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.
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?
It can be such a hassle when the news about you having to move to another location is placed upon you and the moving date is just around the corner. You will find yourself rushing to get your boxes taped and lifted onto the moving truck. It is with great impatience that you try to finish things as quickly as possible. Because of you rushing things, accidents and injury are more prone to happen. For example, when you try and lift a box and pull a muscle instead.
When wounds and injuries occur, you find yourself taking more time to get the move done. This would then accumulate to more stress. Hence, it is important to learn how to avoid getting injured to get things done as quickly as possible.
When lifting objects, bend at the knees and not the waist.
When we drop something, like a coin or small object, most of us tend to bend using our waist. If we bend at the waist, we let most of our upper body go against the force of gravity. Hence, lifting things get tougher and you can get hurt easier.
Therefore, when picking up stuff, bend at the knees. This will make it easier for your back and you can lift things easier. Many people underestimate the strength of their lower body since we mostly use our arms and shoulders to lift. Try using the force from your legs when lifting; it will make moving easier.
Keeping objects close to the body.
As we rush, we tend to place our arms with the items forward and away from our body. Doing so will endanger our balance. Not only will we risk letting the objects or the boxes come crashing down onto the floor, we also tend to lose our balance. Keep the items close to the body and do try to walk slowly even though you are in a rush.
DO NOT lift items over your head.
Once again, keep the items close to the body. If you see people in other countries lifting heavy items at the top of their heads and you are not accustomed to doing this, do not try it. The people that you’ve seen in television and in documentaries have already done this kind of thing for years and years. If you do not have the head strength, nor the balance, then never try this for when you move or even during normal instances.
It is important to always keep safe during moves. This way, you can get more stuff done faster and more hassle-free.
Shattered glass, broken china, cluttered clothes, and misplaced items – these types of scenario are all very familiar for one who has to move to another location. If you can’t see the sceneries yet, try to imagine it for a bit; stressful environment and you going haywire as to where could that one thing be, or how are you going to finish all of this packing before moving day.
Packing can be such a tedious task, but it can become easier on your head and shoulders with these great tips.
AMAZING MOVING LIFE HACKS BY GOLAN’S MOVERS
Label boxes on more than 2 sides.
Or better yet, label all the sides of the boxes. This way, no matter what face of the box is, well, facing you, you can immediately know what items are inside. This lets you become more organized, not to mention unpacking will become a breeze. Just make sure that all the labels on a box are uniform.
Be specific when labeling.
Most people who move just label their boxes by the name of the room of where the items inside the box will most likely be placed. As such, unpacking can take more time than necessary. To avoid this, label the boxes as detailed as possible. For example, label a box with “Kitchen – plates – bowls.” This way, you will also know how to handle the package.
On a side note, don’t be too specific when labeling the boxes as it may cause more time to be spent (unless you really want to do it, then by all means go ahead).
Color-code the boxes by room.
Use different colored markers, or colored tapes, or special stickers with different designs; just make sure that each set of boxes have a uniform design for their labels to let you see what room they should go to when you start unpacking your stuff.
Don’t put essentials in a box.
Aside from all the boxes that you’re going to put at the back of the moving vehicle, you should also have a separate bag of your essentials. These could be toiletries, a first-aid kit, or even your meds. It could even be all these three classifications of items. Why? It beats rummaging through boxes when these things are needed the most.
For instance, if you or your family will have an asthma-attack in the middle of a trip (knock on wood), then you can immediately reach for the required medicines, instead of rushing to the back of the vehicle and doing a mini-scavenger hunt.
Should you need more excellent tips or want to get hassle-free moving experiences, contact Golan’s Movers today.
It is always a stressful experience whenever you do all the tasks associated with relocating by your lonesome. Even if you get the help of a neighbor, the challenges can be lessened but it still won’t alleviate all that stress. With all the challenges piling up on your face, you may soon ask yourself “Why am I doing all this?” Then it hits you – you may need to relocate because of a new job position, or it may be that there is a university you want to attend for college and you want your home/belongings to be close, or it could be that you just purchased your dream home that’s just outside of the city.
Before you can relax at your new abode, you still have to encounter all the challenges associated with moving. That means all the packing and hauling stuff from inside your current home out to the front yard or at your garage, THEN moving them once more into the moving truck. That’s a lot of stressful, and possibly back-breaking stuff to do. So why not get a stress-free moving day? How is that possible?
WITH GOLAN’S MOVING & STORAGE
If you have been around Chicago for quite some time, chances are you have heard of Golan’s Movers. After all, they have been around the moving industry for more than 20 years.
The professional Chicago moving company knows all the ins and outs of relocating. They can help you pack your stuff properly and they’ll move it to their trucks. All you have to do is just sit back and relax while they do all the heavy lifting.
Golan’s Moving & Storage has already garnered a long list of customers. While the list grew, so did the business. Before, they could only aid people who are about to relocate locally. Now, they can even help customers who want/need to move out of the country! That’s right, they can assist you with moving your equipment and furniture even if you’re planning to live overseas.
The Chicago moving company is also environmentally friendly. They use a special software within their base of operations to lessen paper consumption. Other than having near paper-less operations, they can also provide their clients with a discount if the boxes that are to be used were just recently used from a recent move from another client.
Want to have a stress free moving experience? Then why not contact Golan’s Movers today?
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