Post-Moving Fun: How to Build a Box Fort

Your move is finally over, and it’s time to enjoy your new home with your kids. What are you going to do with all these boxes and packing materials? Why not let the kids have some fun and help them build a box fort?

This craft is a perfect way to re-use moving supplies and let your kids’ imaginations run wild.

Supplies you’ll need include boxes (the bigger the better!), a box cutter (for adult use only), duct tape, paint or markers, and packing paper.

Start by having your kids put together a plan for the fort. The possibilities are endless!

Following are some options:

  • Stack and tape together some small (1.5 size) boxes “brick-style” to create three walls and use a disassembled box as a roof. This will give your fort a “house” like feel.
  • Flip a large box (such as a refrigerator, wardrobe, or mattress box) upside down and cut off one side for an entrance.
  • Completely disassemble some boxes and tape them together into a wide, standing cylinder, then cut a hole on one side for an entrance. This should give you a silo-style fort with some good height. Use another disassembled box or a blanket as a ceiling.
  • Disassemble only the bottoms of the boxes, then layer the boxes inside each other to create a large tunnel or crawlspace.

Once the body of the fort is assembled, it’s time to let your kids start decorating! Lay some packing paper under the fort so cleanup is easier. Give your kids markers, paints, stickers, sequins, glue, construction paper, and kid-safe scissors to work with.

When the fort is finished, help them make it a fun place to hang out. Furnish the inside with blankets, pillows, beanbag chairs, and Christmas lights.

Be sure to build the fort in a basement, playroom, or bedroom, because once your kids have their fort, they won’t want to take it down!

Here’s some examples for inspiration:

Large, tunneel-style box fortOle! A southwestern style box fort

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more moving tips, tricks, and fun, check out these awesome resources.

Olympia Moving supports the Walk to End Alzeheimer’s

It is important to us at Olympia Moving and Storage to be a contributing member of the Boston, MA and Washington, DC area communities.  In addition to the work we do with the area residents and businesses, we also embrace our work with many events and charities.

This weekend Olympia Moving is proud to be working with the Alzeheimer’s Association to put on the Walk to End Alzeheimer’s in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.  Between September 22-30, 11 walks will take place in the Boston, MA area to raise awareness and funds for care, support and research to fight this debilitating disease.  Our crews have been hard at work providing logistics help and delivering supplies to all 11 of the regional walks.

“Alzheimer’s disease is the largest underfunded public health threat facing our nation today, and it’s growing at an epidemic rate.  Today, more than half of all Americans know some with Alzheimer’s.  Soon, no one will be left untouched.”

To learn more about the Alzheimer’s association, visit http://www.alz.org

To learn how to sign up or donate to a walk in the Boston area, visit http://www.alzwalkMANH.org

Hope to see you there, and be sure to say hi if you see one of our crew members!

For more information about hiring crews for your organization or event, you can learn more about our commercial moving services.

Tips for Packing Clothes for Moving

wardrobe boxes for packing clothesPacking your wardrobe can be one of the easiest steps of your moving preparation if you do it right.

Moving is a good opportunity to get rid of many of the clothes you never wear. When you’re packing, ask yourself if you’ve worn the article in the past year. If the answer is no, you may want to put it in a separate box for the Salvation Army or Goodwill.

Packing the dresser
If you have a lightweight dresser, such as one made of pine, you can simply leave your clothes inside. Clothes are light, so leaving them in the drawers does not add much weight to the furniture. When the movers arrive they will wrap the dresser in a moving blanket and move the dresser with all the clothes inside. If there are any concerns about the structural integrity of the dresser (pressboard furniture), then the clothing needs to be removed. Any loose items, such as pens, and spare change should be removed from dressers.

Packing the closet
If you have hanging clothes, you can use wardrobe boxes, like the one pictured here, to move your clothes and avoid wrinkling. These boxes act as a cardboard closet, with a bar inside for hangers. You can order wardrobe boxes ahead or ask your moving coordinator to send some with the crew on move day.

Packing in boxes
Start by filling your suitcases with clothes. You’re going to have to move them anyway, so make them useful instead of taking up empty space in the truck. Pack the remainder of your clothes in 4.5 cubic foot boxes.

Ready to move beyond your clothes closet?  Visit our Moving Tips & Resources page for a wealth of useful moving and storage info, including videos showing how to pack a number of common household items.

Olympia MA Summer Party Challenge

It’s been a busy summer, but our crew sure knows how to have fun! Everyone’s competitive spirit came out to our Massachusetts crew’s annual summer party when we challenged them to build a floating boat with packing materials. We learned that as talented as our crews are at moving and assembling your furniture, cardboard boats, not so much!

You can check out the video below to see the amusing results, or check out the video at this link. While you’re there, be sure to “like” us on Facebook for more great content!

Protecting Your High Value Items

We take care in moving high value itemsOlympia prides itself on our top notch employees. Unfortunately, the nature of the relocation industry is such that accidents happen. Be prepared and make sure you have procured valuation coverage in case of potential loss or damage.

In the interest of properly covering your goods, notify your move coordinator of any pieces of “extraordinary value” (items with a value in excess of $100 per pound). For example, a five pound painting worth $1000, would equate to $200 per pound, and therefore falls into this category. Items of extraordinary value might include currency, jewelry, precious stones or metals, china or crystal, fur, antiques, art, manuscripts or rare documents.

These items need to be listed on a declaration of extraordinary value inventory form (also called a high value inventory form). This form helps ensure that the crew brings the right materials with them on the day of your job; and also that you are fully covered in the event of a claim on one of these articles.

If your high value items are not listed on this inventory form, you run the risk of receiving a lesser value for this item if damage or loss were to occur.

Be sure you pack all your high value and fragile items carefully. Consider hiring professionals to assist you with the packing.

Olympia Moving on the front page of the Boston Globe!

Alexander helping NEU studentsWe’re famous! We were excited to open up the paper this morning and see a member of our crew, Alexander Greene, helping Northeastern students move into their dorms!  You can read the full article here.  Olympia is proud to help Boston area students move back to school every year.  You can read more about our work with Boston and Washington D.C. area universities here.