Author Archives: Ed Mezer

Long Distance Moving and Family Life

Long Distance Moving

long distance moving

Long distance moving

Sometimes, circumstances dictate when the whole family can move together.  Maybe your spouse transferred jobs, but you haven’t yet sold the house or you want the kids to finish the school year before the moving company moves everything to your new home.  Maybe you are embarking on a long-distance romance until you decide where you both can reside together.  Today with technology, living apart doesn’t have to intervene with your relationship or family life.  Of course, you’ll miss the proximity you once shared, but you will survive by making these temporary accommodations.

Plan Frequent Visits

Depending on how far apart you’re living from your spouse or family, try to schedule frequent visits at either location.  Seeing each other happy in familiar and new settings will comfort you and also excite you about the future when the movers will bring your belongings and help you settle into your new surroundings with your loved ones.  The anticipation for in-person visits will guide you through the difficult and lonely times.

Keep Communication Lines Open

Staying connected is vital when you’re living apart.  Schedule a definite time during the day when you talk on the phone, Skype or FaceTime with one another, so you’re up-to-date on daily happenings and when you need a friendly face to wish you a goodnight.  Social media channels offer the chance to share daily life and milestones as well as how you’re feeling.  Use e-mail to communicate about issues regarding your house sale, potential neighborhoods to live in and when, finally, to contact the moving company.

Stay Busy

If you keep busy by participating in activities or joining clubs in your new neighborhood, you’ll feel less lonely and will meet new friends, learning about your new locale.  When loved ones join you, and the movers transport you all to your new home, you’ll be able to introduce them around the neighborhood like you’ve lived there forever.

Establish Rules

Before the separation occurs, go over any rules to keep during your time apart.  Whether it’s how to maintain the household, staying faithful to your partner or how much money to spend on what and when, you must discuss.  If you share children, it’s even more tantamount to establish rules, follow routines and keep discipline consistent.  Remember that until the moving company reunites you that the parent who’s the primary caretaker now must make decisions about daily life with the kids and their partner must respect and understand this.  Moving decisions may also fall into that person’s lap, too.

Understand Each Other

During this transition period and temporary separation, emotions will be hard to harness and will cause occasional misunderstandings.  The best thing you can do is express understanding and reassurance, talking about anything that’s bothering you.  Clearing the air and not allowing concerns and fears to fester will strengthen your relationships.  Some children will need constant reassurance that the situation will improve, won’t last forever and that your family is a strong, loving one.  Once the waiting period is over, contact Pony Express for all your long distance moving needs.  Being reunited will feel so good!

Moving Your Elderly Parent

Moving Elderly Parent

Moving Elderly Parent

Maybe you saw it coming or it hit you like a ton of bricks – your parent is growing old and role reversal is beginning.  The time has come when your parent needs to move out of their “forever” home and start their next life chapter by either moving in with you or into a retirement community.  In order to make this challenging time easier, you must assist them with decisions like hiring a moving company and offer them support when they’re adjusting to their new lifestyle.  Transitions can be tricky, but here’s how to smooth them over.

Support Them Emotionally

Giving up the home where they lived most of their adult life, with memories permeating every corner, can be traumatic.  Your parent chose this home to build a happy life, carefully selecting the right furnishings and creating a welcoming family haven.  Leaving this place may be the right solution, but that doesn’t make it any easier.  Listen to their concerns and let them vent their frustration and sadness.  Even though moving may be ideal, they fear loss of control over their circumstances, says A Place for Mom .

Where Will They Live?

Where will the movers deliver your parent’s possessions? Figure out what your parent needs along with your close relatives and decide what’s best for your parent – moving in with you or to a retirement community or other facility.  Ask them what they’d be most comfortable doing and who in the family can handle the responsibility.

Discuss Changes With Family

When decisions have been made and moving services arranged, talk with the family about how the move affects everyone.  Then you can discuss what house rules need revision and what new routines must be implemented.  Ensure family members including your Moving Elderly Parent are aware of the changes, who is responsible for what, how it will work and that everyone is on board.  Work out any kinks before the move occurs.

What to Keep vs. What to Give Away

One of the hardest parts about downsizing, especially when sentimental objects are involved, is deciding what to keep and what to dispose of or give away.  You parent may need a sensitive hand to hold while sorting through the furniture and possessions they collected through the years.  If they decide that some items are too precious to get rid of, but they do not have the space to store them in their new home, investigate what storage options we offer through FlatRate Moving.

What Do They Need?

In considering what your parent needs to stay happy and healthy, many factors arise.  Will they require supervision during the day or are they self-sufficient? Will they need to be driven to daily activities or doctors’ appointments or do they still drive well?  Will they have enough companionship in the area? Are activities they enjoy readily available and local? Are their favorite stores in the neighborhood? How can you help them acclimate to their surroundings?

Modify Your Home

Another consideration to make is how your house will accommodate your parent if they move in.  You may need to modify your living space, so that they’re comfortable and free from dangers like falling or climbing stairs.  What are their privacy needs, says Caring.com, and do you need to remodel an attic or another room for them?  Will your finances cover the extra expenses or will they be able to contribute to your home expenses and their personal care?  Before you contact the moving company, decisions must be finalized to benefit Moving Elderly Parent.

How to Move During Major Holidays

Move During Major HolidaysHow to Move During Major Holidays

When you decide to move, you never know when your actual moving day will be.  If you’re selling a home, it could be snatched up by a buyer within a month or take over a year to find the right person.  Unexpectedly, you could end up moving around a major holiday or celebratory event like a birthday or graduation.  This complicates things if you wish to celebrate, and the moving company is scheduled to arrive during the festivities.  No disappointment necessary – you can celebrate and move simultaneously without missing the fanfare by following these moving tips.

Talk to Your Moving Company

Check with your moving company regarding moving rates during major holidays and holiday weekends to ensure it doesn’t cost more than anticipated.  If you absolutely must move around that time, you can budget for more money.  Also, make sure that movers are available at that time.  Packing in advance or hiring movers to pack for you will relieve extra pressure.

Traffic Report

Ask your municipality about changes and delays in traffic patterns due to previously scheduled parades and other holiday events.  Finding out at the last minute that a road is closed could interrupt the route chosen for moving.  Inform your movers of possible snags in transporting your furniture which they may or may not realize and let them know your concerns.

Hire a Sitter

If you have younger children who are disappointed in missing out on holiday festivities because of the move, find a sitter.  A sitter could take your little ones to a Halloween Trunk-n-Treat or the fireworks.  It will enable you to move into your new place and keep them amused.  Although they will miss their parents in the beginning, they’ll return with happy holiday stories to share.

Look for Holiday Activities

Before you move to your new town, find out what holiday activities they offer residents or what nearby festive events are happening.  Although you may cherish your typical holiday traditions, here’s your chance to create new ones, make new memories and meet new neighbors.

Host a Themed Housewarming or Holiday Party

How much fun would it be to host a holiday-themed housewarming party or in celebration of family milestones like an anniversary?  In fact, with a ready-made theme, a joint housewarming/holiday party will be memorable, highly anticipated and easy to plan.  If you need assistance from friends and family, ask them to bring a paintbrush to help paint, food for a potluck party or wear comfortable clothes for an unpacking party.

Don’t Stress Over Decorations

Yes, decorations are part of the magic of the holidays, whether it’s for Christmas, Independence Day or a special birthday, but is it the most important ingredient? Absolutely not! Adding to your stress by worrying that you didn’t hang graduation balloons on the mailbox after you just moved is unnecessary.   Furthermore, don’t beat yourself up that your furniture isn’t perfectly arranged or a trash can temporarily lurks in the living room.  With time, your home will assume its welcoming aura.

Postpone the Party

Maybe moving wiped you out so much that you just cannot fathom celebrating.  A holiday or birthday celebrated on a different day does not diminish the fun or its importance.  Postpone the party until after your moving boxes are empty and your energy returns.  Then you can party hearty and celebrate in style in your new home. Remember, moving is hard work and all you need for a perfect holiday is your favorite people.

Moving into a House with a Pool

house with a poolBuying a home with a pool brings the luxury of a resort or club right to your own backyard.  Imagine sunning yourself by the side of the pool, then taking a quick dip to cool off – it’s a vacation every day.  While the fantasy of owning a pool appears ideal, the reality is that owning a pool requires a lot of work.  More than you probably anticipated when the moving company started unloading boxes into your new home.  If you never owned a pool before, read below for pool maintenance pointers.

Daily Pool Care

Some daily pool maintenance is self-explanatory like putting pool toys away and sweeping around the pool’s exterior.  Other jobs like skimming the pool should be done often, says How Stuff Works, to keep it clean, and strainer baskets should be emptied, too.  Jobs like vacuuming the pool, brushing the walls, checking the water, PH and chlorine levels as well as looking for leaks should be done on a weekly basis.  Add baking soda into your pool to maintain the sparkle.

Safety and Security

If you don’t already have fencing around your pool or the fence needs repairs or replacing, you must install a proper fence with a locking gate immediately in case any animals or small children wander into your backyard and visit the pool area.  Go over pool rules with your children and any guests you host, children and adults alike, so there’s less chance of an unfortunate accident happening and everyone is aware of your expectations like no food while in the pool, for example.  Either way, you must remember that your homeowner’s insurance fees will rise with the addition of a pool to your property.  Energy bills will also increase, so be aware of this fact.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Consistent upkeep of your pool will increase your enjoyment, so monitor your pool for cracks, check the pool filter, test the water for proper levels and keep bugs away from your pool area by planting lemongrass which contains citronella, for instance, suggests Trulia.  Trulia also recommends putting tennis balls in the pool which will absorb oil from things like sunscreen. Once pool season is over if you live in a cooler climate, you will need to winterize your pool by tending to the following issues, says How Stuff Works, including “disconnect[ing] the heater, pump and chemical feeders,” cleaning the entire pool and then “superchlorinating” it.  If you complete all these tasks and remember to cover the pool, your pool is ready to close.  When the long winter is over, give yourself a few days to prepare the pool for the next season because everything that you unplugged must be restarted, and the cycle begins again.

Hiring a Pool Person

If the thought of all this work beyond checking pool levels and removing debris from in and around the pool overwhelms you more than all the work that the moving company performed for you, hire a pool person and/or company to open your pool and provide periodic maintenance.  Although the expense may be greater than if you tended to the maintenance yourself, you may not have the time or expertise to follow through with it.  Companies specializing in pool maintenance will know right away if your pool is in good shape or needs repairs or a chemical adjustment to the water.

Moving Myths

Naysayers will tell you that hiring a moving company and moving in general are bad ideas.  It’s too expensive; too much work and you should just stay put instead of striving for better.  However, we all harbor dreams of living in exciting cities and beautiful homes that not only suit our needs but offer us comfort and peace at the end of hard days.  Tales once told about unpleasant moving experiences spiral into horrific moving epidemics.  Don’t let the mythmakers deter you from planning your move! Listen up while we debunk common moving myths.

Moving Myths

Any Box Will Do

Most people will suggest you visit your local grocery or liquor store for used moving boxes.  However, this is not always foolproof.  Boxes should be sturdy with flaps free from damage and uniform in size so that they’ll “be easy to stack on a dolly,” says Realtor.  If you choose to use boxes not provided by your moving company, you risk packing prized possessions in a box that won’t stay intact when movers pick it up, causing possible loss or damage.

You Don’t Need Special Packing Supplies

Although it’s easier to pick up any old pen found in your junk drawer or mug on your desk, not every pen makes its mark.  A permanent marker used to label moving boxes will last longer with more clarity.  Use packing tape that will secure boxes – not peel off seconds after you tape it.

Move on a Friday

Rumor has it that it’s best to move on a Friday since you’ll have the whole weekend to commit to unpacking, says Realtor.  Of course, that’s true, but you’re not the only one with the same idea.  Movers are busiest on weekends and in warmer weather making moving dates hard to find and pin down.  Prices could also be higher.

It Doesn’t Matter Which Mover You Hire

Although you may think it doesn’t matter which moving company you hire, it means the difference between high prices, hidden charges and loss/damage/theft or safely receiving your belongings at a reasonable cost.  Compare prices and moving services each company provides and rely on word-of-mouth.  At  Pony Express Moving Services, we will work with your budget and offer you a variety of services.

Movers Wait to be Paid

Called “the biggest myth about moving of all”, movers cannot wait to receive payment until moving day is over.  The majority of movers require a deposit to hold the day, secure supplies and a crew.  Then payment is due for transporting and unloading your items upon receipt.

Don’t Worry – Moving Insurance Covers EVERYTHING

Who cares if the movers break your fine china? The moving insurance included in your contract will cover everything you own even if it wasn’t on the inventory list, right? Wrong! Insurance in your moving contract only covers part of lost or broken items.  If you wish to sign up for more protection for something valuable, you will have to get extra insurance.  Read the fine print in any case.

Hidden Charges Always Pop Up

You’re not even worried about moving expenses when you first begin scheduling your move.  Then the bill appears, you review it, and cannot understand why hidden costs were added to the final total.  Ask your moving company representative before you sign the agreement about which costs you are responsible for or choose us at Pony Express Moving Services .  We will discuss the cost and figure out how it works with your budget.

How Much to Tip Movers

This entry was posted in Boston Moving Company, Moving, Moving Tips and tagged , on by .

How much to tip movers might be the last problem to deal with after a day of stress-inducing and crazy-making situations. You do not want to do is go into your moving day with no idea what the protocol is for tipping movers.

The end of the day could go something like this: The movers only have a few things left in the truck and the moment comes that you have been dreading. Panic sets in, sweat forms on your brow, and your heart starts to race. Yup, it’s time for the tip! No one wants to look cheap or unappreciative, but you don’t want to over tip either. Not that the movers would mind, but you are probably on a budget. Do you give it to one person and let them divide it or hand each person a tip individually?

Do You Have to Tip?

You might be saying, “Tip? What tip? Don’t they get paid an hourly wage?” Well, yes they do, but so does the casino dealer who deals you a straight flush and the valet person who drives your car a whopping 100 feet to you. Movers are included in the service industry and tipping is the way to show your gratitude.

There is a reason that moving companies, like Pony Express Moving Services, provide such a valuable service. They are doing something you absolutely don’t want to do. You may not even be capable of doing it. Moving is back-breaking work. Every day, they risk injury. They go home sore, and do it all again the next day. They move in the bitter cold while you watch from inside a toasty window, and they move in the hottest conditions when no one in their right mind should be away from an air conditioner. If anyone deserves a tip, it’s your movers.

And the timing of the tip is key. You might want to drop a $10 bill on each guy at the start of the move, giving them incentive to work harder. Then, if they do a good job, add on some additional funds at the end of the day.

One important note: make sure that your moving company is not adding a service charge onto the bill, as that would most likely cover a tip. You want to reward these guys for doing a good job, but you don’t want to double tip. It is a super-rare situation, but it never hurts to explicitly ask your mover whether that is the case.

How Much to Tip Movers - Pony Express Moving Services

 

How Much?

Now we get to the nitty gritty details. Calculating how much to tip movers is, like any other service situation, based on the total amount you are spending and the quality of the move.

In most cases, a 5 percent tip movers is pretty standard. Some say 5 percent of the bill should be given to a foreman for him to split among the crew. Others argue that 5 percent is more appropriate per mover.

This is merely a common suggestion. Many others advocate for 10, 15 or 20 percent. How much to tip movers depends on your level of satisfaction with the job and how much the job added up to.

You might be thinking that 5 percent is not nearly enough for the amount of work they just did. If they moved the contents of a 5-bedroom house across town in 8 hours, with no breakage and minimal fuss, you are probably right. You can open up your wallet for that one.

Sometimes, you have to use your best judgment. However, on average, most movers don’t expect more than 20 percent, but, after a day of hard labor, they certainly appreciate it. And would not turn their noses up at it.

Of course, there is an exception to the basic guide: long distance moving. In most cases, the only difference between a $2,000 move and one that costs $20,000 is distance. Long distance movers are generally tipped according to the number of days. Many suggest that a cross-country move of four to five days deserves around a $200 tip.

However, if they drove two days though the most horrible weather conditions, and managed to not end up in a ditch like cars around them, maybe they deserve a little more.

Beyond just long distance moves and the vagaries of the weather, what these crews are moving is important as well. If you have multiple flat screen TVs and thousands of dollars in computer equipment that must be handled delicately, you might want to do something extra special on the tip. That also applies if you have loads of heavy, antique furniture. Or movers that navigated 4 flights of stairs in a cramped New York apartment building with no service elevator.

What If I Don’t Want To Tip Movers

Tipping movers is just like compensating any other service worker. Not every mover deserves a tip. Based on the quality of the move, the temperament of the workers and how much of your stuff is intact at the end of the day, you can feel free to tip or not tip.

If you have a team show up late, trample your shrubs in front of the house, scuff the walls, use profanity in front of your kids, break your TV because they were tossing things around, and take a dozen cigarette breaks, then you probably shouldn’t tip them.

Everyone has heard a moving horror story. The cousin who showed up at his new house and had movers demand an extra grand just to open the truck and release his furniture. The clumsy crew that shattered Great Aunt Edna’s gold-rimmed vanity mirror, the one that has been in the family for generations. Those are obvious no-tip situations.

All that being said, if you read reviews and hire an established company with a great reputation, you shouldn’t be in this position.

In situations like that, where the movers performed well below expectations, you should bring up your dissatisfaction with the foreman/driver. Whoever is in charge. If they are unwilling or unable to rectify the situation, then you should follow up with a customer service rep at the home office.

Who to Tip?

You may assume you need to tip the crew leader more, but you don’t, unless they were visibly doing significantly more work than the others. Keep in mind that their hourly wage is likely higher, too. If one person on the team really worked a lot harder than the others tip everyone individually, so you can give the hardest worker more. If you are going to give them one amount to split, hand it to one person in front of the others and make it clear that it is to be split, so it doesn’t end up only in one pocket. If that makes you uncomfortable, you could just hand a separate amount to each individual worker, to make sure everyone gets the correct amount of cash.

Beyond the Cash

It is nice to provide your moving crew with some refreshment. Just like tip movers, this is not mandatory, but a pretty decent gesture nonetheless, given that these guys just hauled all your stuff up and down stairs and across town.

On hot days, hand out some bottles of water and maybe grab a pizza for lunch. Stay away from beer, though. Most companies likely have a policy against the crew drinking during or after a job. And the possible liability on your end is not worth it. You could end up on the hook if the crew takes to your beer offer too vivaciously and ends up causing some disturbances down the line.

If your move is during the winter months, pick up some coffee or hot chocolate for the crew in the morning. They will appreciated the gesture (almost as much as a tip).

Some might want to buy lunch and liquid refreshment instead of a cash tip. That may be a fine practice, especially if your move is relatively small. But probably best to stay away from cheaping out like that if you move involves more than one bedroom or an arduous journey.

How much to tip movers can be a vexing problem. The common wisdom is not as standard as tipping waiters and waitresses. But the guide above provides a wealth of perspectives and advice for getting through the social minefield with your wallet and sanity intact.

Now that you’ve been primed on how much to tip movers, it’s time to get moving! Start here to get a no-hassle, no-obligation price quote.

Moving Out of Your College House, Dorm, or Apartment

Moving Out of Your College House, Dorm, or Apartment

Moving Out of Your College House, Dorm, or Apartment

Moving Out of Your College House, Dorm, or Apartment

As most college students are preparing for finals and end of the year projects, the last thing on your mind is probably moving out of your dorm, apartment, or college house. Whether you are graduating this spring, moving abroad, or are taking a summer job somewhere other than your college town, you may have to think about moving on top of finals.

Moving isn’t fun—it doesn’t matter if you are moving a whole apartment or a single room dorm. However, when you have a professional moving company like Pony Express Moving Services, moving is easy. Below are several reasons why you should hire a moving company to help you move out of your college house, apartment, or dorm.

Reasons to Hire a Moving Company for College Moves

  • Final exams. Why is it that you must think about packing and moving during final exams? Unfortunately, when the end of the year comes, so do finals and moving. When you hire a moving company, you can focus more on your studies and less on how you’re going to move.
  • Stairs. Do you live on the 5th floor of your college dorm? Remember how hard it was moving all of your items to your dorm room? Don’t go through that again. Let a mover help you!
  • Goodbyes. Whether you are graduating or simply leaving for the summer, saying goodbye to your closest friends is never easy. Focus more on spending time with friends and saying goodbye rather than packing and moving.

College should be one of the best times of your life—don’t let it go to waste by packing and moving furniture all day! Let Us do it for you!

About Pony Express Moving Services

Pony Express Moving Services is a moving company located in Boston, MA. Whether you are graduating or just leaving for the summer, our movers can help you move out of your college home and into your new home.

We are the perfect moving and storage company for students attending:

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology     Cambridge
  • Harvard University     Cambridge
  • Boston University     Boston
  • Tufts University     Medford
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst     Amherst
  • Boston College     Chestnut Hill
  • Northeastern University     Boston
  • Brandeis University     Waltham
  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute     Worcester
  • Mount Holyoke College     South Hadley
  • University of Massachusetts Boston     Boston
  • Smith College     Northampton
  • Clark University     Worcester
  • Williams College     Williamstown
  • Amherst College     Amherst
  • Wellesley College     Wellesley
  • University of Massachusetts Lowell     Lowell
  • Berklee College of Music     Boston
  • Babson College     Babson Park
  • University of Massachusetts Medical School     Worcester
  • University of Massachusetts Dartmouth     North Dartmouth
  • Bentley University     Waltham
  • And more …

Call us today to get a free quote!

Moving Day Made Easy

Moving Day Made Easy 🙂

When moving houses, the average household relocates 7,400 pounds — nearly four tons — of stuff, and an eight-room home uses 100 boxes in the process. The average interstate move costs about $4,300, while staying in-state costs about $2,300. All these stats add up to one massive undertaking. Read our guide for advice on cutting it down to size.

Moving Day Made EasyHow to Hire Movers

Keep in mind these tips to save a little cash on moving day:

  • Mind your timing. Moving company rates are higher at the beginning and end of the month, when most leases are up, and on weekends. If you can take a day or two off midweek or midmonth, your wallet will benefit.
  • Do some of the work yourself. Pack your own boxes, or even just get things inside more mover-friendly (unplug appliances, roll up rugs, disassemble anything you can) shaves off time and therefore saves you on the hourly rate.
  • If you hire anyone, you want them to be reliable and careful — and not overcharge you. Get detailed written estimates from at least three movers, and have them do an in-home inspection instead of estimating by phone or email.
  • Do your homework. Moving companies are among the most complained-about businesses in the U.S. Get references, and look for complaints and reviews at the Better Business Bureau, Yelp.

Lighten Your Load

A long-distance move is usually priced by volume (how much space in a truck the stuff takes up) and weight, and a local move by volume (size of truck needed) and time (local movers usually charge an hourly rate). What this means: Don’t move stuff you don’t need on moving day.

  • Weed out items to sell, donate, or throw out. Be ruthless — moving is a chore, but it’s also a chance to make a clean start. As you go through your things to fill boxes, make piles or fill trashbags with what you really don’t need. It may even be worth renting a dumpster (especially if the move is to a smaller space). Bonus: Unloading unneeded furniture on Craig’s List, having a yard sale, or making a tax deduction on donated goods can help you recoup some expenses.
  • Use it or lose it. Items that are not worth the cost of packing and moving: Pantry foods (eat what you can, and donate what’s unopened to a soup kitchen), cleaning supplies (also can be donated, or given to a neighbor), open condiment bottles (dump ’em), stacks of old magazines (clip the articles you love and recycle the rest), and partly used paints, propane tanks, or solvents (they could be dangerous, especially if they spill; donate or recycle properly).

Save on Moving Supplies

  • Collect free boxes from the local liquor store or grocery store — liquor boxes are particularly good, because they are often a good-quality cardboard, and are uniformly sized and not too big, so you’re unlikely to load them so heavily that they’re a strain to carry. Printer-paper boxes from an office or school are good, too.
  • Check online, on Craigslist for “curb alerts” of people giving away their packing boxes. You may also have some luck getting giveaway ones on freecycle.com.
  • Consider reusables. A few companies rent or sell reused cardboard and reusable plastic boxes. Check out usedcardboardboxes.com or zippgo.com or rentagreenbox.com.
  • Visit a home-improvement store. Home Depot and Lowe’s both offer reasonably priced moving supplies, as well as online checklists and other useful tools to help get you organized.

Box-Labeling Lesson

  • Mark boxes on the top and on the side (so if one is covered, you can hopefully spot the other) with a short summary of contents (kids’ books) and where they should go (playroom).
  • Stack filled boxes that go to the same room together, so they go out to the truck at the same time, and are (hopefully) loaded at the same time.
  • Use the app for that. Moving Van is an iPhone app ($1.99) that lets you snap photos of the contents of boxes, quickly catalog them, and assign each box a name or number. Then, when you’re unpacking everything (which isn’t always a super-fast process), and you need to find a specific item that isn’t unpacked yet, you can simply search for it on your app and immediately ID the box you need to look in.

Packing the Moving Truck

If loading it up yourself or supervising movers, keep in mind these rules of thumb.

  • When reserving a rental, follow the trucking companies’ size suggestions — but if in doubt, go bigger (you don’t want to have to make two trips).
  • Make of list of what you intend to move — and think about what you’ll put in first (see below). It’s no fun to have to take things out once you’ve put them in, if you decide too late that they’re in the wrong spot.
  • Know your packing order. First, load the biggest, heaviest stuff such as furniture and appliances (and don’t assume things need to load as they normally sit — sofas, for instance, take up much less space if flipped up on one end). Then, add the heavier boxes. Next go lighter items (furniture like chairs). On the very top, add the glassware and other breakables. Put your best puzzle-solver inside the truck to decide where stuff goes.
  • Boxes and items should be packed tightly together so they won’t move, and furniture should be wrapped in pads or blankets. Rope things to the walls of the truck to discourage sliding, and if the truck won’t be filled to the brim, keep the top surface level so nothing will topple down. A good last add is a mattress, which you can rope tightly into the end as an extra pad if items slosh back.

Do You Need Extra Insurance to Cover the Move?

Your regular homeowners’ and/or car insurance may cover a move but ask — if not (and even if so), it may be worth the peace of mind to purchase extra, from the truck rental agency or on your existing insurance plans.

Reasons You Should Always Hire Moving Company

Hire Moving Company

I dread moving. Every part of it. From the packing, to the lifting, to the unloading, to the sifting; moving is on my list of least favorite things to do right next to “have ingrown toenail surgery.”

Reasons You Should Always Hire Moving CompanyThankfully, now that I’m in my 30s and have a little more disposable income, I can afford to hire movers when I need them — and it’s money very well spent. If you’re not a convert yet, you should be. Here are six reasons you should always hire moving company.
1. There’s Less Chance You’ll End Up in the Hospital

I have one disastrous image in my head when I think about moving accidents, and it’s that huge piano free-falling from a high story of a tall building — and splat! It’s a totally valid nightmare in New York City, which is why I bump into lampposts all the time; I’m always anxiously looking up. Outside of killing somebody else with your ill-preparedness and overall negligence, you can hurt yourself pretty badly when you don’t know what you’re doing.

Moving heavy items like sofas, beds, and furniture is awkward, requires either multiple people or the right equipment, and it needs to be done twice — moving out of one home and moving into another, explains John Bodrozic, co-founder of HomeZada, a digital home platform for the homeowner lifecycle. “Hiring a professional mover eliminates the potential for injury.”
2. Your Friends and Family Won’t Regret Knowing You

One word: pivot!

If you’re a “Friends” fan you know what that means, and if you’re not, well, you should look up the clip on YouTube so you don’t annoy and alienate your friends on moving day like Ross did.

“No matter how much they say they will help, friends and family hate helping you move because it’s tiring and stressful,” Bodrozic says. “Keep your friends and family happy by just inviting them over for the housewarming party, not the moving bit.”
3. You’ll Free Up Time for Other Important Moving Day Issues

There’s a lot more that needs to be done on moving day besides the actual moving. Perhaps you need to set up cable and utility service, maybe you need to get a new driver’s license, or your time might be better spent readying the new place by making it move-in friendly. Professional movers can free up a huge chunk of time by taking that burden off your back — literally — so you can concentrate on other important tasks and exercise efficiency.

“Moving yourself will take you a lot more time,” says Bodrozic. “Having a company come in and do it for you with the right truck, the right hand tools, and the right resources gets the job done much more quickly.”
4. Movers Will Have All the Right Equipment

You know what’s worse than having to move your entire bedroom set down four flights of stairs? Realizing that you don’t have the IKEA-issued Allen wrench you need to dismantle the darn thing. Forget about breaking your back; that aneurysm you’re about to have will probably kill you first. But not if your superhero movers and personal saviors are on the job.

“Professional movers will size the contents and have the right sized truck and other hand tools to move equipment,” Bodrozic says. “Oftentimes, people who do it themselves will rent a smaller truck requiring more trips, and they forget about various hand tools are other things that make it much easier to move.”

5. All Your Valuables Are Insured With Professional Movers

I don’t trust myself with moving my own valuables. I don’t put all my faith in the movers either, but I’m at least comforted that if they break it, they buy it. On the other hand, if I break it, I throw a fit and cuss at inanimate objects.

“Let’s face it, if you drop your TV, you can’t exactly collect from yourself,” “Licensed and professional moving companies offer various coverage options to insure your goods against damage. In shopping around and checking out reputable companies, it’s always important to ask what your options are for insurance as a consumer.”

I’ll take the gold package, please, and I’ll totally understand if some of my out-of-date appliances bounce off the concrete until they’re unrecognizable.
6. It Can Potentially Save You Money in the Long Run

The major hesitation of hiring movers, of course, is the cost. I’m always telling you that should cut corners where you can — and, granted, hiring movers is definitely not one of life’s necessities — but you may save money by letting a few jacked-up dudes do the heavy lifting.

“Despite the initial price tag on a professional move, you could end up saving yourself time and money — yes, money — when you hire professionals,”  “Oftentimes we underestimate the costs of moving on our own: the rush that can result in breakage, injury, or loss of items; the refreshments and dinner for friendly helpers; the time this job carves out of your day. We forget about all the tools and equipment that are needed, how much gas for a moving truck costs, and, most importantly, whether or not we are insured if something goes wrong.”

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Apartment Moving: How to Move Out on Good Terms

Move Out on Good Terms

Move Out on Good TermsThere is a right way and a wrong way to do everything. Moving out of your apartment the right way ensures that you protect yourself from potential liabilities, while at the same time getting a recommendation from your landlord. A recommendation from a previous landlord is a key asset when you are searching for a new apartment. Follow a few simple guidelines to ensure that your move goes smoothly.

  • Clean up after yourself: Be honest with yourself. If you are not a tidy person, you probably have a lot of catching up to do in terms of cleaning. Block off a day or two in the weeks leading up to moving day to do some serious cleaning. Think of how your landlord, or the new tenants, would feel about how the apartment looks. Moving out means you should get your apartment to look like it did when you moved in.
  • Take pictures when you move out: Document the state of your apartment a day or two before you move out. If you’ve really cleaned it so that it looks like it did when you moved in, you should make a record of it. That way you have a time-stamped record of how you left the apartment.
  • Give a notice: If you are on a monthly rental agreement, let your landlord know in advance that you are moving. Give the proper amount of notice that is in your contract, likely 30 or 60 days. Staying within the bounds of your contract is a must in order to ensure a recommendation by your landlord that you can use in the future.

Be respectful when moving out of your apartment to ensure that you get a good recommendation in the future, and that you protect yourself from liability.