Category Archives: moving tips

Thirteen Budget-Friendly Moving Hacks: Cut Costs When Relocating

Posted on by
Reply

You’ve probably encountered the common belief that moving homes can be an incredibly stressful experience — a journey fraught with unforeseen challenges and chaotic moments that often feel beyond our control.

To add to the already daunting nature of moving, it’s important to recognize that transporting all your belongings from one home to another can also be quite costly.
Combine steep moving expenses with the stress of relocating, and you have a challenging combination that demands careful handling. It’s no surprise that everyone is eagerly seeking the most economical way to move across the country.

If you’re moving on a tight budget, you likely understand or anticipate the challenges ahead. However, don’t lose hope. The following 13 cost-effective moving tips, ideas, and tricks are crafted with one goal: to assist you in moving affordably, allowing you to save your hard-earned money whether you’re moving locally or across the country.

1. Manage Your Moving Costs:

Understanding how to move affordably will greatly benefit you when it comes time to settle the moving expenses. However, the key to saving during your move begins with creating a detailed relocation budget.

A personalized moving budget allows you to allocate your funds efficiently among the tasks ahead. It serves as a crucial tool, alerting you to any areas where additional financial resources may be needed. This proactive approach enables better control over your expenditures and allows for adjustments to ensure your initial budget allocation is sufficient.

2. Choose the Optimal Time to Move Out:

Utilize Your Flexibility in Choosing a Moving Date as a Key Cost-Saving Strategy

Taking advantage of flexibility in your moving schedule can be a major tactic for moving affordably. Booking your move well in advance may lead to discounts from your moving company. Opting for a move-out date during the off-peak season (September to May) often results in substantial savings, potentially slashing standard rates by 20-30% or more.

Another tip to save on moving costs is to steer clear of scheduling your move around national holidays, weekends, or the beginning and end of the month.

3. Efficiency Saves Money:

Time is indeed valuable, wouldn’t you say? One of the easiest and most effective cost-saving tips when moving is to strategically organize your time to maximize efficiency. By optimizing your schedule, you can save significant amounts of time. This newfound efficiency allows you to accomplish more tasks or even take well-deserved breaks during the moving process.

Develop a Moving Schedule to Make the Most of Each Day and Ensure You’re Well-Prepared for Moving Day. Regularly refer to your moving checklist to stay on track and efficiently manage your time, ultimately saving money through effective time management.

4. Seek Out the Most Economical Rates:

There are several effective ways to achieve a budget-friendly move, and the most economical approach for long distances involves hiring an affordable cross-country moving service. While it’s known to be challenging, with thorough research and careful planning, it can be done.

Dedicate time to researching reputable long-distance movers, obtaining accurate price estimates from each, meticulously comparing the quotes, and selecting the company that offers the best combination of price and additional services.

5. Minimize Your Cross-Country Cargo:

Of all the tips for moving on a budget, the most effective money-saving advice is crystal clear: only transport items you’ll need in the near future and discard the rest. It’s straightforward—the total weight of your shipment directly influences your moving costs.

If you haven’t used certain items in over a year or have forgotten about them entirely, it doesn’t make sense to pay to move them across the country to your new home. Take the time to declutter, streamline your belongings, and pack only what is essential for you.

6. Turn Your Unwanted Items into Cash by Selling Them:

Understanding how to save money when moving house is beneficial, but knowing how to generate income before moving out is even more advantageous. Consider converting your unwanted belongings into cash—extra funds that can significantly support your successful move.

After deciding what to take with you, organize a yard sale for the items you’re leaving behind. Additionally, sell unnecessary items online through specialized platforms like eBay, Craigslist, or Amazon to maximize your earnings.

Regardless, allocate the earned money toward your moving expenses.

7. Obtain Moving Boxes at No Cost:

It might seem surprising, but one of the largest expenses when packing up your home is purchasing cardboard boxes. The good news is that among all the cost-saving moving tips, finding free moving boxes has been proven effective.

You don’t have to pay for all your cardboard boxes. Obtain gently used boxes from friends who have recently moved or ask local businesses, which often have surplus boxes they are happy to give away for recycling purposes. This simple strategy can lead to substantial savings for your move!

8. Avoid Purchasing Most Packing Materials:

When it comes to saving money, did you know your home is likely stocked with packing materials that can serve as alternatives to those provided by movers? While they may not match the professional quality, they come at no cost to you.

Consider using baskets, buckets, trash cans, suitcases, drawers, and bags as containers for moving, and utilize blankets, bed sheets, towels, socks, and other clothing items for wrapping and cushioning. You can also use newspapers as padding, but be cautious to avoid direct contact with delicate items that have sensitive surfaces.

9. Handle Your Own Packing Whenever Possible:

Whether you’re still searching for the most affordable way to move locally or you’ve already identified the least expensive method for long-distance moves, the packing phase will significantly impact your costs.

If you don’t possess special or valuable items that necessitate professional packing services (such as a piano), consider packing your home with the help of friends. By avoiding the expense of professional packers, you can save a substantial amount of money on your move, whether it’s local or cross-country.

10. Plan a DIY Move:

When moving on a tight budget, it’s crucial to assess your affordable moving options and select the one that will save you the most money. With the average cost of an interstate move hovering around $4,300 and in-state moves averaging $2,300, it’s clear that moving house can be quite costly.

By enlisting the help of family and friends, securing a suitably sized moving vehicle, and limiting the amount of belongings you transport, organizing a DIY move is often the most economical approach for local moves.

11. Consider Your Employment-Related Moving Options:

If you’re relocating across the country for work, your employer might offer financial assistance for your moving expenses. In some cases, they may cover all relocation costs, which is the optimal scenario for job-related moves.

Regardless, when preparing to move, it’s advisable to discuss and potentially negotiate for full or partial reimbursement of your moving expenses with your employer. It’s always worth asking, isn’t it?

12. Check Your Eligibility for Tax Deductions:

If you are moving across the country for a full-time job and your new workplace is less than 50 miles from your new home, you may qualify for tax deductions related to packing, transportation, and storage expenses. This potential financial benefit is valuable, especially when you are seeking the most economical way to move out of state.

Ensure you retain all receipts and relevant documents pertaining to your cross-country move. Once you arrive at your new location, consult with a qualified tax advisor to determine your eligibility for tax deductions.

13. Practice Frugality Immediately After Moving:

Certainly, your primary goal when moving to a new home across the country is to employ effective money-saving tips and tricks to preserve your finances. However, it’s crucial to maintain these efforts even after the move is complete. Otherwise, your efforts to find affordable ways to move could be in vain.

Avoid the urge to splurge on new items for your new home immediately after moving in. The excitement of a successful move may tempt you to overspend. Instead, exercise restraint and wait until you are absolutely certain about the necessity of any purchases you plan to make.

Avoiding Common Moving Errors

Posted on by
Reply

If you’re preparing for a move, you’ve likely begun to feel the pressure. Whether you’re relocating nearby or across cities, the stress of packing and organizing can quickly become overwhelming.

Moving from one place to another requires effort, time, and money. Even with a month of planning, costly mistakes can still occur. Here are 5 typical moving errors and strategies to avoid them.

Moving without a well-thought-out plan

A seamless and successful move hinges on thorough planning and organization. It’s crucial to have a structured approach for every aspect of the moving process, such as acquiring suitable boxes, packing efficiently, selecting a moving company, and more. Many people find moving overwhelming due to a lack of clear prioritization and strategy for task management.

Once you’ve made the decision to move, create a personalized and prioritized moving checklist immediately. Commit to following it and break down tasks into manageable subtasks that you can check off as you complete them. A well-organized checklist ensures timely completion of pre-move preparations, minimizing the stress of last-minute rushes.

Delaying Packing Until the Final Moments

Let’s face it, packing is universally disliked. It’s tiring, time-consuming, and frankly, not enjoyable. However, it’s an essential part of moving that cannot be avoided. Whether you’re tempted to throw everything into boxes haphazardly and tape it shut, packing is unavoidable.

Another reality of moving is that things rarely go as smoothly as planned. Tasks that seem quick can unexpectedly stretch out, underscoring the importance of packing in advance.

Allocate ample time for packing based on your home’s size and the volume of belongings. If you have fragile items, factor in additional time for careful wrapping and packing.

If time is tight, consider discussing packing services with your professional movers to streamline the process.

Accumulating Excess Items

Before beginning to pack, take inventory of your belongings and identify items that have gone unused for a long period. Consider selling or donating these items. Decluttering can be freeing and will make the packing process less stressful.

Handling the Move Solo

While hiring professional movers for your move may come with a cost, it’s an investment that often pays off. While enlisting friends and family for help is an option, it can consume more time and carry risks like misplaced or damaged items.

Assess the scope of your move and determine your budget accordingly. If you have few belongings, a DIY approach might suffice. However, for larger quantities of items, seriously consider the benefits of hiring a reputable moving company.

Overlooking Your New Neighbors

When moving into a new home, it’s important to consider your neighbors. Plan ahead by coordinating where the moving truck will park to avoid blocking driveways or occupying excessive space. Notify your neighbors in advance to prevent any inconvenience during the move.

Pros and Cons of Reusing Moving Boxes

Posted on by
Reply

It can be both convenient and cost-effective to reuse moving boxes. Some people choose to reuse moving boxes to save money, conserve resources, and avoid waste. On the other hand, reusing boxes for moving can pose potential problems. Here are the pros and cons of reusing moving boxes.

Pros

Cost Savings: Cost savings is one of the primary reasons why many people choose to reuse moving boxes. Many people find that the cost of purchasing new boxes significantly outweighs the cost of collecting used boxes from stores, friends, or relatives. Secondhand boxes can be much cheaper than buying new ones.

Environmental Benefits: Reusing packing boxes for moving is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint. By reusing existing boxes, you are conserving resources and cutting down on the amount of waste that is sent to the landfill. Reusing boxes also saves energy and water that is used in the production of new cardboard boxes.

Convenience: Reusing old boxes for moving can save you time and energy. Many used boxes are already heavily reinforced with sturdy tape and packaging material, eliminating the need for extra packing supplies. Reused boxes come pre-formed and ready to pack, making them extremely easy to use.

Pros and Cons of Reusing Moving Boxes
Pros and Cons of Reusing Moving Boxes

Cons

Damaged Boxes: One of the primary concerns with reusing old boxes is that they may be weak or damaged from a previous move. Used boxes can lose their structural integrity, making them unsuitable for your move. Boxes may also be stained or infested with insects, posing a health risk. It’s important to thoroughly inspect used boxes prior to using them.

Uncertain Contents: When you use used boxes, you never know what kind of items were in them before. Used boxes may contain food residue, dust, pet hair, and other debris that you don’t want in your new home. It’s important to be aware of what you are packing in a used box in case there are any contamination concerns.

In conclusion, reusing old boxes can be a great way to save money and reduce waste. However, it is important to be aware of the potential risks associated with using used boxes. It’s important to inspect boxes for damage before using them and to be aware of the possible contamination risks. Consider the pros and cons of reusing boxes to determine whether it’s the right choice for your move.

Ways To Save Money on Moving Expenses

Posted on by
Reply

Saving money on moving expenses can be a daunting task, especially when you’re trying to move a lot of items and belongings. However, by following the 7 tips below, you can save money on moving expenses and make the process much smoother.

  1. Plan ahead: Planning ahead is essential to saving money on moving expenses. Start by researching different moving companies and getting quotes from each one. Also, make sure to get quotes for both local and long-distance moves.
  1. Get organized: When moving, it pays to be organized. Gather all of your belongings and place them in labeled boxes or bags. This will make it easier to pack, load, and unload your items.
  1. Purge and donate: Purging your belongings and donating items you no longer need can save you money on moving expenses. Donating your items can also help you save on storage costs.
Save Money on Moving Expenses
Save Money on Moving Expenses

  1. Do it yourself: If you’re physically able, consider doing the move yourself. This will save you money on labor and truck rental costs.
  1. Recruit help: If you’re unable to do the move yourself, consider recruiting family and friends to help. This can be a great way to save money on labor costs.
  1. Buy used boxes: Buying used boxes is a great way to save money on packing materials. You can often find free or discounted boxes at local stores, Craigslist, or Freecycle.
  1. Shop around: When selecting a moving company, it pays to shop around. Compare quotes from different companies and make sure to read the fine print.

By following these 7 tips, you can save money on moving expenses and make the process much easier. Planning ahead and organizing your belongings will make the move much smoother and less stressful. Finally, don’t forget to shop around to get the best deal on a moving company.

Right way to unload a moving truck

Posted on by
Reply

The delightful relocation process excites everyone, but it may become disastrous, if the unloading process is not done the right way. Paramount importance must be given for loading and unloading items safely, since no one wants their prized possessions to get damaged. For a safe and trouble free moving experience, it is much recommended to take some precaution measures, while unloading your goods upon delivery. Whether you’re choosing DIY approach or hiring professional movers, sensible and organized planning makes you’re move a smooth and successful one.

Things to be done before packing items:

Create a detailed floor plan:

It takes much time to arrange the unloaded items in your new home. Creating a floor plan of your new residence with markings of the exact positions, where your major house hold items must be placed, reduce the hassle of unloading and arranging goods at your new home. The thoughtful trick that gears up unloading process is that paste colorful labels on the door frames of your new home’s empty rooms and boxes that must be placed in those rooms, this way the goods boxes can be placed in their corresponding rooms easily without gulping time and wrecking nerves.

Sort help:

It is highly impossible to unload all your belongings from truck by yourself. In order to ensure the safety of your items, it is wise to sort help from either professional movers or friends, and also ensure their availability on moving day before itself. However the best option is to let professional movers do the jobs for you. Since, they are equipped with all the necessary items that are required for unloading all your belongings from truck and shifting them inside your new home. Another cool factor is that you can avoid moving injuries by hiring efficient professional movers.

Time management:

Relocation is a daunting task that requires ample amount of time, so a well ahead planning gives you relief from the moving stress. Several factors such as size of the boxes, weight of the boxes, number of boxes, experience of the professional movers, and availability of moving equipment decides the time of your unloading process. The weather conditions also play a dominant role, when you’re carrying out your move. So, manage your available time properly to get rid from last minute frustrations and enjoy a hassle free move.

Reserve a parking area beforehand:

Reserve an appropriate parking place for the moving truck well in advance, so that your goods can be unloaded and shifted safely within short span of time. It is well and good, if the vehicle is parked in front of your new home, since you can ensure the safety of your valuable belongings and also the long carry fee payment is avoided.

Be cautious:

There are possibilities of floor damage, when you unload and unpack your invaluable possessions into your new residence without using any protective materials. Usage of carpet film protectors, old blankets, large pieces of cardboard and rugs reduce the floor harm. Cover the stair case with some anti- slippery materials, to avoid unnecessary risks during unloading items. If your move is during rainy season, it’s better to change the floor coverings once or twice, not allowing the moisture to soak through the floor. The walls and doors must also be covered with corner guards and foam padding’s, in order to protect them from scratches.

Keep your pathways obstacle free:

For safe unloading and shifting of goods, the pathway leading to your home must be free from obstacles such as debris, dead leaves, snow, mud, over grown bushes, tree branches etc. Place the already shifted items away from the path that you’re using for unloading other goods. At any point of time personal protection is also very vital. Wear comfortable clothes that do not restrict your movements, boots with anti-slippery soles, and gloves. The back support reduces the risk of strain and also don’t forget to use dolly that significantly reduce your unloading burdens. Children and pets may get injured or cause injuries, when they run around you while you’re carrying goods, so keep them at bay before starting the unloading process.

Tips for quick unloading:

Unload the items in right order:

Load the over-sized boxes first; so that it can be unloaded last, this way these boxes do not harm the miscellaneous items and fragile items that are placed above it. Once the loading process is over, secure the boxes with bungee cords, restricting the movement of the goods during transportation. While unloading, the breakables must be removed before the delicate household appliances. So that there will be enough space for other bulkier items to get out from truck. Unload the heavy furniture and wardrobe boxes at last.

Employ proper lifting and carrying techniques:

When you’re lifting heavy items, it is advisable to bend your knees and lift with your leg’s strength, instead of back. To avoid slipping of boxes, hold it close to your body and move with smaller steps. Bulkier items must be shifted, only through moving ramp or dolly. Don’t be in haste while unloading or unpacking as it will end up with serious consequences.

Rest the items in their designated places:

Rearranging the shifted materials several times is overwhelming, it is far better to arrange the items directly in their designated places itself. Make sure that no item left inside the storage area of the rental truck and every item is placed in its corresponding place. In case if you’re using moving company, check that the received items match with the inventory list. Once all the belongings are unloaded, carefully unpack the items. The plastic wraps, cardboard boxes, bubble wraps, plastic crates and other protective materials must be removed with great care and maintained at good condition, since you can use these items again, if there is a need. Give importance to dispose the waste moving supplies properly.

The moving advice furnished above makes the hard pressed unloading process easier and let your successful moving experience a memorable one.

Moving to a Beach Town

Posted on by
Reply

Beach towns are prime locations for vacations, businesses and residential movers. Coastal living allows you to spend your free time on the sand, in the water, by the water, enjoy water sports and take sun bath. Beach town offer you lot of benefits and opportunities that winter climates do not provide. Most of the people want to enjoy the sunny and warm weather. So, they move their residence to beach town. Here are few useful tips for exciting beach town relocation.

Pros of beach town relocation:
Pleasant and Enjoyable climate:
You can eliminate the hassle of wearing several layers of clothing and throwing salt or sand in front of your garage, in order to protect your car from getting drift on the ice. Beach town has a warm weather that allows you to swim, walk along the beach, smell the ocean air and pick up the sea shells. Beach town moving is great for water lovers, boating groups, fishing enthusiasts, golfing addicts and nature admirers.

Good for health:
People can be hale and healthy by living in a beach town. Ocean water can alleviate the skin allergies and it is good for rhino pharynx, sinuses etc. The air by the water is good for breathing and keeps you refreshed. You can enjoy the bliss of early morning sun that is rich in vitamin D, which has positive influences on the human body. Walking or jogging on the beach sand, the natural body shaper removes the dead skin cells of your body. Beach town moving benefits you to greater extent.

Kid’s welfare:
Beach town give more opportunities for your kids to mingle with others, play together and socialize. Costal living gives them a healthy environment and motivates them to play outdoor games, instead of playing computer games and watching TV.

An Excellent place for nature lovers:
Beach towns are the excellent place for site seeing. The place is ideal for watching sea side animals, birds and enjoying natural breezy climate. Nature admirers always have great love for coastal areas that are treasured with natural beauties such as sea shells, snails, fishes etc.

Tips for beach town relocation:
What to pack:
Opt for comfortable attire:
When moving to beach town carry enough casuals, in order to keep you more comfortable, but never ever over pack. Over baggage can be avoided by packing outfits that can be worn in multiple combinations. Do not forget to pack your swim wear, beach towels and sun hats. The hat protects you from the scorching sun, which cause skin tanning.

Sun glasses and sun screens:
Prolonged exposure to sun is extremely dangerous, so pack sunscreen with SPF15+ that helps you to protect from sun burns. You can get rid from the effect of UV rays, by using sunglasses that have larger lenses.

Be prepared with a beach bag:
The washable and spacious beach bag allow you to carry wet wipes, baby powder and Ziploc bags that secure your electronic items, wallets, wet swim wears and change of clothes.

Home appliances:
Carefully pack all the home appliances and furniture by using moving supplies and cardboard boxes. The safety of your belongings is ensured by packing it with bubble wrap and cushion padding. Renting plastic crates and pre used boxes from friends and neighbors enable you to carry out your moving process in a cost efficient way. For easy packing of the furniture, dismantle it first and then start packing. The fragile kitchen wares must be packed with the help of sectioned boxes. While loading into the truck, load the fragile items last, this way it can be safely unloaded first at your new residence. After loading, use rope or bungee cords to secure your belongings, so that the boxes don’t move during transportation.

Adapt to the weather:
When moving to beach town, you need to adapt to the beach weather that is pleasantly soothing and sometimes humid and muggy. Constantly monitor your health and keep right precautions and care handy, if you feel that your body do not accommodates the change of weather.

Do research:
Select proper beach town based on availability of resources and also assess whether the place is suitable for you. Get help from moving consultants for choosing better place.

Look for assistance:
Keep in mind that relocation is not one man affair; it is fair to have movers to assist your relocation process. Before selecting the movers it is good to check their credentials, this way you’re less likely to get scammed. The reputation of your movers can also be checked in official transportation sites such as my moving reviews, yelp etc, which give you clear idea about your moving company through reviews and ratings. For cost efficient move, try to get quote from at least 5 companies, so that you can end up with suitable company that fits into your budget.

Top beach town locations in United States:
Florida:
It is the picture perfect beach town destination. Florida is one of the top affordable beach town locations that boast commercial fishing. It is the perfect choice to escape from the hassles of busy city.

Cayucos, California:
Cayucos, halfway between the San Francisco and L.A. is a delightful beach town, which have beautiful beaches and beautiful people. The ultimate beach town destination, give you an instant relaxed vibe.

Myrtle beach, South Carolina:
Myrtle’s scenic beaches and lively community attract millions of visitors every year. It is one of the sought after beach town, since it offer several amenities.

Cape cod, Massachusetts:
It is the iconic north east beach town that allow you to enjoy long walks on the beach, lighthouse peeping, whale watching, sailing, surfing, bird watching and photography.

Naples:
The Naples is treasured with aquamarine waters, white sand beaches and palm trees dotting the shore line. This exquisite tropical destination resembles that of a paradise. The warm weather of the place promotes outdoor activities to great extent.

Santa Cruz:
Santa Cruz is a most popular beach town, known for its rocky coast and picture perfect ocean views. It is the wonderful surfing destination that grabs the attention of people all around the world.

The above furnished information helps the beach town movers to carry out their move in a stress-free manner.

Moving tips for local moves

Posted on by
Reply

Whether you move across a country or across a street, moving is always a daunting task. Even, the Employee Relocation Council reported that relocation is considered to be the third most stressful life event. Lack of proper planning is the prime cause of moving stress. Here are few tips to save money and time when you’re moving locally.
Plan ahead :
Start the moving preparation as far in advance as you can, since it is time consuming and detailed process. In order to make your move ultimately simple and less hectic, activities such as, changing over your utilities, acquiring packing supplies must be done beforehand. Reserve the professional movers as soon as possible because last minute booking will result in unavailability of the movers and also you should pay a pretty steep price.
Concentrate on wise packing :
Spent ample of time in carefully packing your items, keep in mind that it is overwhelming to pack up the entire things in your home or apartment in one or two days, so pack well in advance. Before you start packing quickly sort through your belonging and unload the seldom or never used stuffs. The garage sale will fetch you some instant cash and eliminate the hassle of packing unwanted items. Ask for pre-used boxes from your movers and in case if you are doing the packing by yourself rent the plastic crates and moving supplies, instead of buying new one, this way, the money can be saved to greater extent. The safety of your breakables is ensured by padding it with bubble wraps.
Rental truck :
If you are relocating by DIY approach then you need a rental truck to shift your belongings. The rental truck companies charge you based on the mileage, if your move is short, you may save money by booking trucks that offer you cheaper rental rate. Be aware of the company’s insurance policies and what it actually covers, since, most of the companies offer you reimbursement with high deductibility and only covers certain types of damage. For instance, roof damage is quite common but it is often left out. By reserving the truck far in advance, you can ensure the truck availability and you can also choose your own convenient pick up and drop dates. While loading the items, first load the furniture and then heaviest boxes, thirdly load the breakable items so that during unloading process the breakables are unloaded first without getting damaged. Hire the truck based on the volume of the goods, renting smaller truck and making multiple trips makes you to end up with additional charges.

Label the belongings :
Labeling the boxes informatively helps you to keep track of your stuff. The hassle after the move can be eliminated by simply writing the room names on the boxes with marker so that it is easy for you to unpack the items and place it in appropriate place. Instead of manual labeling, the boxes can be labeled electronically by using mobile inventory software. The home inventory tools mobile app helps you to maintain a detailed database of your stuff. The encoded labeling with QR codes is another useful method. Since, it is annoying to fit the entire inventory on the label and you may also feel discomfort able to expose the content of your box, if it contains expensive items, in such cases the QR code labeling is a decent solution.

Look for helpers :
The moving can be miserable experience if you do it alone. Getting help from friends and neighbors makes the move much easier and faster. If you have enough friends, schedule your friends in shifts and get your work done, do not commit your friends to a full day of physical labor. For a local move, instead of hiring movers, getting help from friends and neighbors is a wise choice. Taking photos of the connections of your home appliances helps you to easily install it in your new home since these photos give you a detailed description about how the wires are connected.

Keep your essentials handy :
During peak season move, you may arrive quickly than your belongings, so keep your essentials such as spare dress, toiletries etc within easy access. In order to ensure the safety of your laptop, it is always advisable to transport it along with you, this way you can minimize the risk of getting it damaged or stolen during the move.

Cut down the boxes :
Trashing the unwanted items makes the packing process easy and it also reduce the number of card board boxes. The professional movers charge by volume of your goods, purging your possessions helps you to save money. Moving is the great time to unload the unneeded furniture, sell it on Craigslist. Do not forget to make a prior visit to your new residence before the move to ensure that the furniture properly fits into your new home to avoid unnecessary frustrations.

Prepare moving checklists :
A stress free moving can be experienced by preparing a checklist that covers every aspect of your move. Check list helps you to carry out the moving process in a well organized manner and the risk of missing things is greatly minimized.

Hire professional movers :
DIY approach or involving friends in moving process may save your money but the safe move is provided only by the professional movers. The unfortunate injuries during the moving process can be eliminated by hiring professional movers because they have undergone rigorous training on moving process and they stick to moving ethics. Do online research and find out the suitable movers, who fits into your budget. The selection process can be made much easier by getting referrals. Before choosing the moving company, get quotes at least from five companies, in this way you can hire a cost effective movers. Once you select your moving company sign a contract with them and the agreement should list all the needed supplies, number of trucks, total cost and the total number of boxes you are loading inside the truck etc. While signing the contract ensure that you sign a filled agreement without any blanks, to avoid the moving scams.

Invaluable moving tips for college students

Posted on by
Reply

The moving experience can be both exciting and stress full for a college student. It is quite challenging for students to leave behind the comforts of home in favor of a cramped dorm room. With organized packing and a support team to help with the move, the hectic moving process can be made simple. Here are few tips that help the students to set up their new living space with minimal stress and hassles.

Do not over pack :

Keep in mind that the dorm room is a small living space and you can’t stuff everything you bring, so keep your packing simple. Pack your belongings in suit cases or sealed cartons, since, it can be moved easily and quickly. To avoid unnecessary frustrations, do not bring loose belongings. During the peak season move, the shipped belongings may not be immediately available, it is wise to pack the essentials in a separate box and bring it with you, instead of shipping. Label your boxes with your name and address both inside and outside, this way you can reduce the possibilities of getting your box missed or mixed up with other’s belongings. If you want to bring some furniture, opt for bean bags and small disassembling type chairs. While packing electronic items, pad it with bubble wrap to protect it from damage. In order to make unpacking easier, pack the similar items together. The over sized boxes are hassle to carry, so don’t get yourself into trouble by over packing.

Shipping of the goods :

Hire reputed shipping agent and insure the goods before shipping, signing contract helps you to avoid the moving scams. Ensure that the company is offering reasonable quote and do not forget to mention it in the contract. Unless you’re moving overseas, the most inexpensive method to get your stuff from home to college dorm room is rental cars. This self serving move is highly cost effective, since, you’re not paying for any movers and you are reducing your work load by getting help from friends and neighbors.

Keep tools handy :

Being prepared with tools and other helpful extras such as screws, screw drivers, hammers, nails etc, will help you to set up loft for your bed or assemble furniture. You can also make simple repairs by using these handy tools. Keep in mind that the comforts of home are not available in dorm room, keeping the useful tools within access will smoothen your move-in process.

Consider the weather :

Before your move be aware of the prevailing weather conditions of your new living space and pack the seasonal clothing accordingly. If you have chosen a late fall move then the climate will be very cool, packing light weight sweaters, long sleeved shirts and jackets helps you to get rid from the feel of shivering.

Toiletries and bedding :

The toiletries are very essential wherever you go, since; you start your day with toiletries such as tooth paste, brush, soap, shampoo etc. your mom is not going to do your laundry anymore, so pack yourself with enough detergents. It is good to pack both toiletries and bedding far in advance. Your day ends with bedding, so it must also be given paramount importance. Accompanying blanket, linens, mattress cover and pillow will give you feel-home comfortable.

Avoid hazardous materials :

Do not pack hazardous materials that are flammable such as kerosene, gas lamps, immersion coils and open coiled appliances. These items catches fire easily, you’re safety is ensured by prohibiting these harmful materials.

First- aid kit :

The first aid kit containing band-aids, pain reliever’s helps you lot when you’re outside your home. Untreated small wounds will end up with severe pain; keeping first aid kit handy favors immediate medication to injuries.

Resist shopping :

Instead of prior shopping, it is best to shop with your roommates after your move. Advance shopping will end up with stocking up on the necessities that you won’t need. When you shop with your roommates, you can split the cost and buy things, which are actually needed. Making prior visit to your dorm room, give you an idea what should be brought and what should not be brought, this way you can save both money and time.

Move-In day :

For a peaceful moving experience, plan your move on mid-week date, avoid weekend move, when everyone else will be moving for a vacation. In order to protect yourself from the scorching heat, opt for early morning or evening move. Your college may offer limited dollies, bringing your own dolly, makes the transport job simple and save you from long waiting times. Since, most of the moving happens in summer, follow a strategy for unloading. Ensure that you load the temperature sensitive items last, so that you can unload it first.

Give preference to utility services :

Setting up the essential utilities such as phone, cable and internet before the moving day, helps you to get rid from unwanted last minute frustrations.

Look for discounts :

Several stationary and grocery shops, moving companies and restaurants offer discounts for students. It is wise to carry your college I.D wherever you go and make use of these offers. Sort out your belongings and find the items that you seldom used and opt for a garage sale or yard sale, which fetch you instant cash. As a student save money whenever and wherever you can, this way you can ensure that your expense do not exceed your planned budget.

Organize your activities :

Once you moved in, first and foremost thing you want to do is decoration. Make sure that you give more preference for arranging your couches, beds and closets, instead of hanging posters and pictures. Develop a floor plan of your apartment or dorm room, before arranging your furniture, so that you need not break your head, to get them rightly placed. Placing the big items in the appropriate place, before the fun stuff goes on walls and shelves, makes your living place clean and tidy.

By following the above guidelines you can eliminate the stress and hassles of moving and make your successful moving experience a memorable one.

Tell us about your moving experience by submitting reviews about moving companies.

10 things to consider before hiring a professional mover

Posted on by
Reply

Much of the stress that comes with moving can be relieved by knowing and understanding your rights, before hiring a professional mover. Even, the moving companies are required by the law to provide their customers with federal publications explaining the moving process, in addition to their rights and responsibilities. Being aware of your rights, helps you to stay away from moving scams and make your moving experience a blissful one.

Ask for proper Estimates :

The moving company provides you with three kinds of estimates:

Binding: The final price of the move may exceed the estimated cost.

Non-binding: The final cost must be exactly the estimated cost.

Guaranteed-not-to-exceed: The final cost must be lower than the amount in the estimate.

You can select your comfortable estimate and make sure that the estimate is in writing, rather than verbal. Insist on on-site estimates and avoid upfront payment of cash. Deal with the moving company that inspect your home and prepare in-home estimates because only scammers tell their estimate over phone and demand extra fees by holding your belongings. As per “Consumer Protection Act”, it is offence to hold customer’s possessions, you can file a complaint against your mover and they will be punished under the section of “paid under protest”.

Consider the contracts :

To protect yourself from getting cheated, make sure that the estimate quoted by the moving company is a part of your contract, so that mover cannot charge you more than the quoted cost. The contract must include mover’s name, permanent address, description of their services, cost of the move, date of delivery, size and value of items that should be moved etc. Under the law of CPA (Consumer Protection Act), the contract must be in writing and it should be signed both by the customers and the movers.

Bill of lading :

The bill of lading is a receipt, which is issued by the movers to the consumer, after loading the items in the trucks. This receipt contains the information about the owner of the goods and all other estimates must be attached to it, before commencing the shipment. The moving company should also give inventory of house hold items, when loading the items in their transportation vehicle.

Reimbursement for your lost or damaged goods :

The moving company takes full responsibility for the damaged and disappeared items, during the move. All the moving companies have three levels of reimbursement options.

Minimal reimbursement: You are paid with 60 cents per pound for the items that is lost or damaged during the move.

Depreciated value: You are paid with the actual value of your goods.

Replacement value: The moving company will be ready to give anything that you declare as replacement.

It is mandatory for the moving company to specify the level of reimbursement for the damaged items in the service agreement, if they do not mention then they are liable to give full replacement value. The moving company is also liable to repair your damaged items, instead of replacing it with new one.

Claim for loss :

If you notice that any of your belongings are missing or damaged, you can file a written claim against your moving company, and the company should provide coverage for your loss, within 30 days. Once they receive your claim, the moving company will send you an acknowledgement receipt within 15 days. If the claim is not filed within 60 days after shipment, the company need not pay for the customer for the damaged goods.

Inquire the moving company :

Don’t hesitate to inquire your moving company about its insurance policies because most of the companies have policies that do not cover the items that you have packed. Ask your movers to show the storage space that they are using to store the items, this way you can ensure the security of your goods and minimize the possibilities of additional charges. Verify the license of your moving company to check its reputation. Dealing with licensed and insured company makes your relocation process easy.

Ask for copies of the documents :

Before signing any agreements, make sure that you read the entire agreement, also check no page is left unwritten. Ask for copies of all the documents you sign, especially bill of lading, which contains the entire details of the transaction and avoid dealing with the companies that refuse to give copies of the documents.

Get written “Order for Service” :

Getting the order for service in writing will save you from charge disputes. If you want to shift the items that are not included in the service agreement, then you can ask your company for “order for service” option, in which they shift the extra items for additional payment. Make sure that the order for service is written, to avoid ending up with doubling of the cost after the move.

File complaint :

The dispute with the company can be solved by writing a complaint letter to the company, explaining the issue, if they are not ready to hear your problem then a complaint can be filed against the moving company in the official website of the transportation department www.puco.ohio.gov. The PUCO (Public Utilities Commission Ohio) will help you in resolving your complaint with the moving company.

Be aware of moving scams :

Do online research and find minimum three professional moving companies in your locality and get multiple bids, so that it is easy for you to choose the right mover, who fits into your budget. Look for companies that have been in moving process for at least ten years. During peak season, scammers come out large in number, so checking the reputation of your moving company is very important. If you suspect your movers, call BBB (Better Business Bureau) and check the rating and the number of complaints your movers has on file. If you’re aware of fake movers and have knowledge about moving scams, then you’re less likely to get scammed.

By knowing your basic rights and responsibilities, you can make your move hassle-free.

Ways to avoid scam movers

Posted on by
Reply

Whether your move is short term or long term, it’s over whelming and usually takes place during a busy time in your life. Now-a-days, the moving industries are much prone to scams. There are many unscrupulous movers, who hold your belongings and demand more cost than the estimated one. Hiring a scam mover is like leaving your home unlocked when you’re on a vacation. Here are some basic guidelines, which helps you to avoid scam movers.

Don’t let the moving company to hold your belongings:

The scammers come out in large numbers during summer, the busiest season for the moving industry. The scam movers do not stick to the quoted cost, they will double the estimated amount with no validation, and if you refuse to pay the extra amount, they hold your belongings. This is similar to “hostage” situation. Insisting on an on-site estimate and choosing a reputable moving company are the best options to get rid from moving scams and charge disputes.

Check the mover’s credentials:

Approach a company after a cross check

Approach the company after a quick check on the company’s previous moves and licensing policies.

If you hire a moving company for your relocation, it is good to pay a prior visit to their office and meet the movers in person, since many disreputable movers are operating from fake address. Look for a company that offers transport truck for your move, the companies without their own rolling billboard is a definite red flag. During peak season move, you may come across many unlicensed, inefficient, jump-up moving companies, so before hiring, check out the reviews of your movers. In order to protect your items from getting damaged or disappeared, it is recommended to get everything clearly written from the movers, before boarding your belongings on the truck because scam movers refuse to put everything or anything in writing. You can also check the authorization of your moving company by verifying its Pro-Mover certificate, issued by AMSA (American Moving and Storage Association).

Aware of your insurance liability:

The Law says that for damaged or lost goods the movers are required to cover up 60 cents per pound, you can even claim additional amount based on the nature of damage. Sign up for extra insurance for the most valuable possessions. Make sure that your moving company has proper insurance norms by checking in protectyourmove.gov, an official site of the Department of Transportation, which gives information such as moving company’s license number, insurance policies, number of drivers, number of trucks and service ratings. This site helps you to identify the fake movers, who charge upfront for moves and give estimates over phone or on-line.

Ask for references:

Relocation is not a one-man’s affair, so ask your friends and neighbors, who have recently shifted, to refer a reputable movers. Even real estate agents are a great source for finding reputable movers. If you are hiring a moving company found online, ensure that the address published in their website, really exists. Prepare a list of services you need and hire a mover who can accommodate your needs at reasonable cost. Your money can be saved by getting multiple estimates and ensure that the estimate is done at your home.

Double check the moving contract:

Make sure that your agreement is listed with all the details of your transaction that includes delivery date, needed moving supplies, and a complete list of your belongings that you’re going to move and don’t forget to mention the cost quoted by the moving company to avoid unnecessary arguments at the end of your move. It is also mandatory to specify that no additional fee must be charged by drivers as tips or for other allowance. Before you sign a contract, it is important to know your company’s claim process, whether they have their own claim agent or outsource it to a third party. In order to stay away from scammers, never sign contract with blanks, always ensure that the agreement is filled before signing it.

Employ binding estimates:

Look for companies that offer binding estimates, where the final total cost should not exceed the estimate price. The binding estimate, financially safeguard the customers and reduce the addition of multiple fees, after the shipment of the goods.

Be available:

Spent ample of time with the movers and constantly monitor them while hefting your furniture and other valuables. Most of the scam movers abandon your belongings in a private storage facility and fold up shop, while you’re awaiting the delivery. So, being in the premises, will save your possession from getting damaged or disappeared, also be in touch with the movers throughout your move.

Stay away from moving brokers:

When you deal directly with the moving company without any intermediate brokers then you’re less likely to get scammed. Many fake brokers, doing on-line scam by setting up fake slick- looking websites.

Don’t load your goods in unregistered trucks:

The reputed moving companies have their trucks etched with their company logos. The trucks that are left unnamed and movers dressed in un-uniform are the clear indication of scammers. After unloading the goods from the truck, open the box in presence of the movers, to check for obvious damage, if any, you can deduct your moving charge.

Pay for weight not cubic feet:

Make sure that your movers are charging you by considering the weight of your goods, instead of the space occupied by your belongings. When it is charged for weight, we can cross check the cost by measuring the volume of the goods whereas it is difficult to do the same when charged based on the space occupied by the belongings.

Charge on the basis of weight of the goods

Don’t pay cash before the move:

If you settle the deal by paying cash before your move, and if the company does not provide you the receipt, then there is no evidence of the paid transaction, and the moving company can disappear with your possessions, pretending that no transaction ever happened.

You can enjoy hassle free move by being aware about the common scams carried by the movers and by following the above tips you can end up with a secure and sound relocation at reasonable cost.