Your home computer represents an investment, whether you use it to plan your family’s budget, file recipes, communicate with your family and friends or simply enjoy games. Naturally, you want to safeguard it from damage. With careful planning and proper packing, your computer can be transported safely when you relocate.  

Before the Move

• If you do not have an exact record of the cost of you computer (including any accessories you have purchased to add to it), you may want to obtain a current retail cost of your complete system prior to selecting a protection plan from your mover. If you desire replacement cost protection, many moving companies, including United Van Lines, offer full-value valuation against loss or damage. 

Packing

Your moving company is best qualified to properly pack your home computer. If you choose to pack it yourself, your computer should be placed in its original carton and packing material when possible. 

If you have discarded the original packaging:

• Choose a sturdy box large enough to permit you to surround the computer with packing material
• Crumpled, unprinted newspaper and plastic bubble wrap are the best packing materials. They will serve as a protective cushion and can be purchased from your local moving company. 
• The central processing unit (CPU) should be handled with extreme care. This unit is especially sensitive to jarring. Again, use a box large enough to accommodate the CPU and plenty of packing material on all sides. These precautionary steps also should be taken when handling an external disk drive.  
• The disks that contain your programming and stored data should be moved with you. They are sensitive to heat and cold, and warping could occur with extreme temperatures that can build up inside a moving van. As a precaution, you may choose to duplicate important files stored on disks and your computer’s hard drive onto backup disks. Place them in a different box or take them with you.  
• If you have a laser or ink jet printer, remove the toner and any ink cartridges, and carry the cartridges with you if your move occurs during hot weather. For other types of printers, the printer head should be secured – preferably with the original cardboard or plastic parts – to prevent it from shifting. Be sure to refer to the owner’s manual for preparations specific to your printer model.
• The remainder of your computer – the keyboard and monitor – consists of solid state circuitry, much like that in a television set. Place crumpled, unprinted newsprint in the bottom of a box and pack the items as you would other computer components.  

For additional instructions on packing monitors, please refer to your owner’s manual. 
   
At Delivery  

• Carefully check and mark off the inventory when your shipment is delivered.
• Allow the computer to reach room temperature before attempting to use it. If it has been particularly cold, watch for condensation, as moisture also can cause damage.
• If you have any loss or damage, contact the destination agent of your moving company for assistance.  

Dallas movers Mike Lohner and Chris Moucka founded DFW Moving and Storage over 18 years ago and have moved thousands of people both locally and across the United States. As an Agent for United Van Lines DFW Moving and Storage adheres to the high standards for customer care and quality of service. For more information about how to move call DFW Moving and Storage at 972-242-7711.

DFW Moving and Storage provides moving services to clients in Dallas, Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Allen, Garland, Mesquite, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Coppell, Lewisville, Denton, Southlake, Grapevine, Flower Mound, and Irving.

Appraisal

• Have your high-value collection appraised by a qualified person. Appraisal fees very widely from area to area. Appraisers charge either an hourly rate or a flat fee. The best way to locate a wine appraiser is through a local wine merchant who keeps abreast of current values on certain vintages.
• Photograph your collection to document its contents.
• Let your moving representative know you will be moving wine or other high-value items.
• Special arrangements may be necessary to ensure your collection will reach its destination safely.
• You will need to complete the High-Value Inventory Form to assure that your collection is not limited to minimal liability. The form will be provided by your United sales representative during the pre-move survey. Your mover will explain the protection plans from which you may choose. Replacement protection offered by most major moving companies affords you the best possible coverage against loss or damage in transit. If you choose United’s Full Value Coverage Plan, we recommend that you provide copies of the appraisal to your sales representatives. 

Legal Considerations

• Check with the alcohol beverage control authorities in your destination state before you move. Some states have restrictions governing the amount of alcohol that can be brought in for personal use. 

Temperature

• Most wine experts agree the older the wine, the more delicate its flavor. 
• Extreme changes in the temperature may affect the taste and appearance of your wine. 
• The best temperature for storing and transporting wine is 55 degrees. 
• White wines and less expensive “supermarket” brands are less susceptible to damage by temperature. 
• For a small, manageable collection, we recommend transporting the collection by car, where atmospheric conditions can be better controlled. A climate-controlled van can be used to move a very large or rare collection. However, arrangements must be made early and the additional cost may be more than you wish to spend. Ask your United agent for details. 
• The best time to move your collection is early spring or late fall. The temperature in the van during the summer months can be very high, and in the winter there is the possibility of the wine becoming slushy, which can alter the flavor. If your move must take place in the summer or winter months, you may want to consider moving your collection via a commercial airline. If you want the wine to be professionally packed, consult your mover. Your prompt delivery to the airport and pick-up of the wine at destination will limit its exposure to temperature extremes. 

Packing

• Take care to prepare your wine for the move. United has specially designed boxes to pack fragile items. If you plan to do the packing yourself, boxes may be purchased from your local United agent or from: 

California Glass Co.
155 98th Ave.
Oakland, CA 94603
http://www.calglass-pcc.com

• Corked wines should be placed on their sides or upside down in the packing container to keep the corks wet. 
• Do not pack bottles that have been opened. 
• Label the box FRAGILE - THIS SIDE UP.

Even if you use extreme care in packing your wine, “bottle shock” may occur from the wine shaking within the bottle as it is moved. If opened too soon, a loss of flavor may result. To prevent this, be sure to allow the bottles to rest at your destination at least seven days for every day your shipment is in transit.  

Dallas movers Mike Lohner and Chris Moucka founded DFW Moving and Storage over 18 years ago and have moved thousands of people both locally and across the United States. As an Agent for United Van Lines DFW Moving and Storage adheres to the high standards for customer care and quality of service. For more information about how to move call DFW Moving and Storage at 972-242-7711.

DFW Moving and Storage provides moving services to clients in Dallas, Frisco, Plano, McKinney, Allen, Garland, Mesquite, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Coppell, Lewisville, Denton, Southlake, Grapevine, Flower Mound, and Irving.

• Read Part B in the Series… How to Pack.
• Read Part C in the Series… More tips for Packing.

Ready, Set, Pack! Good Packing Means…

• Limiting cartons, when possible, to a maximum weight of 50 pounds to make handling easier.
• Wrapping items carefully.
• Providing plenty of cushioning to absorb shock.
• Using sturdy cartons that close.
• Making sure cartons are firmly packed and do not rattle, bulge outward or bend inward.
• Not mixing items from different rooms in the same carton, when possible.

Checklist of the Basics

• Start with out-of-season items. Next, pack things used infrequently. Leave until last the things you’ll need until moving day.
• Empty drawers of breakables, spillables, items not recommended for inclusion in your shipment and anything that would puncture or damage other items. However, blankets, sweaters, lingerie, bath towels and similar soft, lightweight goods may be left in drawers.
• Pack similar items together. Do not pack a delicate china figurine in the same carton with cast-iron frying pans, for example.
• Keep all parts or pairs of things together. For example, curtain rod hangers, mirror bolts and other small hardware items should be placed in plastic or cloth bags (which can be purchased from the moving company) and taped or tied securely to the article to which they belong.
• Wind electrical cords, fastening them so they do not dangle.
• Wrap items individually in clean paper; use tissue paper, paper towels or even facial tissue for fine china, crystal and delicate items. Colored wrapping draws attention to very small things. Use a double layer of newspaper for a good outer wrapping.
• Place a two- or three-inch layer of crushed paper in the bottom of a carton for cushioning.
• Build up in layers, with heaviest things on the bottom, medium weight next and lightest on top.
• As each layer is completed, fill in empty spaces firmly with crushed paper and add more crushed paper to make a level base for the next layer, or use sheets or cardboard cut from cartons as dividers.
• Cushion well with crushed paper; towels and lightweight blankets also may be used for padding and cushioning. The more fragile the item, the more cushioning needed. Be sure no sharp points, edges or rims are lift uncovered.
• Pack small, fragile, individually wrapped items separately or a few together in small boxes, cushioning with crushed or shredded paper.
• Place small boxes in a single large box, filling in spaces with crushed paper.
• Avoid overloading cartons, but strive for a firm pack that will prevent items from shifting; the cover should close easily without force, but should not bend inward.
• Seal cartons tightly with tape except for those containing items listed on United’s High-Value Inventory form. These must be left open for the van operator’s inspection.
• As you finish with each carton, list the contents on the side of the carton (for easy viewing while cartons are stacked) and in a special notebook. You might want to number and/or code the cartons as well.
• Indicate your name and the room to which each carton should be delivered at destination. Tape a sign on the door of each room at destination corresponding to the carton labels so movers can get the cartons into the proper rooms quickly.
• Put a special mark on cartons you want to unpack first at destination.

Dallas movers Chris Moucka and Mike Lohner, founders of DFW Moving and Stroage, a Dallas moving company, have been in the moving and storage business for over 18 years.  As Agents for United Van Lines they are held to a higher standard than most othe Dallas movers. That higher standard results in a more stress free move. For more details call Mike at 972-242-7711.

I had used this particular Dallas area mover twice before and both times I was satisfied. This time a problem occurred.  I owned a custom glass table. It was a one of a kind hand crafted table that was designed to be placed in a hall or entryway. It was made of fuzed leaded glass and it weighed about 250 lbs. It was constructed in two parts and was a little on the delicate side.

In each of the prior moves the movers moved the glass table without any problem but this time they did not pack it carefully enough and the table broke into several pieces. It was irreparable and I was extremely upset, to say the least. The table cost about $3000 dollars.

The mover did not cover the damage. I had failed to consider moving insurance and my homeowners insurance did not cover damage due to moving. The mover had not informed me of the option to purchase insurance and the contract documents which I had signed has very small print which included a statement to the effect that they were not responsible for any damage done during the move.

I had mistakenly assumed that they were covered by insurance and that if damage occurred I would be covered. I contacted my attorney and he reviewed the moving contract and pointed out to me that the only requirment by the state for movers is that they must cover damage at a cost of $.60 per lb. Well, a 250 lb glass table was only worth $150 at that rate.

The moral of the story is that you really should do three things before choosing a moving company:

1. Check your homeowners insurance to determine what moving damage is covered, if any.
2. Check the contract for damage clauses
3. Consider moving insurance
4. Select a moving company which has integrity and fully discloses the risks and coverages up front.

I have since that time moved several times and I want to recommend DFW Moving.com. They are a perfect example of a Dallas mover that has integrity and fully discloses all risks related to the move so that you can make an informed decision. Their movers are careful, diligent, and professional. They are not in a hurry to get to the next job and they are not slow because they are paid by the hour. DFW Moving.com is a quality Dallas mover that you can depend on.

Lee Thurburn - President of NetOffer, Inc.

NetOffer.com is a Texas Flat Fee MLS Listing Broker and a Technology service provider. The Technology service includes a Free Social Network for Business system, a Free Classified Advertising system, a Free Online Business Directory system, a Free BLOG system, and Internet Advertising and Marketing services.