Feb
28
2010
Do It Yourself, Moving Tips, Packing Tips By admin | No comments yet

Items you can’t pack and move

Read this article before start packing your own belongings. It is important to know which items you can’t pack and move. Whether it’s a long distance or a local move it’s always recommended to use professional movers and packers for you move. However, if you decide to do your own packing, you should know that there are rules and regulations that govern all residential moving companies to help ensure safety. Even if you opt out for do-it-yourself move, you still need to keep your safety and the safety of the moving truck under control.

Here are some of the items you shouldn’t pack when moving.

Acid, gasoline, kerosene, poisons, charcoal, lighter fluid, fertilizer, paints, batteries, liquid bleach, stern, chemicals, fireworks, any type of oil, loaded weapons, weed killer, ammonia, propane tanks, plants or living things.

Foods and perishables
Dispose of perishables such as food, plants and living things that may die or spoil during transportation. Empty and clean your refrigerator and freezer at least twenty-four hours before your moving day. Keep the appliance doors open so the appliance will dry out and prevent the growth of mold and odor.

Irreplaceable items
The moving companies assume no responsibility if irreplaceable items come into his/her possession without his/her awareness. You may face a problem if your moving company delayed or lost the items. It is recommended to transport irreplaceable items with you. Here are some examples:

Address books, personal and business files, video tapes, accounting and bank statements, personal photos, car and home keys, tax records, check books, jewelry, cash, stocks, bonds, computers.

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Feb
28
2010
Money Saving Tips, Moving Tips By admin | No comments yet

Common mistakes when people plan a move

First time moves or moving in general can be plagued with a lot of unwanted headaches and mistakes. But like everything else it would take a lot of preparation in order for things to run smoothly when moving day arrives. When you have settled on a moving date, the best thing to do is to start packing and organizing your boxes right away even if moving day is in only a month away. There are some of you who may actually want to leave your entire moving project undone until the night before moving day.

You may think that you can get the job done quickly and easily long before the movers come by, but you would soon find out that leaving your moving project for the last minute could result in chaos and stress. In addition when you are racing against time with your last minute packing on the eve of moving day, you may be tempted to throw all your personal and household items together to cut down on your time. This could prove to be a disaster when you get to the new place as you may not be able to locate certain items. By properly labeling and sealing your boxes, you can be sure that you would not have to sift through several boxes trying to find the toothpaste and dental floss when you are all moved in.

One of the most common mistakes that people make when moving is to hire a mover for the sake of it without researching the company to see if they are legitimate. With scammers plaguing the moving industry, you have to be sure that the company that you choose is certified, registered and reliable. Always keep the number of the Better Business Bureau handy so that you can get more information on the moving company that you choose.

Also, the Internet is very resourceful in getting information from actual customers of a moving company that you may be interested in. It is on these websites that you would be able to read comments from customers who were pleased with the service they received as well as those who weren’t so happy. Internet research aside it is your duty to ask a lot of questions from the moving companies about all aspects of your move from insurance to the safety of your belongings.

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Feb
17
2010
Do It Yourself, Money Saving Tips, Moving Tips By admin | No comments yet

Do it yourself or hire a moving company?

If you are planning to relocate anytime soon, then most likely you are wondering which moving option to select: to hire a professional moving company or go for do-it-yourself move. If you hire a moving company, their movers will be the ones who do the packaging, loading and unloading of your belongings. This means you don’t have to do the heavy lifting, however all you have to take care of the moving costs.

This article will show you the advantages and disadvantages of moving yourself. As well as it provides helpful tips on how to organize your move.

Do-It-Yourself Moving Advantages

The most important reason is that it is less expensive. At the end you will save some hard earned cash because you will be only paying for your usage. The moving expenses will be calculated based on how far you have driven and the size of the rental truck. You don’t have to hire someone to drive the truck; it doesn’t require a special driver license.

In terms of packing your goods, you can pack things according to your schedule and comfort. Another advantage of do-it-yourself move is that you are in charge during the whole process. You do the preparation, the loading and unloading tasks. With good planning the things will go through smoothly and worry-free.

Now the Disadvantages

Now you know about the advantages, however you should be aware of the disadvantages. Do-It-Yourself process requires a lot of job. You will not be able to carry large items without help of your friends and family. Without help, the whole process becomes dull. Moreover, if you have bad planning ability, you will certainly be anxious after completing the process.

Do-It-Yourself Tips

If you have chosen to do the move on your own, it is very important to be ready for the moving day ahead of time. You have to plan everything: from the moving boxes to pack until the very end of unloading and unpacking.

The first important thing you really to be concerned about is the availability of the moving van that can carry all your household goods. If you have confirmed moving date, then reserve the moving van ahead of time. If you’re relocation due to your work, ask your boss if they will pay for the moving costs.

Once you reserve the moving truck, start packing your items. Always use sturdy moving boxes for better handling. If you pack breakable items, ensure they are secured. Do not forget to make an inventory list of your items. Be orderly in handling your packed stuff. If you want to a particular item to go in your home first, then load them last. Also, make sure to load the light boxes on top of the heavier ones.

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Feb
10
2010
Do It Yourself, Moving Tips By admin | No comments yet

How to move a hot tub

If you have a hot tub you may not be in too much of a hurry to try to move it because just as you may have anticipated, hot tubs are indeed a strenuous item to relocate. But if you have help from a few friends coupled with the right tools and equipment you would be able to get this moving project going without any problems. To move a hot tub you would need an appliance dolly, tow straps, 4×4 lumber and two four-wheeled furniture dollies, the latter which would be useful for transporting the items on flat surfaces.

One of the first things that you must do before moving the tub is to unplug it. You want to cut off all the electricity from the tub as well as the gas and release any other connections. Once you have the cords in hand you should wrap them up in a neat fashion and secure them neatly in the wooden enclosure so that they would not come undone. Next check the motor to see that it is in place and more importantly ensure that the tub is void of water and dry. The drain cap should also be tightly secured so that when you turn the tub on its side to move it, you would not end up losing the cap while you are at it.

Make sure that you and your friends are positioned on each side of the hot tub as you then turn in over to place the lifted end on a 4×4 sheet of lumber. The lumber should also be placed on the other side of the tub as well. You can easily move the tub now when you place the furniture dollies under the hot tub as you move along the flat surface. If along the way you encounter stairs, then you would have to attach the appliance dolly and the tow straps as well. You can easily place the dollies on the front end of the tub when you turn the tub on the back side. If you don’t own a dolly with straps, then it would be wise if you were to rent one that has one since the straps help to keep the hot tub in place especially when it is being transported.

When you get to your destination with the hot tub and you are ready to move it to ground level, then you simply remove the dollies carefully and then bring it down slowly to ground level. You want to move it slowly so as to avoid any chance of a crack should it hit the ground too hard and too fast. Holding the corners firmly would guarantee a gentle landing to the ground’s surface. To further ensure that the hot tub is protected then don’t be in a hurry to remove the lumber that are affixed to the corners of the tub. Finally when moving the hot tub, carefully lift each corner as you remove the lumber one by one so as to gently slide the sheets out.

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Feb
7
2010
Money Saving Tips By admin | No comments yet

How to make money by selling you junk

When people decide to sell their homes, even before they start cleaning and swiping, they should consider getting rid of their unwanted household items. People, who’ve relocated from one home to another many times, know that it’s much easier to plan the move with fewer goods. Less goods makes the process easier. However, don’t just get rid of your unwanted items, there are ways to make money.

We are all aware of reasons why we should go through our closets and storage area and eliminate the unwanted items. If you’re planning to purchase another home you’re going to be moving. In order to transport your goods either you have to hire professional movers, or move it yourself. Either way, you have to clean the junk and leave your home with a better look so that potential buyers can actually realize what this house is all about.

One thing you should know about hiring a residential moving company is that the moves are charged by the hour. So, does it make sense to pay for something that you don’t need in your new home? In addition, you can sell your unwanted items and makes some extra cash, which can help you on another project in your new home.

Once you’ve gone through all the junk out of your house the next thing you should do is have a garage sale or post an ad on local classifieds sites such as Craigslist. Craigslist is the perfect place to list your furniture and outdoor stuff and it’s free to use. For some goods you may receive more value in a consignment store if they are more valuable or antique. Anything you are not able to sell is best to donate to local charities or thrift store.

If you have any books or DVD/CDs find places in your town that buy them such as DVD resale shops, used bookstore or a pawn Shop. Then take one day off and devote it to visiting all those stores around town.

Don’t regret selling something that was occupying your garage or storage shed, someone else may enjoy it. Don’t think about how much you’ve spent for it. And the most important thing is don’t think you’re losing money by selling the item for less than you paid for it. Actually, you are collecting money for an item that could end up in garbage.

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Feb
5
2010
Moving Tips, Packing Tips By admin | No comments yet

General moving and packing tips

Moving process is one of the most stressful events that anybody can handle, it’s not always going the way it was planned. The main important thing to reduce the stress is productive planning. Here are some moving and packing tricks to make your relocation task as easy as possible.

Whether you’re moving to another state or next door, there are things you should do, but do not wait until the last minute. Getting moving boxes is only a small part of what must be done, however, is one of the most important tasks that never seem to have the importance it deserves. If you are downsizing, it is perhaps a good time to consider renting a self storage. Moving is a perfect time to clean the closets, basement, attic, garage, any area that has been the accumulation of garbage for many years.

Decide how you will move. If you need residential local movers, get references, check with your local Better Business Bureau, and read the small print of any contract moving company wants you to sign. Moving companies have many ways to raise prices in the last minute, you do not need any hidden charges. Start packing early, do not wait until the last minute, remember it’s always more than you expect. There are plenty of things you can pack for a few months without losing them. Seasonal clothing books, side dishes, extra bedding, a goal up and put aside.

Do not pay a fortune for the new moving boxes for regular household goods. You may get free used boxes from grocery, liquor and electronics stores. Many moving companies provide carry wardrobe boxes in their trucks, you may use them too.

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Jan
26
2010
Self Storage Tips By admin | No comments yet

Storage Restrictions – What is Not Allowed to Store

So you must be thinking that when you need to store your excess items you can simply put just about anything in a storage unit once you make your monthly payment, right? Well think again because there are a lot of storage companies these days that are cutting down on the types of items that they allow on their property. While storage companies can really use the monthly fee that you pay for leaving your property, they are also about security and staying above board with the law.

That’s why any materials that you may have that are either harmful or illegal would be turned away should you try to leave it at a storage facility. Truth be told there is actually a long laundry list of items that you can and cannot leave in a self storage unit but depending on where you may take your business you may actually get the heads up on storing a particular item that another storage company would refuse. Expensive jewelry is one of these items that some storage companies would think it is a big risk to store while another storage company would gladly store them for you.

Like public and self storage units local moving companies also have limitations on what they allow you to move on their vehicle. These companies usually provide prospective clients with a list of the items that are restricted for storing or moving but even you hire a company that does not provide you with this information you should either ask for it or be proactive enough to compile a list of the items that you wish to move or store and then have a representative from one of these companies approve or disapprove the items.

What we can tell you now is that the list of items that are prohibited from storing or moving runs the gamut of combustible materials like explosives, gasoline, acid and even nail polish and remover to perishable food items. Storing perishable food items can only encourage unwanted insects and rodents which could eventually result in an infestation. Plants too can attract pests and since they also do not fair well in certain types of climates, they too are written off the list of items to store. There are some people who have a lot of valuable items that they wish to store and most of these items include important documents, software and even medication. It is recommended that you get a self-storage unit for items such as these once they are approved by the storage company. Usually you may have to pay a tidy sum for storing these items but it’s all worth it since you are paying for a maximum level of security for your items.

Here are more tips on What You are not Allowed to Store

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Jan
13
2010
Moving Tips By admin | No comments yet

Moving with children

Moving is already a stressful project, just think about how much harder it can become when you’re moving with children in the equation. It is a known fact that children do not react very well when they are told that they have to relocate to another home. Not only are they relocating to another home but they are also leaving their school and friends behind to go start anew at another school.

And just like some adults, children who have to say goodbye to their old neighborhood may soon be overwhelmed with the feeling of sadness and depression. Moving experts would tell you that moving long-distance with your kids is even more painful especially if the climate is a bit different to what they are accustomed. One way in which you can help your children accept the reality of moving is by indulging them in the moving preparation the moment you decide to move.

You can get them involved by allowing them to help you pack and perhaps you can even talk about the positive aspects of the move. For instance if your child loves to swim and your new home is situated mere minutes from a swimming pool, then this is one of the highlights of the new place that you should be discussing with your child. Let him know about the new friends he would be meeting and tap in to his insecurities and alleviate them. Remember too that the more you get excited about moving the more the children would feed off of your excitement.

Most of all be honest with your children and let them know the reasons behind the move. So if your reason for moving is to accept a job offer explain every detail of that to the children. Let them know how vital it is for you to move and accept the job; above all let them know how they can benefit from it. Next allow your children some time to spend with their soon-to-be-old friends as much as possible even if you have to pull together a farewell party for them. When moving day arrives, make sure that you have the handheld games and toys for the children to occupy them as they journey to the new location.

After arriving at the new place it would be wise to keep a close eye on your children to see that they are coping well with the move. And if the children opt to have their room decorated similar to their old one then allow them to do so. Sleeping in familiar surroundings could have a positive impact on the children; they would definitely start warming up to the idea of living in a new space.

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