Check out our latest additions to our youtube channel!
We’ve been working on more videos for our Youtube channel. We’ve got time-lapses of truck loads, how-to videos & training videos that we use to train our new hires. Please check them out. If there are any subjects that folks would like a video on, please leave a note in the comments and I’ll do my best to whip something up.
New Time-Lapses:
Small office move timelapse:
This is a small office move timelapse we shot in February of 2018 for our Youtube channel. We mostly truck wrapped the goods for speed since we had easy access, a good crew, and the customer was concerned with price. The video also shows how we tidy as we move, folding pads and keeping the workspace clear and safe.
Small residential move timelaps:
This is a short residential load and unload we did in February. It shows how we use mattress bags, but also mattress carriers which provide more grip and protection. Note the bureau being stowed upside-down, and wrapped. This item probably had loose or weak legs. An upside-down position and proper padding protects those weak legs. The truck wasn’t full so the crew flat-packed the chowder for the 2nd half to save time and trouble. Note how we tidied and cleaned as we went. At the end of the day, our trucks are ready for the next day.
Loading a vault at our storage:
Loading one of our customers’ goods into storage vaults at our warehouse in Arlington, MA. Note how we fully and tightly pack the vault with the customer’s goods. We both want to give them their money’s worth on volume, but a full vault is also safer and in some specific circumstances provides better protection for the goods.
Loading a vault at our storage 2:
Our youtube channel had mostly time-lapses of truck loads & loads so it seemed prudent to include more storage videos. Enjoy.
Day 1 of moving Paul Riedl Studios in our trailer:
Here’s a time-lapse video of us loading our 28′ Kentucky semi-trailer. The trailer can accommodate 2100ft3 of goods which means it can handle a pretty big house. This short trailer can also fit into some tricky driveways, and down some very tight streets. It’s the perfect piece of equipment for city moves. Note the use of a 2nd deck within the trailer. This allows us to load more items without having to stack. With a trailer with a tall overhead height like this you run the risk of there being too much weight on the items that are on the bottom. Double-decking like this alleviates that concerns and allows the crew to fully load the trailer, while preventing damages. Eric loaded the delicate but fully wrapped antique chairs on the 2nd deck, and was able to load the bulkier items below.
On this day we moved Paul Riedl’s restoration shop and showroom. He has myriad beautiful antiques for sale that he has collected or has been importing from France. Paul also does great restoration work as you can see on his website. We hire him if we have damages, he’s absolutely the best. http://www.paulriedlstudio.com/ and http://www.galleryxiv.com/welcome/
New How-Tos:
How to pack knives:
You could store your knives in your enemies’ backs, but if you’re hiring movers, they don’t usually transport dead bodies. So, the alternative is to pack them into boxes. Joe demonstrates a quick, easy and safe way to pack knives that ensures they won’t end up sticking out the box. No Boxy McScissorshands allowed.
How to pack small pictures in boxes:
Here’s some basic tips for packing pictures into regular moving boxes. Larger pictures will require picture boxes (stay tuned for a video on that). For pictures smaller than 18″ you can fit a bunch into a 3.1ft43 (linen carton) or 4.5ft3 (shade carton). Joe provides some basic tips on doing that safely and efficiently. Moving is a continual compromise of care and speed.
How to prepare a table lamp for moving:
This is a quick video on preparing your table lamps for moving. It’s based on how we handle lamps, and some other companies like to have them handled differently. if you’re not hiring us then lap-folding a box to put the shade in may be frowned upon. Most movers I’ve met in Boston assume a shade if they encounter a lap-folded lightweight box however, so around here you’re probably good. We like to provide systems and advice that both keep the goods safe, but aren’t particularly onerous on the clock, or the wallet.
New Training Videos:
This winter we’ve started creating training videos for our Youtube channel. We used to just train on the job which is the classic way of going about bringing up new talent for moving companies. Much of the job is really based on experience. Being the less-experienced worker on the other end of a bureau and absorbing knowledge CANNOT be beat. You cannot “train” your way out of picking the right employees and paring them with the right mentors. That being said, I think some good training videos can be helpful and prepare newer movers for circumstances and provide some specific guidance for trouble areas. We take moving, but also equipment maintenance, order and cleanliness serious and I think our youtube channel is a good medium for conveying that info.
Diaper Wrapping a bureau:
Don’t use diapers to wrap your bureau. Use moving pads and stretch wrap. Hah. Diaper wrapping just means wrapping furniture with a blanket on the bottom as we demonstrate here. Often you can wrap furniture with padding everywhere else and it’s fine, but for some pieces you should get full coverage. Diaper wrapping (with a bottom pad) is a great way to do that. Here’s a video showing how.
Rolling up a piano strap:
A piano strap is a 10′, 15′ or 20′ strap commonly used by movers. It’s made of cotton webbing, usually with one red stripe and two blue stripes though I’ve seen some variations. For a buckle it uses a sliding bar buckle. These tend to be easy on the hands so they’re used for strapping all sorts of things. Many movers DON’T use them for pianos but traditionally that’s what they’re called. The biggest drawback of a cotton strap is that it stretches a lot when wet so it’s not for every application. They don’t get as tight as polypro/nylon ratchet straps which is good because you can damage furniture with ratchet straps. Sometimes it’s bad because sometimes you want it tight and those can make it tricky. Anyhow, here’s how we prefer to store them when not in use.
Stowing a sofa bag:
This is really useful for home-owners who also own a sofa bag to protect their sofa. Actually it’s because the new guys always get this one wrong, hopefully a video helps.
Wrapping a table with small stretch:
Joe demonstrates some good technique for quickly wrapping most tables using stretch wrap & a moving blanket. This scenario is a very common one. Most dining tables, kitchen tables and a lot of desks are a similar configuration.
Preparing a sofa for transit using a sofa bag:
Lean back, relax… then jump up and wrap a sofa. Let the sofa-bag make it easy.