The garage and patio: last to pack, first to cause trouble

On move day the garage is often the room that runs long. It is full of things that do not fit in boxes, things in bags, half-full cans and tools with sharp ends. A crew can move all of it, but only if it is ready. Below is how to get the garage, the side yard and the patio ready, and the few things that cannot ride on the truck.

Rakes, shovels, brooms and long-handled tools are awkward one at a time. Tape them together in bundles so our team can wrap each bundle in a moving blanket; it saves time and keeps sharp edges off your furniture. Small hand tools go in a sturdy box. Power tools go in their cases or in boxes with the batteries taken out.

We load BBQ grills, bistro tables and patio chairs as part of the move. Clean the grill and empty the ash or grease tray first. The propane tank stays behind or travels with you: we don't move hazardous materials or propane tanks. Patio furniture is wrapped like indoor furniture; glass patio tabletops are packed as fragile items. Cushions go in boxes or wardrobe boxes, not loose bags.

Paint, cleaning products and car fluids are where garages get complicated. Liquids must be sealed and packed in boxes to be moved, and we do not move anything that might leak onto other belongings; hazardous materials stay off the truck. For safety and stacking, we also do not move items packed in plastic bags, so sports gear, holiday decorations and camping things need sturdy, sealed boxes. Bulky items like a vacuum or a shop vac can be wrapped in a blanket instead.

Potted plants and planters come with us when they fit in the truck and can travel safely; large planters depend on how much space is left after the house is loaded. See moving plants.

There are no item fees. A well-packed garage is quick; a garage of loose items is slow, and the clock runs at $175 per hour for 3 movers or $235 for 4, with a 3-hour minimum and 15-minute increments. Boxes are available on the truck, charged as used, if you run short on the day.

Freestanding metal shelving comes apart; empty it into boxes first and keep the bolts in a labeled bag. Workbenches and tool chests move like furniture, with drawers emptied or taped shut depending on what the foreman sees. A heavy rolling tool chest, like any item around 300 pounds or more, needs a photo first. Bikes ride wrapped in a blanket; take off baskets and loose lights.

• Start a week early: the garage always holds more than you expect.
• Bundle and tape long tools.
• Drain gas from mowers and other equipment and set aside propane tanks.
• Box sports equipment and decorations; no plastic bags.
• Seal and box liquids you want to keep; dispose of the rest properly.
• Empty and clean the grill.
• Take down shelving if it is coming, or point it out to the crew.