Moving Within Utah

Get organized and create a Move File: Print out the entire moving printables package and place in a binder or folder.

Start sorting your items: Decide what to keep, discard, sell or donate. Be agressive with discarding to make moving and unpacking easier.

Set a budget for moving expenses using the Moving Budget printable

Research moving companies and start getting estimates

Get supplies: Buy packing materials such as boxes. packing tapes, bubble wraps. etc.

Start gathering important records such as tax, mortgage, legal and utility bills

Contact health clubs and organisations of which you are member. Cancel or transfer your address as needed

Optional: Plan a garage sale to sell your unwanted goods.

Check new school enrollment process: If you have kids, get copies of their school records and check into the enrollment process at the school assigned to your new residence. Gather documents needed for school enrollment.

Arrangeto have school, vet and medical records tranferred

Plan how you will move and/or store valuables and hard to replace items such as important documents, jewelry and heirlooms. Do not store in a storage unit that is not climate controlled

Plan how you will dispose of items that can't be moved such as cleaning products, paints, gas, oil, propane tanks, etc.

Planning and Organizing

Tips on how to hire a mover like Moving Connections or move yourself, pack your belongings properly, and move your home with relative ease.

If you decide on Do-It-Yourself move, planning requires you to do several time-sensitive things: 1) Determine the size and type of truck you need for your move, 2) Schedule a truck, and; 3) Determine how much time you need to wrap, pack, and load your items onto your truck and schedule time accordingly.

Are you comfortable driving a big truck on busy highways and narrow streets? Do you live in a fairly small home and have a few strong, very good friends you can recruit to help you? If so, moving yourself might be a good option, and an economical one, since you’re not paying a mover to load, drive, and unload your stuff. It’s also the option that gives you the most control. Remember that unless you have a Commercial Driver’s License, you cannot drive a vehicle larger than a 26’ truck (this is the size that is used by most rental truck moving companies).

Just be aware of hidden costs, such as insurance for the rental truck (your auto policy probably doesn’t cover this, and neither will the credit card you rent the truck with), gas, and the rental or purchase of special equipment you’ll need, like dollies and quilted furniture covers.

If you need help in figuring out what size truck to rent, you can go to a truck rental site that will help you with that. Please note that this is only a guideline and not a guarantee that the truck you select will accommodate all your merchandise, because individual residences have varying amounts of goods per bedroom, plus some have patio furniture, items in a storage shed, an attic full of goods, or shop equipment, and so forth. A good rule of thumb is if there's any doubt, “go one size higher” so that you don’t have the unenviable situation of filling your truck’s cargo bay and still having a washer and dryer and bedroom set to load. This would not only be embarrassing, it would also be extremely expensive, both time wise and financially.

So plan carefully.

There are various reputable truck rental companies, but they offer different styles of truck. For instance, one major company offers trucks with a pull-out ramp for loading and unloading, while another offers a lift gate (like an elevator on the back end of the truck). It’s your choice as to which you feel more comfortable with. For instance, if you have a piano, would you feel more confident loading it with a ramp, or with a lift gate? It’s something to consider, and make certain that you know what type of loading method comes with the truck that you rent before you reserve it.

Several nationwide companies, such as ABF U-Pack Moving and Broadway Express, offer what they call self-move service. ABF U-Pack will move you only if you’re going out of state and more than 500 miles. Broadway Express will move you any distance, but shorter moves are relatively expensive because certain minimum charges apply. Both services deliver a trailer or a van to your house, where you load it. They then provide a professional driver, who takes your things to your new home, where you unload them.

This option saves you the hassle of driving a truck, and it is less expensive than using a full-service mover. You share the space on the truck with other customers (if you don’t need it all) and pay for only the space you use. Both companies have calculators on their websites to estimate the costs (see Web Resources on next page). You can get an initial quote by phone, fax, or e-mail, but be aware that actual charges will be higher if you exceed your estimated load.

A good tip for the right time to schedule a truck is to schedule it as soon as you know what kind and size of truck you want. In other words, the earlier, the better. The reason for this is that each truck rental dealership has a limited number of vehicles and they sometimes get booked well in advance, as happened in 2016 when many vehicles were reserved nationwide for the entire month of December (“Christmas Rush”) by a package delivery service. So it’s always best to book your vehicle as far in advance as you can.

Organizing Your Move

If you take an hour to organize your move, it will save you several hours when you load and unload, and it will likely spare you breakage of fragile items. You’ll need packing supplies (a tape gun or two, plus several rolls of tape, plus blank newsprint paper, stretch wrap, and many boxes, plus labels and marking pens).

Use small boxes for heavier items, such as books. There are special book boxes made just for this purpose. Use large boxes for fluffy large items such as comforters and pillows. Medium size boxes can be used for other things such as clothing.

In addition, there are special boxes for plates and such (“dish barrel boxes”), for glasses (come with individual cells with foam padding for glasses), guitar boxes, lamp boxes, and ski boxes. Also, there are wardrobe boxes, small and large, that have crossbars on which to hang your clothing while they’re being transported.

There are also very handy items such as mattress bags that can help to protect your mattresses during transport. The inexpensive ones (about $5-$7) are not designed for multiple use, so if you’re a snowbird or student or otherwise plan on moving twice a year or so, it might be wise to purchase the more expensive heavy duty mattress bags (about $14-$28) that also have built-in handles for easier loading and carrying.

Cargo nets, ratchet straps and load locks can stabilize your load to prevent damage and promote safety for unloading. They will also keep your goods from toppling onto the cargo bay door, which can make it virtually impossible to open in some cases. So they’re an excellent investment.

Label all of your boxes with the contents and what room they’re going into at your new location. For highest visibility, it’s best to use white or light colored adhesive labels with dark marking pens. Affix them to the upper right corner of the longer side of each box. This small investment in time will pay great dividends in saving time as you load and unpack, especially if these boxes are going to be re-used.

Wrapping and Loading Your Goods

Wrapping and packaging your items is generally a straightforward process that doesn’t require special training. However, there are some tips to remember. What most professional moving crews claim is the number one mistake that Do-It-Yourselfers make is when packing dishes, they lay them flat and stack them. This usually results in many broken plates.

Dishes should be put into a box that has crumpled paper (plain newsprint) in the bottom to cushion them, and they should be stood on their ends, not stacked on top of one another. They should also be individually wrapped in plain newsprint paper sufficient to shield them from breakage against other plates, and they should rest securely and somewhat snugly so that they can’t flop back and forth and slam against each other. So remember this tip to avoid broken dishes.

Fragile items come in various types, such as paintings (oil, acrylic, etc.), framed paintings with glass, mirrors, porcelain figurines, vases, electronic items, and so forth. These must be handled in different ways, but there are a couple of main principles in packing fragile items. These are to isolate the item, and to cushion the item.

In the case of paintings without glass, one has to be concerned about the surface of the painting. Whether it’s acrylic or oil, it should be wrapped in acid free paper, then stretch wrapped and padded with a moving blanket (or bubble wrapped) and then placed in a box and stood on its side.

For mirrors and paintings that are framed with glass, special procedures are necessary. The glass should be completely and carefully (one strip at a time) covered with painter’s tape, which is like masking tape, but thicker and wider and usually of a dark blue color. It’s best to make an “X” from corner to corner with the painter’s tape on the glass to begin with, then place strips from top to bottom, completely covering every part of the exposed glass. You can then wrap it with a mover’s blanket and place it in a picture box and stand it on its side for transport.

Vases and porcelain figures, and items of this nature should be wrapped in acid free paper, then bubble wrapped and placed in a separate box for their protection. Larger items might be wrapped in professional grade quilted movers blankets and stretch wrapped after first being wrapped in acid free paper. Then they can be placed in individual boxes or wooden crates. The main thing is first to protect the finish, and then protect the item against structural damage, i.e., breakage.

Electronic items are best moved in their original packaging. For this reason, it is recommended that you keep the packaging when you purchase or receive such items. However, space restraints sometimes prevent this, so in the case of some items, all you need to do is wrap them with a mover’s blanket and then place them snugly in a box. On the other hand, some such items require special handling, and the more expensive they are, the more fragile they seem to be. In these cases, it might be best to call the manufacturer or, if that isn’t possible, do a web search on how to package your item for shipping or moving. The same is true for moving grandfather clocks, because there are components that have to be isolated and even some disassembly may be required. Plus there are restrictions on how to load it (upright), etc. So call the manufacturer to get specific advice on how to ship your item. Take careful notes and follow their instructions for best results.

If you want to avoid scratches on the finish of your large appliances (refrigerator, etc.) then you should wrap them in moving blankets and use stretch wrap to secure the blanket. Do not lay appliances on their side, as this can severely damage or destroy them. Even tipping a washing machine can wreck it so you should call the manufacturer or an appliance store in order to learn how to stabilize the drum before attempting to move it. It is best to use a special appliance dolly (with an adjustable strap) to move things such as refrigerators and washing machines.

Loading and Driving Your Truck

A truck should never be loaded with a concentration of weight in any one small area off center. This could cause the truck to veer out of control when making a turn or even a quick lane change or a fast stop. It could even cause it to slip. If you do have some large, heavy items, start on the center of one side and alternate sides with each item. Try to achieve a rough balance to reduce the possibility of losing control of your vehicle when turning or stopping.

All things such as mattresses and pianos, etc., need to be strapped to the rails that run along the sides of the cargo area. And they should be strapped with ratchet straps, not merely lashed with ropes or twine. Ropes or twine will begin to sag over a few miles journey regardless of how tightly you tie them, and this will allow your goods to slide and smash against other items. Also, unstable loads contribute to unsafe driving, so be certain to use the right equipment for the job.

You should load the heavy and large items against the walls of the cargo bay first. Then you can begin loading boxes.

One thing to avoid when loading boxes is “columns”. A column is an unstable stack of boxes that is likely to topple due to stacking the same size box three or more high. This leads to damaged goods and can even cause serious injury when loading or unloading. So be careful and make good, solid walls when loading boxes. You do this by starting from the floor and working left to right, then going back from right to left, using different size boxes and spanning across seams of the boxes you’re stacking on top of in order to avoid columns. This “ties” the boxes underneath together, increasing the overall stability of the load.

If you have long, skinny things such as bed rails, you can lay them along one or both sides of the cargo bay and stack over them. Or, if your truck has a “Grandma’s Attic,” you can set them in there along with other goods.

It’s good not to leave gaps between boxes, so before you start loading, set some small, slender packages nearby to slip in the gaps between boxes. This will greatly increase the stability of your load.

Of course, the heavier, larger items should go on the floor to avoid crushing of the lighter ones. Some things might even have to go on top (top stock), so you should have enough of these on hand as you’re loading so you can put them on top as you go.

Just keep making walls and loading to the top as you go. When you’ve finished loading all your boxes, put up load locks (telescoping aluminum rods with a locking mechanism) or cargo nets. These should be spanned snugly against the last wall of boxes and across the width of the cargo bay to ensure that the load doesn’t shift or topple.

You cannot transport hazmats of any kind, and this includes any kinds of flammables in any kind of container. So you empty (or otherwise safely and legally dispose of) your lawn mowers, weed whackers, etc., by running them until they’re dry. Paints and paint thinners are also forbidden for transport, so you must dispose of them before moving. Of course, gun powder and black powder are hazmats. Do a web search on how to dispose of various hazardous materials in your jurisdiction.

When driving a truck or even a cargo van packed with your goods, your rented vehicle will handle differently than your personal car. It will take significantly longer to stop, and special care must be used when turning, too.

In addition, you have a much higher overhead above your cab and this must be taken into account when approaching overpasses or low hanging limbs, etc. And the insurance that you purchase for your rental truck probably doesn’t cover damage to anything above the cab, and that’s because this is such a common accident. So always be conscious of the fact that your vehicle is about six or eight feet higher than the cab over your head. And never try to enter a parking garage or any other kind of garage, even with a cargo van. They’re taller than you think.

Full Service Move or Labor Only Move

Probably the first thing you should do is to make sure the moving company you select is a reputable moving service. Moving Connections has been in business for over 30 years, have experienced moving personnel, adhere to moving industry standards, and is highly professional and federally licensed and insured.

Moving Connections provides various levels of service – such as “Labor Only” moves (see below) as well as traditional “Full Service” moves. In addition, we provide a whole range of moving support services – such as car moving, staging, handyman work, furniture and playground equipment assembly, etc.,

Moving Connections also offers palleted freight as well as “small package” shipping (up to 150 lbs. for small packages, over that is considered freight) for items that you might want to ship separately.

On top of all that, through our shipping company, The Shipping Connection, we have a huge line of various size and shape boxes, including special boxes for paintings, mirrors, guitars, skis, etc. Not to mention the tape dispensers, mattress bags, tape rolls, stretch wrap rolls, bubble wrap, foam peanuts, and many other supplies that we carry for “Do-It-Yourselfers”. We also offer these in bulk sizes or amounts at discount prices.

Moving Connections is a professional, full service moving company serving the Western United States. We provide local service throughout Utah as well as interstate moving services. Moving Connections has been in service for more than thirty years, providing shipping, moving, and packaging supplies to its clients.

We at Moving Connections can provide you with details on how to plan your move, and what service to select: the Full Service Move, or the Labor Only Move.

The Full Service Move is the traditional move where a full-sized moving truck – with all the equipment and supplies needed for your move -- comes to your residence with an experienced, professional moving crew of two or three men. They will wrap, pack, and load your goods according to the highest industry standards, then transport them to your new destination, where they will unload it to your specifications. This move is our most popular option.

The other main option is the Labor Only Move. If you select this option, a professional moving crew will show up at the appointed time and will professionally load your items on a truck that you have rented and that you will drive to your new location. The advantage of this is that you have experienced professional movers loading your truck so that your goods will be snugly secured inside and not able to jostle and topple during your drive. Unloading is uncomplicated and doesn’t require professionals, unless you’re unloading very large and heavy items, such as concert grand or baby grand pianos, or gun safes, etc. But loading is best done by professionals because it requires know-how in order to do it right.

That being said, the Labor Only Move can save you a lot of money. But if you plan poorly, it can cost you much more money, plus a lot of frustration in the end. Consider, for example, the situation where you rented a truck that is just too small to accommodate all your goods, and you’re left over with twenty boxes that you can’t move. You will either have to ship them via a small package company, or put them in storage until someone can pick them up. Both of those options are very time consuming and expensive, and they can set your move way behind schedule. So be certain to rent a truck that is large enough to accept all your goods.

If you want some help determining what size truck you need, then click here to visit our site that will help you to decide. It basically comes down to how many bedrooms you have and whether you have a lot of items in them or just a normal amount. Whatever, there are two things to remember: 1) it’s always best to err on the side of “a little too big” than not big enough, and; 2) If you need a truck larger than 26’, you will need a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) for each person who intends to drive it.

Also, if you do some of the packaging yourself, be certain to get good professional advice on how to pack your goods. Common mistakes are stacking plates rather than setting them on their sides (within boxes that have crumpled newspaper or some other cushioning material underneath them, of course), or not providing any cushioning along the sides or tops of boxes containing fragile items. If you’re not familiar with how to do these things correctly, or feel you need a refresher course, just click here to take you to the Moving Connections’ Packing and Loading Tips site.

Whatever you decide, Moving Connections pledges to make your move a safe and smooth transition to your new location.