Bleach, Clorox, Awesome and Pine Sol help our homes to have a delightfully clean and refreshing scent, and provide a germ-free habitat as we clean with them. But moving into a new home – which we would assume is clean – can be dangerous to our health if we forget to use these products in a “clean sweep” before moving items in. The importance of a germ-free environment should not be forgotten in the shuffle of moving. To ensure a relatively clean move:
Pack children’s toys in a separate box. This will prevent germy toys from infesting other belongings. As you pack, wipe each toy thoroughly with a sanitizing wipe, and make sure to get every crack and crevice of each toy. When the toy box is opened after the move, the kids will have fresh, germ-free dolls and cars to play with.
Clean as you pack. Dust off those books that have been sitting on the shelf. Weed through the 30 pairs of shoes you’ve collected. Donate items you know you’re not going to need or use in the future – or haven’t used in the past year. Cleaning and pitching as you pack can save packing, moving and unpacking time. Hire neighbor kids to help load bags into your vehicle and take them for ice cream for helping you unload at the donation spot. Although it may cost you a trip to the donation site and ice cream, it’s much cheaper – and helpful for those in need – than paying your moving team to move items that won’t be useful.
Bleach your house goodbye. Although you’re stressed before, during and after your move, make time to “hose down” your old home for the family or individuals moving in. It’s likely they’ll go over what you’ve cleaned, but in case they don’t, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Germs can stick around – kill them while you have the chance before they take advantage of the new family.
Take a trip to your new place. And arm yourself with bleach, Clorox wipes and Pine Sol. Clean every surface imaginable. Your new home’s old owners may not have been as courteous as to do a “clean sweep” before leaving their home. Germs may be lurking – be sure to cover each and every surface with your cleaning army. Don’t forget the inside of cupboards and walls.
Nowadays there are many types of moving companies and moving services available to the public in America for local and long distance moves. Each of us wants to make a good and educated decision when it comes to spending all of that money for moving. Each of us has our own specific needs. A college student moving into or out of their dorm rooms certainly has different needs that a senior citizen moving to an assisted care facility! Of course, there are a budget issues and schedules that need to be met as well as different moving services that we will want to consider for our moves.
When we gather information about different moving companies and moving services we are suddenly flooded with phone calls and information. It’s so easy to get lost when you are on information overload. Most important of all is deciphering all of that information and putting everything into practical terms that you can understand.
The first step in moving is always advanced planning. Make a list or inventory of ALL of the items in your possession. At this stage of the game, it’s worth listing it all and then deleting items along the way. Go room by room listing each item and if you want make a “guesstimate” of how many boxes you will need for each room. (Don’t worry about being exact with this, since the point of it is to give you a general idea.) I always recommend doing this in a notebook and in pencil, so that it will easy for you to make changes along the way and keep track of it all.)
Once you have created an inventory with a general box count, you will need to sit down and take a look at it. This will be the” big picture” for your move and help you see the smaller parts of the puzzle! With this list you will be able to get an idea of how labor intensive your move will be and help you to decide what kind of moving services would be of interest you! There are quite a few out there!
Here is a list and a general description of the most popular moving services available for moving in the United States:
Full Service Deluxe Moving Companies-These are the large and well known moving companies. They offer full service moving packages. This means that they do all of the labor for you including packing and unpacking all of your boxes. Their prices will already include all packing materials.
Standard Moving Companies-These are companies that might not be as well known. They offer many different options for moving depending on what moving services you are looking for or might need. These companies can offer large discounts based on your inventory and how labor and material intensive your move will be. They can also supply packing materials for an additional charge.
U Load We Drive Moving Companies-Here you are responsible for everything: packing boxes, preparing your furniture, loading the truck and unloading the truck. The only thing you won’t need to do is drive the truck! You are responsible for all packing materials at your own expense.
Truck Rental Companies- You rent the truck and equipment you need, do all of the packing, driving, loading and unloading. You will be paying for everything, including the gas.
Remember that all moving companies must be licensed, bonded and insured, meeting all federal and state requirements for operating as moving companies and moving services. It’s also important to note that all moving companies will base their prices on the space needed (in cubic feet) for your belongings, weight of your shipment, additional services required and the distance of your move. (For a local move it will be based on an hourly rate.)
One popular addition for U Load We Drive and Truck Rental moves is moving labor. There are companies that will supply moving labor to assist you with your packing and unpacking or loading and unloading needs. This will of course be at an additional charge above the cost of the moving services fees.
Now that we know what the different moving services are, it’s time to think about what you need, what you want, what you can afford and which moving services you want to explore? Do you want to be able to compare the different moving services to each other? Do you want to compare the prices of the different movers and moving services to each other? Which of them do you want to compare?
The simplest way to research any subject is on the internet. It will save lots of time and the expense of making lots of telephone calls. You can research each moving service on many websites. The internet is also the best way to get free moving quotes for all of the different moving services. Let the movers run after you! Let them tell you what they have to offer and send you free moving quotes to your email. There are also moving companies and moving services that offer “in house” moving quotes and moving estimates. It’s important to remember that these quotes are estimates. If on your moving day there will be additional services required of you have more belongings that is shown on your inventory, it will cost you move. If you have a U Pack move and use more space, it will cost more.
Now that you have all of these moving quotes, you want to be able to compare them and make a good decision for you move. It’s important to compare each of the moving services to each other. See what each moving company and moving service is offering you. Which service is offering you what you want or can afford?
I always recommend printing all of the free quotes. It will make your life much easier when you can sit down and really look at them and not on the computer screen. Separate the quotes according to the specific moving service they are for. This way you can easily compare the quotes from each of the moving services.
Remember, READ THE FINE PRINT! A vague quote of any kind should be considered suspicious. If you are promised something by a moving company or moving service, make sure it is written on the quote. If it isn’t on the quote, it will be as if it doesn’t exist. A quote with lots of fine print is always going to be preferable to anything vague. You can always ask the movers any questions about that and it’s always preferable to having a bad surprise later on your moving day.
One other item that will help you decipher a free moving quote is a moving dictionary or glossary of moving terms. As in any industry, it’s very important to know the terminology to understand what you are reading and what you are actually being offered. There are many websites that have good glossaries for moving.
Now you are ready to make a decision about your move. You have all the information necessary to make a good and educated decision.
Looking forward to moving to your new house, but the thought of shifting all your stuff to another city is scary, is it? Well, long distance moving is not as daunting as you think. You know with a few tips, you will wonder how simple it was to pack your bags or rather boxes! Yes, the packaging material will be delivered at your doorstep just by a call or a click. By packing your belongings yourself, you will know which box contains what, it is safe and during the process, you can clear the clutter. Nevertheless, if you are not too keen on doing it yourself, most packing and moving companies provide labor services.
Reached your new city, new home but not yet kick started your life. Making adequate inquiries beforehand is essential. It is significant because you will hate to enter a new home and wait for your luggage that was promised to be there before you and it has been two days since you’ve been waiting! Ask for quotations, compare and choose the best one. However remember, that a moving company which offers you low prices but does not deliver your goods when promised, is not desirable. So, comprehensive knowledge about the one you choose for moving and storage of your belongings is vital.
Long distance moving is now easier than before. Still, it requires good planning right from packing and if there be a need, storing your belongings if you are still not prepared to take them home. Ensure that you pay what was quoted at the start. Most moving companies keep moving their prices higher, Beware! You might be in for some surprising hidden costs and scheduling problems. Only a few of them like smart box give you steadfast quotations. Your goods will reach you at the time and the rate given.
Simplify long distance moving by sensible packing options. Not just that, smart packing means easy unpacking. So, a little care in the start will help throughout. I remember a friend of mine who almost did not unpack her luggage for over a year due to the fear of cluttering her new place. To avoid such apprehensions, pack sensibly with smart boxes! Assort your goods properly so that you can be eager to introduce your belongings to your new house!
With competent moving companies, providing you packing material at your doorstep and picking it up when you are done, long distance moving is no longer tedious. Portable self-storage boxes, no renting a truck, no wavering quotations and no false delivery assurances- these features have made long distance moving quite smart and simple. In fact, if you are not ready to unpack yet, the moving and storage company offers you warehouses to let your luggage remain till it is convenient for you to bring it home. With such smart and sensible options to pack, move and store your belongings, you can be assured it will reach you intact and on time.
With careful planning, it will make all the difference between a painless relocation to one that is full of stress. Ask anyone who has had their fair share of moving experiences and they will tell you to be more proactive as the days draw closer towards your moving day.
There are many studies that say moving is one of the most stressful endeavors ever to be experienced by mankind, and the results deem that, for the most part, it is right.
While stressful it may be, there are ways to make moving a whole lot easier for everybody’s part.
EASIER MOVING WITH GOLAN’S MOVERS
Expect potential hazards and be prepared for them.
Expect that there will be a lot of challenges for your move. If you can, try to avoid them as much as possible. If you cannot, then make sure that you’re prepared for them.
For example, if you have a pet cat or dog in the house, then they may start running around the place and knocking over stuff. Worse, they might dig into the boxes with items already inside thereby ruining everything you’ve worked so hard for. Hence, when you’re packing for the move, make sure your pet is out of the way. Keep them inside a room where they won’t be a hindrance.
Make sure to transfer your address.
It is one of the most looked over process of moving, which is telling government agencies and other important firms about the new address. What happens if you forget? A lot of trouble. For instance, your mail can still get delivered to your old house. These can include your bills and even alerts from your bank.
Pack efficiently.
Always get more packing tools than what is required. So that if you see these items running out, you won’t have to go back-and-forth to the store to buy more. Keeping extra is more efficient that having “just enough.”
Furthermore, do not stress yourself further by moving too quickly. You might lose balance over the boxes and ruin what’s inside. Worse, you can get injured by doing so.
Even if the move is just a few weeks or days away, make sure to go about things logically. Be calm and collected at all times. If you start panicking, then that’s the time everything will go awry.
If you need more assistance to have a less-problematic move, then why not call in the professionals instead. Get in touch with Golan’s Moving & Storage to know more.
Nowadays there are many types of moving companies and moving services available to the public in America for local and long distance moves. Each of us wants to make a good and educated decision when it comes to spending all of that money for moving. Each of us has our own specific needs. A college student moving into or out of their dorm rooms certainly has different needs that a senior citizen moving to an assisted care facility! Of course, there are a budget issues and schedules that need to be met as well as different moving services that we will want to consider for our moves.
Comparing Quotes from Professional Moving Services
When we gather information about different moving companies and moving services we are suddenly flooded with phone calls and information. It’s so easy to get lost when you are on information overload. Most important of all is deciphering all of that information and putting everything into practical terms that you can understand.
The first step in moving is always advanced planning. Make a list or inventory of ALL of the items in your possession. At this stage of the game, it’s worth listing it all and then deleting items along the way. Go room by room listing each item and if you want make a “guesstimate” of how many boxes you will need for each room. (Don’t worry about being exact with this, since the point of it is to give you a general idea.) I always recommend doing this in a notebook and in pencil, so that it will easy for you to make changes along the way and keep track of it all.)
Once you have created an inventory with a general box count, you will need to sit down and take a look at it. This will be the” big picture” for your move and help you see the smaller parts of the puzzle! With this list you will be able to get an idea of how labor intensive your move will be and help you to decide what kind of moving services would be of interest you! There are quite a few out there!
Remember, READ THE FINE PRINT! A vague quote of any kind should be considered suspicious. If you are promised something by a moving company or moving service, make sure it is written on the quote. If it isn’t on the quote, it will be as if it doesn’t exist. A quote with lots of fine print is always going to be preferable to anything vague. You can always ask the movers any questions about that and it’s always preferable to having a bad surprise later on your moving day.
If your company is changing locations and it needs to happen fast you should call a commercial moving service. Having a commercial service take care of everything for you will get the job done so quickly you will virtually feel like you never stopped working. Your schedule can be undisturbed because you will have the option to have the entire move done without your help besides a few minor details.
How to Make the Most Out of Commercial Moving Services
Hiring a professional company can save you time. If you don’t have the time to pack, load, drive, and unload your shipments then this would be the best choice for you. You can find companies that will bring their own packing supplies, organize everything neatly, move it out into the truck and drive it to the new location without you stopping working. Of course, your desk and computer will need to be moved so that might set you back a little bit but at least you have the option to do other things in the new found free time that the company is creating for you. They also drive your belongings to the new location and unpack them as they found them in the new location. This is helpful for you because you will not have to rummage through everything to find what you need. They know what they packed and where they packed it and will be able to unload it into the new location.
This works to your advantage because you will not have to over-exert yourself. They will be doing all the heavy lifting for you and all the strenuous and draining driving. Having a licensed truck driver do this for you will surely help you out a lot too. Rather than you trying to drive a big truck around they will take care of it safely for you. You will not risk getting in an accident or shaking all the moving pieces.
Your pieces will be damage-free because of the combination of their packing and driving skills. These people are experienced in handling furniture and fragile items so you can put all your trust in them to keep your company equipment safe. Movers take full reliability for damaged items too so this will ensure you added safety.
You may not feel comfortable leaving everything your company owns in the hands of strangers, but moving companies now have policies where the drivers and movers need full background checks before being hired. They have to be fully trained to gain the skill level you need them to have to make sure that you and your belongings are safe. Trust in movers to do the job right every time. It is worth it.
If you have been looking forward to moving, you are probably dealing with uncertainty as well as excitement. The uncertainty is usually because you are not sure what you should do on the moving day. It is important to know what to expect so that you can enjoy the experience.
If you have packed everything and you have placed a tick along everything on your checklist, you can relax in the knowledge that you have done everything you needed to do and now everything is up to the movers. The following guidelines will help you on the moving day.
How to Make Your Move More Affordable
Dealing with the moving crew
You need to know when the crew will arrive and it is important to call the affordable moving services so that you get the exact details. When the crew arrives, identify the supervisor so that you know whom to deal with. It helps to have a good rapport with the crew to avoid any misunderstanding.
Written inventory
The moving company will have an inventory of all your property and you will need to go through the inventory carefully. This record will come very handy when you get to your destination because it helps to confirm that everything has arrived at the destination in the condition in which it left. When you sign the inventory document, it indicates you agree with the information.
Loading system
Movers usually have a loading system that helps to make sure that they arrange everything systematically in the van. You might think that you have your own ideas but it is important to leave it to the professionals.
You will be amazed at their ability to load everything effectively to make use of every available space. The professionals know how to load the items to prevent shifting or movement that can cause damage. You can sort out where everything goes when you get to the destination.
Bill of lading
When all the items have been loaded on the vehicle, you will receive a bill of lading, which you need to read and understand. This document details the conditions of the move including the expected date of delivery. Make sure that you agree with all the conditions before you sign the bill and you will sign it again when the goods get to the destination.
It is important to stay out of the way of the professionals while remaining available for any questions or clarifications. You need to let the movers do their job so that everything can be accomplished in a timely fashion. Make sure that you get their contacts to help you keep in touch while on the road.
Our lifestyles create a lot of waste; this can come from the food that we prepare each and every day to our families, to the mounds of paper we use whenever we try to get work done. The waste seem to pile up even more when we are about to relocate. All those used tape, packing paper, and other moving supplies will create more problems for our environment.
Hence, it does not make us wonder why many of us want to help Mother Nature, even for just a bit. After all, a little help does go a long way.
CONSIDER AN ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY MOVE BROUGHT TO YOU BY GOLAN’S MOVING AND STORAGE
Packing green
It doesn’t mean that you only have to pack all of your green-colored items and leave the rest behind. What it means is that take a more environment friendly approach when you are about to do the packing portion of your move.
Boxes, packing supplies, foam peanuts, tape, and other tools can contribute to waste. While these are relatively low-cost down at the store, it doesn’t mean that they do not contribute much when it comes to waste.
Instead of throwing your boxes when you’re done, give them to someone else that may need them. This way, you remove clutter and potential waste.
Instead of using mounds of packing paper or bubble wrap, you can use blankets, curtains, and other soft material to cushion your items inside your boxes.
Remember, pack green and save Mother Nature.
Recycle
Not everything in your arsenal to complete your move successfully will be thrown down into an incinerator. There are those that can be used again and again.
Take for instance boxes that come with special Recycle marks at their sides. These are the containers that have been made from recyclable materials, and can also be used multiple times. IF they break down some time in the future due to overuse, you can give it to the local recycling plant so that they can be, once again, be remade into boxes for others to use.
Hire a green moving company
If you need professional moving assistance but still want to retain the “green” aspect of your move, not to worry as there are companies that help customers who has a green thumb. Take for instance Golan’s Moving and Storage; the moving company knows how to keep Mother Nature happy as they use a special software for helping them with their administration. This negates the use of mounds of paperwork in their office.
There are even special offers for people who use their recycled boxes.
Want to know more about their green services? Why not give them a call today?
Choosing a professional moving company is quite stressful. In fact, there are many people who find it as equally stressing as packing and moving their stuff themselves. After all, we have to make sure that with whatever it is we spend our hard-earned money on, we need to guarantee ourselves that there will be no regrets afterwards. Hence, picking the right kind of professionals for the upcoming move is critical in every aspect.
GOLAN’S MOVERS TELLS YOU HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT MOVING COMPANY WITH THIS CHECKLIST
Here are the things that you need to check prior to getting the services of a certain moving company.
Moving experience
How long have they been in the biz? How many customers have they serviced? Are they up-to-date when it comes to using the latest technologies and methods in producing quality moving services? The more experience the better. After all, you know what they say that “the greatest teacher is experience.”
Professional employees
When you talk about a moving company and its employees, it’s not just about the movers themselves. When you get in touch with a company representative through the phone, how did they treat you? Were you treated with respect right off the bat? If they did, then you are one step closer to getting the right moving services. But if they treat you like you’re just another customer they have or even lower than that (i.e. condescending attitude) then it’s best to look somewhere else.
Fair, competitive, and honest pricing
You know when something is just too good to be true, right? Well, this also applies to when you are selecting a good moving company. When you see the prices of a certain moving firm that is a lot lower than others, then make sure that said business is legit. It may be a fly-by-night company, which means that they may be there right now, give you substandard services, then are nowhere to be seen the next day.
Hence, get the services of a company that has fair and honest prices.
Licensed and insured services
The most important item on this list is to check if the moving company is licensed and insured. This way, you will be able to sleep easy at night knowing that the safety of your stuff is well-preserved.
For a fully-licensed, professional moving company that has the best when it comes to experience and pricing, check out Golan’s Moving and Storage today.
Packing can be such a pain when you are about to move. It’s not just about putting your clothes into bags and suitcases just like you would do for when you are about to travel for a vacation. Moving can be a permanent decision, as compared to travelling to another city just to take a load off for a few days. When you relocate, you will probably live there for years and years. This is why you should not forget about your large investments; and by large investments, it could mean your 2-door refrigerator, a precious couch, your 60″ TV, your king-sized bed, or any other big and heavy items.
So the question is, how are you supposed to pack these things AND carry them to the moving truck in one piece WITHOUT having to hurt your back in the process?
GOLAN’S MOVERS TELLS YOU HOW TO MOVE HEAVY OBJECTS
So here are your options: (1) get help from the family, (2) get help from the neighbors, or (3) get help from a professional moving company.
Getting help from the family.
If you have family members that has the right muscle strength to help you in lifting these heavy objects, then consider yourself lucky. The thing is, they might also be very busy with their own packing. So you can’t really disturb them, even when you need them the most. So what are you going to do? Well, you can pack your other, smaller stuff. But what if you’ve already done that? Then grab a cold one first; nonetheless, the packing can become a bit delayed until your fit family member is done with his/her own packing.
Getting help from the neighbors.
Once again, if you have neighbors that have the fitness level to help you carry the items, the congratulations. Then again, your neighbors may be at work or is busy with other affairs. Hence, they may not have the time to assist you in your moving endeavors.
This leaves us with your next option, which is…
Getting help from professional movers.
A professional moving company, will already have the necessary tools, equipment, and not to mention the muscle power, to assist you in lifting your prized, heavy possessions onto the moving vehicle. Not only that, prime companies, like Golan’s Moving and Storage, will be able to assist you with everything there is about your relocation. Why not try and give them a call now?
Movers in Chicago 