Moving is considered to be one of the five most stressful situations that a person can experience in his life. The process of packing all of your valuable belongings and moving them to a new location is daunting. So when you find yourself in this kind of a situation, there is one major decision in front of you: to move all of your belongings by yourself, or, to avoid the headaches and hire a moving company to do the job? Hiring professionals is always the better idea, but still, if you want to handle the entire process on your own you’ll need to prepare yourself for the project upfront. This means you’ll need the right moving supplies, as well as to understand how to properly and safely handle lifting all those heavy items from point A to B without any injuries and problems.
Moving Equipment
Even if you do not want to use a full package service from a moving company, you can still pay to use some of their moving supplies for a less stressful moving. Transporting large objects, such as furniture, requires some specific pieces of equipment. One of the most common tools used for moving is the dolly which helps you move large and heavy objects or multiple boxes. You can rent a dolly from a moving company at low prices and you can operate it by yourself or using some extra help, depending on the size of the object you need to move. Another useful piece of equipment is a piano mover. It can be slipped under large objects including pianos to keep them upright while moving on wheels. Also, for moving large objects, moving gloves are also highly recommended. They offer a better grip, especially on slippery surfaces. Depending on your needs, you can rent other moving supplies including pallet cranes, scissor lifts, etc.
Lifting Technique
Once you equip yourself with the right moving supplies you need to ensure you know how to lift things right, especially the heavy ones. This is very important because if you do not do it right, you’re putting yourself at a high risk of injury. The injuries in the back can become chronic, which means you can easily re-injure yourself anytime you try to lift something heavy. Therefore, when lifting an object the best way to do it is to bend your knees. This way you can lower your body and easily get your hands underneath the item. Remember, always keep your body close to the object. As you extend the legs, bow your back slightly and lift the item. To put down the box, bend your knees and put the object down. Be careful and make sure you do not drop it.
Before Moving Large Objects
Before moving your belongings in or out, make sure you protect the floor. For this purpose, you can use plastic or down sheets to prevent scratching. Old pieces of carpet can be also used for this purpose. Rugs and blankets can be also used but they can be slippery, so be careful. Furthermore, when you unload the belongings from your home, you need to place them on a moving truck. Place the heaviest items close to the cabin of the truck. This will keep the bulk of the weight in the middle and won’t cause any problems while driving the vehicle. Place the items right so they won’t shift while transporting them.
If you want to avoid any potential pitfalls, plan your moving ahead. Moving is certainly not an easy task – it requires good organization which begins from finding the right moving supplies for your needs, to arriving at your new location with all your belongings safely transported.
