How to Properly Thank Friends, Family, and Movers When Moving

08/14/2019 onemorep No Comments

When your friends and family give up an entire day or weekend to help you move, simply saying “Thank you” does not seem like enough to show your gratitude. The effort involved in moving is worthy of a little bit more than words regarding showing appreciation. There are several ways you can say thank you for letting them know you appreciate their time and effort in helping you relocate to a new home.

Here are a few ways to properly thank friends, family, and movers when moving cross-country.

1. Always Offer To Drive

When moving from one house to another, the trips between locations is a good time to take a minute to rest. If you are making your helpers do the driving, however, they are not able to take a few minutes to search social media and relax. If you offer to do the driving, you can allow them to rest, and you will cover all costs associated with gas.

 2. Gift Cards

Have you ever been upset upon getting a gift card as a gift? Chances are you haven’t, as long as they are to places you frequently visit. Make sure to take note of your helper’s favorite places and give them a gift card to show your appreciation. If you are buying for a moving company and are unsure where they like to shop, try a visa gift card where they can use it anywhere.

 3. Return The Favor

If your friend or family member is about to embark on a move themselves, be the first one to offer your time to help them. If they are not moving, you can always offer to house sit or dog sit while they go on their next vacation. Sharing favors will help make everyone feel appreciated and allow you an opportunity to serve others, but never accept a favor with the expectation of something in return.

 4. A Fun Evening

A fun way to thank someone for their time in helping you move is to treat them to a night on the town, a cooking class or tickets to a concert or sporting event.

5. Write A Note

In today’s world of social media and smartphones, it is not common to receive a personalized, handwritten thank you note in the mail. Taking the time to write a letter to your helpers will make them feel valued and special.

 6. Let Your Friends Shop In Your Storage Unit

When you move to a new house, you usually put a lot of things into a storage unit or get rid of things in a garage sale. Instead of getting rid of valuable items, offer them to your friends that are helping you move. They may find your garbage to be their hidden treasure. With a little chalk paint, they can transform it into a beautiful piece in their own home.

Other ways to help your friends feel appreciated for helping you move may include offering to clean their house, having beverages available for staying hydrated, offering pizza or another form of free lunch, or simply having your belongings properly labeled and ready for an easy move. Take the time to think about what your movers would want to feel appreciated for all of the hard work they put into making your move a success and give them just that.


Professional Mover Tips for Transporting Appliances Long Distance

02/21/2018 onemorep No Comments

Are you moving far away from where you currently live? Perhaps you have large, household appliances you’d like to bring with you to your new place. Maybe they’re only a few years old and in excellent working condition. Perhaps you spent a lot of your hard-earned money on them and thought it’d be a waste to have to replace them already.

Whatever the case may be, these appliances just aren’t replaceable to you. At first, figuring out how to safely and successfully transport your washer and dryer can be a real challenge. Here are some tips for getting them to your new home without a single scratch.

How to Move Your Fridge

When moving your fridge, there are specific steps you can take to ensure an ultrasmooth transfer.

1. Clean and Defrost

Before you even think about moving your fridge, make sure it’s spotless. Toss out old food and give the entire appliance a thorough wipe down. You’ll also want to defrost the freezer portion and let it completely dry. Taking the time to clean it now prevents mold and mildew from growing while you’re transporting it. And it will be ready to plug-in and use as soon as you move in.

2. Detach Removable Parts and Secure the Doors

Make sure all removable parts are removed or secured in place. Remove the shelves and drawers, so these pieces get tossed around and damaged in the moving vehicle. As for the fridge door, you can try wrapping rope or packing tape around it to keep it closed. Likewise, you’ll want to make sure the power cords are kept nice and secure at all times.

3. Use an Appliance Dolly to Transport the Fridge

Next, you can lift the fridge using a moving dolly. When you do this, it’s important to set the appliance in an upright position. Keep in mind there’s only so much you can do on your own. The fridge is an extremely heavy appliance, so receiving assistance from a friend or a neighbor will help prevent injury. Here are a few items the two of you will need on hand to safely move the fridge. These include:

appliances

How to Move Your Washer and Dryer

Maybe you have a washer and dryer you’d like to bring with you to your new house. Initially, the thought of moving these large appliances may be a little nerve-racking; however, it’s entirely doable.

1. Disconnect Hoses and Wires

Start by turning off the water to your washing machine. Then disconnect and drain the hose, giving it time to dry out before packing it. If you have a gas dryer, get the help of a professional to disconnect the gas line. Then, bundle all electrical wires, hoses, and other accessories and place them in a labeled box. Or secure to the machine using a stretch wrap.

2. Use a Moving Dolly

Then, you should attach the appliances to moving dollies. You can use rope for this. Tape or stretch wrap work well to keep the doors and latches closed tight. To prevent the appliances from getting scratched or damaged in any way, you can try tossing thick, soft moving blankets over them. This protective layer is sure to do the trick.

transporting-appliances

3. Load on the Truck

Load these heavy appliances toward the back of the moving truck, securing with rope or ratchet tie-downs. These local movers NYC indicate that keeping the weight towards the front of the vehicle gives you better handling while driving the truck.

Making a big move indeed comes with a lot of challenges. Transferring large appliances from your old home to your new home doesn’t make it any easier. By ensuring that these precious belongings are kept secure and firmly in place at all times, you can be confident that the transfer will be smooth and successful.


5 Things the Best Cross Country Moving Companies Have in Common

01/10/2018 onemorep No Comments

Moving across the country is a task that is going to put a great deal of strain on your family unless you hire professional help. It can be overwhelming to try to pack up all of your belongings and transport them safely across state lines. However, when you hire a top long distance moving company, you will be able to rest assured that all of your important belongings will be well taken care of. Make sure that you are looking out for companies that have the experience and skills to get the job done right. Here are five things that all of the best cross country moving companies have in common.

1. The best moving companies are licensed and insured

When you are moving your items across state lines, you need to make sure that the movers entrusted with this task are licensed and insured. This will spare you from any liability if an incident happens during the move or the travel process. Make sure that you ask to see the appropriate documentation before you hire a long distance moving company.

moving

2. There are no hidden fees

It is never fun to be quoted for a price only to end up being billed for more once the job is completed. This is a trick that some long distance moving companies try to pull on their customers. You need to make sure that there are no hidden fees that will end up making your long distance move more expensive than you originally bargained for.

3. Great long distance moving companies have great reputations

When you are researching the best long distance company to hire, look for online reviews through Angie’s List, the BBB, Thumbtack, Great Guys Moving, or Yelp. The best movers are going to have the best reputations. You need to make sure that you are hiring a company with an excellent track record. This will give you the ability to rest assured that you are going to be hiring a company that knows how to treat their customers.

4. The best long distance moving companies hire movers who are easy to get along with

Most long distance movers will allow you to sit down and have a consultation meeting with the movers you are about to hire. It is important that you choose movers who are going to be easy to get along with. A cross-country trip is a large endeavor, and you must make sure that you are choosing a group of individuals that will make this trip an enjoyable one.

5. A quality long distance moving company is going to protect your belongings

A big portion of your network is going to be in the hands of the movers you decide to hire. Make sure that you are hiring a company that has the right equipment to protect your belongings. This will give you the peace of mind that none of your items will be damaged during the move.

These are just a few of the many things that the best cross country moving companies have in common. If you look for these traits in moving companies when you are in the hiring process, you will have a much better moving experience.

cross-country-moving


How to Pack and Unpack Your Kitchen Like a Residential Moving Company

11/09/2017 onemorep No Comments

Moving your kitchen items to a new home is exciting and challenging at the same time. The fun part is that it gives you a chance to arrange your new kitchen in a design that reflects your style without any unnecessary clutter. For most people, the stress usually comes from having to pack and unpack all the fragile items in the kitchen. If you do it without a plan, you’ll end up with damaged items that will take time to find and cost more money to replace. To help you pack and unpack your kitchen like a pro, here are some tips to follow.

1. Resist the urge to pack and unpack everything

It’s easy to think you need every single thing in your kitchen. But, your new kitchen should be clutter free. Avoid packing spices and foods that have less than a month until they expire. Also, you can give your neighbor or sell some of the kitchen items that are either outdated or rarely used.

The trick is to de-clutter before moving so that you only have usable items and cut on transportation cost. Instead of unpacking everything, start with the essential items and leave those less frequently used (like seasonal serving platters) in their packing boxes until when you need to use them.

2. Start with delicate items

Delicate appliances and utensils can be damaged when packed in a rush or last minute. During packing and unpacking cheapmovershouston.net recommends starting with small and fragile items first, then finishing with large and heavy appliances. This strategy also works to prevent you from getting too tired at an early stage.

kitchen

3. Go with an order that makes sense

From spices, foods, utensils, dinnerware, pots, pans to appliances; there’s so much that your kitchen needs to be functional. You can pack and unpack spices then move to dinnerware then pots. Go with an order that makes sense to you. But, pack similar items in the same boxes.

For instances put all spices and herbs in one box and all cereals in another. Don’t forget to label each box in writing that is visible a few meters away. When unloading ask the movers to put boxes in an order that will make sense to you. This will prevent time wastage when you have to open each box or read each label to see what stuff is inside.

4. Use proper supplies

Dinnerware is fragile and heavy. Pack them in heavy-duty boxes to give extra support. Add a bubble wrap, hand towels or use old newspapers to protect your items from chipping. Include boxes with dividers to easily separate the items.

Packing and unpacking -especially in these modern times where most kitchen items are delicate- doesn’t have to be stressful or consume time and energy. Professional movers are always available to help. However, if you prefer to do the kitchen packing and unpacking by yourself, then these tips can act as a checklist and make your move more of an adventure and less like an emotional experience.

moving-your-kitchen


Movers on How to Pack Art for Moving & Storage

10/20/2017 onemorep No Comments

Congratulations! You are the owner of fine art pieces. Collecting fine art can be a fantastic hobby and investment vehicle. Unfortunately, there often comes a time when all of the art in your collection needs to be relocated. If you find yourself wondering about the best ways to pack and move fine art, don’t worry. Professional movers have plenty of tips regarding this important subject. Check some of them out below!

1. Large Mirrors and Canvases

Large mirrors and canvases should be packed away in large picture boxes. You can easily obtain these boxes from a moving company or art store. You will want to use masking tape to mark a large X on any large mirrors. This will protect the glass from shattering everywhere in the event of an accident. Also, you can wrap large mirrors and canvas art in brown paper. However, do not use old newspaper. The ink on newspaper can ruin your artwork during moving.

2. Smaller Mirrors, Photographs, and Flat Art

Smaller mirrors, photographs, and pieces of flat art should be wrapped in bubble wrap. All of the items should then be stacked vertically in a manageable box. Additional bubble wrap should be placed between each item. This packing strategy prohibits the items from crushing each other during shipping.

how-to-pack-art

3. Antiques, Sculptures, and More

Antiques, sculptures, and other oddly shaped pieces of art should be packed with care. In fact, some might even think packing pieces of art like these is a work of art in itself! These Atlanta movers say the trick is to first use foam padding to wrap any appendages on the artwork thoroughly. Foam and padding should also be stuffed into any gaps or crevices in the artwork. Next, the entire object should be generously wrapped in bubble wrap. The item should then be individually placed inside of a box. All of the remaining space in the box should then be filled with soft packing material. This packing takes time and effort, but it is the best way to protect those oddly shaped pieces of art.

4. Insurance

Never forget the importance of obtaining insurance for valuable pieces of art during an interstate move. Check the insurance policy on your home and your insurance policy with any moving company you are using. You will want to know ahead of time exactly who will be responsible in the event an important piece of artwork breaks.

5. Shipping

Finally, be sure each piece of packaged art is appropriately labeled and placed inside of a truck correctly. You do not want packages of artwork to be bouncing around the insides of a truck or placed near wet materials that have the possibility of spilling. Remember, your packing is not waterproof.

pack-art

Don’t let the pieces of art you love become damaged during a big move. Use the tips described above to make sure your pieces of art arrive at their new home safe and sound. If you do, the pieces of art you love will be around for you to enjoy for years to come.


The Lingo You Should Know for Interstate Moving

08/18/2017 onemorep No Comments

Long distance moves can be stressful. There’s too much to do and too little time. Leaving friends and a familiar routine can be upsetting. Understanding “moving lingo” is one important step in preparing for a successful move, preventing misunderstandings and helping to ensure your move will go as smoothly and economically as possible.

interstate-moving1

Consumer Rights and Responsibilities

Federal rules govern your rights and responsibilities for interstate moves. When looking for interstate movers, choose a company that charges based on the weight of your belongings, not on cubic volume or how much space your load will require. Moving companies will send a representative to your home to assess your household inventory. Most of the time they will estimate the cost of the move based on the volume of goods determined during this assessment. However, the final weight of shipment will determine the final bill for your move. As with any contract, never sign blank or incomplete moving documents!

Moving Costs

Interstate moving costs are typically based on the:

  • Weight of items being shipped – you have the right to be present when the truck is weighed on a certified scale both before and after loading
  • Distance being shipped
  • Extra services provided such as packing

Obtaining a Quote

As mentioned before, most movers will provide an estimate based on an in-home walk through. Long distance mover of Norfolk says that while some movers will start with an over the phone quote, you should always request the in-home estimate you’re entitled to. These are for better for getting an accurate quote so there’s nothing unexpected on your final bill. There are two basic types of moving quotes:

  • Binding Quote: A mover must honor the price quoted as long as nothing changes.
  • Nonbinding Quote: A nonbinding quote is an educated guess. A final price will be provided after the shipment is weighed and extra services included. This could be considerably higher. You can only be required to pay 110% of the nonbinding written estimate upon delivery. The mover will bill you for the balance.

If you decide to move additional items, the mover has two options:

  • Provide a new binding estimate or
  • Change your original binding quote to a nonbinding estimate

Make sure you thoroughly disclose what you’re moving. Trying to sneak extra items into the load after you’ve gotten an estimate is dishonest and won’t work. If the company catches it, they’ll likely reissue a new binding estimate to included the added cargo.

Bill of Lading

This important document is your receipt and contracts with the carrier. When you sign it, you are acknowledging your goods have been loaded onto the moving van.

Inventory List

A complete inventory list should be provided listing everything being moved. Check this list carefully to ensure all furniture and boxes are included. Use a home inventory app like Sortly, Nest Egg, or My Stuff to keep track of belongings yourself on your smart phone.

Protection Against Loss or Damage

Movers offer full value or released value protection. Additional moving insurance may be available at extra cost from the mover or a third party. With full value protection, you’ll receive the replacement value of any item that is lost or damaged. However, released value protection only reimburses about $.60 on the pound. Yes, you read that right. So if your $1000 250-lb. refrigerator’s compressor gets damaged, rendering the machine useless, you might only get a check for $150 with released value protection. It’s advisable to weigh the benefit of paying a little bit more for full value coverage. Also consider, that the mover’s liability may be released if you do the packing yourself.

  • Full value protection: A lost or damaged item will be repaired or replaced for its full value.
  • Released value: This is the most economical moving insurance since it’s included, but offers minimal protection based on weight, not value. The owner will receive no more than 60 cents per pound for a lost or damaged item.

It’s always safest to ask for an explanation of any moving lingo, even if you think you understand it. Check here for a listing of additional terms a mover might use. Here’s to a successful move!