Iowa Moving 1 - FAQS / PACKING TIPS

FAQS / Additional Info:

How Early Should I Book Service?

It is important to book your residential or office move with our moving company in advance to secure your ideal moving date. Two to three weeks notice is preferred, however we do try and accommodate short-notice moves as well.

How Do I Reduce the Chance of Damages?

If moving labor from Iowa Moving 1 is loading your POD, rental truck or ABF trailer for an out-of-town move, please ensure that you provide an adequate amount of furniture pads (an estimate is 1.5 to 2 pads for each foot of truck/trailer; for example 17 ft truck = 26-34 pads). This is a rough estimate and your situation could take more or less depending on the amount of wooden items, size of items, fragile items, etc. Pads can be purchased from Iowa Moving 1 for long distance moves, rented from Iowa Moving 1 for local moves or rented from the rental truck agency for out-of-town moves. Tie-down straps (ratchet tie-downs) will also need to be used to help avoid load shifting during transit and can be purchased from Iowa Moving 1. All of these things are important to help minimize potential damages.
Other protective items/boxes to consider are: wardrobe boxes, mattress bags, picture/mirror boxes, electronics boxes, bubble wrap, shrink wrap, and packing paper.

Should I TIP My Movers and How Much?

Tips are common and appreciated by your movers. If the movers do a good job, please feel free to reward them with a tip. Movers provide a service much like restaurant waiters, taxi cab drivers, and others who commonly get tips for good service. Any tips should be paid separately from the regular bill and directly to the individual movers. An average tip amount is typically $5 to $10 per hr worked for each mover.

Other Information:

Items that cannot be moved with us include: flammable items, combustible items, aerosol cans, or hazardous materials

You can leave clothes in your dresser drawers, but please remove anything heavy such as books, shoes, etc. before the movers arrive. This will allow for a quicker and safer move.

Disassembly of treadmills and other large items prior to mover arrival will make the move more efficient and reduce the risk of damage to your house and items. Our movers do not provide assembly/disassembly of exercise equipment.

We do not provide disconnect or hook-up service for appliances due to liability and insurance reasons. Please have your appliances disconnected prior to arrival.

Try to keep boxes to 50 pounds or less and always lift with your legs to avoid back injury. Tape the bottom/top of all boxes 2 to 3 times to make certain they will hold your belongings.

Important documents and possessions, such as wills, deeds, jewelry, photographs and home videos are impossible to replace. It's wise to consider moving these and other important belongings to a safety deposit box while you move.

Remember to contact your local post office and fill-out forwarding address forms. Additionally, leaving a small welcome card with your forwarding address for the people moving into your old home is a nice way of asking for any additional pieces of your mail to be redirected.

Reserve ample parking for the rental truck if possible. In the winter, be sure to have the parking area and walkways clear of snow and ice.

Please keep all of your valuables with you. Medications, guns, cash and jewelry are NOT the mover's responsibility.

PACKING TIPS:

Determining how to pack your delicate, breakable and/or valuable possessions can be one of the most challenging parts of moving. However, if you pack your fragile items properly, you can ensure that they make the journey safe and sound.

Iowa Moving 1 offers a Des Moines packing service and has a variety of moving boxes and packing supplies that are available for purchase. Why not let our professional packers do the work for you?

Packing tip #1: Begin by putting some kind of packing material in the bottom of the moving box you plan to use. For packing materials, you could use packing paper, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, newspaper, or even towels, sheets, blankets and pillows. If you choose to use newspaper, use caution with valuable items because the print may rub off onto packaged items. As an alternative to newspapers as packing material, consider purchasing packing paper, which is designed for this very purpose and what we recommend.

Packing tip #2: Carefully wrap each fragile item in the packing material. Put fragile items into small individual boxes before placing them into the moving box.

Packing tip #3: When you are putting items into a moving box, put the heaviest items on the bottom, and stack the items progressively lighter. Be very careful not to pack anything on top of something that may break. Do not pack heavy items like books with fragile objects. After each layer, fill all the gaps with packing material. Once the box is packed, put more packing material on top before closing the box. This will keep the items from shifting while they are being moved, and will also help keep the moving box firm.

Packing tip #4: Write "fragile" on the outside of the moving box, and make sure to write which side of the box should be kept up so that the heavier items on the bottom don't end up on the top and crush the lighter items. Label the outside of the moving box with what is inside and what room it should go to in your new home.

Packing tip #5: Pack any electronic equipment back in their original boxes, if you have them. If you do not have the original box, find a moving box that is slightly larger than the item while still allowing a little room for whatever packing material you are using. Wrap or box each item or pieces of items separately.

Packing tip #6: If you are moving mirrors, framed artwork, or pictures, put packing tape over the glass in an x or star pattern, so the glass will stay in place if it should happen to break. Wrap unframed artwork in bubble wrap packing material. Pack your mirrors, artwork and pictures in flat picture/mirror boxes that are only slightly bigger than the item. If you still have the original boxes for your mirrors, use them, along with packing material. As with other fragile items, make sure to put fragile on the outside of the moving box.

Packing Tip #7: Pack books flat, not standing on end (which may cause damage to the spines). Books are extremely heavy, so don't pack too many in one box and use small boxes.

Packing Tip #8: Prepare an "unload first" carton with essentials that you'll need immediately at your new home. Include a bag filled with hardware from disassembled items, such as dresser mirrors and beds.