Category: Moving Tips

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!

If you are a remote worker, you know that working from home can have benefits, but when you are a remote employee planning a residential relocation, you face some unique challenges. Check out a few pointers to assist you in organizing and packing for your relocation while still working from home.

Discuss the Move With Your Employer and HR

If you are thinking about moving, and especially if you are thinking about moving to a different state or region, you should talk to your employer first. Here are some questions to ask before planning anything further 

• Will my employer let me work someplace else?
• How will the move affect my salary?
• What will happen to my benefits?
• How will my relocation impact my taxes?

Schedule Your Work in Advance

Prepare your work schedule as best you can a few weeks beforehand to accommodate the impending move. Use vacation days or personal time, discuss the situation with your employer, and consider if you need to request additional time off. Knowing your schedule and obligations will also be helpful once you move into the new location.

Dismantle Your Work Space Last

When packing up your house, save your home office for last. Then, your workspace will remain functional until the day of the move. 

Knowing the precise placement of various wires and components will prevent you from ending up in your new home office surrounded by cables and wondering where they go. Instead, document the configurations in your current home office before dismantling them. First, take photos of your set-up precisely the way it is before breaking it down.  Then, identify the inputs that each cable connects to by taping labels onto the cords.

Pack Your WorkSpace

You should declutter your office area as with the rest of your home. Decide what you can sell, donate, or discard. Avoid stashing things in boxes without organizing them. You will be glad you took the time to organize your office stuff when you get to your new home. Label everything. Mark each side of the box to make unpacking easier. 

Make Utility Connections Before Moving

As a remote worker, you will require immediate electricity and internet access. Before moving your belongings, ensure all necessary utilities and services are turned on and ready. Once these connections are active and ready, set up your computer and devices.

Set Aside Time to Setup and Settle In

Getting your home office set up and running might take some time. Take a few extra days off to settle in. That way, you don’t end up with work commitments you can’t fulfill because your space is not functioning yet.

Moving Assistance

Make your move easier by working with professional movers. Reach out for a free quote and learn more about how we can help you.

Relocating a business office can be unsettling if you rely on the flow of local clients to maintain profitability. However, taking the proper steps to ensure everyone knows the business is relocating will make a considerable difference. Take a look at a few ways to inform the public when you are facing an office move.

1. Post an Update On Your Company Website

As of 2021, research published by Cision found that around 76 percent of today’s customers will look for a company’s website online before visiting in person. Therefore, posting your relocation plans on your company website is one of the fastest ways to get the word out that the office is moving. It is a good idea to add a note to your home page that tells customers where to find you. Additionally, it is a good idea to post these notifications at least a few weeks before you plan to move.

2. Draft a Notice to Give to Suppliers, Vendors, and Affiliates

While alerting your everyday customers and clients is a top priority, it will also be essential to notify others associated with business operations. You should notify office suppliers, vendors, investors, and other affiliates well before the upcoming relocation. Draft a detailed notice to mail or email to any outside entities that play a role in business operations.

3. Send Out an Email to All Your Subscribers

If you have an email list associated with your business, this offers a direct line of communication to at least a portion of your client base. If you have a company newsletter, share the news about the move in the newsletter. However, drafting an email specifically to disclose the word about the move can be helpful to ensure the information is received. Also, remember that emails with a personalized subject line are more likely to be opened by the recipient and read.

4. Get an Announcement in Local Media

Digital communications are no doubt effective today when sharing news about your business. However, there will always be those customers that are more in tune with traditional news and media sources. To ensure this audience is not isolated from the news that the business is relocating, be sure to get an announcement in the local media. For example, you could contact the local newspaper to post an announcement. Or, consider buying ad space on the local radio station.

5. Post Signs at Your Physical Office and Future Office

Lastly, consider the importance of posting signage at both office locations. All clients stopping for services at the existing office will see the notification. However, it can also be helpful to post signs at the new office to let passersby know that your business will soon be operating at the location.

Need Help with Your Office Move?

When you need time to focus on your business during the move, trusting the logistics to professionals is a good idea. That’s where we can help with experienced relocation coordination and support throughout the process. Contact us to request a quote for your upcoming move.

The last few weeks have been stressful with so much to do, but most of your things are finally in boxes. You have hired movers to help, and your moving day is quickly approaching. What should you be doing to prepare in these final stages? 

Here are some practical tasks to help you prepare and allow your residential moving day to go smoothly.

1. Take Down Pictures

If you still need to remove the pictures from your walls, now is the time. If you’re moving out of a rental home, your lease may require removing nails and screws from the walls and filling the holes with putty. Check your lease agreement.

2. Disassemble Furniture

To prevent damage, you must disassemble most furniture before loading it onto a moving truck. Check with your moving company to see their requirements or if they handle that. 

Take a video of yourself as you take apart the furniture, or create notes about how to reassemble it. Put the screws and other small, loose parts into a bag, then tape the bag to one of the larger pieces to keep them together.

3. Confirm Details With the Moving Company

Contact your moving company to confirm the details about your moving day, including the time of their arrival. 

4. Arrange for Parking

Ensure that your home’s front door area is fully accessible to the movers so they can park the truck as close as possible. In addition, make sure your new home’s driveway and street are cleared, so the movers can park the moving truck and unload when they arrive. Finally, let your neighbors know about your plans, both at your current home and your new home, so they are not surprised or inconvenienced by the truck and can help by providing appropriate space.

5. Check Your Go Bag

Pack a bag of essential items to keep accessible throughout your relocation. Your bag should include pajamas, toiletries, and a change of clothes. Go through your bag again to ensure you have everything packed inside.

6. Finish Packing Your Boxes

If your move does not include packing services by professional movers, ensure you have packed up all of your belongings before they arrive. As you pack, label each box with the appropriate room to which it should go in your new house. Not only will this make it easy for your movers to figure out what goes where, but it will also make the unpacking process easier for you.

7. Clean

If you are renting, your rental agreement may require cleaning your home before vacating the premises. Now that you have the boxes packed, this is the ideal time to clean the home. Clean each room thoroughly to help you get back your security deposit.

8. Take Pictures Of Your Home

Take pictures of the finished rooms showing the condition in which you left your home. This is beneficial if you have a rental agreement that requires you to leave your home in a specific condition.

9. Focus on Wellness

Eat well and get ample sleep leading up to the big day. Taking care of yourself and your family before you embark on a household move is essential. 

Contact Professional Movers You Can Trust

Work with a moving company you can trust to arrive on time and treat your items respectfully. Are you moving? Contact us today for a free quote. 

A residential move can be incredibly challenging for your cat, who undoubtedly prefers predictable routines. Fortunately, there are ways to successfully pack with your cat around make the packing process less stressful. 

Your cat probably loves boxes and delights in digging into a box to hide or play. Your kitty might also like to use cardboard as a favorite scratching toy.

Here are five tips to help distract your cats while you pack for a household move so that you can make progress.

1. Introduce the Moving Cartons

Bringing your moving boxes out early is a good idea, so your cat becomes familiar with them. 

If your cat perceives the boxes as fun and non-threatening, it will be less anxious about packing.

Allow your cat to explore empty moving boxes several weeks before moving day. Then, wait to fill them until your cat has had a chance to investigate them.

2. Begin Your Packing Away From the Cats

Cats are keenly aware of what you’re doing in the same room. So when you start packing, begin with the rooms your cats are least likely to occupy.

During packing time, focus on a room your cat is not in. If they are sleeping, consider closing them in the room temporarily.

3. Stage Boxes in a Separate Room

Cats often follow a different set of rules when they are alone. That’s why you want to keep them away from your packed boxes—so they don’t get into them.

Consider staging your packed boxes in a different place. A storage unit is a great option. See if you can set aside a bedroom or home office if a storage unit is unavailable.

4. Play, Then Pack

Some cats need a lot of attention. And, unfortunately, they seem to know just when you need to focus on other tasks.

If you know your cats, you can anticipate the attention they expect from you. You can use this information to plan your packing schedule.

Start by ensuring your cats have everything they need, like a bowl with fresh water or a clean litter box. Then, give them your full attention, and play with them if they need active movement. If you usually feed them during the time you will be packing, provide the meal first.

5. Provide a Distraction

Some cats are so hungry for attention that they cannot bear to be away from you at any time. So to focus on packing, you’re going to need a distraction.

Buy a few new toys for your cats. Keep these toys in a place that the cats can’t reach, like a closet or cabinet.

Periodically introduce a new toy before you start packing. Then, ensure your cats understand what to do with it before you leave.

6. Add a Scratcher

If you have to stage boxes in an area where your cats will be, you need to provide an alternative. Cat scratching is instinctive, and cats can’t necessarily avoid it.

Put a scratching post near the boxes. Whenever you see your cats trying to scratch the boxes, redirect them to the scratching post.

Scratching toys come in different sizes and shapes. When choosing a scratcher, avoid buying one that is too similar to the boxes so your cats don’t confuse them.

Moving With Cats

Moving can take a lot of your focus. If you have cats, you’ll need to distract them with these tips, or better yet, let us help with the packing too. Contact us for more information about what you’ll need for your upcoming move.

Are you retiring soon and looking to move to a home where you can enjoy retirement? When buying a house for your retirement years, there are many things to consider.

From maintenance to location, finding the right house makes it easier to enjoy your retirement years. Knowing what to consider when seeking a home can help you purchase a property supporting a relaxing and happy retirement. Here are some suggestions.

1. Consider Maintenance

Not many people want to spend their retirement years maintaining a house that needs frequent repairs. When you’re looking for a retirement home, unless you’re excited about making regular house repairs, seek a home in good overall condition. Tips for finding a home in good condition include:

• Look for one built recently
• Get a home inspection during the escrow process
• Consider buying a condo so that the condo association will manage all exterior maintenance

2. Minimize

Many people move into smaller homes when they reach retirement age. Smaller homes usually require less maintenance and less cleaning. If less maintenance and upkeep appeal to you, plan to buy a house with a minimum number of bedrooms — for you and your potential guests.

Pro tip: If you plan to downsize into a smaller home at retirement, spend some time before you move to declutter. Go through your holiday decorations, seasonal items, and furnishings to eliminate anything you no longer need or plan to use less in retirement. This will make moving into a smaller home more manageable when ready.

3. Choose the Right Location

You don’t have to stay in the town where you’re living after you’ve retired. To choose the city or location where you’d like to live in retirement, decide what kind of community you’d like to live in and what geographic features are most important to you. Some factors to consider as you’re trying to choose your ideal location:

• Cost of living
• Taxes
• Climate
• Geographic features (beaches, etc.)
• Healthcare providers
• Safety
• Proximity to family and friends

If you need help deciding which community or location is best, consider writing a pro/con list to help you prioritize the community where you’ll be happiest. For instance, if you enjoy walking to shops and restaurants, move near them. Likewise, if you like being near the beach, move there; every day will feel like a vacation.

4. Make a Budget

Know how much you can afford to spend on your future home. Then, if you still need to retire, you may need help gauging the amount you’ll have to pay monthly on living expenses.

Work with an accountant to find out how much you can plan to draw out monthly for your retirement. Assuming you’ll need a loan for a mortgage, work with a lender to determine how much you’ll need to spend each month on your loan. This will help you decide how much you can invest in your retirement home.

Contact a Moving Company You Trust

Are you moving soon? Call us, a trusted company, to get started with your relocation. We can provide a free quote for your upcoming move.