Moving with Pets 101  

Moving with pets adds a new level to an already complex process. When you think about how stressful moving is for humans, it’s easy to see how moving can stress out your furry (and other four-legged) friends.

And it’s not as if you can simply explain to them what’s going on.

Of course, you want to ease the transition for these important non-human members of your family. Read on for tips that’ll help reduce the stress of the move for you and your pets.

Play it Cool

Dogs and cats pick up on their owners’ anxiety, so even when you’re feeling overwhelmed, try not to yell or stomp around. This behavior will add to your pets’ stress levels.

If you have the time start the packing process early, and stretch it out over several days — or weeks can help pets adjust. Start with just bringing the packing supplies in. Let them sniff around the boxes, packing paper, tape, and other supplies to get used to those. Then slowly start packing.

When changes are more gradual, rather than all at once, your pets can adapt. This will also allow you to continue their regular routines for as long as possible.

Acclimate to a Pet Crate

The safest way for dogs and cats to travel in a car is in a crate. If your pet isn’t already used to being in a pet crate, acclimate them before moving day.

Start by putting their food bowl in the open crate. As they grow more comfortable, feed them meals in the crate with the door closed.

Next, pick the crate up and take a stroll around the house. Once they’re used to the feeling of movement, move on to driving. Start with a short 10-minute car ride, then work your way slowly up to longer drives.

At the end of each crate experience, praise your pet and offer treats and play. They’ll soon associate the crate with good times, making the moving day just that much easier for everyone.

Pack a Pet Suitcase

Prepare a special bag for your pet that contains everything they’ll need for the move itself and the first couple of days in your new home. Items may include:

• Food
• Treats
• Kitty litter
• Toys
• Grooming tools
• Vaccination records
• Medications
• Leashes
• Waste bags
• Food and water bowls

Pets on Moving Day

When moving day itself rolls around, it’s best to keep pets as far from the action as possible. If you can, consider leaving them with a friend or family member for the day.

Otherwise, pick a quiet part of the house and close the door. Ensure that the room is already empty of moving boxes and place a sign on the door letting the movers know your pet is inside. Keeping your pet in a safe space away from the commotion will help them stay calm. Be sure to leave your pet’s bed, food, water, and toys with them, and check on them frequently throughout the day.

Arriving in Your New Home

If possible, set up as much of your new home as you can before moving your pet — even just one room can help. Be sure to “pet-proof” your new dwelling: Keep dangling blinds or cords out of reach, and ensure doors and windows are shut so pets can’t escape.

Check for safety outside, too. For instance, look for holes in fencing and be aware of any plants that may be toxic to pets in your new yard.

When you arrive, allow your pet to inspect and explore their new home. Provide them with familiar objects, such as bedding and toys, right away. Remember: It may take some time for them to adjust.

A Move with Less Stress

Your pets are an important part of your family. These tips can help them adjust and reduce stress when embarking on a move to a new home.

Let us help reduce your stress. Contact us today for a moving quote. We can help get your family to your new home. 

 

 

 

6 Common Packing Mistakes for Moves and How to Avoid Them

It may seem like common sense, but the way you pack is crucial to your move’s overall success and the stress levels that go with it. Packing mistakes may be easy to fall into, but fortunately, they are also very avoidable. 

Here, we will break down the six most common packing mistakes so you can find a reliable packing strategy that works for you, no matter the scenario.

Mistake #1: Waiting Too Long to Pack

A common and easy mistake to fix is merely not waiting until the last minute to pack. Packing all your belongings before a big move is not the kind of task you want to procrastinate on.

If you take a little bit of time for packing every day leading up to your move, you will make this process much easier on yourself down the line.

Mistake #2: Disorganized Packing Strategies

Especially if you are in a rush, it may seem easier to not worry about organizing your belongings when packing. However, a bit of organization ahead of time will ease your stress when you are unpacking later.

Make sure you consider what you need, and don’t just throw all your things into random boxes. It’s also crucial to keep an inventory of your belongings and label your boxes accordingly.

You can also check out this moving checklist to organize your moving strategies even further.

Mistake #3: Not Packing Essentials Separately

Another mistake is forgetting to pack your essentials separately from the rest of your things.

Packing personal items onto the moving truck means that you likely won’t have access to them throughout the moving process. These essentials should stay with you at all times so you can access them easily once you arrive at your destination.

Mistake #4: Not Using Proper Supplies

It’s easy to convince yourself that you can get away with using old, used cardboard boxes and household supplies to pack. However, skimping on standard packing supplies like packing paper,  bubble wrap, cardboard boxes, and tape will make your packing more challenging.

Proper supplies in new (or excellent) condition will ensure that your more delicate and valuable belongings stay safe.

Mistake #5: Packing Boxes Wrong

There’s no such thing as a “perfect” packing job, but there are steps you can take to pack boxes more efficiently and more securely.

When it comes to packing boxes, some common mistakes include making the boxes too heavy, leaving too much space, and not reinforcing the boxes.

Mistake #6: Packing On Your Own

Packing is no easy feat, but it’s perhaps impossible to do it all on your own. Ask for help from your friends and family – they’ll make the job more efficient and more fun!

However, your friends are also likely not professional movers. Consider hiring a moving company or professional packers for an even faster and safer packing experience.

Beating the Common Packing Mistakes

Moving can be a daunting experience, but you can make your process much easier with just a bit of deliberate thought and organization. Just watch out for these common packing mistakes.

Contact us for more help in your own moving process!

 

Top 5 Factors to Consider When Choosing Moving Companies

Choosing moving companies can be a difficult task. There’s no simple answer, and finding the perfect moving company for you will depend on your individual needs.

That’s why it’s so important to choose your moving company for yourself. Here are some of the most important things to look for in a moving company when it’s time for your next big move.

1. Choose an Established Company

The first and most crucial step in choosing a moving company is to choose a business that has a positive reputation. If you choose an established business that you know has been around for many years, it’s likely that they run a reputable company.

You can tell a lot about a moving business before they even arrive at your home. Explore their website and see if it is laid out professionally. Contact them by phone to get an impression of customer service. 

2. Consider Personal Experiences

Another great way to choose a moving company is to consider other customers’ experiences. Getting recommendations from friends or neighbors who moved into or out of the neighborhood is a great place to start. They may even be able to recommend specific movers or employees that were outstanding.

You can also find a lot of information about people’s personal experiences on the Internet. Checking out the reviews of a moving company can give you a good sense of the type of services they provide. However, beware of fake reviews or people who give low ratings for unfair reasons. 

3. Lay a Good Foundation

When the moving company comes to take an estimate for your house, make sure they lay a good foundation for your contract or business arrangement. A thorough walk-through while taking inventory is especially important in protecting your belongings and your interests as a customer.

4. Consider Your Budget

You’ll also probably want to find a moving company that is affordable and offers reasonable rates for the services that they provide. One of the essential parts of this is to find a company with transparent rates. Moving rates will differ from person to person based on the number of belongings you have, where you are moving, and your move’s distance.

 5. Seek Upfront Pricing

Make sure you know what you are getting with your moving services. Some companies charge extra for moves that require additional stairs, elevators, or long distance walks from the truck to your front door. Make sure you ask your potential mover lots of questions to avoid unexpected charges.

Choosing Moving Companies

Do your research to find the ideal moving company for your needs. It’s a personal decision for each family. Find the one that is right for you.

Contact us today to find out more about choosing moving companies!

 

4 Tips on Writing an Effective Office Move Announcement

Deciding to move your business to a new location is a big step in your company’s future. 

Choosing the right location is just the beginning. You need to find a way to communicate your upcoming move with your employees and your clients.

The easiest way to do this is to write an office move announcement. Here are a few proven tips to help.

1. Keep the Office Move Announcement Brief

Many factors go into deciding to relocate your company. That doesn’t mean you need to share those reasons in detail when writing your announcement.

Instead, keep things brief. Explain why you’re moving, where you’re moving to, and what your team members need to do to get ready for the upcoming relocation.

If your employees need more information, they can always ask you at a later date. 

2. Include the Relevant Details

In the announcement, include all the necessary information your employees need to have before the big day. This consists of an estimated timeline for your move, the new building’s location, parking details, and what your team needs to do to prepare.

You may also want to include a pre-moving checklist to help them stay organized and reduce stress during the transition.

3. Encourage Open Communication

It’s normal for employees to have questions about the move and what it means for their position. When writing your office move announcement email to your team, encourage them to ask you those questions.

The more you encourage open lines of communication with your team, the more confident they’ll feel about the move. You may find it best to schedule a meeting with your team after making the announcement. This way, more people can get answers to their questions promptly.

4. Keep Clients Informed

Your employees aren’t the only ones who need to know about the upcoming move. You also need to notify your clients, customers, and vendors.

Create a simple business moving announcement template for each type of customer and supplier that you have. 

This office move announcement should include the updated address, the date your new facility will be up and running, and any other information needed to support your company at its new location. You can also make the announcement on social media and your website to make sure people know where you’ll be.

5. Let Your Community Know

It’s essential to let other businesses in your community know about your relocation as well. Tell them in person or by email.

If these other local businesses know about your move, they can direct any future walk-in clients toward your new location. 

Keep These Tips in Mind

Creating the perfect office move announcement for both employees and clients doesn’t have to be stressful. As long as you use these tips, you’ll be in good shape.

Before you make your office move, find a reliable moving company to help you. 

In addition to commercial moving services, Brooks Transfer provides businesses with commercial storage solutions. Our climate-controlled and secure warehouses are ideal for records and files, office furniture, IT equipment, and more.

Contact our team today to schedule a free estimate.

5 Green-Friendly Moving Tips  

Many people strive to be more environmentally conscious daily and habitually make little changes to reduce their carbon footprints. However, moving day can detract from these efforts due to extra fuel use and, of course, packing materials. 

Fortunately, there are ways we can reduce our environmental impact when moving to a new home. To plan an eco-friendlier move, try the following tips.

1. Declutter your home

One of the greenest things you can do when planning a move is to declutter your home. The less you have to move, the greener you’ll be since fewer belongings to move results in using less packing materials and potentially fewer trips driving back and forth between homes. Donate or sell any household items you no longer need or want. Research recycling options for old electronics so that they don’t end up in a landfill.

2. Reuse containers

Granted, you’ll probably need to buy some moving boxes, but you can also reuse any containers you already have on hand. Consider items that can be converted into packing boxes:

• Suitcases
• Plastic bins
• Backpacks
• Duffel bags
• Laundry baskets
• Reusable grocery bags

As a bonus, not only is repurposing items an eco-friendly way of packing, it’ll cut back on your moving and fuel costs since you can consolidate belongings you’re already moving, thus making fewer trips.

2. Repurpose cardboard boxes

Chances are, you routinely purchase household items online. Once you know you’re planning a move, start saving these boxes to reuse them. Or, if you don’t order much online, see if you can get boxes someplace else. For instance, ask friends on social media if they have any boxes they don’t need. Also, check with your local grocery or liquor store and ask what days they stock their deliveries; many merchants are happy for people to take empty boxes off their hands.

3. Use towels, blankets, and clothing

Instead of buying endless rolls of plastic bubble wrap, try repurposing towels, blankets, and clothing (or any other materials) to secure fragile items.

• Don’t discard mismatched socks; use them to wrap up glasses and other breakables.
• Wrap photo frames and artwork with towels and blankets.
• Layer breakables between clothing when packing out dressers and closets (simplify things by only packing fragile items with clothing that will go in the same room).
• Use dishtowels to layer between tableware.

If you can find ways to consolidate and use household items as packing material, this will go a long way in cutting back on plastics, such as bubble wrap.

Pro tip: When packing items within the layers of towels, blankets, or clothing, be sure to label these boxes as containing breakables, so they are handled carefully.

5. Leave kitchen for last

Plan to pack your kitchen last, or leave out one table setting per person, so you can avoid using paper products, disposable cups, and plastic utensils during the days leading up to your move. Also, try to avoid takeout meals – instead, use up the food in your pantry. You’ll avoid creating more waste (takeout packaging) and have less bulk to move on moving day.

Move Smart

Fortunately, there are many ways you can reduce your carbon footprint. As a moving company, we can help consolidate your move to ensure fuel isn’t wasted with multiple trips back and forth. To learn more about our moving solutions and any green initiatives we have or can suggest, call us today.

How to Compare Commercial Moving Companies and Find the Best Fit

Moving your business is expensive, and it’s no wonder why company relocation is a multi-billion dollar industry. 

If you’re one of these companies, using a credible moving company is essential. Read on to learn how to choose between the commercial moving companies available. 

Compare Reviews Across Businesses

When comparing commercial moving services, the first thing to do to narrow down your list of options is to check company reviews. Compare overall ratings and read written testimonials from other customers. This will provide better insight into both the service provided and the experience of working with each company. 

A great place to find company reviews is on company websites, social media pages, or Google listings. 

Create a List of Questions

Once you have a narrowed list of commercial moving solutions, write a list of questions to ask each company. The right questions will help you get on the same page and clarify that they have what it takes to meet your needs. Questions to ask include whether they’re licensed, how they handle emergencies, how long moving takes, and any restrictions they may have. 

Compare the company’s answers to decide which offers the commercial moving and storage solutions that best fit your needs. You may find that how they answer your questions and their customer service impacts your decision as well. 

Compare Pricing for Commercial Moving Companies

Now you should have only a few companies on your list of those to consider. To make the final decision between them, you should compare pricing. Each company should be able to provide their own pricing. 

While choosing a company within your budget is a must, you shouldn’t necessarily go with the cheapest option available. This is especially the case if other companies offer additional services that you favored.

Balance your knowledge about ratings, answers to your questions, and price to make a well-rounded choice. 

Pay Upon Delivery

When comparing commercial moving services to find the best fit, it’s important to note that you should only ever pay upon delivery of the service. Reputable moving companies won’t ask you to pay in full before the move is complete. 

Some reputable companies will ask for a deposit, but this amount is usually no more than 20% of the total cost. 

Book Your Company Move

Running a business is stressful without the added hassle of moving the entire company to a new location. The best way to ensure a seamless move is to hire a moving company that you can trust to do a good job. Keep in mind these tips when comparing commercial moving companies. 

If you need moving help now, check out our commercial moving services today.

Do You Need to Hire Long-Distance Movers? 5 Reasons to Hire Help

In America, we certainly are a mobile population. Every year, around 14% of the country’s entire population packs up and moves across state lines.  

Packing up and moving can be a time-consuming, expensive, and exhausting process. That’s why you should consider hiring professional long-distance movers to do the job for you.

The best long distance movers will take away the stress and logistical challenges of moving while also potentially saving you money in the long-run. Here are five essential reasons to hire a long-distance moving company today. 

Stress-Free Move

It’s no secret that relocating is one of the most stressful things you will go through in your life. The typical moving process takes between 6 and 10 weeks on average, meaning that the move for months will dominate your life.

However, by choosing long distance movers, you can remove the most stressful part of moving from your itinerary entirely. Professional movers will take the complicated process of loading up and moving your valuables out of your hands entirely. 

Equipment and Experience For the Job

When moving your household goods across the country, you need to make sure you have all the equipment to get the job done right.  Driving a large moving vehicle yourself is intimidating — plus, taking it across the country is a lot to take on. 

A professional moving company has the heavy-duty equipment necessary for a long-distance move. From semi-trucks to dollies and furniture pads, professional movers have what it takes to handle your move. They can get your appliances, furniture, and other belongings to your new home quickly and efficiently.

Packing is a Plus

If you’ve moved before, you know that packing is a pain. Long-distance moving professionals offer packing services to take care of that tedious task for you! 

If you opt for this added service, you are assured that the movers have and provide all the right sized boxes and packing materials. They will wrap your fragile items professionally and make sure each box is labeled correctly.

Safety Comes With Efficiency 

Moving is a logistical and physical challenge with many safety hazards along the way. Take the burden of the heavy-lifting off your agenda and avoid personal injury.

Experienced movers have the safety training, physical strength, and years of experience required to ensure total safety during your move. Make sure to consult long distance mover reviews to see which companies have a reputation for safety. 

Peace of Mind 

Finally, it is worth emphasizing just how priceless the peace of mind comes from hiring a professional moving company. Simply Googling “long distance movers near me” could save you a considerable amount of stress. 

Instead of worrying about transporting all of your possessions or spending days loading them into a truck, you can sit back and let the professionals handle it. That means you can focus on what matters, preparing to begin your new life in a new home. 

Choose the Right Long Distance Movers Today 

Choosing the right long distance movers for you is not rocket science. All you need is a company with years of experience, a solid reputation, and guaranteed value for money.

For this, we have got you covered. To find out more about the services we offer and to arrange a free quote, do not hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team of professional movers today. 

Scary, exciting, stressful, empowering: moving to a new city alone is all this and much more.

Whether you’ve always dreamed of living somewhere different and you’re ready to take the plunge, or you need a significant, sudden change in your life: there are a few things you can do to make the entire process easier.

Keep reading as we go through five helpful tips for your new solo adventure!

1. Do Your Research

We’re sure you’ve already started doing this, but taking some time to learn more about your soon-to-be hometown is essential for preparing to move.

There’s a lot you’ll only find out once you move, but some things worth looking up are:

• How public transportation works
• What each neighborhood is like
• What’s the average cost of living
• What type of employment opportunities exist

2. Make a Moving Calendar and Checklist

There’s nothing like a calendar and a checklist to ensure that a stressful process like moving to a new city goes smoothly.

Break down your to-do list into bite-sized tasks so that you can see your progress day by day and stay motivated.

Additionally, start preparing as soon as you can and if you use a professional moving company, make sure you coordinate and are on the same page as them.

3. Establish Your Budget

Moving anywhere without an established budget is a recipe for disaster – even more so when you’re moving to a new city, where you might have to sustain yourself without a job for a few weeks or months.

Using Excel or Google Docs, create a simple table, and make sure to include all your moving expenses, as well as the money you’ll need to start your life in a new city.

4. Start Packing Early

We mentioned before that you should start preparing for your move as soon as you can.

Given that packing is one of the most time-consuming tasks for anyone moving to a new place, it only makes sense that you start doing it early on.

Get your packing list ready, make sure you pack everything properly to avoid accidents, and if you want to make it as hassle-free as possible, keep it light!

5. Set Realistic Expectations

You know what they say: high expectations might lead to bigger disappointments.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t dream big and reach for the stars in your new home. Remember, it will take time to settle in, so it’s best to be realistic and take it one day at a time.

Moving to a New City Alone Doesn’t Have to Be Scary

Most of all, it should be exciting and fun!

After all, you’re about to start a completely new chapter in your life. You’re going to move to a new home, meet new people, and maybe even start a new job – so why waste time stressing out?

As long as you’re organized and motivated, it will all go smoothly.

If you’re moving get in touch with us and get a free quote today!

 

Moving Box Sizes: A Guide on Maximizing Your Packing Potential

Every move varies, but the average person will need at least 15 moving boxes for each room they’re packing up. That might sound like a lot of boxes, but once you start clearing drawers, closets, and shelves, you’ll realize you have more stuff than you thought. 

While you can use the shipping boxes you already have, they’re not necessarily the right size for moving everything.

The truth is, the moving box sizes matter for both packing and stacking. If you pack heavy items in a big box, you won’t be able to lift it. If you fill a small box too full, the stuff inside could break. 

Luckily, you can make the most of any box size by packing the right items inside. Keep reading as we outline our moving box size guide below. 

Small Moving Boxes

The standard size for a small moving box is 12 x 12 x 16 inches, and they hold about 1.5 cubic feet.

They’re great for packing heavy, yet small items like books, CDs, and small electronics. You can also use them to store important paperwork, valuable jewelry, or knick-knacks. Just remember not to pack these boxes too full or something could get crushed or broken during the move. 

If you’re packing anything breakable, one of the best ways to protect it is to wrap it in packing paper. It keeps things from shifting in the box, plus, an unprinted paper is eco-friendly. 

Medium Moving Boxes

Medium boxes are typically 18 x 18 x 16 inches and have a 3 cubic feet capacity. It’s the most versatile moving box size, so you’ll want to have plenty of these on hand. 

They’re great for kitchenware like pots and pans, coffeemakers, slow cookers, and flatware. You can also use them to pack delicate lamps and lampshades, speakers, and kids’ toys. 

Large Moving Boxes

Large boxes are 18 x 18 x 24 and have a capacity of 4.5 cubic feet. They can’t hold as much weight as a small or medium box, so they’re great for lightweight, yet bulky items. 

Since they’re 24 inches tall, you can pack tall lamps, furniture pieces, or appliances inside. Since these boxes can store a lot, but can’t handle too much weight, you can fill the empty spaces with other things. Pack linens, stuffed animals, or blankets around heavier appliances to maximize the storage without making the box too heavy. 

Extra Large Moving Boxes

This is the largest for regular moving boxes at 24 x 18 x 24 inches and 6 cubic feet.  Remember that the bigger the box, the lighter the items inside need to be.  

This size is perfect for bulky comforters and bedding, pillows, large kids’ toys, and towels. You can also use this size box to store folded clothes like sweaters or hoodies.

Specialty Moving Boxes

To maximize your packing, you might also need some specialty boxes like a dish pack box, mirror cartons, or wardrobe boxes. 

Dish pack boxes are 18 x 18 x 28 inches, and they’re specially designed to carry kitchen plates, glasses, and stemware. Even if you’re just moving across town, make sure to use plenty of packing paper and put heavy pieces on the bottom. 

Mirror cartons come in a wide range of sizes, and they’ll protect artwork, mirrors, and picture frames during your move. Wardrobe boxes are for hanging clothes, so they’re usually 24 x 21 x 29 inches. You can fit up to 3 feet worth of closet space in one box. 

Choose the Right Moving Box Sizes for Your Move

Using the right moving box sizes will make things easier for your movers. Plus, when you use the right size boxes to pack, there’s a better chance that all your stuff will arrive in good shape. 

Brooks Transfer & Storage Company can help if you’re looking for a moving company or storage company. Contact us today to get a quote or learn more about our services.