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Moving to a new city can pose challenges for all family members. However, children in the household often face a significant transition: switching to a new school. Helping your child adapt to a new, unfamiliar educational setting is vital to their success as a student and their emotional well-being. Thankfully, there are several steps you can take as a parent to help your children adjust to a new school after a residential move.

Talk Openly About the Move and the Transition

As much as possible, keep your child informed about the upcoming move and transition to a new school. Switching schools can be a major shift in a child’s life. Therefore, this is not the type of transition you should make suddenly or without warning. The Child Development Institute recommends a few good tips, such as:

• Talking about the move as early as possible and often
• Offering as much information as possible about the relocation and school change
• Allowing the child to ask questions about the move and the new school

Arrange a Visit to the School to Take a Tour

Don’t let the first time the child sees the new school be on the first day they have to attend as a student. It can be helpful for children to visit beforehand to get to know the building, meet some of the teachers, and gain a sense of familiarity. If you are relocating to a specific school district, reach out to the school and ask if you can plan a tour for your incoming student. During the visit, it can also be helpful to ask questions as the parent of a soon-to-be student, such as:

• What time does the school day begin and end?
• Where is the bus stop in your new neighborhood?
• What is the earliest/latest a child should be picked up or dropped off?
• What extracurricular activities do you offer?

Talk to the Child’s Teacher About Special Concerns or Considerations

If your child has special needs or you have particular concerns, be sure to schedule a meeting with your child’s teacher or the school principal. If your child is accustomed to specific accommodations at their old school, it will be necessary for those accommodations to be available in the new school. For example, if your child has sensory sensitivities to sound, the teacher will need to know the student needs to wear ear protection during certain activities.

Plan to Visit a School Event If Possible

Most schools host events throughout the school year. Pep rallies, sports games, track meets, open houses, book fairs, and other school-hosted events may be available to incoming students. Look up the school’s website or social pages to find a calendar of events and pick an event that could interest your child. These events can be an excellent place to network with other families in the community and allow your child to meet some other students.

• Promote Their Participation in Extracurricular Activities
• Encourage your children to sign up for extracurricular activities. Joining a team or club, whether it is sports, theater, or an academic club, will make it easier for them to meet new people, make friends, and feel part of their new community. It will also give them something to focus on other than missing their old friends and teachers.

Leave the Moving to the Pros to Keep Your Focus On Family

Relocating can bring along a lot of new challenges to navigate with your family members. As you prepare for your upcoming move, be sure to contact a moving company for support. Allowing a team of professionals to help with the logistics will enable you to focus on your family’s needs. 

Need an excellent moving company to help? Contact our team to get a free moving quote to get started.

Moving into a new home and not knowing anyone in your community can be intimidating. To become an active member of your neighborhood, make some effort to get to know your new neighbors. You’ll plant the seeds for making friends and building long-lasting relationships by taking a few first steps.

Want to meet new people in your new community, but need help figuring out how to start? Consider trying the following seven tips when you make your residential move.

1. Smile and Say Hello

Like in any other situation, first impressions matter. People will always be curious about their new neighbors, and by smiling and saying hello at your first encounter, you’ll give off positive vibes and show your neighbors you’re friendly and want to be a part of the community. Turning the other way, being neutral or outright ignoring people (even if you’re just shy) might make neighbors feel uneasy about you. As a result, they might avoid socializing with you in the future.

2. Throw a Housewarming Party

Once you’re settled in, invite your new neighbors to a housewarming party. It doesn’t have to be a formal housewarming party; you can hold a backyard barbeque, cocktail hour, or other informal event. Other ideas are to host events, such as trivia night, cookie swap, or for snacks to watch a big game on TV.

3. Host Individual Dinners

Is a big gathering too intimidating for you? Consider inviting your immediate neighbors over for a small dinner party. Or, even if you hosted a big event in the previous months, start inviting individual households over for brunch or dinner so you can get to know them better.

4. Attend Community Events

After you’ve finished unpacking your belongings, organizing your furniture, and settling in, take some time to find events in your community. Check out Facebook pages, community bulletin boards, and local businesses to see if any clubs, socials, festivals, or other outings are open to the public. Finding an activity you’re passionate about can help you link up with other like-minded people.

5. Attend Meetings/Volunteer

Are there any gatherings or meetings you can attend? One of the best ways to meet people is to get involved with the community by attending HOA or PTA meetings. You can also seek out volunteer opportunities. It’s an excellent opportunity to make a difference in your community while making social connections in your community.

6. Join Local Gyms or Sports Teams

Are you an outdoors enthusiast or like hanging out at the gym? A relaxed and fun setting provides the perfect backdrop to make new friends. Join a local facility or purchase a recreational membership. Your new town may have a community center, tennis, sports teams (e.g., softball, soccer, etc.), a gardening club, or other types of activities and events.

7. Spend Time Outdoors

It’s hard to meet people if you spend your days indoors. If you have a dog, go for lots of walks instead of setting up a backyard run. Like to garden? Spend time outdoors planting a garden to beautify your yard. Over time, you’ll start to see plenty of familiar faces – and your yard will look great too.

Convenient Relocation!

Getting to know people in a new place is often stressful and intimidating, but being proactive and taking those critical first steps to introduce yourself usually eases any tension and makes it more comfortable to reach out to people.

Ready to set a date for your move? Contact us today for a free quote.

Moving brings many challenges. However, you can resolve these challenges with proper planning, organization, and knowledge. Here are three common challenges and tips for fixing them when you make your residential move.

Packing

The packing task can seem overwhelming. You can make it easier by developing a packing plan and checking items off as you complete them.

First, pack the items you use least or out of season. Gradually move through the articles and rooms based on how frequently you use them, packing up your kitchen, bathroom, and bedding necessities last. If you have children, get them involved in packing, especially their rooms. To help your young children feel less anxious, pack their belongings last.

Finances

The best way to meet the financial challenge is planning. Develop a realistic moving budget and stick to it. A moving cost calculator can help you estimate the cost. Remember to allow room in your budget for deposits in your new home, storage, baby, and pet sitters, and changing driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations.

You can also save money by starting early, so you have ample time to research and choose movers. Plan a move during the off-peak moving season to save a little money on moving expenses.

Inclement Weather

Moving in bad weather isn’t fun, but you can make a bad-weather move manageable. The key is to have a plan if the weather turns nasty.

First, instances of weather significantly impacting a move are rare. Moving in light rain generally doesn’t pose a problem for professional movers; however, icy roads or major storms may pose a significant safety risk. Some movers will reschedule the move if conditions are bad. Ask your mover when they give an estimate about their policy on inclement weather.

If you move in inclement weather, your movers may pause temporarily to avoid loading your furniture during heavy rain or snow. They’ll also put down rugs or mats for safety. A reputable mover will update you throughout the process.

Generally, you’ll know if a severe storm is looming. If you need to stay in your old house another day or two until a storm passes, leave necessities as the last items to pack.

Storage Space

You might need separate storage space from your home. For instance, if your new home cant accommodate all of your belongings or you intend to complete some remodeling projects immediately, a separate storage unit might be the answer. Check with your moving company to see their storage options; then, they can deliver them to your storage space on your moving day.

Special Packaging Requirements

It is easy to lose track of what needs special packaging amidst the chaos of relocating to a new home. Flat-screen televisions, mirrors, paintings, sculptures,  computers, lamps, and chandeliers need special care and handling during a move. Ensure your residential moving company is aware of any specialty items you need moved as soon as you begin discussing your moving plan with them. Movers have the resources to safely pack, transport, and assemble your unique furnishings, allowing you to relax and enjoy your move.

We Can Help You Meet the Challenges

Our experienced team can help you manage common moving challenges so your move goes smoothly. Contact us for a free estimate today.

It’s no secret that you’ve got a lot of packing to do when you move to a new place. However, when you arrive at your new home, the last thing you’ll want is to dig through dozens of boxes to find the things you need for those first couple of days. Fortunately, you can avoid this headache by simply packing a first-day move-in kit that stays with you from your current house to your new one.

What should you include in your move-in essentials kit? Generally, you should pack enough supplies for at least 24 hours. There will likely be a supermarket or convenience store near your new home, but it’s a good idea to come prepared with some food for your first night there. When you arrive, it might be late, and you’ll be worn out and ready for a quick meal and a restful night’s sleep.

Here are some things to remember.

Clothes

You’ll want a couple of changes of clothes to get you through the first day or two—especially if you anticipate sweating while unpacking and moving boxes around. Don’t forget also to pack some comfortable sleepwear, too!

Toiletries

You’ll also want to be able to do some basic things before you unpack entirely at your new place, such as shower and brush your teeth. However, your bathroom will still be without a shower curtain, and you might need toilet paper stocked.

Pack these essentials to help you settle in, along with travel bottles of your favorite shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Some other things to bring with you include:

• Razor
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Lotion
• A towel and washcloth
• Toilet Paper
• Shower curtain
• Soap

Meanwhile, if you take any daily medications, bring these with you as well. You don’t want to dig through your moving boxes to locate your prescription when you need it, and you don’t want to miss a dose.

Chargers

If you’re like most people, you rely on your phone for a lot. Remember to pack chargers for your phone and other devices (such as tablets) to keep them juiced up during those first couple days. Pick up a small, portable charger for added convenience.

Convenience Dishware

You spent a lot of time carefully packing away your dishes—and you probably don’t want to deal with the hassle of painstakingly unpacking them before you enjoy your first meal in your new home. By packing a small number of plastic or disposable dishware (including plates, napkins, and silverware), you can dine without having to dig out those bubble-wrapped dishes.

Cleaning Supplies

Hopefully, the previous tenants took care of the cleaning before you moved in. But no matter how clean your new home may seem, you will want to have some critical cleaning supplies on hand. Here are some to tide you over until your other boxes arrive.

• Dish soap
• Paper towels
• Rubber gloves
• All-purpose cleaner
• Toilet brush
• Trash and recycling bags

Tools

Include a small tool kit appropriate for necessary jobs that will pop up during your relocation. Here are some standard tools you might need:

• Scissors
• Flat-head screwdriver
• Phillips head screwdriver
• Hammer
• Wrench
• Box cutter
• Tape

Important Documents

Pack important documents and keep them with you during your move. This may include your passport, Social Security card, and birth certificate. Keeping these critical papers in your essentials box is safer than putting them on the moving truck.

Many people also carry cash and credit cards with them during a move. This way, you can quickly pay for any services (such as a locksmith or moving company) when you arrive.

Relocation Satisfaction

There’s a lot to remember when preparing for a move, but having a first-day essential kit packed can save you a lot of stress and hassle. Looking for more help with your next move? Contact us to start your quote today!

Moving with young children can be stressful—especially when trying to pack and entertain your kids simultaneously. However, even if you have very young children, there are still some fun ways to get them involved with the move (and keep them busy). Most kids want to be involved in the moving process but aren’t sure how to contribute, but we’ve got some great ideas for most children above four.

1. Have Them Create a “Donate” Pile

Are you looking to reduce the amount of stuff you need to pack and move? Many people use the packing process as an opportunity to eliminate things they no longer need. Involve your children by having them review their toys and other belongings. Ask them to create a pile of stuff they no longer play with or need. You can then donate or sell some items in a pre-move garage sale. This is a great way to reduce the number of things you need to pack while getting your kids involved.

2. Let Them Pack Their Own Rooms

Depending on your child’s age and abilities, consider letting them help pack at least some of their bedrooms. This can cut down on some of your own packing while giving your child an important task that helps them feel involved in the move.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you can just toss a couple of moving boxes into your kid’s room and expect them to know exactly what to do. Show them how to properly pack a moving box, and encourage them to ask for assistance with any fragile or breakable items.

3. Give Them Basic Cleaning Jobs

As you begin packing more things for your move, you’ll likely be left with messes—this is an excellent opportunity to give your kid some age-appropriate cleaning tasks. Dusting, sweeping, and wiping baseboards are all basic cleaning tasks that most children can help with. Older children may also be able to assist with things like vacuuming, cleaning windows, and disinfecting surfaces in preparation for a move. You can even reward them for completing these chores.

4. Encourage Them to Decorate Boxes

For very young children who may not yet be able to help with cleaning or packing their own boxes, simply allowing them to “help” by decorating your moving boxes can be a fun project. Provide them with some washable markers, crayons, and stickers—and let them get as creative as they want with each box. 

Pro tip

Ensure you label every moving box so that your movers know exactly where to put them on the big day. Label each side of the box with the destination room at your new house.

Movers Get the Job Done Right

Have you scheduled your moving company? Hiring pro movers to transport your belongings from one location to another can ease the strain of moving. You’ll be free to concentrate on supporting your child during this time of change. Contact us now to learn more about our residential moving services and get a free quote! 

Interstate moves have unique challenges. Here are some tips for moving to a different state.

1. Develop a Budget

Having a moving budget in place before a household relocation is essential. For instance, you’ll likely pay more for professional moving services when moving out of state than for local moves, so plan accordingly. You’ll also need to budget for items such as obtaining new driver’s licenses and car registrations, paying deposits at different utility companies, and buying products for your new home.

2. Research Your New City

One of the most exciting aspects of moving to a different state is learning about another city and culture. Research the new city online, learning about its history, foods, and what makes it unique.

Ideally, you’ll be able to visit your destination. On that visit, you can explore different neighborhoods to find one that suits your lifestyle. And you can locate the nearest schools, dentists, gyms, doctors, and veterinarians. If you can’t visit, you can use tools such as Google Maps satellite to take a tour, read Yelp reviews of merchants, and check out local real estate websites.

3. Check the Cost of Living Differences

You’ll need to understand the cost differentials to develop a meaningful budget in your new home. Use a cost of living comparison calculator to know how the new city compares with the old one. Remember to include items such as state and local taxes in your budget.

4. Find a Home

Search for a new home. You can use local real estate agents, Zillow, or RentCafe. Remember that each state has laws and quirks, such as seller disclosures or tenants’ bills of rights.

If the timing for being able to get into your home and your move fail to coincide precisely, you may need to store your possessions for a while. Most professional movers offer storage services.

5. Declutter

Sorting and removing things you no longer use is essential in every move, especially out-of-state ones. You can substantially lower the cost of an out-of-state move by decluttering.

A few ways to declutter are:

• Look carefully to see if your furniture fits in the new space.
• Consider parting with vehicles if the new city is walkable or has excellent public transportation.
• Dispose of excess electronics.

6. Deal With Healthcare

Your current doctor will probably be out of the network with your new insurance. Even if they are in the network, you won’t want to travel back to your old state to visit them.

Check for new providers working with your insurance in your new state. In some cases, you may need to find a new insurance provider. Be sure to stock up on prescriptions in case you experience a lag in finding a new physician.

7. Change Government Documents

Once in your new state, you must change documents such as your driver’s license, passport, car, and voter registration. Also, file a change of address form at the post office with all the magazine subscriptions you wish to keep.

8. Plan to Make Connections

Consider how you’ll meet people and connect in your new area. One way to meet people who share your interests is to join a club or organization. You could also visit a nearby park or garden and talk to your neighbors. Finally, an open house soon after the move is a great way to get to know your new neighbors.

Help With Your Interstate Move

Our professional moving company can help you plan your interstate move. Contact us today for a free quote.

Choosing a professional mover is one of the most critical tasks in the moving process. You’ll want to interview at least three movers. Here are questions to ask each one as you prepare for your household move.

How long have you been in business?

Companies that have been in business for several years will likely be reputable. Otherwise, complaints and bad reviews may have forced them out of business. Longevity isn’t a quality guarantee, but it’s a good start.

What services do you offer?

Moving companies are all different. Some offer more comprehensive or specialized services. You want to be sure the mover provides the services you need. Specialized services might include:

• Packing
• Storage
• Disassembling and reassembling furniture
• Transporting items such as pianos and hot tubs
• Vehicle shipping
• Custom crating

Are you licensed?

Reputable companies are licensed through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. They should be able to provide an MC# and a US DOT#. You can put either number into the FMCSA’s database and read the information. It should say the company is “Authorized.”

How does your estimate process work?

While movers can provide a ballpark estimate over the phone, they can only give an accurate one once they see the items you need to ship and identify potential challenges. Some movers provide virtual estimates, while others conduct an in-person inventory review. 

Also, ask whether the estimates are binding or non-binding. 

Binding estimates are exactly what they sound like. They give you the price you’ll pay, no matter how much your shipment weighs in the end. 

For non-binding estimates, movers will do their best to figure out how much everything weighs ahead of time, but the final cost will be based on how much everything weighs. Therefore, it could be slightly higher or lower than the quoted amount.

How do you calculate prices?

When receiving estimates, a good follow-up question is how the mover calculates prices. Movers generally do so by weight, distance, seasonality, hourly, or a combination of factors. Some also add fees for certain services or oversized items. Understanding how the mover calculates prices can help you budget better.

Is there anything you won’t move?

Most movers will not move hazardous materials such as flammables, aerosols, pesticides, motor oil, paint thinners, nail polish remover, and batteries. However, some movers may refuse to move family heirlooms or other valuables if they believe the risk of damage is too significant. Always ask for their non-allowable list.

Will you or a third party be moving my stuff?

Some movers act as brokers, outsourcing work to contractors. Others may make local moves in-house but broker out interstate moves. Carriers, on the other hand, handle everything with their in-house staff.

Working with a broker is okay. It can save you money. However, working with a carrier almost always results in a more seamless experience.

Can You Guarantee a Delivery Date?

If you are planning an interstate move, some movers will promise delivery on a specific day, while others will provide a window of two or three days. Those movers who offer a window can often complete the move at a lower cost. However, sometimes having your belongings and furniture by a specific date is critical.

A related question is whether the moving company will charge you if your things arrive at the destination before you do.

Book the Right Mover for Your Relocation

Our professional moving company is licensed and offers a comprehensive list of services. Contact us today for a free quote.

Relocating a business involves extensive planning. As a result, many more people are affected by the process. Keeping your employees productive during the move helps smooth the transition from one business location to the next. Look at a few tips to keep employees productive during your office relocation.

1. Develop a Strategy

Start planning your relocation’s success months ahead by assembling a team of managers or senior staff.  Here are some tips:

• Develop a strategy to spread the word about the move so everyone on staff knows their role at every stage.
• Schedule your move for a time of year when business is slow so that you can minimize disruptions. As a result, your team will have an easier time maintaining productivity.
• Appoint individuals to lead various aspects of the move. For example, determine who is responsible for finding movers, packing boxes, and organizing office efforts.

2. Give Employee Morale a Boost

Employee morale and employee productivity are directly related, and certain elements affect employee morale in all workplace situations, such as:

• Recognition and reward
• Effective leadership
• Efficient communication
• Supporting a good work/life balance

Throughout the relocation, remember these key concepts, as they are just as important when the workplace is in a different state. For example, be sure the office staff has leadership in place to guide them and effectively communicate expectations.

3. Think About How Many People You Should Schedule

Consider the billable hours you pay for your employees. Without a fully operational setup, you will likely not need the workforce to be the same size as usual. You can keep employees productive by assigning them to specific tasks. However, employees with little to do may be left unscheduled to save money and prevent many employees from being on the job.

4. Transition Some Employees to Remote Roles

Transitioning some employees to a remote workstation during the move may be a simple solution to keeping some parts of the business functional. As you dismantle workstations at the office, consider if allowing specific employees to fulfill job duties at home could work for your business model.

5. Create a Clear Task Designation Chart for Employees to Follow

The office workplace, amid a move, looks much different than the standard workplace, and employees may require out-the-ordinary tasks and projects, unique expectations, and diverse skills. Therefore, employees must know what roles they are expected to fill during the transition. Create a clear plan that designates specific tasks and projects for different individuals. Ensure these plans are visible and that everyone in the office knows what they should do daily.

6. Give Employees Incentives to Work Toward

Moving can involve substantial mundane tasks that employees can quickly grow tired of handling. Offer incentives to keep productivity levels up despite the change in workplace requirements. For example, let the office employees know if you get all paper files transitioned to digital files by the end of the week, you will provide lunch for everyone or a partial day off.

Get Support from an Office Moving Company

Having access to professional guidance during an office move can simplify the process so you can focus on keeping employees as productive as possible. If your business faces an upcoming relocation, contact us to discuss your needs with one of our knowledgeable representatives.

For many people, a residential move is a family affair. As a result, it’s common for an older parent or a younger adult to ask for assistance in the packing and relocating process.

As a relative, you want to provide as much help as possible without creating problems. So here are a few tips to make more progress and minimize conflict.

1. Help With Research

As you’re helping someone to move, you may realize that you know more about the process than they do. As a result, you may be better positioned to help them research their options and make decisions.

When possible, consult your relative on their moving plans. Make sure that you understand all the relevant details. That way, if you invest some time into getting quotes or scheduling moving services, you’ll have the relevant information.

2. Designate Tasks

The best way to help someone is to find out which kinds of help they need and provide it. For example, some people may need assistance with planning, while others may find sorting and packing overwhelming.

Talk with your relative about their goals for each room. As you discuss the plan, write down several tasks you can work on.

Make sure to get their buy-in before you begin. You don’t want your relative to feel like you’re trying to take control away from them.

3. Provide Support

Even if you aren’t there to orchestrate the moving process, you can still provide practical support. People tend to underestimate how long it takes to source packing supplies and run other errands. An extra adult to help makes a big difference in progress.

When you can, offer to handle some of the tasks related to preparing for the move. For instance, picking up extra moving supplies on your way home from work could save a lot of time for your relative.

4. Be Careful When Sorting

Helping someone move often reveals differences of opinion in household decor and organization. Plan to take your relative’s lead to avoid conflict when deciding what to keep.

If one of your tasks is to help your relative sort through items, allow them to decide what they want and don’t want. You can also ask about working in rooms where they don’t care as much about their belongings so that they can focus on the most important rooms.

5. Pack With Care

It can be easy to rush the packing process when it’s not your belongings. However, you still need to ensure that each item receives the proper care.

Stock up on packing supplies, and don’t forget the packing paper or bubble wrap. Protect delicate glassware or ceramic figurines.

When you put items in a box, don’t overload it. A box that is too heavy is more likely to break open and can be awkward to stack.

Helping a relative move is daunting, but it can provide excellent assistance. Contact us for a free quote and more information about simplifying an upcoming move.

Moving is a fantastic excuse to downsize and eliminate clutter you don’t want to bring to your new home. However, if you have tons of items you want to get rid of, it may make sense to try and make some money off them if possible. For example, hosting a garage sale allows you to shed unnecessary belongings while earning a little cash to help pay for the transition (or a nice meal out).

That said, hosting a sale as you prepare to move can be a hassle, especially if you’re short on time. So here are some pointers to make the process go more smoothly so you can start your new chapter on a positive note.

Price Everything to Sell

Overall, the goal is to reduce the number of items you must pack and transport to your new home. While making extra money on a single item might be nice, offering it at a lower price than usual is often better, making people more likely to buy it.

If you need to figure out what price would be suitable, consider what you paid for it and what it would cost for someone to buy a brand-new version of it. For example, if you paid $50 for the item, but a new one costs $40, you might price it at $30 or less, depending on the amount of wear and tear.

Another tactic is to bundle similar items so shoppers feel like they’re getting more of a deal. For example, instead of selling toys individually, you can package them as a box of toys for a single flat rate.

Let Buyers Know What’s Negotiable

There’s always a fair amount of haggling at a garage sale, but you know what the items are worth and which prices are negotiable and which aren’t. A great way to let shoppers know which items are negotiable is to write “OBO (or best offer)” next to the price. You can also save time and energy by bundling items based on how much you’ll sell them for. So, for example, you can have a $5 table, a $4 table, and so on.

Think about the money you could make if you sold that old couch instead of having to donate it or pack it up for your move. So, even if a potential customer lowballs you, they’re also doing you a favor by saving you time and energy.

Consider What to Donate and What to Sell

Usually, garage sales do best when there are valuable, gently-used items for sale. If you have lots of used clothing or knick-knacks, getting people to buy them takes a lot of work. In many cases, you might have to donate those belongings to avoid the hassle of packing and shipping them.

You can also have a “donate” box or bin at your garage sale. If visitors can take these items off your hands, you can still save a trip to a donation center, making the moving process easier.

Get Moving Help Today!

Moving is an exciting experience, especially if you’re upgrading to a larger house or apartment. Let our team handle the logistics so you can focus on settling in and acclimating to your new surroundings. Contact us today to find out more about a free quote!