Author: newarkwdb

Every house is unique because of the individual style that every family expresses in their decorating, furniture, and most importantly, the way they make their house their home. Your possessions are an expression of who you are and we, at First Class Van Lines, understand that you want only the most professional packing crew to handle them carefully, eliminating any damages that might arise during the moving process. Our crew uses only the best material and the most technically advanced moving equipment on the market, and utilize their packing methods effectively to ensure that your belongings are going to be safe, therefore decreasing any stress that you may feel.

If you wish for our crew to pack for you, our sales department can arrange a packing day, a few days before your moving date to make sure that you will be packed and ready and will enjoy the transition to your new home. Our crew will arrive prepared at your residence with small, medium, and large boxes depending on the size of your home, as well as, with packing tape, labels, bubble wrap, mattress bags, furniture blankets, and foam chips which guarantee the protection of your belongings. In addition, specialty boxes like wardrobe cartons, picture/mirror cartons, and china barrels will be available to pack all unique and delicate items.

In the case that you would like First Class Van Lines packing crew to only pack certain items, such as your china and any hanging art, this can also be arranged a couple of days prior to your moving date.

All of our packing professionals are minimum three years experience in packaging all sorts of items like chandeliers, wall units, small and large mirrors, treadmills, and four-poster beds. You can trust our trained crew to handle your possessions as if they are their own.

If you would like to pack your belongings yourself, always remember that moving time can be reduced if you prepare for the move carefully. Packing and disassembling any furniture such as beds, pool tables, and tables, can decrease the total time by hours, thus costing you less. Our crew will pad/bubble wrap all furniture for you, but packing your possessions into boxes should be completed before our crew arrives at your residence. If you are packing boxes yourself, please label them as ‘Packed by Owner’ because the free valuation coverage only covers boxes that are packed by our professional packing crew. We highly recommend that you purchase third-party full coverage insurance if you are packing the items yourself to protect your belongings in case of any damages caused by packing errors.

What are some tips for renting a moving truck or van?

Getting all of your things from point A to point B is one of the biggest challenges of the move to a new apartment. Often, this will involve renting a vehicle. Here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to moving truck rentals:

• First of all, make sure to get something you are comfortable driving. It doesn’t really matter if you have to make more trips if you are safe and feel better about the vehicle you are in.
• Comparison shopping is one of the key ingredients in the search for a good moving truck rental deal. Do your research ahead of time and most likely you’ll save some money by finding a cheap truck rental that is with a reliable company that will meet your needs.
• Just as you would with a rental car, inspect any vehicle you rent before taking it off the property. Make sure to document any damage to the company. Also, make sure that the doors close properly and that the locks work. After all, you’ll have your things inside.
• Check with your insurance company to see if you need to purchase insurance for the move or if you are already covered under your policy.

What are some tips for driving a rental van or truck?

If you don’t drive a truck in your day-to-day life, moving day has the potential to be a rather frightening experience. Driving, backing up and negotiating heavy traffic can all prove more difficult than the same things would if you were in a car. Just knowing a few tricks ahead of time can make the entire trip go much more smoothly and help you get used to driving in your moving truck rental.

• Try not to back up any farther than you have to. Have someone help you out and be your guide if you need to back up and can’t see where you are going.
• Be extra careful when you are turning. Leave yourself more room, as you can easily hit curbs, poles or other items. Trucks and vans have a larger turn radius than a car. Also, make sure you signal in enough time to warn those behind you of what you are doing.
• Drive defensively. While this is always a good driving tip, it pays off especially well when behind the wheel of a truck or van rental.
• Use your mirrors. This is important as it can be much harder to see everything around you when in a truck.
• Know your height. If you will be passing under any bridges or underpasses you’ll need to know if you will fit. The same goes for drive-through restaurants.

What questions can I ask to sort through moving quotes?

When you move you’ll have to decide if you want to rent a truck and move or if you want to hire a moving company to do it for you. Sorting through the details of moving quotes can be a hassle if you don’t have a plan for choosing one. Here are some things to keep in mind for your search:

• Know what you are looking for. Do you want the moving company to do it all or are you going to move smaller items yourself? Think this through and know what you are going to need from a company before you go looking. Specifics can help.
• Get an estimate in writing and make sure you know if it is a binding agreement or not.
• Make sure you know if the estimate includes everything or if there are any hidden charges.
• Ask what training the movers have had.
• Don’t forget to request references and make sure you check them. Also, check them out with agencies such as the Better Business Bureau and any local consumer affairs groups to be sure they have no complaints.
• Know without a doubt what the liability arrangements are with the moving company. There are different ways this can be done and you will want to be sure you are protected.

What are some things to remember when moving out of an apartment?

When moving from one apartment to another, it can help to have a checklist of things you will want to do prior to closing the door for good. Here is a good guide for moving out:

• Complete a change of address form at the post office to ensure you continue getting all of your bills, magazines and other mail. You can do this on the Internet if you want to save time. If you have a box, double-check it one last time prior to leaving.
• Retrieve any borrowed items from neighbors in the building and return any you have.
• Give the place a good cleaning and try to leave it as you found it. Don’t forget areas such as the oven and your storage unit if you have one in the building. If you did an inventory when you moved in, make sure that the place is as close as possible to the same condition.
• Do a walk through with your landlord to determine the state of your security deposit.
• Make sure you remove anything you have added to the apartment and want to take with you such as decorative pull-chains or wall unit air conditioners.
• Turn in your keys to the landlord.

If you are planning to move, then renting a moving van or truck could save a considerable amount of money. Some people require a one-way moving truck rental that means picking up the truck from one place and dropping it off at another. While others need a two-way moving truck rental that involves picking up and dropping it off at the same city. Renting and driving a moving truck could be as challenging as hiring a mover.

So follow these tips for renting a moving truck:

Timing – During the weekends or peak season, trucks lease out quickly. So, ensure that you book a truck at least one month before the moving day.

Truck Size – Determine the size of moving a truck that you need, based on the number of rooms to be moved. Trucks range in size from 10 feet (for 1-bedroom dwelling) up to 26 feet (for a 4-bedroom dwelling). Most of the rental agency provides a guide for determining the ideal size. Remember, your truck should be large enough to hold 8 – 10% more than what you own.

Get Cost – Make sure to get quotes from at least five rental agencies to find the one that works for you. Some rentals are based on a rate per day or/an hour, while some are based on a rate per mile.

Insurance – Most of the credit card and auto insurance policies do not cover moving trucks, so it is wise to acquire a particular coverage from the rental agency.

Required Documents – The rental agency will need to verify some documents such as driving license, credit card and proof of insurance before renting their truck.

Test your truck – Make sure to take a test drive for at least 20 – 30 minutes, and ensure that the tires are in good shape, and also directional signals, lights, brakes, odometer, windshield wipers, and speedometer are fully operational.

Deposits – Some rental agencies need a credit card deposit, while others will accept a cash deposit.

Questions asked by the rental agency – the Rental agency will ask you for the details of your move like destination, date/time of departure and truck return for their records.

Other tools – Some rental agencies also provide moving dollies and moving pads or blankets that will protect your fragile items and furniture.

Driving tips – If you are driving the truck for the very first time, then consult the following tips to have a safe journey to your destination.

Familiarize yourself with the truck i.e. know the location of all switches and controls, including turn signals, lights, horns, and the windshield wipers.

• Do not drive on parkways.
• Obey all the traffic rules and regulations.
• It is best to drive in the right lane with slow moving traffic.
• Watch out for low bridges and avoid them.