How to Maximize Closet Space in Your New Home

Your closet is essential to your room, where you store your clothes, accessories, shoes, and other items. However, we all tend to overload our closets with too much stuff, meaning there’s never enough space to put everything. 

If you are relocating to a home with limited closet space, you will want to maximize all your closet space. Fortunately, you don’t have to suffer, even if your closet is relatively small. 

Here are some excellent suggestions for making the most of your available space.

Remove Unwanted or Old Items

The first step is to de-clutter your closet. That would be ideal if you could declutter as you pack for your move. Chances are you have old clothes or items you never use anymore (or can’t wear), so they’re just taking up valuable real estate. Not only can de-cluttering help you make more room in the closet, but it can also help you feel less stressed and more in control of your life. 

Use Double Hangers

The space between your clothes and the floor is often underutilized, and one way to make it work more efficiently is to use double hangers. While you can buy specific double-hanger models, an easy workaround is to just hang another item on the back of an existing hanger (where the hook meets the arms. With this simple hack, you can practically double your closet’s capacity without making it feel stuffed or overloaded.

Add Shelving

Your closet probably has one shelf over the hanging rod and nothing else. Consider installing new shelving by attaching it to the walls or using freestanding shelf units. Overall, the more surface area you have, the easier it is to stay organized and have a place for all your accessories and other items.

Use Containers Whenever Possible

While shelves are handy, they can only do so much. If you’re trying to maximize your closet space, use containers whenever possible. You can have smaller containers for jewelry and other accessories and larger containers for shoes, outfits, and miscellaneous items. Use stackable containers to help save space or a shelving unit with pull-out drawers so you can access everything more easily.

Think Vertically

Chances are the upper section of your closet is woefully underused. Reaching boxes or containers on top can be challenging, but there are ways to alleviate that problem. For example, you can keep a folding stepladder inside the closet and pull it out whenever you need to access something above.

Similarly, you can add shelves or storage units to the upper section. Use this area to store seasonal items or belongings you use sparingly. This way, you don’t have to struggle to climb up there every day when you need something.

Don’t Forget About the Closet Door

Finally, you can use the door of your closet for storage space. Whether you have a standard door or a folding doorway, you can hang hooks or storage bins off the side. These add-ons are perfect for shoes, scarves, hats, and other accessories requiring bins or shelving.

Let Us Help With Your Upcoming Move!

We can help pack, ship, and set up your belongings in your new space, so you don’t have to worry about anything. Call us today to find out more!

8 Common Mistakes People Make During a Move

Moving can be a complex process, and it is common for people to miss a step or not realize the importance of following certain best practices. The following are eight common mistakes people make during a residential move.

1. Not Creating a Moving Checklist

Planning a move involves many moving parts. Once your move is imminent, the first thing to do is start writing a moving checklist. This way, you can get a jump-start on your planning and organization. Ultimately, a list ensures you’ll be less likely to forget important details. Relying on your memory is a big mistake to avoid.

2. Neglecting to Declutter Before Moving Day

Packing a cluttered home is often a time waster, involves using extra boxes, and costs more. The best thing to do before beginning to load boxes is to declutter. Donate, give away, sell, or throw out anything you no longer want. Do this before your move. You’d be surprised at how much this one step improves your moving experience at both ends.

3. Packing Boxes Inefficiently

Inefficient packing is another common top mistake. Avoid this blunder by grouping like-items together according to room. Put the heaviest items on the bottom, and take extra care when wrapping fragile pieces. Also, properly tape and label your boxes.

4. Waiting to Research Movers

Many people eagerly plan their move but wait to contact movers until after their plans are set. This is a big mistake since moving companies’ calendars fill up, especially during peak moving season. To get the best prices and find a mover that aligns with your expectations, start early and plan to get at least three estimates.

5. Not Booking Movers Early Enough

Even if people take the time to research movers, they wait to book. Often, they either hope for price drops or simply procrastinate. The best prices and selection of moving days are almost always more available if you book movers earlier than later.

6. Failing to Submit a Change of Address

Changing your address is an important detail that many people overlook. To avoid the complications associated with this misstep, submit a change of address form with the USPS. Also, remember to contact employers, schools, banks, insurance companies, and other vital entities.

7. Neglecting to Obtain Parking Permits

Depending upon where you move, you may need a permit or other permission to park. Make sure you have prior consent to park a truck on the street or approval by the rental complex to use a designated parking spot (e.g., close to the elevator, back entry, etc.) on moving day.

8. Forgetting Your First-Night Bag

You’ll need a few essentials on your first day. However, sometimes people overlook this task with all the hustle and bustle in the timeframe leading up to moving day. Make a list of items each household member will need for your first night in your new home. Next, pack these separately with descriptive labels so you can quickly identify them.

Moving Made Easy!

A little extra planning goes a long way. By avoiding these mistakes, your move will go more smoothly. Working with a professional mover can make your move more manageable. Contact us today for a free quote.

 

Tips for How to Announce Your Business Is Moving

Moving a business can be complicated, especially when you think about all the communication you need with customers and staff. Announcing your move in a way that frames your relocation as a positive one and showing the many advantages of your relocation is essential. If you’re promoting a business relocation, these tips can help.

Announce to Employees First

Your employees are the first people who should hear about your upcoming business relocation. Remember that some employees may be happy about your move, while others may be concerned or indifferent. When you announce to your employees that this change is occurring, be sensitive.

• Explain the reasons why the move is taking place
• Outline the benefits of the upcoming location
• Allow employees to explore the building and neighborhood where the relocation occurs.

Most important of all, tell all employees at once. If the message only reaches some employees and not others, rumors may frustrate employees and break down trust.

Craft the Right Message to Customers

Like employees, customers may have mixed feelings about your relocation. Therefore, it’s crucial to craft a message to customers explaining why the relocation is taking place. Highlight the benefits of your relocation.

It’s essential to highlight benefits that address complaints from customers. If parking has been an issue at your current location but will be much better at your new location, celebrate this fact.

Have multiple people at your business look at the message to customers before releasing the message to the public to ensure that the message is free from errors and addresses your customers’ key concerns.

In addition to the benefits of the move, touch upon the following details:

• When will the move take place?
• How will this affect your hours?
• Will the business close down for a while?
• Will you have a clearance sale to prepare for the relocation?
• Where will your business be relocating?
• Is there parking?

Find Many Ways to Reach Customers

There are many ways to communicate with your customers about the relocation. Some examples:

• Email newsletter
• Postal mail
• Website and social media
• Place an announcement in the bag of each person making a purchase
• Signs posted around the store or office
• Phone staff directed to notify everyone who calls

Even after you have sent one announcement through an email or physical mail, consider a reminder to ensure that everyone gets the message.

Announce to New Customers At Your New Location

Any time your business moves to a new location, you should use it as an opportunity to pick up new customers. Announce to the community where your business will be moving to ensure that potential new customers will know to look for your business. Some ways to alert potential new customers include:

• Radio advertisements
• Television advertisements
• Big sign on the front of the building
• Website and social media

Put Up a Sign On Your Old Building: When You’re Gone

Put a big sign on the old building briefly after your business has moved out. People who have not heard from you will know that your business is moving because of this.

Seeking a Moving Company? Contact a Reputable Mover

Make your business relocation simple and successful by contacting a reputable moving company. Work with the movers that you can trust. Contact us today to schedule a relocation consultation to discuss your upcoming move.

 

6 Tips for Moving With an Aquarium or Terrarium

Fish and reptiles can make incredible pets but are also a handful. Maintaining their environment is one of the most significant challenges of having fish or reptiles. While cleaning and managing your aquarium or terrarium can be enjoyable, what happens when you need to move to a new house?

Before moving, plan to ensure you have all the details worked out. Making advance plans is essential to reduce the time your pets and fish spend outside their carefully monitored habitat. Your fish and pets should be the last item you pack before moving and the first item you unpack when you get to your new place.

Professional movers can’t move live animals, pets, or fish. But fortunately, the stress of moving your pets doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By following these tips and tricks, the transition should be relatively smooth and straightforward to do yourself.

Step One: Prepare Your Pets

If you only move the aquarium from one room to the next, your pet will only be in a temporary container for a short time. However, moving from one house to another means extended stays in a bag, bucket, or small terrarium. Even a few hours can be long enough for the container to get dirty, particularly from your pet’s waste.

So, to help alleviate this problem, refrain from feeding your pet for about 12 to 24 hours before the move (depending on the species). This way, there’s less chance of contamination, meaning your pet will arrive happy and healthy.

Step Two: Remove the Water

Keep as much of the original water when moving an aquarium as possible. Since your pets are already acclimated to it, you don’t want to start with fresh water and add stress to the move. Siphon water into large buckets, but make sure they’re not too heavy to move once full.

Take out about 75 percent of the water from the tank. Leave enough for your fish to have enough room to swim freely.

Step Three: Remove Pets

Have your temporary containers ready to go so you can transfer your pets quickly. If you have aggressive animals, you’ll need to keep them separate during the move. Otherwise, just ensure the container is large enough for the number of animals it will hold.

Use the fish net to move your fish into the buckets carefully. Depending on how many fish you have, fill the container with as much water as needed, leaving plenty of air at the top.

Step Four: Remove Decor, Grave, Sand

Remove the remaining items once you have safely removed the pets and fish from the tank. Use a fishnet to remove large rocks or decor; take these items out, dry them, and pack them separately.

If you have things like coral or live plants, these require special care so they don’t die during transportation. Once the tank is cleared beside the live items, remove the coral and plants and put them into their bucket filled with fish tank water. At this point, remove the gravel or sand remaining in the tank. 

.Step Five: Pack Everything Securely

The tank is fragile, so you must ensure it won’t break in transit. Wrap the sides with bubble wrap or cardboard to prevent cracks and punctures during the move. If you have fragile decor items or plants, pack them as securely and gently as possible.

Packing your tank into a larger box is ideal. Place the tank in the box and fill any gaps around it with insulating foam or packing paper to prevent it from shifting. Put paper or foam inside the tank to protect it from damage. Mark the box as fragile.

Step Six: Monitor Your Pets During the Move

Ideally, other people can handle the physical side of the move, so you can focus on keeping your pets healthy and stress-free. Pay attention to their waste levels and ensure they get enough food and water during the trip. The more comfortable you make their journey, the easier it is to acclimate to the new location.

Pro Tip: Since traveling long distances with fish is challenging, consider rehoming your fish with trusted friends or relatives if your relocation is a great distance.

Get Moving Help

Although our team can’t help you with your pets directly, we can help move everything you use to keep them in your home. We take great care of your belongings so you can feel confident that the transition will go as smoothly as possible. Contact us today to find out more.

 

How to Make Your Office Move More Eco-Friendly

Sustainability and being kind to the environment have become especially important to business owners. If you are facing an upcoming office move, you can maintain your mission to stay eco-friendly. Check out a few tips below as you plan your office relocation.

1. Plan ahead.

Prior planning sets the stage for a move that involves less waste and fewer resources overall. An office move naturally takes a great deal of planning. However, an excellent moving plan will also negate issues with the following:

• Unused resources, such as purchasing moving supplies you won’t need
• Unnecessary waste because you will ensure time for decluttering and recycling
• Too many trips between the new and old office space

2. Donate or recycle unwanted items.

An office relocation can result in a substantial amount of trash. Many business owners choose to use the opportunity to dispose of old equipment, furniture, and supplies they no longer need.

To keep the move as eco-friendly as possible, don’t just throw away anything you’re not taking to the new office. Donate unwanted furniture, electronics, and other items to local charities or schools. For instance, schools may use old office supplies or furniture in classrooms.

Additionally, many items that would normally go into the trash can be recycled, including:

• Outdated electronics or technology equipment
• Metal shelving units or filing cabinets
• Paper waste or shredded paper files

3. Choose sustainable packing materials

When people consider packing supplies, they look for items like foam packing peanuts, bubble wrap, or possibly even plastic containers. While these can work, they may also not be the most environmentally-friendly options. Instead, look for supplies that are either easily recycled or made from recycled materials, such as:

• Packing peanuts made of recycled paper or biodegradable materials
• Corrugated cardboard boxes
• Plastic containers that are recyclable or made of recycled materials
• Packing paper

4. Conserve energy and water during the transition

Be sure to power everything down at the location not used. For example, a standard desktop computer can pull anywhere from 60 to 250 watts of power. Therefore, if you move a bunch of computers to the new office, turn them all on, and those computers don’t get used for a while, you will be wasting electricity unnecessarily.

Likewise, watch out for high-energy use with the HVAC system. For instance, there may be no need to keep the new office cooled if there is no one there. Lastly, keep an eye on water usage. It can be easy to leave a faucet or hose turned on amid a move when people may not pay much attention.

5. Work with a good moving company

If you are concerned about staying eco-friendly during the office relocation, working with a moving company is best. Operating one large vehicle and taking the bulk of the business assets in one or two trips is more economical and environmentally friendly. A full-service moving company may even help with your to-do list, such as sourcing eco-friendly moving supplies.

Are you ready to discuss your office move with the professionals?

Office moving may be stressful, but with a little extra help, the move can be carried out in a way that keeps your priorities in mind. Contact us for a free moving quote and discuss the specifics of your business move to get started.