Whether you’re hiring international moving assistance or not, packing for the big move is an important phase in your relocation that you can’t simply undertake without a few cautions or guidelines. Getting organized at the preparatory stage of the move would result in an easier and quicker task for your Palm Desert movers and a more stress-free transition for you and your family. So here are seven practical tips to preparing your belongings for transport, be it moving or residential storage.

1. Make lists and an inventory.

Make a carefully planned schedule of your tasks leading up to moving day and list down the things you need to do. From the items you need to take care of in advance, like canceling your subscriptions, last minute details, like cleaning the house before you leave, this little schedule makes sure you don’t forget anything.

Don’t just pack your stuff in boxes and label them. Make an inventory by assigning a number to a box and listing down the items it should contain, so you know everything is accounted for. Remember to pack items that should go together (books and book ends, electronics with their extension cords, etc.), so you don’t have to run around looking for stuff when you unpack and re-assemble them.

2. Have plenty of necessary supplies.

It’s better to have a lot of packing supplies than run short and end up overloading your boxes. When you’re buying supplies from a local or international moving company, ask if they offer a refund for unused items. That way, you can feel secure about having all the boxes, tape, and bubble wrap that you need, as you can return the extra ones anyway.

3. Match labels with designations.

When labeling your boxes, remember to place a description as well, especially if the contents are fragile material. If you’re paying the movers by the hour, make it a faster job for them by designating the room number on the box and placing signs on every room door corresponding to that room. To avoid having your boxes just randomly placed anywhere in a given room, put up a sign in one corner of each room, like “place boxes here, please”, for a more organized unpacking.

4. Maximize use of boxes.



To avoid damage incurred when baubles and items move around, make sure to box items without leaving unnecessary spaces for them to move around during transport. That’s not to say you should fill up the entire box, regardless of content. Remember to consider packing light items in a large box and heavier ones in a smaller box. This will make each box easier to carry and avoid incidents where heavy items just fall out and break the box. Maximizing the use of your boxes also helps save space when you’re setting some fixtures for residential storage.

5. Pack least-used items ahead.

When you have too much stuff lying around, the ideal way to move them would be packing the items you would not be using any time soon. You can also consult your Palm Desert movers about moving some items ahead of schedule so you have lesser stuff deal with on moving day. This would also be the ideal time to sort out items you’ll still need in the future, items that could go to storage, or items that may be sold or donated.

6. Keep valuables with you.

It’s far better to keep your most valuable items with you during transport. But if your vehicle doesn’t have the space for them, don’t forget to check your insurance coverage and see what precautions you need to make before having them sent out along with the other boxes.

7. Have personal go-to boxes.

Moving day can be difficult, especially during the first day in your new home. Make sure you and every person in your household have a designated personal box with important items you’ll need immediately once you reach your destination. These may include blankets, chargers, nightlights, flashlights, among others.

Knowing what you get for moving insurance through your transition is one of the first things you should ask when choosing a moving company, because after all your putting the trust of your personal belongings in the hands others you don’t know to well. With a great reputation and high repeat customer moves, Desert Moving Company & Storage helps you sleep better at night come move day. Here is a set of insurance options to choose from to give you a better idea of what fits your personal requirement’s for you upcoming relocation.

Option One – Basic Liability

Inventoried items will be covered at minimum liability, which is .60 per pound per article. To give you a better understanding of what that means is lets say you have a coffee table that is 200lbs and is valued at $5,000. If you just choose the basis insurance and say the coffee table is damaged or lost, then based on the coverage you have through the moving company they would take .60 and multiply it by the weight of the coffee table 200lbs. The replacement value you would most collect is $120.00.  This would not make you feel good if the coffee table was worth $5,000. Note: Weight is determined by the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA) Table of Weights. The good thing is you have Desert Moving Company & Storage and over the past 23 years in business, we’ve managed to not have to file one claim. I guess you can say where pretty careful.  Here are some other options, just in case.

Option two – Added insurance (Purchase)

Ÿ   Deductable: All Desert Moving Company & Storage insurance policies have a min $500

Deductible.

Ÿ    Cost: The cost of insurance is $10 for every $1,000 of declared value.

✔   This insurance policy covers the inventory only.

✔   The insurance policy is not an itemized policy.

✔   The policy is based on the actual cash value of your entire

Inventoried shipment.

 

NOTE: Before buying insurance, find out how much your belongings are worth and then purchase accordingly. This will give you a better feeling that all your goods are covered at the total replacement value claimed on the bill of lading. If you underinsure your shipment, you will be subject to a co-insurance penalty that is gone through the Moving Companies insurance policy.  Here is an example, if your claim your shipment to be worth $50,000 and you only purchase $25,000, then the policy will only be responsible for 50% of losses/damages insured.

Choose between the following two insurance options:

 

Actual Cash Value (ACV):

Your property is insured for its actual cash value, after depreciation, based on the AMSA Depreciation Guide. You will be paid the lesser of the following, according to our assessment:

  • The actual cash value at time of loss or damage, after depreciation.
  • The amount of repairing or replacing the property (according to our estimates).
  • The limit of coverage.

Replacement Cost (RC):

Your property is insured for replacement cost. (Please note: in order to receive full replacement cost for an item, it must be damaged beyond repair or confirmed as lost). 
You will be paid the lesser of the following, according to our assessment:

  • The amount of repairing the damage (according to our estimates).
  • The amount it would cost to replace the destroyed or lost property with similar kind or quality to be used for the same purpose and same site (according to our estimates).
  • The limit of coverage.

 

What is not covered:

Loss or damage to jewelry, gem stones, cash, stamps, coin or currency, bank notes, travelers checks, deeds, letters or valuable papers of any kind, coin or stamp collections, photo albums, scrapbooks, negotiable items, perishable articles, firearms, ammunition or contraband.

  • Any internal electrical or mechanical component of any device unless external damages are duly noted in writing at the time of delivery. Loss of data and recalibration are also excluded.
  • Damage to furniture made from pressboard and/or particleboard.
  • Loss or damage consisting of breakage of china, glassware, bottles, statuary, bric-a-brac, or other similar articles of a brittle nature unless property has been packed by the carrier. The carrier is not responsible for the content of boxes packed by the owner.
  • Pairs & Sets: The policy covers only the cost or repair of an individual item damaged, regardless if the item is part of a pair or a set.

Tax, shipping and handling charges.

 

It’s Your Move: Choose the Right Coverage

Your Personal Relocation Consultant will provide you with information about the different types of insurance options you have. Let them know exactly what your have so they can build you a policy to fit your budget and coverage. They can also better assist with deductible options as well as cost comparisons and the various methods used to determine coverage levels.

 

Still Unsure About What’s Right for You?

Just ask your Personal Desert Moving Relocation Consultant. He or she will work with you to understand your moving coverage needs, determine your household’s total valuation and answer any other questions you might have. The bottom line is we want you to be satisfied when we drive away.

Desert Moving Co. & Storage – Upfront and Honest

We want you to walk away from your move having the best experience possible, but accident’s do happen and we want to give you all the tools necessary, just in case. Over 23 years in business we have managed to allow Zero (0) claims and will continue to do so for another 23 years. We hope the information above has given you a better understanding of insurance/policies and please don’t hesitate to let your Moving Consultant know that you want to learn more about insurance and could possible like to purchases additional coverage.