Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Archives

How to prepare vehicles for shipping?

Posted on January 12, 2020June 7, 2023 by Ethan

When you own a car or any other vehicle, it requires special attention sometimes. One of those times is when you’re moving! It won’t matter much that you’ve spent a lot of time and money maintaining your vehicle if it gets damaged while you’re transporting it to your new home. Of course, with the right movers NJ, the odds of this are minimal. But it’s still vitally important that you prepare vehicles for shipping first. Preparation is always half the work when it comes to moving. So preparing your vehicle can make or break the relocation of it. It’s time, therefore, to learn how to do it right.

The first step to prepare vehicles for shipping is washing them

Whether you are preparing to ship your vehicles to a new address or just want to keep them in storage units NJ for a while, the first step to preparing them is always cleaning. This is because dust and dirt could potentially be hiding dents and scratches you may want to fix before shipping the vehicle off. But it’s also because cleaning the vehicle will save you time later on – even if you end up having to wash it again upon delivery, at least you’ll be dealing with a lot less grime. Finally, it’s always nice to have a clean car, isn’t it?

Person washing a tire to prepare vehicles for shipping. — Always wash the car before shipping or storing it.

Don’t forget the interior when you prepare vehicles for shipping

It’s not just the outside of the vehicle that needs preparation before relocation or storage. You should also prepare the interior of the vehicle:

clean the inside of the vehicle
remove anything that is not secure (such as air fresheners or seat covers)
remove the electronics that are not a part of the car
turn off or remove automatic passes and toll tags
turn off the alarm

These small changes can make the vehicle transportation safer and easier both for the vehicle itself and your movers.

Vehicle maintenance is an important step you mustn’t skip

When you need to prepare vehicles for shipping, especially if you’re moving long-distance, it is very important that you check they’re in good enough condition to be shipped in the first place. Relying on professional auto shippers will greatly reduce the risks to your vehicles. But it won’t completely remove them! Vehicles can easily get damaged during transportation. And vehicles that are already in poor condition have a higher chance of getting damaged badly. To avoid that, make sure that your vehicles are safe to move by performing some basic maintenance before shipping them.

Inspect the vehicle

The first thing you need to do is to inspect the vehicle. This is quite easy! Check for any dents or scratches on the outside and make sure the motor, breaks and dashboard are in working condition. If you’ve regularly performed maintenance on the vehicle before now, there shouldn’t be any issues! But if you’re worried about something or simply don’t know how to perform a thorough enough inspection yourself, consider asking for a professional vehicle inspection. Not only will this give you peace of mind, but it will also ensure you have a working vehicle once you’ve moved.

Check the fluids

Before you take your vehicle anywhere, you should check all the fluids in it – oil, fuel, transmission fluid, brake fluid, coolant and just about anything else you can think of. The canisters shouldn’t be completely empty, but they should also not be overly full. A quarter or a third is the advice you will usually hear from professionals. You should also check that there are no leaks. Moving companies may refuse to ship vehicles with serious leakage.

Car dashboard. — Check the level of fluids in your tanks.

Charge the battery

If you want to drive your vehicle after its delivery, you’ll need to charge its battery. This is also useful in case your movers have to check that everything is in working order: with a full battery, they can easily just start the vehicle and perform routine checks before, during or after transportation.

Check the tire pressure

Tire damage is a common problem during transportation, especially in the loading and unloading phases. So make sure that your tires have enough pressure to withstand the trip. But don’t overinflate them either! This can have the opposite effect to what you want.

Empty the gas tank

Like all car fluids, gas should be emptied to a degree before shipping. You should only have 1/8 to 1/4 of a tank. Too little could cause damage to the tank, especially if you’re storing the vehicle for a while. Too much and the vehicle becomes heavy and dangerous to move.

Remove personal items when you prepare vehicles for shipping (but leave the tools)

If you’re moving, then personal items belong in all the other boxes your NJ packers are loading onto their trucks, not in your car. There are good chances they will come loose and damage something or make your vehicle heavier and therefore more costly to transport. So remove personal belongings from the vehicle and pack them elsewhere. The only things you should leave in the car are the toolbox and spare tires which can be used in case of emergency.

Rosary on a rearview mirror. — Remove personal items from the car before shipping it.

Take photographs for your records

Hoping for the best but preparing for the worst means you have to take into consideration the eventuality of something going wrong. So before you ship your vehicles, take photographs of them. That way you’ll have proof of the condition the vehicles were in before shipping in case something goes wrong during the transport.

Lock up after you prepare vehicles for shipping

Once you prepare vehicles for shipping, all that’s left is to lock up and get going! If you’re relying on professionals to ship your vehicles (which you definitely should be because auto shipping is a task that most are not up to), you probably won’t have much to worry about once these preparations are done. So relax and move on to other tasks now!

Moving while sick – how to handle it?

Posted on December 19, 2019August 5, 2020 by Ethan

One of the key aspects of moving is planning. A good plan will prepare you for everything! But unexpected things can throw a wrench into even the best-made plans. So sometimes, you’ll end up moving in less than ideal conditions. And that can be tough. After all, moving is difficult at the best of times. But when you’re moving while sick… Well, that can seem almost impossible to deal with. There’s no need to panic, though! With the help of some of the best movers New Jersey and a few useful tips, you can relocate while sick and avoid disaster! So let’s take a look at how you can make moving while sick easier.

Continue reading “Moving while sick – how to handle it?”

Renting plastic moving bins – good or bad?

Posted on October 14, 2019August 5, 2020 by Ethan

Over the past few years, plastic moving bins have reached even higher popularity. People have started using more of these bins instead of regular cardboard boxes for various reasons. Their sturdiness and quality have proven to be very useful. However, some people are still not sure whether renting plastic moving bins is a good choice when relocating to the new location. Will these bins be able to keep everything that’s inside them safe and secure? Will they survive the move? We wanted to inform you more about these plastic bins and help you find an answer on whether you should rent them for your upcoming move or not. So, keep reading if you want to learn more!

Plastic moving bins 101

More than 50 years ago, a famous line was uttered in a movie called The Graduate – “The future is plastics”. Who would have known that this movie has predicted our present in just that one sentence? Nowadays, you can find plastic products all around us and they have many uses! However, it’s necessary to point out one thing before you jump to conclusions!

Modern plastic products are way greener from those from the past, especially plastic moving bins. Even considering this, that doesn’t mean bad plastic doesn’t exist. The problem of plastic pollution still has to be solved. But, when it comes to plastic bins, we can assure you that they’re as green as they can be! So, if you’re wondering whether you should hire movers Clifton NJ and use plastic bins for your upcoming move, we have to say that’ll be a good decision. If you’re wondering why we’re advising you to do this, read our guide carefully and you’ll learn all about the benefits of renting plastic moving bins!

Two hands protecting — Even though we’re still searching for ways to reduce plastic pollution, some plastics are now more eco-friendly.

The many advantages of renting plastic moving bins

There are so many purposes of plastic moving bins! They are made out of quality materials that allow you to use them in various situations. However, some people are still not convinced that “good” plastic exists. This is why they avoid using plastic bins and end up using only cardboard. Well, we’re here to inform all of you (and not just that group of “nonbelievers”) about the many advantages of renting plastic moving bins.

Plastic moving bins are durable and sturdy

One of the main reasons why people have started to choose plastic bins over cardboard boxes is because of their durability. Plastic moving bins can be of use to people who’re moving valuables and are in search of fine art movers NJ, but they’re also a great choice for relocating regular household items. Plastic moving bins are made out of recycled plastic that’s sturdy enough to keep everything you pack inside them safe and secure. Even if you decide to use these bins and place them inside the storage unit, you won’t have to worry about a single thing.

On the other hand, cardboard boxes can tear during the relocations and are unusable even if they’re slightly damaged. Sure, you can reuse cardboard boxes in many creative ways. But, you won’t be able to use them for the move. So, tell us, which of these two options sounds better for your upcoming move?

Going green with the help of plastic moving bins

As we have already told you, all of the plastic moving bins are made out of recycled plastic. And, if we want to keep our planet safe and make a better place, we need to recycle as much as possible! When using cardboard boxes for the move, you’ll be left with tons of cardboard in your new home. So, tell us, how will you get rid of it?

Plastic moving bins are reusable and can survive thousands of relocations! Therefore, you can rent these bins, relocate, and return your bins. This way, someone else will be able to use them for their relocation. Who would have known that something that simple could help our planet? If these eco-friendly relocations sound attempting to you, remember that there’s an option of going green with the help of Moving of America! All you have to do is contact our moving pros and they’ll gladly provide you with the necessary pieces of information about green relocations!

Renting plastic moving bins will help you protect the environment — In case you decide to go with renting plastic moving bins, you’ll have a greener relocation.

Providing safety while moving and storing

If you’re in need of library moving companies and you want to store some of your precious collection, think about using plastic bins. They’re great for storing because they can protect your items from humidity, dirt, mold, and mildew. Therefore, all of your belongings will be safe and secure inside plastic moving bins! Another great thing about them is that they keep everything that’s inside free of contamination! All you have to do is seal them properly! And last but not least is the fact that kids can’t open them so easily. If you want to keep something away from them during the move, you’ll manage to do it by renting plastic moving bins.

A heart shaped pendant — Plastic moving bins are great for storing valuables

As you can see, plastic moving bings are a great option for relocations, but also for storing. By using them, you won’t have to worry about the safety of your precious belongings!

The final verdict on whether you should rent plastic bins or not

There you have it – these are the most important facts and benefits of renting plastic moving bins and using them. So what do you think, should you rent these bins for your upcoming move? Will this be the right decision to make? Well, you’re the only one who can and needs to decide. Remember that you can always get a couple of plastic bins and a couple of cardboard boxes. This way, you can pack your breakables in plastic bins and other items in cardboard boxes. And more importantly, you won’t spend a lot on your packing materials to keep all of your items safe! Easy-peasy!

Category: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)