Insider Info: 5 Things to Protect to Minimize Damage During a Move

“K.I.S.S.” Method for Easier Moving—“Keeping It Simple is Smart”

Moving is hard, there’s just no two ways about it.  There are so many details to coordinate and so many things to do, and everything is temporarily upside-down while you’re in transition.  Most moves actually involve three separate but equally important tasks:

• Moving – physically moving your property from your old location to the new one
• Destruction – shredding old records to save money and work in the move, and space in your new location
• Records Management - maintaining compliance-related security throughout the process

Coupling shredding or destruction and offsite storage is smart records management, and doing it in concert with your move is efficient– the records management synergy will bring cost-savings on all three phases.

Shred, Store, Move Should Be Your Mantra, One Vendor Should Be Your Modus Operandi

You could conceivably have three separate vendors handling each of those tasks, but why?  Moving is hard enough— why on earth would you want to add MORE to your already-loaded plate by trying to work with multiple vendors to get everything done?  Coordinating them is a job unto itself, and you have more important things to do!

Working with one vendor that specializes in all aspects of moving and records management, who can meet all of your needs and coordinate everything for you, will make your move:

• Simpler
• More efficient
• Less risky, from a compliance perspective, and best of all,
• Less expensive

It’s Just Smarter to Use One Moving and Records Management Vendor:

• To have ONE point of contact, ONE source and ONE point of accountability for everything you need—it doesn’t get any simpler than that!
• To have an experienced professional coordinating the many aspects of your move, so all of the potential problems that might not even occur to you will be solved proactively for you, so your move will go much more smoothly
• To reduce the potential for a privacy breach liability by limiting who comes in contact with your confidential information to vendors that specialize in records management– a really good hybrid records manager/office mover will bring a great deal to the table with regards to the proper handling of sensitive data

Sometimes Less IS More

If ever there was a time when less is more—less frustration, less hassle and fewer headaches—it’s when you’re moving.  So when you’re deciding which vendor to choose, always try to “Keep It Simple” and choose one vendor that knows what they’re doing.  That will make your risk manager, lawyers, managers, and stockholders happy, not to mention your protected patients or clients.  And your CEO and CFO will love the savings!

If you’d like to learn more about the many ways one vendor is better than many, and the kinds of mistakes rookies often make when it comes to moving, please call me!  I’ll be glad to share whatever I know that might help you move smarter.

Related articles

• K.I.S.S Me! (Keep it Simple and Short!) (myetchasketchlife.wordpress.com)
• Admiral Records Management Adds Latest Technology And Software (admiralrecordsmanagement.com)
• Moving? Lock down Your Confidential Info with Secure Chain of Custody (alwaysleading.com)

Insider Secrets that Will Help You Save Money on Your Next Move

As with anything else in life, when it comes to moving, planning is everything!  What you may NOT know is that how and when you plan your move can DEFINITELY save you money if you know a few insider secrets that I’m happy to share:

Avoid Peak Season

• Peak household moving season runs from May 20th through September 7th-10th each year, and demand is highest between May 27th – June 10th and June 21st – July 8th.  Avoiding those dates will help you save on moving costs, as   prices are usually highest at peak times.
• You’ll also get better service if you schedule your move outside of May 20th-September 10th, because your crew, consultant, coordinator, dispatcher and service staff will be more rested, less stressed and better able to serve you.
• If you schedule more than 60 days prior to peak season, you will definitely see lower costs because peak season will not yet have pushed prices up to peak rates.
• Movers who handle most of their business during peak season charge higher rates because they can—there are simply more moves than there are moving crews to handle them.  Scheduling outside peak season helps you avoid the supply/demand upward pressure on price.

Avoid the Busiest Time of the Month

Because people usually want to be in their new location at the beginning of the month, it is always busiest between the 25^th of any month and the 4^th of the following month.  If you can schedule your move between the 8^th and the 22^nd of the month, you can typically save on your move– at Admiral, we may be able to discount your move by 10%-15%!

Flexibility = Better Service + Savings

The more flexibility you have on when you have to be loaded up and when your belongings need to be delivered, the more likely your mover can discount your rates.  It makes handling your move more attractive to the best drivers and crews if they can schedule your move around other obligations so they can rest between moves, and they will often show their appreciation for your flexibility by offering you a lower rate.  Plus you’ll usually get better service– most companies always do their best to serve you well, but in the end, movers are people, too, and if you’re easy to work with, they will work that much harder to do better for you!

Lighten Your Load

The easiest way to reduce the cost of moving is to simply move less stuff.  There is never a better time to donate or dispose of things you no longer need than when you’re moving.  It ALWAYS costs less to move less, so get rid of whatever you can and you’ll save money!  And if you CAN avoid storage, you definitely SHOULD – storage can be VERY expensive!

For more cost-saving tips and recommendations on how you can keep your moving costs as low as possible, please call me at (334) 262-6666– I’ll be happy to share anything I know that will help you save money! Email me at smcnelley@admiralmovers.com or see more move solutions at www.admiralmovers.com.

Related articles

• Box-Less moving saves time, money and prevents downtime (box-lessmover.com)
• How to Make Your Work-Related Moving Expenses Less Taxing (Literally!) (alwaysleading.com)

“You Gotta Know When to Hold ‘Em, Know When to Fold ‘Em…” – Kenny Rogers, “The Gambler (Song),” and Records Retention, in a Nutshell

When it comes to your vital records, knowing when to get rid of them is almost as important as knowing when to create them— it helps you keep costs low, inventory manageable and compliance breach risk limited (as limited as it can be, anyway). Records Retention is largely a function of compliance.

Know When to Hold ‘Em

Some records you have to keep—the law requires it, or you need the information until further notice or forever.  For most of our customers, the small part of their historical data they actually need to keep is stored within software programs like their accounting and billing system, or their CRM (Customer Relationship Management) program—what they keep and how long they keep it outside of their other business systems is almost entirely driven by compliance requirements.

So the easiest answer to “When do I need to hold ‘em?” is “When the law says so (or if you really, REALLY need them).”  If you’re not sure what the law requires you to keep and for how long, I recommend you seek professional advice from someone who does—your attorney or the agency that enforces your industry’s compliance requirements are two good places to start.  If your records manager has in-depth knowledge, they may also be able to share what other firms in your industry do, but since you are ultimately responsible, it’s always best to get advice and recommendations straight from the source.

Know When to Fold ‘Em

How do you know when to “fold ‘em” (destroy your records)?

The easiest answer here is, not surprisingly, “When the law says so (or you really don’t need them anymore).”

When it’s finally time to send your records packing, you have a decision to make.  Do you want to:

• Save the data by scanning the records and preserving the information digitally before they’re destroyed?
• Save the data in aggregate (summary) form, and lose the granular details when the records are destroyed?
• Destroy the records and lose the data forever?

The best choice varies by industry and by company, so there is no “one answer fits all”– just remember that you are just as responsible for the confidentiality of digital data as you are for data contained in hard copies of records, so plan accordingly. Compliance with records retention will be specific to your industry, circumstance, management guidance, and internal or external counsel.

Also keep in mind you need your data to be as secure during the process of destruction and afterward as it was when it was still being actively stored, so make sure whoever you work with ensures data destruction that is total, certain and DOCUMENTED so your compliance requirements will be satisfied.  Having no records retention policy or schedule is in my view much worse than having one that contains flaws, or is miss-executed. Not following the law (employment law for example)  can cause liability or legal action.

Know When to Get Help

If you’re in over your head when it comes to your records, or just need some suggestions about what to “hold” and when to “fold,” including insider tips about how others in your industry or related industries handle records retention, please visit our website  and/or call me!  I can’t share confidential information, but I’m happy to share ideas, resources and tips that might help you, including information about our services if they would be appropriate for your situation.

Moving can be an expensive proposition, and a work-related relocation is no exception.  But the IRS does offer a little bit of help in the form of a tax deduction for work-related moves, under certain conditions moving expenses can be deducted:

Distance

You must pass the 50-Mile Test (the distance between your new primary job and your home must be at least 50 miles more than your old commute was). A great tax deduction and often under-reported.

Time

You must be employed full-time in the area of your new job location for at least 39 weeks during the 12 months after you move.  (If you own your own business, the time of employment required is extended to 78 weeks within 24 months after you move.)

The tax deduction applies whether the job you move for is a new one, or is for your current employer.  If you’re married, only one spouse needs to meet the Time/Distance requirements to qualify for the deductions.

What Expenses Can You Deduct?

Provided you meet the Time and Distance requirements, you can deduct “Reasonable” expenses, including the following:

• Packing and shipping your household goods and personal effects
• Travel costs to your new home, excluding meals
• Insurance Moving expenses
• 30 days’ storage costs
• Utility connection/disconnection charges

If your employer happens to be generous, any expenses they pay for are not applicable unless they are added to your regular salary, but you must be careful to claim only the allowable deductions.  You are also responsible for paying taxes on any money you receive from your employer for moving expenses that aren’t eligible for the deduction, like meals and temporary housing.

This is not an easy deduction to qualify for, but if you do, it is an “Above-the-Line” tax deduction (not itemized), and you would use IRS Form 3903 (Moving Expenses) to claim it.  As with any tax-related issue, you should always seek the advice of a duly-licensed tax professional to make sure you meet the criteria.

To learn more about the work-related moving expenses & allowable tax deduction, please visit applicable page on the IRS website, http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html.  Thanks to Chuck Myers of the McClatchy Tribune News Service for this information on how to make your work-related move a little less taxing, and please contact us to learn more about how we can help make the rest of your move smooth and worry-free!

Related articles

• IRS Moving Expense Deductions (turbotax.intuit.com)
• Little Known Tax Deductions- Check out five little-known write-offs that could make your refund bigger or cut what you owe. -Boyace Van Harlan Jr., PhD (imageinme.wordpress.com)

Planning to Use Plastic Crates to Pack Up Your Office?  Tell Your Customers to Pack a Lunch

If you’re planning to use plastic crates for your office move, plan to pack up your productivity along with your property— and while you’re at it, you may as well tell your customers that if they need you during the move, they should pack a lunch and prepare to wait… and keep waiting.

Plastic crates may seem practical, and they certainly last longer and more durable than cardboard boxes, even though they are more expensive.  But in our experience, they will kill your ability to conduct business as usual for days or even weeks before and after your move.  And we’ve been helping businesses relocate for over 23 years, so we ought to know—we’ve seen it happen over and over again.

Plastic Crates are a Massive Productivity Suck

Packing your property into small, sealed containers essentially puts it out of sight and out of easy reach for as long as it’s stashed there.  Finding what you need and unpacking/repacking it becomes your central focus, and in a move with hundreds of crates, finding the one crate with the one file you need can be an epic challenge that takes a REALLY long time.

That’s time NOT spent taking care of your customers, or conducting your business.

There IS a Better Way: Kill the Crates, Go with Gondolas!

It’s precisely because plastic crates and the cardboard boxes they replaced are such a productivity suck that we knew we had to find a better solution.  Our customers needed a way to safely move their property in larger “chunks” than a plastic crate can hold, without losing access to their ability to serve their customers for days or weeks.

There was no other solution, so we invented one: the Office Move Gondola.

Our Gondolas are basically large, sturdy rolling carts with shelves.  Each one can hold as much as 6-10 plastic crates or more, so it’s much easier to find what you need because there are just fewer places to look!  They’re easier to move, because they’re on wheels.  And because our gondolas are open, you can still see everything and put your hands on exactly what you want in seconds, instead of searching through one plastic crate after another.  And putting it back is as easy as finding it.

Open Gondolas DON’T Mean Open to Compliance Breach

With the right security protocols in place and best practices followed, your confidential information is actually BETTER PROTECTED on one of our open gondolas than it would be in plastic crates!  So even our customers with the strictest compliance requirements are protected against breach when using our open gondolas.

Don’t Sign Up for Costlier Crates Without Considering our Greener Gondolas!

Plastic crates are not the preferred packing container anymore—they are more expensive, less user-friendly and much worse for the environment than our gondolas.  To learn more about how we can save you time, frustration, money AND clutter (once you’re moved, the gondolas are gone!), please contact us today!

Related articles

• Say No To Boxes And Plastic Crates for Office Moves (montgomeryofficemover.com)
• Plastic Crates For Moving Is a Non-Solution (montgomeryofficemover.com)
• Household Movers Trying To Disguise Themselves As Office Movers Using Plastic Crates (montgomeryofficemover.com)
• Plastic Crates, Not A Good Idea For An Office Move (montgomeryofficemover.com)

The proper role of government has become a major political and economic issue in today’s world and for the private sector in Montgomery, Alabama. Unfortunately, it has also become very divisive. So, what role should government play? In my opinion as a business owner, there must be a joint effort of government and private enterprise to provide the type of place people choose to live in and industry will locate or expand existing facilities to provide jobs and a tax base. There are roles only government can provide, as well as functions that must be provided by private enterprise.

Basically, city and county government’s role is to provide the infrastructure to make a place livable (utility service, police protection, fire department, streets, recreation facilities, public safety, libraries, etc.). Without these essential services, people, as well as industry and decision makers in the private sector, will not locate to a city or area. It is crucial that government perform these functions efficiently and equitably for all of its citizens. I expect my government to be fair in all of its dealings with all of its citizens, be beneficial, efficient and effective to those it serves, and to promote competitiveness in the private sector.

To have a vibrant, growing city there must be a good business climate.  And in Montgomery Alabama we have this. Industry provides the oil that makes the engine run. It provides employment that creates salaries, taxes, and in turn, provides the city services. I believe that any governmental body should have a tax structure that supports the growth of business, especially small operations. When the local economy is growing, almost always, the city follows. “A rising tide floats all boats” is an often-used phrase, but I believe allowing all businesses to flourish helps all citizens. Local government should do things that make its citizens proud to live and work there.

Quality of life is critical to new people locating to a city. A lot of us want a clean city that is attractive and well maintained. Pride in this area fosters the right tone for us all, and encourages visitors to have a favorable impression of our whole region. Montgomery and the River Region are most fortunate to have an outstanding quality of life. Not many cities of any size can match our offerings, such as the Alabama Shakespeare Festival and other entertainment and attractions venues. The relatively new River Walk and the recent revitalization of downtown Montgomery, along with an outstanding baseball park and a professional baseball team, certainly add to the quality of life for all citizens of the Montgomery area. Add the large number of college options and the work force it provides, and golf courses and other sports and recreational offerings in our area, and you provide people with a variety of choices. Again, you have a combination of government and private enterprise working together to provide a variety of opportunities for a quality lifestyle.

Education is of major importance! An essential element in any progressive community is the availability of good schools. The children hold the future in their hands, so to neglect to properly educate them assures failure as a society and municipality. Unfortunately, too many high school graduates do not have the skill level to assume positions requiring modest skill levels. Government’s role is to assure good physical facilities, but most importantly, demand well-qualified teachers and require discipline and expectations from teachers, students, and administration. An educated workforce is absolutely essential to the growth of any community, regardless of size. We must not fail in this area.

Currently in Montgomery, we are blessed with strong leaders and good administrators in both the state and municipal executive offices. That can change easily. We, the citizens, must be diligent to keep competent leaders in place and hold them accountable. Our leadership understands the importance of economic development, a good economy ensures access to economic freedom for all citizens.

On the federal level, I believe if the U.S. – as the world’s largest economy, the world’s biggest innovator, and the world’s biggest exporter – is to remain in that position, we must ensure that America is the world’s best place to do business. The Federal government should not run the whole show, but they should demonstrate common needs by addressing their own uses first. As America’s largest landowner, building/owner operator, largest employer and therefore largest consumer of energy, government should focus its efforts on making sure its own internal operations follow sound business practices, including conservation of people and resources. By doing so, they pave the way for private enterprise to follow their lead. Government must create economic, social and environmental value while minimizing or avoiding damage to the economic, social or natural capital so as to allow the private sector to thrive.

Finally, we should not forget that our government works for its citizens, and in the end the elected officials are accountable to the people and to the private sector. Elected officials should never lose sight of the importance of being an advocate of private enterprise, and the two working together will provide a vibrant, healthy place in which to live and work. Quiet enjoyment, although very much a legal term, says a great deal about what citizens should expect from government. For the most part, I want government to let us all “quietly enjoy” our lives. Allow us to live un-encumbered by unneeded intrusion, encourage and support economic development and efficiently distribute resources to allow economic freedom.

The excerpt below is from the Chamber’s “State of the City & County Economic Development” breakfast

MONTGOMERY, Alabama — City and county leaders celebrated recent economic development successes in the River Region and hinted at an increased focus on public education in coming months at a joint breakfast today.

Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange and Chairman of the Montgomery County Commission Elton Dean outlined goals and achievements during an annual breakfast event hosted by the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce.

Dean said businesses created nearly 200 new jobs and announced $56.8 million in capital investments in 2011. Continued business expansion and providing Montgomery citizens with the best services possible are among his goals for 2012.

“It is now more important than ever that we stay on course with our economic development efforts with the Chamber (of Commerce), city and state,” Dean said. “And remain focused on attracting businesses from all over the world.”

Much of Strange’s speech centered on educational goals. He told the group of business leaders that Montgomery Public Schools does a great job of catering to those students at the top, but not such a great job targeting those toward the bottom.

Economic freedom is the linchpin of great quality of life, it is incumbent on government to provide this for its citizens.

How to Pick the Right Lion Tamer for Your Records Beast

Someday the world may be a paperless place, but until then, if you have records, you need to store them somewhere.  Storing them on-premises at your office isn’t a workable option forever—at some point, your records inventory (or indexing) takes on a life of its own and becomes a hungry, space-sucking organizational nightmare of a beast, consuming expensive office space and valuable time. A bar-coded records inventory is essential and will help locate records quickly.

It’s a good thing when your records inventory grows by leaps and bounds, because it means your business is flourishing—it is your business activity, after all, that generates all the records.  But when managing your records becomes a task unto itself, when it starts to take time away from the business activities that make you money and diverts resources elsewhere, it’s time to seek professional help to tame your records beast and convert it from a ferocious lion back into a cute, furry little kitten in the corner.

Decisions, Decisions – How to Choose?

When you realize your records are taking up more office space and more head space than you can bear, there’s lots of help available to bring things back under control.  How do you decide which Lion Tamer to enlist in your fight to reclaim your space and your sanity?  Here are a few things to consider:

Seek Industry-Specific Experience

Your records management and storage partner should have experience with your industry’s regulatory and compliance requirements.  Compliance rules are too technical and the risks associated with compliance breeches are too numerous and expensive to leave it to chance by choosing someone who’s still learning how to protect your information. A good vendor will be well-educated in the areas concerning compliance requirements.

Seek Time-Tested Vendors with a Proven Track Record

Like everything else in life, when it comes to managing records, the more you do it, the better you get at doing it.  Do you really have time to wait-and-see when it comes to your records management and storage?  Choose a firm that’s been in business for at least 5 years, so you know they know what they’re doing and they’re not going anywhere.  And choose a firm that already has loads of happy customers—if they are delivering consistently for others, it’s a good sign they will for you, too.

Only Pay for the Space You Actually Use

You don’t need to pay for ANY storage space other than what you actually use.  You wouldn’t rent a ballroom when all you needed was a small meeting room, but if you’re paying for a large space that’s mostly empty because your storage vendor doesn’t offer you utilization-based billing, you’re doing essentially the same thing.

Think Ahead

Your needs will likely change over time, so it’s best to choose a vendor that offers a full range of services and can expand what they do for you as you need it.  Moving your records and starting over with a new vendor can be an expensive inconvenience, so it’s best to choose someone who will be able to accommodate both your current and future needs.

When you’re ready to tame your records beast, we’ll be glad to share our recommendations on what services you need and what questions you should ask prospective vendors, so please ask!  We’re happy to be of service even if we’re not the Records Management vendor you ultimately choose for storage, and there’s no obligation to you. We can help you with a records inventory, a bar-code locator systems, easy retrieval and compliance requirement consulting.

Related articles

• How A Records Management Company Can Help With Your Document Management (ruralstops.blogspot.com)
• Why Effective Records Management Matters in a Democracy (recordskeepers.wordpress.com)

Going Paperless Doesn’t Have to Mean Going Broke

Going paperless is the way of the future when it comes to records management and storage—it gives you better records security, better access and collaboration, better preservation of your critical information and it’s better for the environment.

Do I Need to Convert Everything to Go Paperless?

Once you’ve decided to join the 21^st century and go paperless, the first question you’ll need to answer is what to do about your existing records—should you convert all of them into digital files up front?

That’s certainly one option, and some customers really do need everything converted to stay efficient.  But in our experience, most customers don’t need to do that—most firms only need to access 5%-10% of the information their records contain on a regular basis, so scanning every single file at once is expensive overkill.

The Smarter Choice: Intelligent Archiving

With Intelligent Archiving, you only scan records as they are needed.  So your paper records are stored securely, and when requested, they are scanned and delivered as digital files with the associated security and access improvements.  You save on delivery time and scanning costs, and get the information you need even faster than when physical delivery is required.

An Efficient, Cost-Effective Solution

Intelligent Archiving of your records to digital files is more efficient than fussing with pickup, delivery and cataloging of paper records, and more cost-effective than a full-fledged up-front conversion to all digital—your files are sent to you by email or uploaded to our secure web portal for instant access, and you pay only for what you need, as you need it.  For most customers, it truly is the smartest option.

To learn more about how Intelligent Archiving could work for your company, and to get an honest assessment of whether it would be the best choice for you, please contact us today!  You could be on your way to the freedom and flexibility of a Paperless Office before you know it!

Running a business is all about risk management—identifying and minimizing the risks that could threaten your company’s survival.  No matter how well you do what you do, if you don’t proactively protect yourself from the risks that could destroy you, you’re vulnerable.

Is Your Building More Protected than Your Records?

Most firms know this, and develop disaster recovery plans that address what would happen if they suffered a catastrophic loss of their physical facilities or key personnel.  It’s just good business sense to have a plan to ensure the business will survive.  Yet companies often neglect to treat their mission-critical business information as the essential asset it is by planning for its protection, which is a critical mistake.

Your Information IS Your Most Valuable Asset

Your firm’s information assets (data, contact information, financial records, contracts, etc.) are just as important as any other asset you have, if not more so.  As such, they should be treated with at least the same level of care.  Both companies and corporate officers are legally responsible (both criminally and civilly) for their firm’s handling of information, so protecting the company from the risk of catastrophic data loss or privacy breach is an essential part of risk management.

Information Protection Doesn’t Have to Be Hard

A comprehensive records and information management disaster plan not only safeguards the information itself, but also ensures the firm’s potential liability for mishandling information is zero or as close to zero as possible.  A good plan doesn’t have to be cumbersome or complicated, just well-conceived and consistently carried out.

What, at a minimum, should you consider when developing a disaster recovery plan for your information assets?

• Off-site document storage

If your records are stored at your offices and disaster strikes, you could lose everything.  That’s why smart businesses store their records elsewhere, and many also back up their data to a third location in another part of the city or even across the country.

• Going paperless

Storing all records as digital files from the moment they are created frees your firm from dependence on physical files at your firm’s physical location for access to the information you need for daily operations.  When done properly, it also enhances access and security, and protects you if a natural disaster struck your building.

• Intelligent archiving

Converting your records to digital files as they are archived is one way to ensure they will always be available.  Converting already-archived records to digital files as they are requested is another.  Both strategies together will ensure your information is always there when you need it.

Take Off Your Rose-Colored Glasses

It’s human nature to see the glass as half-full and the risk of disaster as just a remote possibility.  Don’t mistake your natural tendency toward optimism for a realistic predictor of the possibility of disaster.  Develop a sound disaster recovery plan that will protect you and your business if the unthinkable happens—because it does, to someone, every single day.

For expert help developing a comprehensive plan to protect your most valuable asset– your information– please call 334-396-5430 or visit www.admiralrecordsmanagement.com  today!

It’s a common misconception that moving is a relatively straightforward thing—simple, with no surprises.  The truth is that there are many opportunities for damage, either to the property you’re moving or to the building/space you’re leaving or moving into.  Most of the time, inexperienced or careless movers aren’t even aware of what to watch out for until it’s too late and the damage is done, and it can be very costly to fix.

You can always tell a true moving professional by how well they anticipate and handle things most others overlook – that’s where you’ll see the real difference between novice movers and quality professionals with the experience and attention to detail a professional move calls for.

What are some of the most frequently overlooked things you should make sure your movers protect so damage to your property and the space you’re leaving or moving into will be minimal?  They are, of course, the big things that usually fade into the background:

Doors

Every door and door jamb should be padded and have door protectors clamped to them to protect them from nicks, scratches, dings and other damage as items are moved through them.  Protecting the doors and door jambs also protects the items moving through them from any damage that sharp or uncovered corners can cause.

Floors

Flooring surfaces are notoriously vulnerable to scratching and other finish damage, and most movers don’t even think twice before sliding furniture, filing cabinets and other items across the floor if it’s more convenient.  All marble, tile and vinyl floors should be covered with ¼-inch masonite to ensure the flooring is totally protected throughout the move.

Carpet

Just because the floors themselves are covered with carpet doesn’t mean the carpet doesn’t also need protecting.  Carpet can easily be snagged by sharp furniture corners that may not even be visible when the items are permanently installed.  They are also vulnerable to being stained by dirt and grease, from objects themselves, moving equipment like dollies, carts and boxes, or from what’s on the shoes of the movers.  There is also a greatly increased risk of wear and tear from the increased traffic of a move and the weight of the property being moved.

Walls

Interior walls, hallways and elevators also need protecting, whether or not they are lined with wallpaper, paneling or some other wall covering.  They should all be covered with corrugated cardboard to shield paint, sheetrock and other finishes from damage as items are moved.

Furniture

All upholstered furniture should be covered in clear plastic to protect it from dirt, snags, tears, nicks, smudging and any other move-related damage.  Corners and edges are particularly vulnerable to being damaged or damaging walls, floors, carpets or doors when furniture is being moved, so properly padding and protecting those exposed ends and edges serves to protect both the furniture and the surrounding surfaces.

Choose Wisely

The insider information above is just the beginning of what to watch for.  When choosing a mover, make sure you pick a professional that knows how to protect you from all of the damage that can occur during your move, including damage to the space you’re moving into or out of.  If you have any questions about what total move protection entails, please call us to learn more! See some examples at “Building Protection”.