How should I prepare garden tools and brooms for movers?
Tape rakes, shovels, brooms and other long tools together in bundles so the crew can wrap them in a moving blanket. Liquids must be sealed.
Do I need to box shovels and rakes?
No box is needed. Tape them into bundles and the crew wraps each bundle in a blanket.
Can I put small tools in a bucket?
Small tools should go in a sealed box so they stack with the rest of the load and nothing falls out.
What about bags of potting soil or fertilizer?
Ask David before the move about anything in an open or torn bag, since bags in general do not go on the truck.
Bundle them
Gather your long-handled tools and tape them together in bundles. Rakes, shovels, brooms, a pickax, a crowbar, hedge trimmers: a tight bundle lets our crew wrap the whole group in a moving blanket and load it as one piece instead of a dozen loose handles.
How to make a good bundle
- Clean off dirt and mud so it does not spread across the truck.
- Group tools of similar length; four to six handles is a comfortable size.
- Line up the heads at one end so the sharp or heavy parts sit together.
- Wrap packing tape tightly around the handles in two or three places.
- Cover blades and tines with cardboard or a rag, taped on, if you have the time.
The rest of the garage and yard
| Item | How to prep |
|---|---|
| Long-handled tools | Tape into bundles |
| Hand tools, gloves, small parts | Sturdy sealed box |
| Hoses | Drain, coil and box |
| Cleaners and other liquids | Seal tightly and box |
| Loose items in bags | Repack into boxes |
Why it matters on moving day
Garages are often the last area packed and the first to slow a move down. Loose tools are awkward to carry, easy to drop and hard to stack, and every extra trip adds billed time. Bundles also protect the crew's hands and your walls from sharp edges on the way out the door. Bundled and boxed, the garage loads in a fraction of the time. If anything powered by fuel is in the mix, ask David before the move about how to handle it. More prep ideas are on the moving checklist, and our residential moving page covers the rest of the house.