5 Mistakes People Make When Considering a DIY Move

Moving is a significant undertaking and involves lots of planning. One of the essential decisions people must make when relocating is whether to hire a professional moving company or make the move themselves. When thinking about this critical decision, it’s vital to consider all the potential obstacles that can occur. Knowing your circumstances can help you make the best decision for your household.

Here are some of the mistakes people make when weighing a DIY move.

1. Assuming the Most Cost-Effective Move is a Self-Move

There is a common misconception that self-moves are cheaper than hiring professional movers to move your belongings. However, moving involves more than boxing belongings and loading them into a truck. Even experienced DIY movers will likely miss details. Here are some factors to consider before moving:

• Is the move local or long-distance?
• Does the relocation involve an apartment or house?
• Can reliable friends and family help? (Most people can’t move alone.)
• Are there many heavy or bulky items to move?

The best time for a DIY move is when you move a short distance and in a small space. However, if the relocation is longer and more complex, you should hire a professional mover. In addition to reducing the risk of your cherished belongings being broken and personal injury, professional movers can complete the job in a few hours, which an be more efficient and cost-effective than DIY moves.

2. Not Considering Potential Injuries

Professional movers know how to lift and move objects in and out of trucks. But unfortunately, DIYers often don’t know how to do this correctly and end up causing themselves serious injuries. Also, moving DIY means enlisting family and friends to help, which can also put them at risk of injury.

3. Neglecting to Factor in Reliability

Even if you successfully recruit people to help you move, this doesn’t mean things will go smoothly. Your volunteer helpers might forget, have another priority that day, or another life factor might make them cancel, possibly at the last minute, leaving you to make the move yourself. You also may not have enough helpers to move the bigger or heavier items. When hiring a professional company, you can know your help will reliably show up on moving day.

4. Not Knowing How to Pack

Sure, you could toss all your belongings into boxes, plastic bins, and even trash bags, but it’s not the most efficient or safe way to move items. However, unfortunately, that’s what many people do since they don’t have the expertise to wrap, stack, and bundle items to pack carefully. Pros are highly skilled at packing items correctly and efficiently to avoid breakage and transporting items safely to their destination.

5. Underestimating the Challenges of a Rental Truck

Truck rentals seem straightforward, but they are one area in which DIY moves usually go wrong. Mistakes people commonly make include:

• Renting the wrong size truck
• Not verifying the rental company’s reliability
• Waiting until the last minute and having a limited selection
• Neglecting to have the proper insurance
• Unaware of additional costs above the base price
• Assuming a truck is easy to drive
• Failing to secure the proper permits for designated areas

Truck size is essential. A truck that’s too small won’t accommodate all of your belongings. And one that’s too big will allow your things to shift, causing potential damage. 

Ready to Get Planning Your Upcoming Move?

Planning and juggling a move while managing life’s day-to-day responsibilities can be stressful. Working with a professional moving company removes the pressure and completes the job. If you want a free quote or to learn more about packing and other services we offer, contact us today! 

 

 

5 Box-Labeling Strategies That Work

As you prepare for your move, your home may be flooded with boxes from floor to ceiling. Unfortunately, boxes lacking a reliable labeling system make the situation even more chaotic.

If you label your boxes correctly, you will be able to locate the items you need. So, prepare for your household move by following these five box-labeling steps.

1. Adhere to a System

It’s essential to figure out a system before you start packing. You can label moving boxes in various ways depending on your time and personality. Don’t force yourself into a method that goes against your usual way of doing things. Instead, pick a system that works for you.

Label each box as you finish packing it. It is doubtful that saving the labeling for later will work to your advantage.

Do your homework beforehand, and then ensure everyone commits to your plan. That way, you won’t end up with an assortment of various labeling styles that are confusing and frustrating.

2. Use Color-Coding

One excellent way to know where a box belongs is to color-code it based on the room.

Put a piece of tape around the box’s edge so you can see it from all angles. Use a different color tape for each room and each person if they share a bedroom.

Keeping items from the same room together makes moving faster and simpler. Stacking large furniture or delicate items may not always be possible, but if you have a bunch of small boxes of the same size, you can easily do that.

3. Mark the Labels Clearly

Plan to write the basics on both sides of the box so that unloading will go more smoothly. Make sure the letters are large enough to be read from all sides. Writing clearly makes reading easier for you (and your moving company).

You can also make a list of your moving boxes and note their count and contents beside or below the top label using an appropriately colored marker. You will also be able to monitor the boxes delivered to your new home and see if any of them are missing, and you will be able to unpack and reorganize more quickly.

4. Ensure Visibility

You should label your boxes in a way that is easy for anyone unpacking to understand and to categorize. There will probably be more boxes than you expected.

Labels and permanent markers that are easy to spot (and won’t run when wet) are worth investing in.

Remember to put labels outside your new home’s rooms so the movers know where to put the boxes when they arrive. 

5. Indicate “Fragile” on Appropriate Boxes

Label all boxes containing delicate items as “fragile.” This should be a separate sticker from your regular label. Consider including “this end up” on them as well. If you do this, your delicate items will be noticed and handled with extra care.

Moving Simplified

Moving involves packing many moving cartons and keeping them as organized as possible. Contact us for a free quote. We can make your move simple with our reliable and efficient moving service.

 

 

 

 

5 Tips to Remember When Moving

 

Mostly, people have a limited window to work with when they decide to move or learn they must relocate. Whether you’ve sold your home, found a new rental, or otherwise, the general timeline granted to vacate is usually around 30 days. 

Given the timeframe, making your moving plans in advance is essential. Otherwise, your deadline could sneak up on you, and you must accomplish many tasks in the final weeks and days. 

Take a look at a few tips to help you along the way.

1. Create a To-Do List Plan for the Coming Weeks

You may have plenty of time to work with, but creating a plan is still essential. First, create a detailed outline of what objectives you need to handle and by what date. This lets you visualize everything you need to accomplish in the coming weeks. While a moving plan can vary depending on the situation, be sure to include the following details:

• Establish a budget
• Obtain moving quotes
• Set up and transfer utilities
• Send address change notification
• Request time off work
• Secure packing supplies
• Inventory your belongings
• Pack
• Arrange child and pet care

2. Sort and Purge

Decluttering is an essential step before you begin packing.

• Go through each room of your house and determine what you’d like to keep and what you can eliminate.
• Pull out things that are worn or not useful to you anymore and donate what you can.
• Consider whether any of the remaining items require special packing or extra insurance coverage.

3. Contact and Schedule Moving Company

The sooner you contact moving companies, the more likely you will get the needed date. Get estimates from three companies and ensure you understand the quote’s details.

4. Strategize Your Packing Process

Make a packing schedule before you box up your things. Focus on packing non-essential items first. By clearing out as many non-essential items as possible, you will only have a few items left to load when the move-out date grows closer. Focus on things you don’t use every day or likely won’t need until after you move, such as

• Home decor items
• Seasonal clothing
• Seasonal decor or equipment
• Extra bedding and pillows
• Items used for entertaining guests

Pack your essential items last. These include

• Kitchen items 
• Dinnerware
• Toiletries 
• Clothing
• Other items you’ll need in the days leading up to the move.

Remember to label every box with the name of the room it should be placed in at your new home. Label every side so movers can quickly identify where it needs to go.

5. Establish a Plan for Pets and Children

Arrange for offsite child care and pet sitting on your moving day. All the relocation activities can stress out your pets, and your children might be bored. Both pets and kids also risk getting underfoot while the movers are working. Make alternative arrangements to relieve everyone of the hassle.

Moving Plan

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5 Tips to Help Your Kids Declutter Before a Move

As a parent, you know that decluttering and downsizing make a household move easier. However, your kids may be harder to convince.

Children can hang onto belongings, even if they don’t need them or want them anymore. This can make packing take longer, with more boxes.

Here are five things you can do to help your kids let go of things they don’t want.

1. Explain the Goals

Kids may need help understanding what happens during a move. Depending on their ages, they may need to learn what is happening or what to do.

For very young children, it can help to start introducing the idea of the move over a few weeks. Once they know what you plan to do, tasks like packing and decluttering may make more sense.

2. Sort at a Good Time

Parents may not get to choose the best time for packing their own stuff. But, it’s better to select an optimal moment to help kids decide what they want to keep.

Children often need routines, and the moving process can upset the schedule. Packing may seem like an extra chore with an uncertain conclusion.

When working on sorting, choose a time your child is easiest to work with. If they’re not hungry, tired, or overstimulated, they’ll have a better time making choices.

3. Help Kids Make Choices

Many parents dread asking their children to pick their toys, but it might not be as scary as it seems. It may not be necessary to eliminate much for kids who don’t have a ton of belongings and who keep their rooms tidy.

Parents need to give decision-making power to their children as much as possible. Even toddlers can express preferences for one toy over another.

A yard sale or selling on eBay could be a viable choice for kids who need to downsize significantly. Kids can be easily persuaded if they think they’ll get something out of it.

4. Keep Kids Involved in the Process

As the day of the move approaches, it’s easy for parents to decide that they need to thin out their kids’ belongings. This approach can be more efficient but could also lead to frustration and disappointment.

No one wants to feel like they could lose important possessions in the middle of the night. In addition, it can make children worry about what will happen after the move.

Instead, parents should involve their kids in all decisions related to their own belongings, especially when deciding what to cut.

5. Consider Short-Term Storage

Sometimes, parents need a third option that gives them an alternative between keeping everything and getting rid of it. Temporary storage could be a viable alternative, especially for people making a local move.

Paying a little money to push the decision down the road might give children enough time to feel comfortable making a decision.

A Family Move

Moving with kids is often tricky, especially if you need to persuade them to give up some of their stuff. For more tips about how you can have a stress-free moving experience, contact us today!

 

5 Tips for Labeling Your Moving Boxes

 

Moving is stressful for most people, even under the best circumstances. It’s helpful to find shortcuts to make your move easier and more efficient. Labeling your moving boxes is an easy way to simplify your move. Here are some techniques to make packing and unpacking easier when making your household move.

1. Color-Code Your Boxes

One simple way to label your boxes is to color-code them! All you need are colored stickers from an office supply or dollar store. Ways to help this technique succeed include:

• Choose a color for each room or type of content
• Label boxes with a designated color
• Place the sticker in the same visible spots on each box (all sides)
• Keep a list of what the color corresponds with

Color-coding your boxes is a simple way to label them since it makes it easier to place boxes in their correct room upon arrival at your new home.

2. Number Each of Your Boxes

Another technique is to number the boxes. Use a Sharpie or other heavy marker to mark each box with a number. Next, use a notepad to write down the number and list the contents inside each box. Keep this list safe so it’s not lost during the move. You can email it to yourself or text it to your household members.

3. Use a QR Code for Each Box

If you want to go with a more tech-oriented solution, use QR codes. Millions of businesses have used them daily for inventory, so why not your personal belongings? With an app, you can take a photo of your belongings and then print a QR code to secure onto each box. Then, upon arrival, simply scan the QR with your phone and instantly know what’s in it.

4. Pack and Label By Room

If inventorying each box is too much and you simply want to ensure boxes end up where they need to be, you can pack boxes and label them by room. You can do this one of two ways:

• Label each box with the name of the room it’ll go in
• Assign each room a number and then create a list of what room the number correlates to

This is probably one of the most simplified ways to label. It’s not highly detailed, but it’ll get the job done by ensuring boxes are in the correct rooms.

5. Use Visible Labeling for Fragile Items

Moving China sets, glassware, antiques, and other expensive, breakable, or irreplaceable items is always a little frightening. When boxing these items up, wrap and box them carefully. When you seal the box, label it “FRAGILE” in big, bold letterings on each side of the box, along with “THIS SIDE UP.”

For good measure, you can buy packing tape with a “fragile” denotation already printed on it and secure it around each box. If moving fragile and breakable items is worrying, you can also include packing and unpacking as part of your service with your professional movers.

Moving Made Easy

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Should You Move to House or Condo? Pros and Cons of Each

If you want to purchase property, generally, you have two primary options – a house or a condo/townhome. Typically, most people want a home, but there are some advantages to buying a condominium. So, let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of each purchase so you can see which one is right for you.

Buying a House

In 2021, the housing market was hotter than ever, with demand for single-family homes skyrocketing. Many first-time buyers could not get anything, and competition was fierce for choice properties. The market cooled off thanks to rising interest rates, but demand remains high. Here are some pros and cons of buying a house.

• Pro: Build Equity – Property ownership is a reliable way to build wealth because the home should increase in value over time. So, when you’re ready to sell, you should be able to make a net profit. You can also use the equity in your home to pay for repairs and renovations as necessary.
• Con: Higher Costs – A single-family home will almost always be more expensive than a condominium. So, if you don’t qualify for a large mortgage loan, you may struggle to find something within your price range.
• Pro: More Space and Freedom – Even if your house has an HOA membership, you should be free to do what you want with the property. Also, most homes come with front and back yards, so you have more room to move around.

Buying a Condo

Demand for condos had been falling for several years, but since the housing market boom, more buyers are looking into buying a condo instead. Here are some benefits (and disadvantages) that come with the territory.

• Pro: Lower Costs – Because you’re buying a unit within a larger building, generally, you don’t have to pay as much as you would with a house. Depending on the market, you could spend tens of thousands less overall, meaning it’s easier to qualify for a mortgage loan.
• Con: Less Freedom – Condo buildings are often similar to apartment buildings; only residents own their units, so they have more flexibility about what they do inside. That said, you usually have to get approval for renovations, and you must consider your neighbors.
• Pro: More Amenities – Buying a condo means being part of a homeowners association (HOA). While you have to pay dues, the money can sometimes go toward pretty nice perks. For example, condo buildings may have a pool, lounges, and other amenities you wouldn’t be able to get with a single-family home.

Which is Better for You?

In many cases, the price tag for a property is the defining factor in determining where to live. However, condos can offer some unique advantages, particularly for first-time buyers. While you don’t build as much equity within your property, you can still parlay your condo into a single-family home later.

Get Help Moving Into Your New Place!

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Help Kids Acclimate After a Household Move

When moving to a new home, the residential relocation process of unpacking and reorienting can be overwhelming, especially for children. You can, however, help your kids adjust to their new surroundings.

As you unpack your boxes, here are a few tips to help your kids adjust to the move.

Plan for the Transition

Getting your children ready for the move significantly affects how easily they adapt to their new surroundings.

A month before the big move, gently and calmly explain the relocation to your kids. This will give them the time to process the information, but not so long as they dwell and worry.

Explain how the house contents, such as their bedroom furniture, toys, and other special belongings, will move with you. Stress that you are moving as a family, and everyone will be together.

Stay Positive Despite their Fear or Hesitancy

It is overwhelming and stressful for everyone to move into a brand new house, but it is incredibly stressful for children with no prior experience with this type of change.

Having a child express their frustration and irritation through venting their emotions is understandable, so let them vent their frustration. Then remind them of the positive aspects of a new home, such as a park near the new house, new neighbors, a larger yard, or a new bedroom.

Maintain a positive attitude to reassure your child. This will go a long way towards keeping everyone happy.

Follow Routines

Keep family rituals and routines intact after your move, for example, dinner time, bedtime, and movie night, to help keep your children calm during this confusing time.

It might be a good idea to wait until you have settled into your new home before introducing new pajamas or bedding, as these subtle changes can upset sensitive youngsters.

Let Your Kids Make Some Decisions

Involve your child in simple decorating decisions in your new home by giving them some control. Your child’s sense of ownership could increase if they are allowed some choices. For example, consider letting them select the color for their new room or the shower curtain for their bathroom.  

Expect Some Regression with Young Ones

When your kids are young, it is common for them to experience temporary regression. During and immediately after the move, be prepared for possible regression. Your child might experience some disruptions to sleep and regression in potty training if they are that age. After you move into your new home, these issues should resolve themselves.

Allow Time

Your child may take weeks or months to acclimate to their new surroundings. Give them the time they need. In the meantime, nurture new and old friendships. Help get them involved in playgroups, clubs, sports, or other activities so they can meet new friends and playmates.

Family Relocation

Let us assist you with packing and heavy lifting during your move so you can focus on preparing and adjusting your young children.

Contact us today for a free estimate.

5 Tips for First-Time Movers

Let’s face it: no matter how often you’ve done it, moving can feel overwhelming. When you’re moving for the first time, a move can seem exciting, exhilarating, absolutely daunting, or (most likely) all of the above.

Luckily, there are ways to improve that first moving experience. From working with a reputable household moving company to planning ahead, these five tips for first-time movers will help reduce your stress so you can have a smooth move this time — and every time after, too.

1. Create a Moving Budget

When heading out on your own for the first time, you might not be sure how much a move will cost. So avoid any unpleasant surprises and create a moving budget.

You can use a spreadsheet on your computer or phone or do it old-school with a pencil and paper. Either way, your moving budget should include:

• Potential expenses, such as packing supplies, hiring movers, and renting a moving truck
• Actual costs (once you’ve got quotes and receipts in hand)
• The amount you have to spend
• A bit extra built-in, in case of emergencies

2. Decide What to Bring

Whether moving for the first time or the 100th, take the time to pare down your belongings before you pack. While it may seem straightforward to simply throw everything you own into boxes and sort it all out once you’re in your new home, consider that relocating more items:

• It costs more because it requires additional packing supplies, takes movers longer to move, and takes up space in the moving truck
• It takes longer to pack and load
• It takes up more of your time after the move 
• It occupies more space in your new place

You’re already spending time packing, so why not set aside a few hours to sort through your belongings? Then, simply separate your items into “keep,” “donate,” or “recycle” piles.

3. Use the Right Packing Supplies

Yes, it’s possible to find free cardboard boxes. But some cartons are simply better suited for moving than others. Don’t risk the safety of your items just to save a few bucks on used cardboard.

Packing supplies to include:

• Sturdy, clean, and dry cardboard boxes
• Packing peanuts and bubble wrap
• Packing paper or newspaper
• Labels
• Strong tape
• Sharpie pens

4. Give Yourself Plenty of Time To Pack

Packing usually takes longer than you think. So save yourself some stress and start well in advance of moving day.

Begin by packing the items you use the least in the rooms you use the least. Set aside a few hours a day to methodically go from room to room, packing boxes as you go.

Label each box with the contents and where in your new home it should go.

5. Hire Movers to Make It Easier

Moving can be stressful. Studies show that moving is among the top stressors in life. Fortunately, hiring a moving company is a tried and true way to reduce that stress.

Be sure to get quotes from at least three companies. Then, choose your moving team carefully, ask for recommendations from trusted friends or family members, and read reviews before making your decision.

 Moving Help

Contact us for help with your move. We can help simplify your move by helping you organize, plan and do the heavy lifting.

 

Five Ways to Help Your House Sell Faster

Selling your home can be an exciting yet overwhelming process. The situation can be even more stressful if you’re trying to sell your house and buy a new one. However, you don’t need to sit back and let the worry take over. Instead, try these five methods to help your house sell faster.

1. Work With a High-Quality Real Estate Agent

How much time do you have to show prospective buyers the house and fill out paperwork? Real estate agents can handle the logistics and details of selling your home, and they can connect you with motivated buyers that you may not otherwise meet. Real estate agents are worth their commission and can help you quickly get your house off the market.

2. Make it Presentable

You’d be surprised how many prospective buyers will get turned off by minor cosmetic issues. Even something as simple as a bright or bold paint color could mean the difference between a sale and a dud.

So, it helps to take some time and money and make your house as presentable as possible. The best option is to hire a cleaning service to come in and deep clean every room. However, you may also need to keep your belongings tidy, so the home looks livable but not “lived-in.”

If you’ve already moved your stuff out, you may need to leave behind some furniture to make some rooms “show ready.” But, again, you can discuss specifics with your agent before committing to an open house.

3. Price the Home to Sell

Many home sellers run into the issue of pricing their property too high. But, even if the market is white hot, buyers will still pay attention to the details.

The problem is that sellers will look at what a nearby home sold for recently. But unfortunately, that number doesn’t include many variables, including the needs of the seller and the buyer.

Overall, if you’re looking to sell quickly, it’s better to price the home a bit lower than you might like. However, sometimes pricing a house a little lower can also drive up interest and encourage prospects to bid higher in the hopes of outbidding the competition.

4. Take Care of Small Repairs

Typically, home buyers will want to perform inspections before signing anything. These can turn up all kinds of issues like leaky faucets, faulty wiring, and crumbling infrastructure. One way to lessen these concerns is to order a review and take care of minor repairs that may give a prospective buyer pause. While you shouldn’t invest in major renovations (i.e., redoing the foundation), small jobs can make the home more appealing.

5. Improve Your Curb Appeal

Just as buyers pay close attention to how the home looks on the inside, you want to give them an excellent first impression on the outside. Some ways to improve curb appeal include:

• Fresh Paint – While painting your house can cost several hundred dollars, you can make up that cost once it sells.
• Landscaping – If you have any trees, bushes, or other landscaping elements, make sure they look presentable.
• Cleanliness – Pay attention to aspects like overgrown weeds, dirty spots on your driveway, and anything else that makes the home look dirty or run-down. In many cases, a good power washing around the property can make it look a lot better.

Ready to Move? We Can Help!

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5 Items to Have for Your First Night in a New Home

When you have a long-distance move, you most likely won’t arrive at the same time as your moving company. Depending on how far you’re moving, you might have a night, or several, in your new home without all your belongings.

The first few nights in a new house can be challenging, especially if you don’t have what you need. You’ll want to prepare if you forgo a hotel and will be “camping” in your new home until your moving truck arrives. Also, if you are driving to your new home, you might be able to bring more things with you, but if you are flying, you’ll need to hit the stores right away when you get there.

Here are things to consider bringing or buying to make the first few days in your new house easier before the movers arrive.

1. Basic Cleaning Supplies

It’s a good idea to clean the house before you start setting it up. The previous occupant probably cleaned it, but that might have been weeks ago, and they may have done it in a hurry.

Bring or buy a few basic supplies, such as antibacterial wipes, window cleaner, and dish soap. Getting a roll or two of paper towels is also a good idea.

If you need to clean natural stone countertops, consider the solutions you put on them. It’s better to wipe them down with a damp cloth until you can source the right cleaning tools.

2. Toilet Paper

Believe it or not, toilet paper is probably the first thing you’ll need in your new home. Your essentials bag might have room for a roll or two, but how fast you run out might surprise you.

Stock up on enough toilet paper to get you through the first week. Buy the kind that you like. It’s not a bad idea to consider having a plunger on hand. 

3. Kitchen Items

Even if you plan to get takeout for the first few days, you’ll need some kitchen supplies. Restaurants sometimes include these utensils, but you don’t want to be stuck if they forget.

Make sure you have plates, bowls, cups, and utensils. If you choose paper products, make sure they are thick enough to hold the food item without disintegrating.

4. Towels

You may pack basic toiletries in your essentials bag so you can shower or wash up at your new home. But if you don’t have towels, you’ll have no way to dry off. So bring a few bath towels with you.

5. Air Mattress

If your belongings arrive several days after you, an air mattress is an essential item. You need to be able to sleep, preferably not on a bare floor.

Choose an air mattress that is large enough to be comfortable. Make sure you have a way to inflate it. Make sure you have some bedding available too.

Options

You might consider ordering from places like Amazon, so your necessities arrive at your new home quickly and conveniently. Or order ahead from local stores and plan to pick up your items when you arrive. Online ordering makes shopping easier for you.

Other things to have on hand before the moving truck arrives include:

• Medications, including all of your prescriptions.
• Personal electronic devices like laptops, phones, and tablets, plus their chargers
• A small first aid kit
• Tool kit

Moving Done Right

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