Lansing, Mich. – The month of May is “National Moving Month” and TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, a local residential and commercial moving company, offers the following suggestions to those planning a move over the next few months.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® suggests asking the following questions when shopping for a moving company:

• Do you charge by the piece or by the hour? Most times paying by the hour with an accurate estimate is better. No matter how the rate is calculated, find out everything that is included in the price.
• Are my items insured during the move? Just because a mover is bonded and insured does not mean that your items are covered during the move.
• Do you have full-time employees or use temps and day labor? Be cautious of moving companies that use temps and day labor; they are usually not adequately trained.

Though moving companies may offer packing services, many people who move choose to pack themselves. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® offers the following tips to keep in mind while packing:

• Remember, the heavier the item, the smaller the box. When packing, label all boxes, and do not pack items from different rooms in the same box.
• Start packing for your move up to six weeks in advance. Start by making a room-by-room inventory of things that need to be moved to new residence, things that can be moved to storage or other facility, and things that can be discarded or donated to charity.
• Use professional packing supplies such as moving boxes and packing paper. Produce boxes or other containers from grocery stores could be weak from use or infested with small bugs. Using newspaper instead of packing paper could permanently stain your belongings, as newsprint is known to “bleed” rather easily.

For more information on TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® or its services, contact your local franchise or call the company’s corporate office at 800-345-1070.