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Hundreds of thousands of seniors relocate across state lines every year and moving away from familiar people and places creates specific challenges. Although moving affects everyone from school-aged children to adults relocating for work, our valued elders experience unique challenges.

Many discover that large family homes become underused after children grow up and move out. Upkeep, maintenance, and landscaping seem more like expenses and chores than lifestyle assets. Whatever the reason Baby Boomers and, soon, Gen Xers decide to move, these are challenges and solutions worth considering.

1. Recognize the Telltale Signs You Need to Downsize

It’s sometimes difficult to let go of homes that resonate with heartfelt memories. It seems like each room reminds you of a significant life event. But it’s also essential to recognize the importance of quality of life. If you find yourself struggling with the following, downsizing may be the best solution.

• Underused Space: Empty-nesters discover they simply don’t use rooms that were designed for a larger family. While they may not seem overly burdensome to clean and maintain, you pay taxes and associated costs. That impacts your financial position during retirement.
• Exhaustion: When yard work leaves you tired and takes multiple days to complete, you may have too much land. Working yourself to exhaustion detracts from leisure time.
• Finances: Big houses or those in expensive areas rank among the primary reasons older Americans move to quiet and less expensive areas.

Downsizing tends to resolve many of the challenges seniors experience as they transition into retirement. People with substantial equity or who own their home outright can improve their financial situation.

2. Preparing Your New Home for Physical Limitations

Moving to a new community involves learning the lay of the land, accessing health care, and other necessities. Many retirees find local resources are in place to offer information and recommendations. But the physical space can present challenges that need to be taken care of in advance. These rank among the more prevalent issues.

• Stairways: Some seniors require ramps and lifts to negotiate stairs and are likely to make upgrades to meet this challenge. But people just beginning to struggle physically would be well-served to make changes before moving.
• Thresholds: Our bodies lose muscle mass as we age, and seemingly small things like thresholds become problematic. It’s reasonable to make alterations when using a walker, wheelchair, or just feel like your legs get tired.

The key takeaway is that age slows our bodies down. Taking proactive measures before moving in helps sidestep unnecessary challenges.

3. How To Manage Relocation Stress

Even when someone eagerly anticipates a move, relation stress can creep up on them. Acclimating to a new environment leaves gaps in people’s daily routines and a loss of familiarity. Having little to occupy your days and too much time to think about it can be a recipe for depression. The good news is that you can help manage stress and anxiety by immersing yourself in the community. Joining local organizations with like-minded people helps establish new bonds. Taking up hobbies and attending social events can rekindle a sense of place.

It may take a little time to build a new life after moving. However, that new chapter in your life can be a rewarding adventure.

Moving Help

Are you downsizing and starting a new chapter? Contact us today for a free quote. We can help with your packing and relocation to make your downsizing move stress-free. 

When you’re moving a distance that takes several days to drive, you’ll need a good essentials kit. That means you’ll have to leave some stuff out while you’re packing so that you have it available when you need it.

Many people pack too much and miss out while they’re on the trip. But you don’t have to.

Keep these five things with you to help make your move as smooth as possible.

1. New Location Documents

Whether you are buying or renting your new home, you will have many documents to manage. You should bring things like the lease, closing documents, utilities and more.

Other important documents you should keep with you include things like your passport or birth certificate, legal documents, financial information, school records, and medical information. Make sure that you keep them safe and out of sight.

If you signed up for utility services, it’s wise to have a printed record with contact information just in case they aren’t working when you arrive.

2. Trip Reservations

Printing out maps and itineraries seems so outdated now. And yet, they could be vital – what happens if you lose your phone?

You don’t need to carry a huge stack of paperwork everywhere you go. Just having the information for the places that you plan to stay may be enough.

If you’re flying, don’t forget your boarding pass and identification. If you’re driving, you’ve got more flexibility. Just remember to keep all those documents in a safe spot of the car.

3. Drinks and Snacks

Many people like to drive their vehicles instead of transporting them in a moving truck. If you’ve got days of driving ahead, it’s wise to prepare for it.

Make a list of your favorite snacks and drinks and stock up before you leave. Be realistic when you shop. A road trip is no time to start a strict diet.

If you’re bringing the kids and pets on the trip, remember to get the things they like, too. That way, you won’t have to stop as frequently.

4. Basic Care Supplies

Think about the things that you would need for any other type of long-distance trip. Include clothing, personal hygiene items, medications, electronics, and chargers.

Using the list, pick a suitcase that you can easily pick up and move from a car or airport baggage claim. If you’re worried that you won’t fit everything, try a few methods to pack a suitcase efficiently.

5. An Open-First Box

Pack an open-first essentials box. This box contains all the things you’ll need to get started in your new home, like towels, laundry soap, and essential kitchen items.

It’s tempting to throw almost everything in here. To keep it simple, focus on the things you’d otherwise have to buy your first night.

If you have the room, consider bringing the box with you. That way, you won’t have to worry about the arrival of the moving truck.

Long-Distance Moving Pros

A long-distance move is a big deal, so you’ll need to prepare. To learn more about how professional movers can make your experience much less stressful, ask for a price quote today.

You have made your way to your new house to call home with the help of professional movers. However, in a new location in a place that may not yet quite feel like home, you may feel a bit less than secure. About 38 percent of people in the US have a home security system or line of protection, but just after a move, you may not have that system set up just yet. In the lag time between the day you move in and the home security system installation, there are a few things you can do to make your new property as secure and safe as possible.

1. Change Your Locks

The realtor handed you your keys to your new home, and that was likely a great feeling. However, you never really know how many copies of keys are out there in the hands of others. Therefore, one of the first things to do once you get to your new home is to change your door locks. 

2. Make Sure All Access Points Are Locked

Most homes have a good dozen or more entry points, and you should check entry points first thing. Make your way through the house and make sure:

• Your windows are locked on every floor
• Any entry doors – including a side garage door – are appropriately locked and secure
• Basement or attic entry or access points are secured (e.g., basement windows, attic roof access panels, etc.)

3. Install Your Window Treatments Early On

Lowering visibility into your home thwarts people with ill intent from seeing you, your family, and what you own. For security purposes, make installing blinds, curtains, and other window treatments a top priority when you get to the new place.

4. Keep Your Property Well-Lit

Good lighting can do a lot to deter thieves, vandals, and squatters who may still think the property is empty. For your first few nights in your home, keep the property well-lit, inside and out. Go ahead and replace bulbs in your porch or landscape lights, install new fixtures if needed, and leave a light on in the house when you head to bed.

5. Pick Up a Small Security Camera

Security cameras are far more accessible now than ever. You can pick up a small surveillance camera at most retail and home improvement stores that you can wirelessly connect to your phone or laptop. These cameras can be mounted in just a few minutes and can really help you feel more secure in those initial days at the new place.

Make Your Move Quick and Safe with Professional Movers

Did you know that having professional movers help with your transition can be the safer option when moving? Having pros helping you through the process means the transition happens quickly, fewer onlookers are likely to take notice, and pro movers will not leave your belongings vulnerable positions. 

Reach out to us today. We can provide you with a free quote and get you safely to your new home.

When you consider the many challenges you may face in life, moving can come up as one of the more stressful. Between sifting through belongings, weeding out what goes and stays, tying up loose ends, and preparing the new place, it is easy to get a bit frazzled. Include the fact that you have children to care for in the process, and the entire ordeal is overwhelming.

As your moving day looms shortly, taking some time to simply step back, breathe, and get prepared for the work ahead is essential. Take a look at a few useful tips to help you de-stress as a family before your big move.

1. Plan a family game night.

Board games don’t typically require anything other than the game to have fun. So, pulling out a board game to play in a house full of packed boxes and disarray is not challenging; somewhere amid the chaos of packing, planning, and preparing for your move, set aside one afternoon to just sit down as a family and play a few games. If you’ve already packed the board games, try some games like charades or eye spy that don’t require any specific board or pieces.

2. Create a memory box together to keep from your current home.

Leaving home can be emotionally challenging for every member of the family. If your children are especially struggling with the upcoming move, get everyone together to create a memory box. Memory boxes can be used for so many life situations, but they serve the same purpose: to create a safe place for a collection of memories or keepsakes.

Allow everyone to contribute to the memory box for the home you are leaving behind. A few good ideas of items to include:

• A handwritten note from each member of the family about a favorite memory
• Pictures of certain things about the house that everyone wants to remember (e.g., a photo of the backyard or a family gathering spot)
• Small physical souvenirs from the property (e.g., a stone from the driveway, a clipping of wallpaper, or a dried flower from the landscape)

3. Get away from the move for a day, or even a few hours.

Dealing with the stress of a move can be easier when you get the chance to step away from the process and physically immerse yourself in a different environment. Try to arrange for some family time out of the house. Go to the movies, have a picnic at the park, or go on a short road trip.

4. Pencil in quiet time daily.

Getting a few quiet moments as an adult with a lot of stress to contend with can help you stay calm. However, quiet time is just as good for children as it is for adults. Some professionals even claim that quiet time is valuable for kids because it helps them synthesize and process new information.

Every day leading up to the move, make sure the house gets a brief stretch of quiet time. Allow everyone their personal space and just spend a few minutes collecting their thoughts.

Destress Your Family Move with Professional Movers

Moving as a family may be a little rough, but a little help can make all the difference. Reach out to get a free moving quote for your big move, and we’ll make sure you have more free time to focus on your family.

Moving is stressful. Whether you’re moving across town or to another state, mistakes can happen, or you can inadvertently overlook details. Here are six common moving missteps to avoid.

1. Taking on More Than You Can Handle

It’s tempting to try to save money by taking the DIY moving route, but sometimes people take on more than they can handle. As a result, they end up physically hurting themselves, damaging their possessions, or end up paying more to move than they would have if they’d hired professionals. When planning a move, it’s essential to be realistic about what you can reasonably handle. For some DIY works, for others, it’s too big of a challenge.

2. Packing Carelessly or Rushed

Waiting until the last minute to pack usually results in not getting it done in time, possessions getting misplaced or broken, or merely adding unnecessary stress. If you’re not planning to hire professionals for this aspect of the move, start packing ASAP. Do it in stages to ensure the job is done right. This way, each box is filled correctly, taped, and labeled.

3. Forgetting to Pack an Essentials Kit

Forgetting must-have items needed for the first few nights in a new home can result in extra stress and inconvenient errands to the store to pick them up. Packing an essentials kit box can come in handy. This box, which can include toothbrushes, sheets, PJs, coffee, dog food, toilet paper, and any other essentials, makes the first night or two in a new home far more comfortable.

4. Moving Too Much ‘Stuff’

Often, people don’t realize they are packing – and paying to move – belongings they no longer use, need, or even want. They just pack everything in their home or apartment and bring it to put back in storage in their new place. By discarding, donating, giving away, or selling possessions not wanted or needed, you decrease expenses associated with the move and eliminates clutter in your new home.

5. Neglecting to Change Address

Neglecting to notify a change of address with banks, credit cards, doctors, employers, and other essential organizations can result in missed bills or someone else inadvertently getting ahold of sensitive mail, resulting in identity theft. Forgetting to change an address with gyms, magazine and newspaper subscriptions, and other services, you can get billed for services you didn’t use. Start this about four weeks before the move.

6. Not Researching Movers

Sometimes people who do hire movers fail to do their research and can lead to a challenging experience. Before hiring a mover, get a few estimates – a good rule of thumb is to get three. Ask lots of questions, check the Better Business Bureau, verify licenses, and read online reviews. Moving companies are happy to answer any concerns, share information, and offer helpful advice, so don’t be shy in raising questions when talking to them.

Make Your Move a Success

Organization and planning can eliminate – or at least – reduce problems cropping up. Avoiding these six mistakes can help your move be a smooth one. Need help with an upcoming move or just have questions about a future one? Contact us today to learn more about our various moving services.

Any move is stressful for those involved. Often, office moves involve many employees, magnifying the stress. To keep the pressure manageable and to ensure you retain top talent, human resource professionals should play a vital role in all stages of the move, from planning to settling in at the new location.

Planning

If additional or fewer employees are needed at the new site than the current one, the company should develop a plan to hire or reduce staff. HR leaders will also determine how to handle the separation of those employees not invited to move or choose not to do so, including severance packages.

For those who are relocating, HR will determine whether the new location has a different cost of living than the old one and how to adjust salary to accommodate it. Paying for moving expenses for relocating employees is a short-term hit on the company’s budget but pays rewards in employee productivity retention.

Companies should articulate the reasons for the move clearly to employees. They also will be careful to provide facts about the new location while dispelling myths so that employees can make an informed decision about relocating. Providing information about the quality of life in the new city for long-distance moves or new commuting routes for shorter moves may help deal with reluctance to relocate.

During this period, the company also should provide space for employees to air their views about their new location. When possible, HR might help employees find housing, child care, jobs for spouses, and other services in the new place.

During the Move

Employees often become anxious during the moving process about whether their files, computers, and favorite ergonomic chair will make it to the right place. Providing a calming presence and providing immediate help when issues arise will help ease anxiety.

Settling In

Employees will require several weeks to settle into the new environment, mostly if the move is long-distance. Providing orientations of the new facilities and information packets about the new office area, including good lunch spots, child care facilities, and gyms will help.

Suppose the move is a long-distance one and new employees are to be hired. In that case, HR specialists will participate in recruiting and hiring, and bridging local cultural differences.

Family picnics and other types of mixers might be scheduled to enable the hires from the new location and those who relocated to get to know each other better. Company culture may slowly evolve to match that of the new area. Long-term employees may feel anxious about this change, as well. By continually supporting employees, companies will reap productivity benefits over the long term.

Office Moving

Planning an office move is overwhelming. From disassembling to reassembling your office furniture and equipment to ensure everything is up and functioning in the new space — endless steps are involved. Any delays in the moving process can cost your company money. It’s essential to select the right office movers for your move. Contact us today for a quote. We can help reduce the stress. 

Moving day is right around the corner. You’ve checked almost everything off of your to-do list, including making one of the smartest moving decisions you can make: hiring professional movers. But if you’re like most people, you’ve still got a few questions.

If you’ve ever wondered how to get the most out of your professional moving service, you’re not alone. Many people wonder if there are things they can do to help their movers — or if it’s better to simply stay out of their way.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to optimize your moving service. Here are a few tips the moving pros want you to know.

Advance Logistical Planning

You know all the details of your home (and neighborhood) in a way that movers don’t. That means you can speed moving day along by scoping out any potential logistical issues ahead of time.

From steep driveways to narrow staircases and tiny elevators, consider factors that may slow movers down. You may want to take action such as:

• Securing close parking spaces, both at your current home and your new home
• Noting narrow hallways, steep walkways, stairs, and other obstacles
• Reserving a cargo elevator, if possible

Let your moving company know about any potential issues well in advance. That way, they can plan to have the right crew and equipment on hand for moving day.

Pack it Up

Hands down, the best thing you can do to help your movers is to have things ready for them when they arrive. But what does being “ready” mean?

For a self-pack move, you’re ready for your movers when:

• All of your items are all packed, boxed, labeled, sealed, and ready to be loaded on the truck
• Appliances are properly prepared
• Furniture is disassembled
• Drawers are emptied
• Walkways are cleared
• Driveways at old and new home are cleared

The more you get done before movers arrive, the better they can do their job — and the faster you can get to your new home!

Stay Clear, But Stay Available

It’s usually best to stay back and allow the movers to do their job. Pro movers know how to pack up a home efficiently, and they know the best order to load the boxes onto the truck.

It’s essential to keep clear as the movers work; it’s also necessary that you be available to answer questions that only you, as the homeowner, can answer. You can also ask questions and voice concerns if things come up.

Secure Your Pets

Moving day is chaotic and stressful for pets, and you don’t want them getting underfoot, getting hurt, or possibly running out an opened door.

For both your pets’ and mover’s safety, make arrangements before moving day to secure your pets. 

Provide a safe room, already emptied of moving boxes, for your pets with an appropriate sign outside the room indicating that they are in there. Or, better yet, have friends or family take your pet to their house on moving day. 

Keep Children Entertained and Safe

Your small children might be upset, confused, or overly excited on moving day; for everyone’s safety, your kids need to stay out of the way as well. Make plans to have your kids stay with a friend or family member. Or consider designating an older sibling or another adult helping out to keep your children entertained and out of harm’s way on moving day.

Pro Moving Tips and Help

Your moving company wants to provide you and your family with a safe, smooth move. Following these tips will help your movers do their job quickly and effectively.

If you need moving assistance, we’re here to help. Contact us today with a free moving quote.

Moving on short notice is seldom a choice, but sometimes it is a necessity. Perhaps you’ve received a job offer in another city and need to start work in a month. Or, maybe your house sold faster than you expected, or you’ve abruptly ended a relationship. Moving on short notice is challenging but doable.

Here are some ideas on how to make that quick move work for you.

Make a Plan

List all the tasks that you need to accomplish before you move. Then, working backward from the date you need to be in your new home, fill in dates by which each task needs to be complete. Tasks will include finding a new home, packing (or hiring packers), notifying landlords and utilities, reserving a moving company, then moving. 

If you can’t find a new home right away, you may consider storing your items and living in a small furnished apartment or with friends or relatives until you find the right place.

Notify The Necessary People

If you are renting, notify your landlord as soon as possible to avoid having to pay an extra month’s rent. Examine your lease and state laws to determine whether you are potentially liable for the months remaining on your lease and, if so, how you can avoid this.

If you own your home, contact a real estate agent as soon as possible to put your home on the market or to rent it out.

Develop a Realistic Budget

The more items you have to move, the more you’ll need to spend. If you are relocating for a job, ask about what type of relocation assistance the company might provide. Consider whether you will have the mover pack or do all of it yourself or with friends. 

If you need to store items, plan to build that into your budget as well.

Packing

Begin packing seldom-used items right away. As you are packing, sort through, and eliminate the things you don’t use or no longer need. You’ll save time and money by taking fewer items with you, especially if you’re going to need to store things.

Ask for help. Just one or two friends can make packing go a lot faster. You also may want to consider having your moving company do some or all of the packing. When you interview movers, ask how much packing services will add to the cost. In many cases, the additional cost is worth the time it will save you.

Browse New Homes

Begin browsing immediately to get a feel for neighborhoods and homes that will work best. If you have children in school, you might research local schools or school districts. Or, perhaps, being close to work or public transportation is critical for you. Determine what you want most in your new home, then use the Internet, real estate agents, and friends to help you find a suitable home within your budget.

Interview and Book Movers

Begin by asking friends for recommendations. Interview at least three movers, and be sure you understand each estimate or quote and what it includes so you can compare accurately. If possible, plan to move midweek. Companies are more likely to have time available then rather than on weekends.

Once you’ve decided on a company, make your reservation as soon as possible to ensure your first-choice mover is still available.

Without a doubt, packing up a kitchen can be quite a chore, and that’s why you need a moving checklist. Numerous gadgets, fragile dishware, flatware, pots and pans, and heavy appliances can make this the most challenging and time-consuming room to pack up.

Let’s explore a few kitchen packing tips to ease the transition and ensure items transport safely.

Be Selective With What You Keep

Sort through everything, taking time to pick through items you need and use. Consider having a garage sale or donating the rest to simplify packing, loading, and unpacking. You’ll thank yourself, especially if you’re downsizing to a smaller home.

Prepare With the Right Packing Materials

You’ll probably discover that you’ll need more supplies to pack the kitchen than anticipated. You will need a variety of sturdy boxes in various sizes along with:

• Packing Paper
• Bubble Wrap and Packing Peanuts
• Packing Tape
• Labels & Markers
• Box Dividers

Put Aside Essentials

If you plan on cooking meals at home before the move, keep out items you’ll need like a coffee pot, ingredients for meals, utensils, and plates for mealtime. Keep aside some dish soap, a towel, and sponge for cleaning up afterward and for last-minute cleanup before departure. These items will also be easily accessible when moving.

Pack Larger Items to Create Space

By getting the larger items like pots, pans, bakeware, mixing bowls, and storage containers out of the way, more room is created to sort the smaller kitchen goods. Nestle pots and pans, putting packing paper or dish towels between them.

Oven mitts and towels serve as excellent box stuffers to fill any gaps. Be sure to wrap glass lids or ceramic cookware and pack them in a separate box. Attempt to keep the weight minimized, and pack like items together for easier unpacking.

Tips for Packing Stemware, Glassware, Plates, and Bowls

Pack glasses and fragile stemware with care; using those specialty box dividers helps prevent breakage. Wrap individual items in packing paper or bubble wrap—stack plates and bowls on top of each other with protective paper or wrap between them. Avoid placing heavy boxes on top of glassware, and don’t attempt to overpack the boxes—even if there’s still room.

Flatware and Utensils: Pack Cautious

If you don’t have an original box to place flatware in, the drawer tray can be wrapped in plastic and put into the box. Larger serving utensils fit nicely on top, and many use large baggies or packing paper to keep things organized. Rollup knives in heavy paper and tape them securely. Pack them on their side, blades down to prevent injury when unpacking.

Transporting and Packing Foods

Attack the spices first, wrapping them in paper or baggies. Be sure to remove anything that is expired or nearly empty to lighten the load. Pack pantry items next, making sure that they are sealed up tightly before boxing them up. Consider giving your non-perishable food to neighbors, a food pantry, or Move for Hunger. Check with your mover to see if they participate in this program where their crew will pack up your unperishable food and deliver it to a food pantry.  

Moving Kitchen Appliances

If refrigerators, ovens, and dishwashers are on the moving list, a professional mover will come in handy. Strong arms and good dolly are required, along with a moving truck with a ramp for loading. Check with your movers about appliance preparation before moving to ensure the appliances are fully ready to go when the movers arrive.

Need Moving Help?

Our pro team of movers can help you pack and move your kitchen and the whole house! Contact us today to learn more about or moving services and to receive a free quote.