Origin services

                  Residential - Office & Industrial - International - Corporate

• Free written estimates that we Guarantee Not To Exceed on your moving day
• Full or partial, expert packing services (have us pack your entire home or just your breakables, for example)
• Moving boxes and materials (if needed, for purchase or gently used provided at no cost)
• Crating services (Pool tables, fish tanks, glass table tops, bulky items, etc.)
• Storage In Transit (household items stored in our warehouse vaults to be shipped out at a later date)
• Furniture & household/office protection equipment/materials included in all moving services
• Dis-assembly of your beds
• Professional crating services
• Professional rigging services

If you decide to do your own packing, it can be a real money-saver. But it does take extra time and energy to get the job done right.

To get started, make sure you have ample supplies of:

• Tissue paper
• Packing paper (plain newsprint)
• 2″ packing tape
• Permanent markers
• Professional quality boxes (available from your agent)
• Utility knife and scissors

Using new, quality packing materials specifically designed for moving can ensure that your property arrives safely. North American has a wide range of boxes and professional packing materials available:

• 1.5 cu. ft. cartons - small carton for heavy items such as books, files, music CDs and DVDs/videotapes
• 3.0 cu. ft. cartons - medium utility carton often used for pots and pans, toys, and small appliances
• 4.5 cu. ft. cartons - For bulky items, such as linens, towels or toys
• 6.0 cu. ft. cartons - For large, bulky, or lightweight articles, such as pillows or large lampshades
• Wardrobe cartons - A “portable closet” that keeps clothes and draperies hanging on a built-in bar
• Mirror cartons - Several sizes of telescoping cartons for framed pictures, mirrors or glass
• Mattress cartons - Available in queen/king, double, single (twin) and crib sizes. A separate carton is necessary for box springs
• Dish pack (or China Barrel) - Heavy-duty carton used for dishes/china, crystal and glassware.
• Double-wall cartons - Extra protective cartons made especially for fine china, crystal, and other high-value, hard-to replace items
• Shrink wrap - A special plastic covering that safely adheres to furniture and protects it from snags, tears, and dirt.

Note: You will find PVC (poly-vinyl chloride) packing tape to be the most effective to seal boxes. Do not use masking tape or narrow cellophane tape.

You should transport valuable and irreplaceable items with you rather than on the truck. In addition, there are several items that can not be put on the truck, such as explosives, compressed gases, flammable liquids and solids, oxidizers, poisons, corrosives as well as radioactive and other hazardous materials.

Items that cannot/should not be moved inside the truck:

• Nail polish remover
• Paints and paint thinners
• Propane cylinders
• Automotive repair and maintenance chemicals
• Radio-pharmaceuticals
• Matches
• Lighter fluid
• Gasoline
• Fireworks
• Oxygen bottles
• Any combustible or explosive products

Items that are not recommended for transport inside the truck:

• Firearms (check with your move consultant)
• Family photos
• Food in glass jars and perishable foods
• Prescription drugs needed for immediate use
• Any irreplaceable items or documents.
• If you have any questions, just ask your Relocation Consultant.

What to take inside your personal vehicle:

• Items of personal importance or of sentimental value with you
• Cash
• Collections (i.e. coins)
• Important personal papers (i.e. deeds, wills, titles, etc.)
• Negotiable papers (i.e. bonds, stocks, certificates, etc.)
• Jewelry
• Moving documents and closing papers

• Start with out-of-season items. Next, pack things used infrequently. Leave, until the last minute, things you’ll need until moving day.
• Empty drawers of breakables, spillables, non-transportable items and anything that would puncture or damage other items while moving.
• Pack similar items together. Do not pack a delicate china figurine in the same moving 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 bags 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 paper draws attention to very small things that might otherwise get lost in a moving carton. Use a double layer of newsprint for a good outer wrapping.
• Place a two- or three-inch layer of crushed paper in the bottom of cartons for cushioning.
• Build up the layers, with the 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 of cardboard cut from moving cartons as dividers.
• Cushion well with crushed paper; towels and lightweight blankets may also be used for padding and cushioning. The more fragile the item, the more cushioning needed. Be sure no sharp points, edges or rims are left 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 moving 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 moving cartons tightly with tape, except for those containing items that must be left open for the van line operator’s inspection.