Moving a Safe

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Moving a safe can be very difficult without the proper care and planning.

Black Safe Moving

There are various types of safes, from smaller portable models to larger gun and fire safes. The bigger the safe, the more trouble it is to move.

These larger safes are built to withstand the rigors of fire and other environmental hazards as well as to protect and ward off any potential burglars.

The size and weight of larger high-security safes, while a benefit for your valuables, can make the transport of it nearly impossible without help.

Due to the risk involved with such an undertaking, it cannot be stressed enough that you seek out experienced and professional help when moving your safe.

At Flatbush Moving, we have specialized equipment and well trained team members who can facilitate the move of your large safe while minimizing or eliminating risk of damage to your home.

Here are some tips for Preparing and Moving a Safe:

  • Preparing Your Safe:

Before the actual move, take the time to empty your safe of its valuable contents.

Any documents, bank notes, jewelry, cash, guns, ammo, etc., should definitely be removed from the safe and placed elsewhere for safe keeping (no pun intended) throughout your move.

If your safe is located in a tight space, such as a closet or cut out of your wall, be sure to clear the path to your safe as much as possible before attempting to have the safe moved.

You or your mover should check the path between the safe and exit door, ensuring there are no obstacles in its way.

The rule of thumb when moving a safe is controlled momentum. Try to cut down on any possible hazards in your way to ensure a smooth trip out of the door and onto the moving truck.

Depending on the size and weight of your safe, the safest option for transport may be removing the door of the safe and moving the safe in two pieces.

However, not all safes have this ease of removal for the door. Many safes will not allow you to easily remove the door, in which case make sure the safe door is properly shut and locked tight before any moving has begun.

Safe Dial Moving

  • Moving Your Safe

The extreme weight of large safes can cause a great deal of damage to the floor of your home, especially softer wood floors. Your mover will have to account for this during the move.

Most professional movers will insist on some kind of floor protection to transport the safe over while in your home. This can be anything from hard sheets of masonite to padded floor matting.

As you can imagine, the safe will not be lifted in the air from its current place in your home and carried onto the truck the entire way.

The safe will have to roll from its current place in your home out the door and into the truck. Usually, a dolly or weight tested hand truck will be needed in order to move the safe.

If your safe is located somewhere other than ground level, then you should ensure your mover is well aware of the distance and steps involved between the safe and front door. It’s very possible you will need additional manpower to carry the safe down or up stairs.

Again, this should be considered and mentioned early on in the moving process, especially when getting estimates on your move.

You can eliminate a great deal of moving companies from the estimating process just by explaining your situation and seeing if they are equipped to properly handle it.

Here at Flatbush Moving, we have specialized in safe moving for nearly a century.

Our trained and experienced crew members are equipped with commercial grade safe jacks, dollies and protective equipment to handle any safe move, whether in your home or office.

Hand truck for Moving a Safe

  • In Your New Home

Once you have arrived in your new home, ideally you have already picked out the placement for your safe. Keep in mind you can save yourself considerable hassle during the moving in process if you have followed a few basic steps:

    1. Measure, measure, measure. It may be obvious that you’ll want to measure your front door to ensure the safe can pass through, however it’s easy to forget about the trip from the front door to its permanent placement.Many doors inside the home are often narrower than the entry door.If there are any turns involved getting to the room where you’ll be keeping your safe in the new home, measure to make sure that the depth and width of the safe can make these turns.
    2. If you’re going up or down a level within your home, again you will need to make sure the mover is prepared for this with the appropriate manpower on your delivery.
    3. If there was any disassembly needed of your safe for the move, make sure your mover reassembles anything necessary before they leave.This shouldn’t have to be stressed, but you’ll want your safe to be completely set up and placed exactly how you want it, chances are that it won’t be moved again until the next move!

Safe Dial Moving

If you have any questions or concerns about a coming relocation with a heavy duty safe, feel free to reach out to us at Flatbush Moving.

Our professional team members would be happy to discuss the details of your move and allocate any worries you may have.

We can also work up an estimate for your safe’s move as well as the rest of your household at no cost to you.

As a family owned and operated company for almost 100 years, we at Flatbush Moving understand the need for properly protecting that which is most valuable to you and your family.

Call Us Today and Request a Free Estimate!

 

Moving a Chandelier

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Chandeliers can be eye-catching beautiful pieces of art for the home. They tend to make a statement.  However, moving a chandelier can be difficult.

Crystal Chandelier Moving

Usually, a chandelier is the first thing a visitor will see upon entering your home. After going through the search and cost of acquiring such a striking fixture, you will of course want to take proper care when moving it.

Unfortunately, as beautiful as your lighting fixture may be, it can be just as fragile, especially during the moving process.

Chandeliers are one of the special items which require additional preparation when planning for your move.

Depending on the type and size of your chandelier, you may require a custom box or wooden crate to ensure safe transport of your fixture from point A to point B.

Wood Crate for Moving a Chandelier

During the estimate stage, while still shopping for your mover, be sure to point out the chandelier to your estimator and make sure the preparing and packing of your item is part of your estimate.

If you are moving yourself, it’s highly recommended you get help from an experienced professional when removing the chandelier and packing it for your move. Remember, if it was worth buying, it’s worth protecting.

Either way, whether you are moving yourself or using a professional, hire an electrician or general contractor to take the chandelier down and reinstall after moving.

They will be able to replace your chandelier with a different one to ensure there is no hole in your ceiling. Also, they make sure it is safely disconnected and reconnected.

Here at Flatbush Moving, we have experienced team members who can help you through the entire process of moving the chandelier.

Lit Up Chandelier Moving

We can have your chandelier disassembled, packed, crated and protected from the many moving parts of a relocation project.

Chandeliers are a specialty item that many moving companies are not properly equipped to handle.

At Flatbush Moving, we have close to one hundred years of experience at facilitating the safe transport of all specialty items such as chandeliers, pianos, custom fixtures, etc.

Contact Flatbush Moving today to Request a Free Estimate and discuss your Chandelier Options.

Moving with Pets

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Moving can be stressful. Moving with Pets can be even more stressful! The best we can do is prepare for the move with your pet to ensure as smooth a process as possible.

Moving with Pets - Dog in Packing Box

Whether you have a dog, cat, bird or another type of animal in the home, it can be troublesome keeping them safely occupied and out of the way throughout the move.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when dealing with your furry friend while moving:

1. Packing With Pets

It can be distressing for your pet to see and feel the setting they have comfortably considered home change so drastically so quickly.

Boxes pile up, furniture gets shifted around during the preparation process, not to mention their awareness of your own emotional levels through the highs and lows.

During the initial phase of packing, take care to leave your pet’s bedding and at least one toy (if available) unpacked to help ground them during the transition.

Having their own bed/space they can easily recognize will go very far in helping keep them calm during the process.

Moving with Pets - Dog and Cat in Dog Bed

When packing food or medication for your pet, make sure you clearly mark those boxes so that the movers and yourself know where these important items are at all times.

After all, once you set your pet’s food bowl down in your new home, they will expect you to fill it.

2. During The Move

While the actual move is taking place, there is added activity within the home can be a lot for some pets to adjust to out of the blue. Also, when using a professional moving company, it’s important to remember that your pet will be very aware about the new people coming in and out of your home.

If your pet has trouble with strangers, you may want to consider isolating your pet within a room that isn’t being moved, or can be left alone in for a period of time so that the movers can carry out the move without fear of stepping over your pet, possibly tripping over and/or scaring the animal.

If possible, a family friend or neighbor who the pet is comfortable with that can take the pet out of the home during the move would be the ideal solution.

3. After The Move

Once your move has been completed and you’re in your new home with your pet, there are still some tips you may want to keep in mind.

While unpacking, the abundance of packing paper and empty boxes will undoubtedly draw the interested attention of your pet. Especially with smaller animals, be careful during the unpacking process not to lose your beloved pet among the mess. Double check any empty boxes or large piles of packing material before disposing.

Allow your pet time to settle in to your new home. After a few days, if you notice your pet isn’t sleeping in their bed, try moving it to another part of your home.

Sometimes the change of sunlight through a window, or a less drafty section of a room/house can make a major difference to your pets comfort.

Moving with Pets - Senior Citizen with Dog

Flatbush Moving is a family owned and operated business, and has been for almost 100 years. Every customer becomes an extension of our own family, and that includes every dog, cat, bird, hamster and any other pet you may have. Moving with Pets is challenging, but with Flatbush Moving it can be as easy as 1-2-3.

For Long Distance Moving with Pets, this could be even more challenging. With Wheaton Van Lines, Flatbush Moving can provide insight on how to plan for an Interstate Move with your furry friends!

Contact us today to start planning your move! Send in a Request for Estimate form for more information.

Parking on Moving Day

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Moving Trucks - Fleet

Parking the moving truck on moving day can be a challenging detail that many people overlook.

People who are moving have enough on their plate, like packing, finding a new place and changing your address on all subscriptions and billing.

Whether you choose to hire a professional mover or decide to Do It Yourself, parking is something to be considered by all parties involved.

Here are some tips for the four major regions of the New York and New Jersey area.

Those four regions are:

  1. Manhattan
  2. The Outer Boroughs; includes Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and The Bronx
  3. Hoboken
  4. The Suburbs; includes Long Island and New Jersey

For a smooth move, truck placement is a key detail that should be discussed in advance.

  1. Manhattan

Let’s be real for a second and recognize that parking in New York City is essentially non-existent. Parking the moving truck on the day of your move can be a challenge.

However, that does not mean it is impossible!

Manhattan Skyline

A helpful tip is to check the parking rules and regulations outside of your apartment building.

Some important things to look at and ask yourself is:

    • Is there alternate side parking?
    • Is there commercial only parking?
    • No standing zone?
    • Bus stop?
    • Fire Hydrant?

All of these possibilities are important for different reasons.

If it’s alternate side parking rules, maybe choose the day on the sign as your moving day. That’ll ensure an empty side of your street and the truck can easily park right outside.

Is it a Commercial Only parking area during the day? If so, that’s a huge benefit to you! Now, the truck will not have to compete with passenger vehicles for parking.

The movers will simply be prepared to pay the meter to prevent parking tickets.

If there’s a Bus Stop, Fire Hydrant or a No Standing Zone; the truck may have to take a chance to make it a smooth moving experience.

However, a parking ticket is possible and that could potentially increase the cost of the move.

Naturally, we want to give all of our customers the best possible move. But, in New York City, sometimes that means parking tickets.

If the truck has to park more than half a block away, you can expect a longer, more expensive and more unpredictable move.

Sometimes, we should consider putting an extra mover on the job to expedite the process. The driver always stays with the truck to ensure no parking violations and safe passage for other vehicles.

It is best to be prepared in advance with the information for the parking rules near your home so that your mover knows how to plan and price your move.

  1. Outer Boroughs

Brooklyn can be difficult in many places, very similar to the Manhattan world. Same rules would apply as in the Manhattan portion.

Brooklyn Bridge

Queens can be better suited for moving, but in certain areas the streets are extremely tight and difficult to maneuver.

Long Island City and Astoria are neighborhoods that have favorable alternate sides and many commercial areas for a smooth move.

Staten Island is an outer borough but can be considered as “The Suburbs”.

There is a lot of space to perform a move here.

The Bronx is a hybrid of all the other boroughs.

Some parts can be tough with parking the moving truck, especially near Yankee Stadium. But others are beneficial to the move process.

As always, be prepared in advance with the parking rules and normal operating procedure for the movers information to create a moving plan for you.

  1. Hoboken

Hoboken is one of the best places to move in the metropolitan area.

Tunnels to Jersey Street Signs - Parking Moving Truck

A Parking Permit can be acquired by the city of Hoboken to reserve space right outside your apartment for parking the moving truck.

This parking permit can be put out in advance of the move so that people know they cannot park in that space on your move day and time.

Yes, it costs money; but at least it will prevent parking violations and fines.

You have two options: acquire the parking permit yourself or have the moving company do it for you.

Keep in mind, this service is not free from most moving companies; but for Flatbush Moving it is!

This will help ensure a smooth move experience since the truck has a reserved spot right in front of the building.

  1. The Suburbs

Not much to worry about when parking in The Suburbs.

Most residential areas on Long Island and New Jersey will have a lot of space for parking the moving truck.

Suburban Home - Parking Moving Truck is Easy

Only a couple of things to look out for, which are not very serious.

The first thing is to try and minimize interruption for your neighbors Perhaps let them know in advance that you will be moving on a certain day and so they won’t be surprised or put out from a moving truck being in front of your house.

The second thing is to alert your township or neighborhood. Sometimes, they’ll send out a police escort or just have officials on call to ensure a smooth process.

All in all, suburban life is great because there is usually ample parking.

Maybe park your cars on the street to make sure your neighbors do not take up valuable spots that would be helpful for the move.

Either way, the truck should be able to pull right up to the resident and make the move as easy as 123.

When moving in New York or New Jersey, Flatbush Moving Van Company can help you make a detail-oriented move plan.

From the city to the suburbs, Flatbush Moving has your back.

Call today for a free consultation for your upcoming move.

The General Packing Guide for Boxes

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Packing is one of the most important details when planning a move. (Unless you’re just moving furniture, in which case, packing doesn’t matter at all).

This guide to packing up your boxes will be a huge help in the beginning stages of move preparation.

happy couple after finishing packing boxes

When movers use the phrase packing, they are talking about putting contents in boxes. They are not talking about furniture.

As soon as people know they have to move, one of the first things they think of is “will all my furniture fit”?

Well, this is obviously very important; but the other real important detail to consider is “will all of my contents fit!?”

Whether or not everything will fit, one fact remains; who is going to pack all of the contents?

This packing boxes guide is split up into three sections:

Self-Pack (Do It Yourself)

Partial Pack (You do some and the Movers do some)

Full Pack (Movers Pack Everything)

Self-Pack

So you decided to pack everything yourself. Kudos to you!

This is a great option to save some money, as well as to prep/organize ahead of the move.

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to happen in the spring; it could happen before you know you’re moving.

As you’re packing, get rid of unwanted items.

You can sell small things online with eBay or donate to local charities like the Lupus Foundation.

A lot of these items you no longer need (example: kids toys that have been outgrown).

donation box with clothing

Another option, which could seem wasteful is to simply throw the items out!

Once you do the purge, you can start to pack.

I’d suggest packing one room at a time. From least used room to the most used room.

As you pack up each box, label it for the room it belongs in as well as any indicator for your knowledge as to what’s inside.

I do not recommend writing paragraphs on the box; instead you can keep a notebook that lists each box number and the contents.

This will be useful when unpacking and you’re looking for specific items.

three packing boxes and labeling by room

As for your closets, I recommend sorting and then packing what’s on the top of the closet and what’s on the bottom of the closet.

These items are usually thrown in and forgotten about. It’s a good place to start purging early and then packing later on.

The clothes on hangers? Leave them. We bring wardrobe boxes to each move and will pack that for you at no extra charge.

Finally, the dreaded kitchen. The kitchen is the most challenging room to pack.

Using high quality packing boxes will ensure the safe packing and relocation of all of your kitchen items.

Kitchen Utensils on Table before Packing Boxes

Always pack with plenty of paper/cushioning; pack the heaviest items on the bottom and lighter items towards the top.

Use plenty of paper throughout this process. Repeat until the whole kitchen is packed up.

I recommend you to start packing your kitchen at least one week in advance of the move.

Be prepared with disposable dishes and utensils and plan on ordering take out for the last couple of days before the move.

If that’s not your style, then keep only the bare minimum unpacked for the number of people in your home (number of dishes, utensils, cups, mugs; plus one baking dish and frying dish).

That can easily be packed last minute.

Partial Pack

Another option is to have a partial pack.

This is a very popular option.

You can pack up all the non-breakables and other important items; while the movers can pack up the breakable items.

smiling male and female packing boxes

Whether you want us to pack just the TV, the pictures on the wall or the kitchen- you get to choose.

It’s an A La Carte option for your moving preparation.

Depending on the quantity, it can be done on the same day of the move or a day earlier.

Full-Pack

If the idea of packing and organizing your home seems to be too much stress, lucky for you we offer Full Packing services.

In one day (or more depending on size of home and amount of contents), our crew will have everything packed, prepped and ready to move.

All you need to do is be present and act as “point person”. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

Deciding on a packing plan in advance is important.

Naturally, things change; some customers bite off more than they can chew, and they need more last-minute help.

This guide to packing boxes should have helped you recognize what needs to be done ahead of your upcoming move.

Either way, keeping in contact with your moving consultant before the move is key to having a seamless and smooth move experience.

Call Flatbush Moving today to discuss your packing options.

Top Five Moving Box or Container Options

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When packing up your home or office for an upcoming move, you must decide on what kind of moving boxes to use for your personal belongings.

Here is a list of the kinds of boxes, cartons, containers, or whatever you call them to use for your upcoming moving project.

Top 5 Options:

  1. Traditional Cardboard Boxes

Traditional Moving Boxes Stacked Neatly

Purchase moving boxes from your mover, local home goods store or from an online vendor.

These moving boxes are made specifically for moving, but they may vary in quality and cost. Naturally, you’ll want the cheapest boxes; but cheap boxes could be low quality and could damage easily.

Home Depot offers a ton of options for your packing supply needs. But before you go out and spend all kinds of money on equipment you may (or may not) need, I suggest an in-home estimate from a professional to figure out what kind of moving boxes you need and how many you need.

Pro Tip: Ask your mover if they have any used moving boxes for free.

  1. Plastic Moving Bins

Seven Multi Colored Moving Plastic Bins

These are a great, environmentally friendly option; the best alternative to traditional moving boxes.

They can be rented from your moving company of choice. Flatbush Moving rents moving bins by the day, by the week or by the month. All dependent upon what you need.

You can even buy them from mover supply companies, like  U Line “Round Trip” Totes

But before you do anything, I suggest an in-home estimate from a professional to figure out the number of bins your move will require.

  1. Plastic Tote Containers

Six Clear Plastic Containers

Plastic Tote Containers are great reusable options. These are more expensive, but once they are used for the move, you can keep them for your own home storage needs.

If you don’t have a lot of space in your new apartment or home, this might not be the best option.

You can buy them from Home Depot Plastic Storage Containers; but, as you can see they can be quite expensive.

  1. Used Boxes

Pile of Used Boxes

You can get these basically anywhere. As Jerry Seinfeld said in one of his interludes on Seinfeld, moving makes a person obsess about boxes. Going up and down the block and in and out of stores asking for boxes.

You can do that, or simply go to your local grocery store, local liquor and wine store and ask if they have any boxes they are getting rid of.

Even if you have an Amazon addiction, you can re-use those boxes for packing. Most of these boxes, however, are very small and will not fit much. Instead of having 40 regular sized boxes you could find yourself with 100 of these smaller boxes, making the moving process more difficult and time consuming.

Or you can just ask your mover if they have any?

  1. Garbage Bags

Black Garbage Bags

You should almost never use garbage bags for moving purposes.

The main reason being that these bags can be confused for ACTUAL garbage at some point and that could lead to the loss of important contents.

It seems easier to throw clothing, towels, sheets and other linens into a garbage bag for a quick and easy transport; but the time you save “packing” these items in garbage bags, you’ll spend re-folding or re-washing.

One good thing about them, they are kind of cheap. Check out some Garbage Bags on Amazon.

There are so many options when choosing the kind of container to pack belongings in.

Check with your mover about their used box inventory, they might have some they can give you for free.

Also, if your move is a big move, most movers will give you bundles of free boxes in advance. This will give you the best equipment, the same equipment that the professionals use.

Check out Flatbush Moving’s Box Store Catalog to see what options you have when purchasing boxes. We are not a big online store, but if you’d like to buy any equipment, simply give us a call at our warehouse, 908-925-8500 or come on by to learn more.

Flatbush Moving Van Launches New Website

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Flatbush Moving Van Launches New Website. iSite Marketing, an online marketing company, has been named as the web design firm for Flatbush Moving Van Co.

Nino Piombo, founder and CEO of iSite Marketing, announces that his company has been named the agency of record for Flatbush Moving Van Co. The New Jersey based online marketing agency has re-designed and launched a brand new website, www.flatbushmoving.com, which provides prospective and established customers with useful information and company orientated resources.

iSite Marketing is honored to work with this renown moving company and excited to be involved with a service that have become so widely recognized in the New York & New Jersey area.

“As a small company our strength and core focus is with providing personalized attention to each customer, while maintaining only the highest level of integrity. Our goal with the re-design of the Flatbush Moving Van Co website was not only to provide a user-friendly site but the ability to educate their customers about the services they offer and why they are unique providers of moving services.”, says Piombo.

Although the site was just re-launched, the increase in website traffic and the positive reviews prove that the re-design was well worth it.

About Flatbush Moving Van Co.

Built on a solid work ethic and an endless commitment to customer service and satisfaction, Flatbush Moving Van Company has thousands of satisfied, loyal customers around the world in both the corporate and consumer markets.