7 Highly-Efficient Tips on How to Pack Books for Moving

If you’re a book lover, chances are you know the pain of a ripped page or a bent cover. Packing to move to a new home is challenging. But, it’s more challenging for book lovers.   

Why? First, books are among the heaviest items in your home. Second, you don’t want to damage them. And lastly, books require some special attention when packing.

Read on and learn seven tips on how to pack books for moving.

1. Curate a New Library

We all love good books, but there comes a time when you have to let some of those books go. This is difficult for book lovers but not impossible. Here is what you need to do.  

Gather all of your books in one spot, sort through them, and check all the titles. As you do so, decide what to keep and what not to keep. Start the sorting early because you have lots of titles to go through.   

You can donate the books you no longer need or sell them.

2. Group the Books in Sizes

Now that you have streamlined your library sort the books according to size. This gives you a preview of how they are going to fit in the boxes.

3. Find Sturdy Boxes

Despite streamlining your library and grouping the books, they are still heavy. To ensure easier transportation, find sturdy boxes. This will keep your books manageable and safe.  

As you pack, we recommend that you distribute the weight in the box. How? By packing the bigger books at the bottom with the spines alternating up and down.

4. Use Packing Paper

Protect your books by lining the boxes with packing paper. This adds an extra layer of cushioning, thus protecting your books from dirt and liquids and prevents them from shifting around.

Add extra tape to the bottom for extra reinforcement.

5. Go for Rolling Suitcases

Can’t find sturdy boxes at the store, at work, or social media groups? Why not use rolling suitcases? 

Rolling suitcases are generally deep and sturdy — ideal for transporting bulky books. Also, the wheels make them even more convenient. When it comes to unpacking the truck, all you have to do is roll the suitcases from the moving truck into your new home. 

6. Don’t Overfill the Box or Rolling Suitcase

Although boxes and rolling cases provide space for your books, don’t overfill them. It is important to leave space between the top and your books. This helps to ensure that you don’t have bent covers on arrival. 

Plus too many books make the box too heavy to lift.

7. Pack with Care

Take your time when packing your books. To ensure you pack with care, start early. If you have any expensively bound volumes, wrap them individually.   

Also, store them separately in the box with the spine straight. This prevents side to side friction, which could damage the cover.

Label the book boxes so that movers know how to handle these heavy items appropriately.    

Moving Help

Looking for moving experts with the right experience? We at Arrow Moving & Storage Co can help. Contact us today and let us help with your move.

Easing the Transition: Moving Schools Mid-Year

Easing the Transition: Moving Schools Mid-Year

With nearly 40 million Americans moving every year, many families can’t avoid moving during the school year. Although you may not want to mid-school year, there are steps you can take to ease the transition.

We put together a list of helpful tips to aid the process of transferring school during the school year.

Planning is Everything

For families, a big part of the moving process involves researching the local school districts in the area. Finding out exactly which schools your kids will be attending is the first step.

Once you know which schools serve your area, give them a call and ask them for instructions and advice on paperwork and the transferring process. Schools deal with many cases like this every year so they should be happy to help you out.

Here is a brief checklist of the process:

  • Inform the school and let them know the dates they’ll begin classes.
  • Handle the paperwork before the move itself.
  • Request all the necessary records from the old school.
  • Ensure your children’s physicals and immunizations are up to date.
  • While you’re packing up, make sure to find important documents and keep them handy during the process; don’t lose track of them in the chaos of moving.

Involve Them in the Process

One of the best ways to ease the transition is to be open with them and let them in on the process. Let them know when you’re moving, when they’ll be starting school, what you know about the school and their future teachers.

If you’re able, take them on a visit to the school before they start. Or if you aren’t able to, let them see pictures or videos of it online.

Be sure they keep up with their studies during a move. They’ll likely miss a few days or weeks of school during the move. Talk to their new teachers about the curriculum and what you can do to help them into the new subjects.

Do your best to empathize with them. Kids will all handle a move differently so it’s good to determine whether your children need space during the transition or if they need you to help them along. Make sure they know you’re there for them.

Helping Them Through the Transition

Take your time with the process. Don’t send them back the day you get to your new home, especially if you’re traveling a long distance.

If you’re able, plan the move around a holiday. This will allow kids the chance to take some time to acclimate to the new environment and get to know the neighbors and adjust to their surroundings.

Depending on their age, you may be able to spend some time at your kids school their first day back. This gives you the opportunity to meet teachers, administrators, and get a feel for what they’ll be experiencing every day.

Getting Ready to Move

Moving in the middle of the year can be a stressful event for anybody. But kids can bear the brunt of the anxiety. That’s why it’s important for you to be there for them to ease the transition. 

If you’re in need of professional movers to help you with your move, contact us for a free move quote today!

7 Things to Know Before a Move to Colorado Springs

Planning on moving to Colorado Springs? If you are a nature lover, you will feel right home. As the second-largest city in Colorado, it is located at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains. In fact, it lies close to the glacier-carved Pikes Peak, a famous landmark in the Pike National Forest with a cog railway and hiking trails. 

Want to know how living in Colorado Springs will be before relocating?   

Read on and learn seven things to know before moving to Colorado Springs.

1. You Might Want to Shift Your Lifestyle to Fitness

Colorado Springs is a “fit city.” It makes frequent appearances as one of the most fitness-friendly cities. It’s among the top 10 cities ranked highest for overall fitness in the US.  

Thanks to its proximity, residents can cycle, run, and walk up and down the mountain. There are several fitness studios in the city which can help you reach your fitness goals.

2. Leave Your Formal Attire Behind

Are you planning to move to Colorado Springs? Unless your new job requires you to dress in formal attire, Colorado Springs has a casual dress code. However, you should be prepared for chilly nights.

To ensure you’re always appropriately dressed for the weather, layer your clothing. When you leave the house in the morning, it might be chilly, then warm up during the day. By evening the temperatures will likely dip down again, and you will be glad you had that sweater you wore when you left in the morning.

3. Visit the Garden of the Gods

After moving to Colorado Springs, your first visit should be the Garden of the Gods. As a stunning public park, it is a National Natural Landmark. The park is full of red rock formations.   

From the park are spectacular views of the mountains. There is also a museum, café, and gift store in the park.

4. Spot Training Olympians

Colorado Springs is home to the US Olympic Training Center. It is also the seat of the US Olympic Committee and the Olympic Musem. As such, you may come across Olympians as you hike, and bike at the Garden of the Gods.

5. Significant Military Presence

Apart from Olympians, you will notice a significant military presence. They include service members and veterans. In and around the city, is the US Air Force Academy, NORAD, Peterson Air Force Base, and Fort Carson.  

If you are a veteran or service member, restaurants and other businesses offer a military discount.

6. Hydrate Regularly

Colorado Springs is in the high desert. As such, it is easy to get dehydrated when going for a hike, bike, or a run. To avoid dehydration, have plenty of water with you as you workout. 

It is also wise to have an emergency kit.

7. Get into Winter Sports

There are many exciting outdoor winter activities to do in Colorado Springs like ice hockey, sledding, or snowshoeing. Since it’s ski country, grab a pair of skis and join the residents of Colorado Springs on the slopes.  

Moving to Colorado Springs? What to Expect

Moving to Colorado Springs is the best decision you will ever make. Not only is natural beauty abundant, but there are also so many things to do near Colorado Springs. 

Are you moving in the Colorado Springs Area? Are you in search of a professional moving team to help make your move as smooth as possible? We at Arrow Moving & Storage can help. Contact us today and have all your questions answered.