flat screen.
- If
at all possible, always keep the original container the TV was packaged
in. This will be the best box to transport your TV as it was designed
for it.
- If you don't have the original box, Uhaul now makes a box for flat screens. Keep in mind, however, that this box is costly and will not work for every television. now offers a
- If
you do not have the original, and cannot find a box that will fit, your
next best option will be to craft one. You'll want to protect the
screen with a non-abrasive blanket, and then wrap the television with
plastic wrap. Once that has been completed, you'll need to fashion
corrugated cardboard on the outside of the wrapped TV, and tape it
securely. It is now ready for transport!
- While being prepared and positioned into your moving truck, your flat screen television should NEVER be laid down flat. All flat screens whether they're LCD, LED, or Plasma, should ALWAYS
remain vertical. Laying them flat could cause the technology to
malfunction, and it creates a larger surface area to sustain damage.
- Once
your TV has arrived at your new home, it's always a good idea to remove
it from its packaging and plug it in to be sure it wasn't damaged
during your move.
Prepping Appliances:
As Cincinnati Movers,
Move Cheap's service is all about saving our customers time and money
without sacrificing quality. A key tip in saving time is having your
appliances prepped before we arrive to move them, and/or ready to
install when they are unloaded in to your new home.
- Refrigerators
are easy enough, but if you have an ice maker or a water dispenser, you
also have an attached water line. Before disconnecting this line from
your fridge, be sure to turn it off first. Not doing so could cause a
small lake to form in your kitchen! Once the power and water have been
disconnected, you may want to remove any shelves from the inside of the
fridge that don't seem stable. We have also found that its a good idea
to measure the new space where you plan to place your fridge. There's
nothing worse than moving into your new home only to realize your
fridge won't fit.
- Dryers
are usually lite and easy to move. It's the dryer's plug that can cause
a moving nightmare! Some dryers have a 3 prong power cord, while others
have a 4 prong. Before moving into your new home, check to see what
type of receptacle (or power outlet) has been installed for your
laundry area. If you need to change cords, one can be purchased at your
local Sears or Lowes. Your dryer vent hose may also need to be looked at as some laundry areas may require a longer hose.
- Washers
will generally be the heaviest of your appliances, but that can be
avoided if you run it through an extra spin cycle to help get rid of
the access water collected inside. If you haven't moved in some time,
it will be necessary to check your water connections to be sure they
haven't rusted shut or need to be replaced. Before disconnecting, be
sure you turn the water source off. Lefty loosey, righty tighty!
- Gas Appliances will need to have their gas valve closed before disconnecting.
As your Cincinnati Movers,
we will always be happy to disconnect and reconnect your appliances at
no extra charge if you choose for us to do so, and we will always bring
the tools to do the job correctly. However, being prepared ahead of
time can save you time and money in the long run.
Rental Trucks:
As Cincinnati Movers,
our customers often ask us who they should select as their provider for
a rental truck. As there are only three large competitors in the
Cincinnati Area (Penske, Uhaul, Budget), here are a few tips to put you in the right direction.
- The
first thing we feel you should always look for is customer service. If
a company is incapable of treating you right or making you feel
comfortable, odds are they treat their truck inventory the same way.
- Price
is always a factor, but how far will that price get you? When renting
locally, most companies charge you a base price in addition to a
mileage charge. Each company is different, so be sure to compare all
companies. When moving one way, or long distance, each company will
give you a flat rate for the truck. What you need to watch out for here
is how many days they give you to use the truck and how many miles are
included in that price. Uhaul gives you a set allowance of miles and
charges for each additional mile over, while both Penske and Budget
give you unlimited miles.
- What is the condition of the truck?
Which ever dealer you decide to rent your moving truck from, be sure to
take a good look at the trucks they keep on their lot and the condition
they're in. Is the tire tread good? Are there a lot of visible dings
and dents? Is the cargo area swept out and clean? Do all the lights
work? If you can answer no to any of these questions, it is probably a good idea to select a different dealer.
- How
old is the truck? While Uhaul is known for keeping the oldest fleet of
trucks in service, Penske is equally known for keeping the newest tucks
in service. If a truck is rented to you that has well over 200,000
miles on it, it is definitely worth asking for a lower mileage truck.
Always ask your dealer how often they service their trucks to be sure
your receiving a road worthy vehicle.
- Ramp height can also
be a determining factor when selecting a truck rental company. Uhaul is
universally known for having the lowest ramps and therefore easier to
load, while Budget's are a medium height, and Penske's are the highest
in the industry. Some companies also offer a lift gate, but they
normally slow the moving process down.
- Be sure to compare the
different types of insurances that are offered by the respective
companies and also check with your insurance company to determine if
they cover you driving the truck and/or its contents.
- Our
last suggestion to help you select a truck rental company is to read
their customer reviews. There are places all over the internet, and
even on the company's sites themselves where customers have written
reviews about their experiences. When in doubt, google the company, and look for their reviews in the local business section.
Scheduling Your Move:
One of the most important steps of
the moving process is knowing when to schedule your move, but from time
to time we have been forced to turn down a moving request simply
because we are already booked. We know that finding that particular day
to move is key in any moving situation. As your Cincinnati Moving Company,
we are normally available to handle last minute requests, but we've
noticed the customer has often not had enough time to prepare to move
on these occasions. Here are some tips our experience has taught us to
help schedule your move, and assure that our services are not already
booked.
- The first
five days and the last five days of each month will always book up the
fastest. This is generally the time when leases are up on apartments
and those residences are moving. If you're planning to move on one of
these days, it is ALWAYS a good idea to give Move Cheap Cincinnati Movers a month to a month and a half notice to guarantee a reservation.
- Fridays,
Saturdays, and Sundays are the next set of days that book up quickly.
These are often the days when our customers are off of work and/or have
the time to move. We find that two weeks is usually sufficient time if
you'd like a weekend spot.
- The Summer months of June , July , and August are the busiest season for Move Cheap.
This is when kids are out of school and many families use their
vacations to move. If you are planning to move during these months, two
to three weeks advance notice is a good time to schedule outside of the
exceptions listed above.
Keep in mind that these same guidelines can also be considered when setting up a reservation for your rental moving truck (Uhaul, Penske, Budget), trailer (ABF), or mobile storage unit (PODS, Units, GetaSam, Packrat). The sooner you book your move and your moving transport, the smoother your move will be.
Winter and Floors:
As we have entered the midst of the winter season, we'd like to offer
some small advice to our Cincinnati tri-state customers. The number one
danger to movers in the winter time is ice. Please, under no
circumstances, pour hot or scalding water on the iced over ground in
order to melt it. The water will only refreeze and likely cause an
accident. If you choose Move Cheap as your Cincinnati moving company, we suggest using rock salt or ice melt
on the path between your truck to your home. It will also be a good
idea to place some on the ramp of the truck, as well as around the
truck itself. This will cause the ice to melt as well as give your
movers better traction while carrying your furniture and boxes.
We
understand you might have a concern about bringing the outside mess
into your home. It will be a good idea to have a mat at your front door
in order for your movers to wipe their shoes off. It is against our
policy to remove our footwear at any time in order to prevent an
accident. You also have the option to place a roll of plastic floor protection on your floors to create a path inside your home for your movers to follow.
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