How-to: Moving, Craigslist

Measure Furniture BEFORE Moving

Sat, 31 Jan 09 |

Measure BEFORE You Buy Furniture
Don't assume furniture will fit without measuring! Measure BEFORE you buy new furniture. You NEED to know the dimensions of the furniture and the pathways into and out of the buildings. This is what you need to measure:

measure doors

Measure the width and height of your doorways and stairways.

measure stairs

Buying Selling Used Furniture Tips

Thu, 08 Jan 09 |

Before you buy any piece of used furniture make sure it will fit into your house or apartment. Throughout Boston there are buildings with stairways that make it impossible to move sofas and queen size box springs inside using the stairs. Look at your stairway. Is the hallway narrow with decorative vertical posts at the turns? Low ceilings? Beware.

Avoid the disaster of buying an item that will not fit in through the stairway. Think before you buy.

If the sofa is longer than

Self Storage

Mon, 09 Mar 09 |

When choosing a self-storage facility evaluate security and convenience. Are there ample carts available? Is it easy to access your unit? Is the facility locked and well-lit? If your unit requires you to make several tight turns in the process of negotiating narrow football field length hallways, you might want to think twice. See what you're getting before you pay.

After you choose your storage facility, and there are dozens to choose from in Boston, try Yelp.com for recommendations, plan a strategy. Use 2/4's to keep your items off the floors. Leave wall clearance too to allow for air circulation. Create an inventory list, label boxes on top and the sides. Tarp furniture. Ocean State job lot in Quincy and Norwood stock cheap tarps. Wipe metal with WD-40.

Pack heavy items like books in SMALL boxes. Stack sofas on the end if possible. Quality boxes will enable you to take advantage of vertical space.

Simple planning will make use of a storage facility more efficient.

Maxi-Moves

Mon, 09 Mar 09 |

A full-service moving company is the way to go if cost is no object. Moving pods, DIY with friends or hired helpers is more work but saves money. Moving is an opportunity to evaluate what you own and get organized. Sell what you don't need. Eat stocked-up groceries. Donate what you can. When the details of where to move and when are decided, get boxes and supplies like tape and bubble wrap.

On a DIY (do-it-yourself) move with a rented truck check Uhauls recommended sizes. A 14' truck will do a one-bedroom. Get a 17' for two-bedrooms and a 24' for three-bedrooms. Verify guaranteed availability of a rental truck, rent a hand truck, get extra moving blankets, and get tie down straps or rope to secure your cargo. Keep your back straight when lifting, don't drag large heavy appliances and furniture pieces across floors. Be careful with furniture to avoid damage. Load heavy items first.

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