Category: Moving Tips

When you’re preparing to move, it can be hard to decide whether it makes more sense to rent or buy. Buying a home is a choice that will probably affect your finances for decades, and it’s essential that you carefully consider whether it’s the right decision for you. 

You’ll want to consider the following factors to help you decide whether it’s time to rent or buy a home.

1. How long will you stay in the area?

If you’re in the area for a short time only or could potentially move within a few years, it may make more sense to rent than buy. A general rule of thumb is to consider buying your home if you’re likely to stay in an area for at least five years and rent it if you expect your time in the area to be shorter than that. 

2. Are you prepared to pay for the expenses of owning a home?

The ability to afford a mortgage payment isn’t necessarily the same as affording a home. Homeowners aren’t just responsible for their mortgage costs — they also need to pay for upkeep, homeowner’s insurance, property taxes, closing costs, and more. So you’ll want to carefully consider all the costs associated with buying a home to make sure you’ll be able to comfortably make your monthly payments, plus the other bills that come with homeownership. 

3. Is customization vital to you?

When you own your home, you can customize it to your liking (as long as you stay within your budget). Don’t care for the style of the kitchen cabinets? Knock them out and install new ones. Always wanted hardwood floors? Tear up the carpet and install the bamboo flooring of your dreams. If you have young children or a dog, you may want to install a fence in the backyard. When you rent, you can’t change your home to match your preferences. If you’re particular about what you want to come home to at the end of every day, buying may be a better fit. 

4. What are your long-term financial goals?

Consider where you’d like to be financially in a few decades, and decide if investing in a home makes sense for moving forward. For example, if you have a career that requires frequent moves to advance, it may be a better choice to rent while you continue to climb the ladder. On the other hand, if you know that you’re going to stay put and you have the money to invest in a home, it makes sense to begin to build equity. 

No Matter What You Decide, We’re Here To Help You With Your Move. 

Moving is challenging, whether you’re transitioning into a new rental or you decide to buy a home. We’re here to help take some of the stress out of your move. Reach out to us today for a price quote and learn more about how we can help make the moving process easier. 

 

You’ve scheduled your moving company, and you’re ready to get packing — but before you start filling boxes, there’s one thing you should consider: non-allowables. 

But what, exactly, are non-allowables? They’re things that moving companies can’t move. Sometimes, laws prohibit the transport of hazardous items, such as certain chemicals. Other items may be “restricted” or only allowable after proper preparation.

A reputable moving company will provide you with a list of non-allowable and restricted items. Other items may be allowed but not recommended. Check your moving company’s list before you start to pack.

Prohibited Items

It’ll probably come as no surprise that most of the items on the “Prohibited List” pose potential safety risks. Many of these items are flammable, corrosive, explosive, or toxic.

While each moving company will have its own list of prohibited items, here are a few that you’ll find on most “no transport” lists:

• Ammunition and gunpowder
• Batteries: Lead-acid, alkaline, and automotive/marine
• Cleaning products such as ammonia and bleach
• Corrosive chemicals like hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, bromine, hydrogen peroxide
• Chemicals used in the yard or garden, such as pesticides and fertilizers
• Flammable and explosive substances, such as lighter fluid, gas, oil, kerosene, antifreeze
• Fireworks
• Oxygen tanks
• Paint, primer, paint thinner, acetone, and other hazardous solvents
• Propane and other compressed gas cylinders
• Yard equipment that contains fuel

Of course, any illegal substances or items are a no-go. Many moving companies draw the line at live plants and animals, too. So before your move, give prohibited items away, or dispose of them safely and correctly. 

Restricted Items

Some items are restricted rather than prohibited. That means that you may pack and transport these items on a moving truck as long as you prepare them correctly and submit appropriate written notice before the move.

Restricted items may include:

• Alcohol
• Batteries used in personal mobility devices, such as power-driven wheelchairs or scooters
• Clean, empty gas and fuel tanks
• Cordless power tools

Before moving these items, check with your moving company and fill out any necessary paperwork.

Not Recommended

Some items aren’t prohibited, but most moving companies don’t recommend their transport on a moving truck. As a result, such things may be ruined during the move, while others hold great value or are irreplaceable. 

If your move is more than just a couple of hours’ drive away, don’t pack perishable foods. This includes refrigerated or frozen foods, anything in an open container, and produce. Food can spoil or spill and may attract pests.

You probably don’t want to pack items with great sentimental value (or small things with monetary value) either. This includes:

• Children’s artwork
• Jewelry
• Heirlooms
• Photographs and photo albums
• Precious metals

Finally, don’t pack important documents and items onto the moving truck. Rather, keep these things with you during the move:

• Birth certificates
• Computers
• Contacts and eyeglasses
• Financial documents, checkbooks, and credit cards
• Government-issued IDs
• Keys
• Marriage licenses
• Medical and health records
• Medications
• Passports 
• School records
• Titles

Remember: Reputable moving companies will provide you with a list of prohibited and restricted items. So before you start packing, ask your moving company what they don’t move. 

Contact us for a free quote today. Then, we can help with your moving needs.

 

It’s moving day — you packed everything, and the movers just arrived.

As they load up your stuff, you may not have much to do. But there are a few cleaning tasks that make sense — especially if you are leaving a rental.

Set aside the time and tools for these jobs, and you’ll be glad you did.

1. Check the Closets

Once each room is empty, the last hiding place is the closet. You definitely don’t want to leave anything behind.

Take a good look in each closet, especially in the corners and on the floor. Be sure to check behind the door.

If everything in the closet looks clean and clear, close it. A shut closet door gives you an immediate indicator that you did the task.

2. Wipe Kitchen Surfaces

You’ll probably use the kitchen on the day you move, to get water or prepare a last meal. As a result, you may need to spend the most cleaning time here.

Start by cleaning the upper cabinets, ensuring that each one is empty. Next, move to the countertops and sink. A quick wipe-down may be all you need.

If you leave any appliances behind, confirm that they are clean inside and out. The last step is to wipe the floor.

3. Clean Bathrooms

Like the kitchen, you’ll probably use the bathrooms a few times before you move. However, since you can deep clean a bathroom almost any time in the days prior, you might only need to do a little before you leave.

Rinse and wipe the shower and bathtub. If you have a shower curtain, remove it. Next, wipe down the sink, countertop, and mirror.

Give the toilet a thorough cleaning, and be sure to flush it before you go.

4. Vacuum Walkways

Loading a moving vehicle involves a lot of walking in and out of the house. There’s a high likelihood that the floors will accumulate a little dirt.

Follow the movers’ path so that you know where to clean as they finish with the room, vacuum or sweep the pathways. Be ready to spot-clean hard floors, especially if you move on a wet or muddy day.

The last place to sweep is the entryway. If you have a welcome mat, you can take it and clean under it.

5. Empty the Trash

The last-minute tasks of moving can produce a surprising amount of trash. Garbage cans are probably the last items you’ll remove from the home.

Keep a few extra garbage bags handy to toss any miscellaneous trash that may be left behind from packing and moving. 

You may need to arrange for your city to pick up your outdoor trash and recycling bins. However, since you don’t know how long it will be before the new owner takes possession, it’s best to avoid filling the containers with the garbage that can rot.

Make Your Move Simple

The last-minute cleaning tasks before you move may feel like they will take forever. But, with these tips, you can simplify it. To get a quote for your upcoming move, contact us today.

 

Are you moving to a new city without a job?

Looking for a new job involves a lot more than sending around your resume. First, you’ll need to brush up on your interviewing skills, get creative about how you look for employment and devote enough time to make your search successful. Then, with a bit of work and dedication, you’ll take the next step in your career. 

1. Network

To the extent that it’s possible, start building a network of people in the industries where you’d like to work. That may mean sending letters to recruiters at companies that you find attractive, or it could mean requesting informational interviews to learn more about what it’s like to work at a company. Establishing a network makes learning about positions easier and advertising your skills to the people recruiting for those positions. 

2. Devote Time to the Search Every Day

Searching for a new job can start to feel tedious after a while. If you spend too much time on your job search every day, you could start to burn yourself out. Spending too little time on your job search — and the search could end up taking much longer than you originally planned.

To find a job in time to start paying bills, devote a certain amount of time to your job search every day. Some people might spend an hour or two to their search – others may spend three or more hours. Then, you decide what’s appropriate for you.  

3. Sign Up for Job Alerts

Job alerts tell you as soon as a job becomes available that matches your skillset. Sign up for job alerts in your area, so you can be among the first to know when a new opportunity becomes available. 

4. Put Your New Address On Your Resume

Once you’ve moved into your new home, put your new address on your resume. Having an old address far from the area where you’re trying to find a job might slow your search down. 

5. Update Your Resume and Cover Letter With Relevant Information

Every time you apply for a new job, update your resume and cover letter to emphasize your skills for that job. Making small changes to show that you’re a serious candidate with relevant skills to do the job will help you get an interview – which gets you one step closer to finding a good job. 

6. Be Ready to Interview

Have the interview skills and interview clothes ready all the time. Keep interview clothes on hand in your home at all times. Practice interviewing for positions, even if you don’t have an interview scheduled. Summarize your experience in front of the mirror – and if you have time, video record yourself answering practice interview questions so you can hear and see yourself as you would appear before an interview panel. 

Moving? Contact a Reputable Moving Company Today

Are you relocating to a new city? Contact us to schedule your upcoming relocation today. 

 

When you first move into your new home, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all that your new area has to offer. You’re likely getting set up in your new location trying new restaurants, meeting your neighbors, checking out fantastic sights, and settling into a new job. The go-go-go mentality of learning your new city can be overwhelming for the first few weeks after your move.

Then, reality sets in.

Relocating is by far one of the most stressful life events. A survey showed that most people find moving more stressful than a divorce, with more than half noting that moving was the most stressful thing they’ve ever done in their lives.

It’s clear: moving isn’t easy. It’s physically demanding, emotional, and it can take time to feel at home in a new place.

Manhattan psychoanalyst Ronnie Greenberg told The New York Times, “Panic can really set in around your home and your apartment. It’s a matrix of safety, so moving is incredibly stressful, and people don’t realize it — they mainly talk about the packing and the external part of moving.”

If you’re feeling down before, during, or after a move, know that it’s normal to feel this way. However, if the feeling continues for more than a few weeks, you may be suffering from relocation depression.

A 2016 study showed that moving creates what researchers dubbed “a perfect storm of unhappiness.” Many people amid a recent move feel lonely due to leaving the people they used to interact with daily, but they’re also too stressed out and tired to put forth the effort needed to get to know people in their new environment.

If you think you may be suffering from relocation depression, it’s essential to work closely with a therapist and your doctor to develop a treatment plan that can help you begin to thrive in your new home.

If you’re not depressed but still feeling down in the dumps in your new place, it’s important to put yourself out there. Know that at first, it’s unlikely that you’ll enjoy social outings as much as you did with your old crew. It can take time to develop the deep, meaningful friendships that you left behind. While making new connections is important, it’s also wise to stay in touch with those in your old city, and thankfully, technology makes that more accessible than ever. Setting up FaceTime friend dates to watch a movie together, enjoy takeout, or simply chat about your day can help you feel connected to those you love.

Moving Is Hard — We’re Here To Make It Easier.

Moving is always tough on a family, and we’re here to help make the transition to your new home a little bit easier. Reach out to us today for a quote on how our professional moving services can take some of the stress out of leaving your home and settling into a new area.

 

 

Are you thinking of moving out of your rental unit? While any relocation involves many quickly moving parts, moving out of a rental requires a bit of special attention. That means adding a few items to your moving to-do list.

After all, a landlord will be checking to make sure you leave the rental in an agreed-upon condition — and, of course, you want to get your full security deposit back. While each lease has its own specific requirements, these tips will help smooth your move from your rental.

Review Your Lease

Before making any moving decisions, review the terms of your lease or rental agreement. Here, you will find essential information about the terms you agreed to when you moved in.

These may include:

• How to end the lease
• The amount of notice you must give
• How to handle the transfer of utilities
• What condition you must leave the rental unit in
• Maintenance and repair obligations

Provide Vacate Notice

Once you know how much notice you must provide, let your landlord know that you’ll be moving out. While each contract is different, many require at least 30 days’ written notice.

That means you’ll need to write your landlord a letter within the specified timeframe. In most cases, your letter should include your specific moving date, your new address, a statement about the good condition of the rental unit, and that you want your deposit returned.

Assess Any Issues

Let’s face it: It’s almost impossible to live in a home without creating some wear and tear. But when you’re renting, landlords generally expect you to fix anything you break.

Most require you to leave the rental unit in the same state it was when you moved in. In addition, rental agreements often include a property condition report that details the rental’s condition at the start of your lease.

Before moving day, perform a walk-through of the space and identify any damage or potential problems. Then ensure you take care of any issues you’re responsible for under the terms of the lease. This may include:

• Patching or filling holes in the walls (including for hanging art)
• Repairing dents or scratches in the flooring
• Returning paint to original colors
• Fixing broken windows
• Making sure electrical systems, plumbing, appliances, lighting, and other fixtures function properly

Leave it Empty and Clean

After your belongings are loaded onto the moving truck, perform a final walk-through. Again, your goal is to make sure you’ve left nothing behind.

Don’t leave anything in the rental unit that wasn’t there when you moved in — and that includes nice items. Even if you think the next tenant will love that comfy couch or those glow-in-the-dark star stickers on the ceiling, you must take it all with you when you go.

Finally, leave your rental clean. Once you’ve got all your stuff out of the way, clean the entire unit. Start at the top and work your way down in each room. Clean from the ceiling to the floors and everything in between. The cleaner you can leave the unit, the better; landlords often charge high cleaning fees.

Schedule a final walk-through with your landlord. If they find any issues, ask if you can take care of them before funds are taken from your deposit.

Moving Made Easy

Following these tips can help make moving from your rental less stressful. In addition, we can help make it even easier. Contact us for a moving quote today.

 

Moving to a mountain town will bring unique opportunities for those used to living in a coastal or Midwestern city. However, it might also present some new challenges. To help your move go more smoothly, here are a few things to consider about living in a mountain town.

Be Prepared for Awesome Beauty

The natural beauty of mountain towns is breathtaking. The peaks and valleys, trees and grass or snow are all around you. Natural beauty provides recreation opportunities and helps dissipate anxiety and stress. 

Take Altitude Seriously

Altitude sickness might be a factor. It occurs when your body cannot adapt to the low pressure, low oxygen levels that occur at altitudes above 8,000 feet. If you’ve lived at low altitudes for several years and suddenly move to higher ones, you may experience fatigue, headaches, nausea, and trouble sleeping until your body adjusts.

One way to lessen the possibility of experiencing altitude sickness is to move more slowly, taking time to stop for a day or two along the way at intermediate altitudes. Also, drink more water than you usually do when you arrive in a high-altitude city.

Plan Ahead

Running to the grocery store isn’t as easy in mountain towns as in a big city. So you’ll want to plan ahead for shopping excursions because the nearest store might be several minutes away.

You may also buy groceries for two weeks at a time or more. However, weather and road conditions can be harsh, so you’ll want to prepare for the possibility that you’ll be shut inside your home for several days at a time.

Making Friends

Mountain towns are generally tight-knit communities, and making a connection is often easy. You can meet your neighbors by regularly visiting coffee shops or diners, joining a club or gym, or volunteering for community boards.

Mountain folks tend to be loyal friends and to look out for one another. Sometimes they also carpool for shopping trips to the city.

Mountains Will Challenge Your Fitness

Jogging and walking in the mountains require a lot more stamina than doing so on flat ground. So if you anticipate a move to the mountains, start increasing your fitness level months before by jogging and doing resistance training.

Respect the Wildlife

From deer to elk to moose, you will likely encounter large animals on the road and in the wild. Stay safe by paying attention to the speed limits and signs posted in your area that warn about the wildlife. When you see these animals in the wild, be respectful and cautious by giving them space.

Also, you might need to adjust your habits in others ways too. For instance, you might experience bears in your mountain town. Respect the rules of your area. While most people don’t intentionally feed bears, newcomers may do so unintentionally. For example, putting trash in a dumpster outside without locking it or leaving food in a car can bring bears running for a quick meal.

Make Your Move to a Mountain Town

Generally, there’s less noise and light pollution in the mountains, which is beneficial if you struggle with insomnia. Mountain towns also tend to be more affordable than city living.

If you feel inspired to move to a mountain town, we can help with your move. Contact us for a free quote.

 

Moving a business isn’t easy, so having a commercial moving plan is essential. 

Commercial moving plans are multi-faceted. Your project should consider how you’ll communicate with clients; help employees change to a new location when the move will take place, have a packing plan, and so on. The more comprehensive your commercial relocation plan, the easier it will be to have an organized relocation. 

Establish a Timeline

Write a timeline for your upcoming relocation. The timeline should include:

• Deadline for finding a new location to move to
• Date your commercial lease ends
• Deadline for finding a moving company
• Dates when you will inform your employees about the relocation
• Dates when you’ll notify your clients and vendors of your upcoming relocation
• When packing will begin, what will be packed first, second, and so on
• When packing should be finished

Find a New Location

To find a new location for your business, you’ll need to have a list of must-haves and nice-to-haves, a budget for monthly rent and down payment, a specific location you’d like to target, and so on.

When you’re writing your relocation plan, put all these priorities in writing. Then, work with managers and supervisors at your business to ensure that you consider all the variables you should consider when deciding where to move.   

Establish a Committee

Unless your business is very small, you’re going to need many people working on this relocation. Establish a committee of managers, supervisors, and staff leaders who can work on your relocation together. Task the committee to create your moving plans and find ways to move forward with those plans in an organized manner.  

Keep Employees Informed

Create a communication plan to keep your employees informed about the relocation and their role in it. The more informed your employees are, the easier it will be for them to manage the stress of the relocation while integrating the move into their work plans.

Remember, a relocation can be disruptive to everyone in the organization at all levels. Your relocation will likely impact everyone who works in your company. Have a plan for communicating all information that people need to know to do their jobs. 

Give Employees a Role

Give your employees a role so they too can help, participate and feel ownership over what’s happening to them at your company. For example, you might make your employees responsible for deciding what gets packed and what they should dispose of, or you might make them responsible for packing their belongings. Write the employees’ roles into the plan.

Make a Plan to Communicate with Customers

What will you communicate to your customers, and when? How will you communicate with your customers? Who will be responsible for doing that communication? Make a plan to share with clients and keep customers up to date on your company’s objectives. 

Work With An Experienced Commercial Moving Company

Your upcoming commercial relocation is too important to leave to chance with an inexperienced moving company. So instead, find a commercial moving company with experience, skills, and good customer service. To get a quote from an experienced, reputable moving company in your area, contact us.  

 

When you plan to move, you know there might be a lot of activity going on. And sometimes, you can’t be the one doing the activity.

If you’re moving after an injury or a severe illness, you need to take extra care of yourself throughout the process. These tips can help make it easier.

Create Reasonable Limits

Moving tends to make a lot of people very ambitious. That’s especially true during packing and the last few days before the move.

More than anyone else, you need to set reasonable limits that you can follow. You won’t help anyone if you injure yourself or relapse into a worse illness by overdoing it.

Instead, start slow and get a sense of the amount of packing or sorting you can manage. Feel free to scale back if you need to. You’ll still get there if you can keep at it each day.

Set Boundaries With Family and Friends

Family members and friends can be excellent sources of encouragement. But, unfortunately, sometimes that isn’t what you need.

If you live with someone or see them all the time, they might not recognize your limitations. As a result, they may push you beyond your reasonable limits.

That’s great when you’re trying to get a better time on a hiking routine, but not after injury or illness. Learn how to set boundaries and stick to your goals. You’ll be able to protect your energy and strength that way.

Prepare for Your New Home

Moving to a new home when you have a few different requirements is a little more challenging. So first, make a list of things you’ll need. You might even prioritize them into categories of things you can’t do without and things that would work better for you.

For example, you might need a conditioned space with a particular temperature or close access to a bathroom. In addition, you might need a place to store medications you take throughout the day. This area becomes your safe space in the new home.

If you have a rough layout of your safe space, you can plan to outfit it with everything you need. That way, you can arrive at a great place to rest.

Take Extra Time

If you usually push through tasks with boundless energy, it may not be surprising that they take more time now. You’ll be glad you took it.

Packing slowly and carefully makes it easier to avoid injury while moving. That’s even more important when you’re already dealing with illness or injury.

Start your task at a good time when you have good pain management. Take breaks and back off if you start to feel sick or very sore.

Hire Help

Hiring professional movers might be the best solution to a better moving experience. Movers can’t tell you what to keep while you sort, but they can pack it for you. They can also load it, transport it and unload it. Full-service movers can even unpack for you.

People don’t just hire these services because they’re too busy. They do it for convenience, to protect themselves, and to ensure it happens on time. You can, too.

If you’re getting ready to move after injury or illness, you deserve extra care. Call us to find out how we can make your moving experience less stressful.

Moving day is one that’s filled with excitement and a bit of dread. You’ve probably been working on a lengthy to-do list for weeks or months leading to your move. Our moving experts emphasize the importance of remembering an essentials kit for your next move.

A long-distance move may involve several days on the road. That makes the essentials kit even more important.

The following guide will help you create the perfect essentials kit for a long-distance move.

What Is an Essentials Kit?

An essentials kit is also known as a “survival box.” It includes the items needed to remain comfortable throughout the move, even if you’ll be traveling for several days. 

A complete essentials kit probably won’t fit in a single box, as families with pets and kids will need more items. However, the essentials kit, no matter how large, should always be easy to access.

Essentials Kit Checklist

A perfect moving essentials kit includes everything you need and a few additional items you hopefully don’t need, like first-aid supplies.

Toiletries

Pack basic toiletries for each family member.

• Toothbrushes and toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Soaps
• Contact supplies
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Hairbrush and comb
• Medications
• Toilet paper

Food and Kitchen Items

You will want some quick easy to access food items on your moving adventure. Add these to your list to pack:

• Snacks like granola bars, beef jerky, trail mix
• Non-perishable meals
• Water and drinks
• Disposable plates and utensils
• Paper towels

Electronics and Games

Phones and laptops should always be stored safely and easy to access along with their chargers. In addition, tablets and other entertainment items for kids can be essential for long-distance moves.

Clothing

Pack a change of clothing for each family member for each day you’ll be traveling. This should include pajamas, warm clothing, and even bathing suits if you’ll be stopping at a hotel with a pool. 

Pet Items

Anyone traveling with pets will need enough pet food, water, treats, and toys to keep pets safe and comfortable on the journey. Remember the waste bags too for easy clean-up.

Kids’ Kits

Each kid should be prepared with their own essentials kit. If the child is old enough, pack their stuff in their own backpack. Include electronics and games, clothing, snacks, and toiletries. Properly preparing kids’ essentials kits can save you from major headaches on the journey. 

Documents

Moving day is a time to ensure all of your family’s important documents are in one place. Important documents may include the following plus any others that may be specific to your family or home.

• passports
• birth certificates
• social security cards
• titles
• registrations 
• important financial documents
• moving company contract

A Pen and Paper

While old-school, pen and paper can be especially handy when moving long-distance. You may need to write down directions, contact info, or other essential information while on the go.

We’ll Take Care of the Rest

Make moving a fun adventure. You take care of preparing your essentials kits, and our expert movers will handle the rest.

We’re professionals at making every part of your next move as stress-free as possible, from packing and loading to unloading and unpacking at your destination. Contact us for a free quote today.