Western Van and Storage

Select a dish pack or a comparable tri-walled carton and line the bottom of the carton with crumpled packing paper.

With your packing paper stacked neatly on your work table center one plate on the paper. Take the corners of several sheets of packing paper and pull the papers over the plate until sheets completely cover the plate. Take a second plate and stack it on the first than, moving clockwise, grasp a second corner and pull sheets over the second plate. Stack the third plate on top of the bundle and grasp the remaining two corners, folding two sheets of each corner (one at a time) over the plate. Turn your wrapped stack of plates upside down onto your packing paper. Finally, re-wrap the entire bundle: start with one corner of packing paper and pull two sheets over the bundle, cover bundle with next corner, then the third corner; and finally, the fourth. Seal the bundle with packing tape. Use this process on all saucers, bread and butter dishes, and other dishware.

Place the bundle of dish-ware into your cartons so that the plates are standing on edge. The tensile strength of your plates is stronger when placed on edge.

Delicate cups and stemware should be wrapped one at a time. Antique glass, china or stemware should be stuffed with crumpled tissue and wrapped one at a time.

Lay on the corner of packing paper and roll it two full rotations; pull sides of packing paper up and over glass/stemware and continue rolling to the far corner. Place glasses and stemware toward the top of your box. Heavier items (dish-ware, pitchers, etc.) should be placed toward the bottom of the box.

Delicate glassware and stemware should be placed in an upright position, not on its side. You should always use crumpled packing paper in between each layer to assure a snug fit wherever there is space. All boxes with breakable items should be marked with the word "fragile" on the outside.

Silverware -- Wrap each piece in cloth or low sulfur content paper to prevent tarnishing. Use an old blanket or moving pad as a wrap to prevent scratching the silverware chest.

Additional Packing Instructions
Grandfather clocks should be prepared for moving by expert servicemen.

Lamps should have the bulbs, harps and shades removed. Wrap harp and finial (decorative knob at the top of the harp) with packing paper. Wrap the shades in tissue, not newspaper and place upright into a large, tissue-lined carton.

Mirrors and pictures should be wrapped in paper and placed on edge in cartons. Place large pictures and paintings on edge in heavy cardboard containers. Large wall or dresser mirrors will be taken down by the movers and placed in special cartons or pad wrapped by the mover. For added safety, place tape diagonally across mirror to protect better against damage. Do not place newspaper directly against paintings as this can cause damage.

Tools -- Drain fuel from power tools (do not ship flammables under any circumstances). Pack tools in small, strong cartons. Wrap separately if valuable.

Waterbed Mattresses -- Drain all water from the waterbed and, grasping internal baffle systems with external vinyl, fold mattress 20 inches at a time. Adjust folds to avoid making creases across individual baffles. Consult your owner's manual for special instructions concerning the care and transportation of your mattress. Do not place your mattress in a carton with sharp or pointed objects. If you're going to be storing your waterbed mattress for more than 30 days, add a recommended all-purpose waterbed cleaner to reduce bacterial growth and maintain freshness.

Lawn Equipment shipped on the moving van should be drained nearly empty of fuel and batteries should be disconnected.

Barbecue Grills and Propane Tanks -- Wrap grates and briquettes separately in a newspaper (or place all briquettes into a grocery bag) and place parts in carton. Pad carton with paper to reduce movement of contents. Propane tanks cannot be moved on the household goods van. Consult your local gas grill distributor for the safest method of disposal.

Firearms, along with their respective serial numbers must be registered with your van line representative before the move. It is against US Federal law to mark the carton on the outside indicating the presence of such items.

We gladly accept American Express, Mastercard, and Visa. Certified checks are also welcome. Payment is due upon the delivery of your goods.

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Before moving your DVD/CD player, there are procedures to follow which will protect your equipment from damage or mechanical failure due to normal vibrations that occur during transit.

The safest way to move your DVD/CD player is to pack it in the original box with the original packing. In the event that the original box is not available use a box large enough to fully protect the entire unit. The packing materials should fill the excess room in the box so that the player will not move during transit.

All DVD’s and CD’s need to be removed from the player prior to packing. Failure to do so may cause the disc to jam the player. The mover is not responsible for damage due to the customer’s failure to properly service the equipment prior to transport.

All wiring will need to be disconnected prior to the arrival of the moving company. If you do not have the owner's manual, draw a diagram or take a photograph of the wiring PRIOR TO disconnection. Wrap wires separately; label to identify usage and place in a plastic bag away from delicate surfaces. The wiring should go into the box with the player. This will assist you during your reconnection.

Don’t forget to pack the remote control along with the player.

Pack valuable electronic equipment in original cartons when available. Otherwise, use strong, corrugated cartons and place protective padding on the bottom of the carton. Wrap an old blanket or protective pad around the item and place it in its carton. Place additional padding between the carton and the computer or video recorder. Wrap cords separately; label to identify usage and place in a plastic bag away from delicate surfaces. Non-detachable cords should also be wrapped. Place cords between the padded computer or video recorder and the carton. Be sure your personal computer is "parked" and ready for transport.

If you have a printer, pack it in its original box. Remove the ink cartridges from laser and ink jet printers. If you are moving a pin printer, insert a piece of paper in the platen to secure the print head.

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Western Van and Storage - Packing Major Appliances
Air conditioner’s, washer’s, dryer’s (electric or gas), and stove’s should be checked and serviced by your local appliance company.

The mover can assist with making these arrangements.

Refrigerators and freezers must be completely defrosted one or two days prior to moving. We recommend that the inside be cleaned out with a bleach and water solution. The unit should be dried and aired to avoid mold growth and a musty odor. The mover is not responsible for damage due to climatic conditions and will not be responsible for any damage if the unit is not properly cleaned. All pans, trays, drawers, shelves, or removable parts should be removed and wrapped individually.

Television sets
Television sets should be fully disconnected prior to arrival of the mover. Upon delivery, the television unit should not be turned on for a period of several hours until the temperature of the unit reaches the same temperature of your home.

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Western Van and Storage - Packing Valuables - Items Not Insured or Recommended for the Van
It is best to make other arrangements for the transfer of certain negotiable items or articles of extraordinary value such as:

If transporting these or any other items please list them on the high value inventory.

To guard against damage that can be caused by combustion, leakage, or explosion, we can not transport the following items in our vans:

Western Van and Storage - Packing Plasma Television sets
PLASMA TV SETS MUST BE CRATED! LCD and Plasma Television sets should be fully disconnected prior to arrival of the mover. Upon delivery, the television unit should not be turned on for a period of several hours until the temperature of the unit reaches the same temperature of your home.

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Western Van and Storage - Hazardous Materials

Hazardous Material List - CANNOT SHIP ITEMS
This list includes most, but not all, items that may not be loaded on a moving van. Some items by law, some items per our insurance carriers, all for the safty transportation of your household belongings. Please discard of these items property or consider moving these items yourself.

Please discuss with your relocation consulate or relocation coordinator if you have any questions you may have regarding these items or items not listed.