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Downsizing

Posted on January 18th, 2012 No Comments

This is a guest blog post from Self Storage Finders, directory of storage facilities.

The economy has been sluggish for several years, another recession is looming and consumer confidence is still low. In these tough times, people are learning to do more with less. This is apparent in the trend towards smaller homes, apartments and condos. While downsizing sounds easy, there are certain things one should consider.

Where will you be downsizing to? Are you staying in the same area or moving out of state? When moving out of state you have to consider the costs, job market and schools for your kids. Are you going to purchase a home or rent? Is it better to rent a house, apartment or condo with your lifestyle?

If you plan to purchase a home, renting an apartment might be a good start. Renting first will give you a familiarity with the neighborhoods, schools, commute, shopping and safety issues before finding a more permanent place. Talk to co-workers and locals to learn more about the area and by the time you are ready to purchase a home, you’ll know exactly where you want to go.

You also have to consider what to dispose of and what to keep. Just because you are downsizing, it doesn’t mean you have to get rid of everything as some of your possessions will have meaning and value to you. Other items can be sold, donated or thrown out. Some of your larger items may not fit in an apartment but will be needed once you purchase a home. A Chicago storage facility or Los Angeles storage unit can be a good resource in these instances. Storage units are great during the relocation process, can be found easily and are usually relatively cheap.

Downsizing is a big change and it may take some time to adjust to your smaller living space. Be sure to no clutter your new space and your adjustment will go smoother and be less stressful.

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Cold-Weather Moving

Posted on November 7th, 2011 2 Comments

Guest post provided by MyMove.com, an online moving authority where people planning a move can find information, products and savings to streamline and save during this exciting life stage.

Moving can be stressful enough without adding a snowstorm into the mix. So check the forecast, get out your mittens and take the following tips for successful winter moves into consideration.

Moving Trucks and Wintery Roads

Hiring professional movers to get your belongings from your old to new home is highly recommended if there’s a chance of inclement winter weather. Handling your family’s SUV can be difficult enough in snowy conditions, let alone getting behind the wheel of a rental moving truck or van. Professional movers have the experience to safely deliver your boxes and furniture, regardless of the weather. If you decide to rent and drive your own moving vehicle, however, keep these tips in mind for driving in wintery conditions:

  • Insure Yourself: Don’t take chances, make sure you have moving truck insurance.
  • Adjust Mirrors: The bigger the vehicle, the bigger the blind spots. Make sure to adjust your mirrors before hitting the road.
  • Remember, Your New Size is Big & Tall: When driving, keep in mind that you’ll have a wider turning radius than in a normal vehicle and that your truck may be too tall to fit under certain overpasses. Plan your route accordingly.
  • Easy on the Brakes: It takes heavier vehicles a longer time to break. In addition, unless you have antilock brakes, you may need to pump the brakes when coming to a stop.
  • Be Prepared for Skidding: If the roads are icy and the moving truck starts skidding, steer the wheel into the slide, take your foot of the gas pedal and avoid slamming on the brakes.
  • Park Like a Pro: If you have to park on a hill, the cab of truck should be facing downhill with wheel chocks in place. If you don’t have wheel chocks, turn the front wheels towards the curb and set the parking brake. This makes the angle of the ramp for unloading less steep and, if there’s any slipping, the truck won’t roll into traffic.

Packing and Loading the Moving Truck

If your new home is in a city, your first step should be to check parking regulations. You may need to obtain a permit to block off the street in front of your home or apartment so that your moving truck can unload. In some cases, the moving company will take care of this for you. Other times, it is your responsibility to obtain the permits from your city hall. Especially during winter moves, when the weather isn’t always favorable, you want to make sure the moving truck can park as close to your front door as possible. Also keep a sharp eye on the forecast, as snow storms can result in parking bans on major thruways and streets.

Pack your belongings with winter weather in mind by making sure all boxes are properly sealed and furniture is covered with moving pads. Clear a path from the moving truck to your home’s entrance to minimize the time your things are exposed to the elements, and make sure to have a doormat handy so that movers and family members don’t track snow, slush and mud into your new house or apartment.

Moving with a Cold

If your move is coinciding with cold and flu season, planning ahead is your best defense. Moving is a busy and, at times, stressful process, but don’t let that hinder your sleep. Rest is key to recovering from a cold, so start packing far enough in advance that you won’t have to pull an all-nighter come moving day. During the chaos of a move, it can also be easy to resort to fast food and quick meals like pizza. Although these meals may be convenient, they’re not providing you with the essential nutrients your body needs to fight off a cold. Make sure your move day snacks include fruit and vegetables.

While the weather outside might be frightful, your move doesn’t have to be. Plan ahead, prepare for driving and unpacking in unfavorable conditions and enlist the help of professionals for added ease.

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Preparing for Long Distance Move

Posted on October 17th, 2011 1 Comment

Moving in general is a very stressful task; it is even more challenging when you have to move long distance out of state. When moving long distance, the key to a successful move is to plan ahead. You want to give yourself at least a month and a half (two months would be ideal) to get things together before moving day arrives. During the first few days of those two months should be spent trying to locate a long distance mover.

Experts would tell you that you should select at least five or six prospective movers before narrowing them to just two that you can work with and compare prices and services.

Most of the times word of mouth is the ideal way to find a long distance moving company. You can source numbers of long distance moving companies from your friends, families and work acquaintance. Their feedback about the company would go a long distance for you and would be part of the deciding factor. An internet research about a specific company can also help you determine if they are as good as they say they are. The reviews and testimonials about the company from previous clients would be enough indication if you should visit their office or move along to a next long distance mover.

Those companies that you visit in person would usually display their proof of legitimacy with an array of certificates on the wall or you would see their business license as well. However, you can still go that extra mile by checking up the company through the Better Business Bureau.

Once comfortable with the moving company and their rates, one of the first things you should do after setting a moving date is to get rid of the excess stuff you may have laying around the house. You can choose to either throw them away or put them in the hands of friends and relatives if they are in good condition. Since moving is costly, you may also want to consider selling off some of your stuff through a garage sale in order to recover your money. Once you have gotten rid of the clutter, the next thing to do would be to make a list of all the items that you now have in your home that you intend to take to your new home.

Next, make a list of the items that you are moving with before you start packing them in containers, boxes etc. Experts would advise that you pack room by room and well ahead in advance to avoid the rush. Use strong boxes; you can get them free at your neighbor grocery store and remember to bolster your breakables with bubble wrap or even with newspapers. As you pack, remember that you should not exceed 50 pounds per box; don’t forget to seal and label your boxes as well.

If you are mving with jewelry, documents and other personal effects, the best thing to do is to personally take it with you to avoid it being misplaced when you get to the new home. You should also travel with medications which should be stored in leak-proof containers.

Finally, a week before moving day, inform the utility cable and phone companies about your move so that you would no longer incur charges when you move. Depending on the state that you live in you may be able to transfer your service using the same provider; other times you have to create a new account with a competing company. Either way, ensure that the basic essentials such as lights, water and heat are functioning before you move in.

This is guest post from FindGoodMovers.com, moving portal of long distance movers.

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Summertime moving tips

Posted on July 15th, 2011 No Comments

Summertime is usually the month that most people choose to move home; the fact that the kids are on break from school and the weather is mostly sunny makes this time of year a particularly popular one. But even while summer conjures up brilliant sunshine in the nation, one also must not forget the rainfall that is also likely to show up as well.

True, the rain is a welcoming change especially when there have been days of record-breaking heat. And while those who work outside would welcome the rainfall to keep them cool, rain is indeed a mover’s nightmare that could very well impede progress during moving.

A little bit of rain would never cancel a move. However, if it is a thunderstorm type of scenario, then you are better off changing the moving date. For those who are unable to put off moving day because of legal landlord issues, then be prepared to put in that extra work to protect your furniture from the elements.

For your furniture, it is best that you use some heavy duty tarp to wrap or cover as well as plastic, the latter especially when covering mattresses and sofas. Avoid the use of shrink wrap as water can still seem into it.

Moving the furniture to and from the truck in the rainy weather can also be tricky. True, the top portion is covered and protected but what about the bottom part of the furniture that may have to touch the wet or muddy ground?  Moving experts would advise that you make a walkway out of either old carpets or rugs for which you can drag the items into the house. On moving day, ensure that you make the movers’ job as easy as possible. You can do this by using lots of sheets, towels, blankets, whatever you can find to lay in the house to prevent the movers from slipping. You want to lay them out smoothly so that the movers would not trip or fall. You simply cannot ask the moving crew to remove their shoes when they enter your home. That’s why it is important to either spread material on the floor or simply have a mop handy to clean up the mess.

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Moving day and your groceries

Posted on June 9th, 2011 No Comments

Moving with existing grocery items is not something that most people would consider doing. There are some who would rather throw out everything that is in their pantries and refrigerator opting to purchase a fresh set of groceries. For those that may purchase new groceries, the best thing that you can do is to sort of hold out on buying more grocery items as moving day approaches. This will allow you to have enough money to fulfill a huge grocery list. However if you are going to take your groceries with you, here are a few tips that you can use in order to relocate with everything in tact.

For those who buy grocery items in bulk for their large family, take into consideration that there are some things you would have to get rid of and others that you can take with you. It would make no sense at all if you were to take along items such as half used meats, vegetables or milk. You have the choice of either using them up within a week before moving or you can donate the unopened frozen foods to a local pantry or to a family or friend.

Bulk buying means that you would probably purchase the large family pack of meats and if this is so, one way you can get rid of it is to host a moving party where you invite your friends and family for lunch or dinner. Experts would tell you that some of the foods that you should not move with include frozen foods as we mentioned before, defrosted meats and cold cuts as well as opened sugar and flour, eggs and even opened bottles of soda and juices.

These are items that you can readily replace because of how inexpensive they are especially when you use a few coupons.

Items that you can take with you include anything from unopened boxes of cereal, crackers, sealed bottles and cans, unopened cookies, bread and chips and pasta to name a few. Canned goods and jarred goods that are sealed can also be packed for moving. Once you have gathered the groceries that you want to take with you, the next thing would be to concentrate on how to pack them. Experts say that items such as cookies or big bag of sea chips should be fitted in a small sized trash bag or any other small plastic bags that would hold the items. If you have a heavy item in the plastic bag then it should be placed at the bottom of the bag to avoid squeezing the other delicate items.

Heavy items such as canned goods must be placed in a durable box.  Even if you use the smaller box you can still find items such as unopened bags that are currently held together with twist ties.

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