Unpack Faster and More Efficiently After a Move
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So, you’ve finished moving all of your furniture, boxes and belongings into your new home, and now you’re faced with the task of unpacking it all. The thought of going through dozens of nondescript boxes stacked to the ceiling can seem daunting, but it’s a necessary step in settling in to your new home. By jumping head-first into this task, however, you can eliminate those massive stacks of boxes.
Essentials First
It’s recommended that you begin by unpacking your essential items first. This includes toiletries like shampoo, soap, body wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving cream, razors, etc., as well as trash bags, dust pans, and cleaning supplies. By unpacking your essential items first, you won’t have to rummage through your boxes to find stuff.
Of course, another “essential” item is your bed, so go ahead and reconstruct your frame if you haven’t done so already.
Kitchen
The next area to tackle is the kitchen. Hopefully, you labeled all of your boxes according to its contents. If so, this should be a relatively easy task. Simply go through your boxes labeled “Kitchen” and/or “Dining Room” and place the items in their respective location. Traditional kitchen items includes cutlery, dishes, pots, pans, cutting boards, spatulas, knives, cups and measuring cups.
Clothes
Clothes take up a significant amount of space, but unpacking them is usually a breeze. Go through your wardrobe boxes and either hang your clothes in the closet or fold them and place in your bedroom furniture. Doing so will free up more space in your home, which subsequently will speed up the unpacking process.
Tips For Unpacking After a Move:
- Break down your boxes as you unpack. Once a box is empty, run a box-cutter across the tape and fold it flat.
- Place a trash bag in each room to dispose of leftover packing paper and bubble wrap.
- Keep a set of household tools (screwdrivers, wrench, pliers, hammer) nearby.
- Set up televisions and electronics in the appropriate area but don’t worry about connecting them just yet.
- Call some friends and family members to lend a hand in unpacking.
- Set aside a couple dozen clothes hangers in each closet.
- Unpack boxes that are cluttering tables and counter tops first.
- Wait until you are finished unpacking before you attempt to rearrange furniture or hang artwork on the walls.
- Place boxes with tools, gardening items, and other outdoor equipment in the garage.
Our team of moving professionals are here to help. We specialize in making your move as easy and stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move. Get a free online moving quote today.
Read more Home moving tips here.
Published in categories: Home Moving Tips, Packing Tips
5 Simple Ways To Slash Your Moving Costs
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Moving can place a major financial burden on families. According to the American Moving & Storage Association, the average cost of a move within the state is $1,170, while the average cost of moving across state lines is $5,630. Of course, these are just “average” figures, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will pay the same when moving. If you’re looking to relocate on a budget, check out some of the following ways to slash your moving costs.
#1) Move In The Middle of The Month
How can this save you money? Moving companies are in high demand during the beginning and end of the month, since this is when most people get paid. Scheduling your move for the middle of the month, however, will often yield lower prices. Call around to request quotes from several different moving companies before making your decision.
#2) Write It Off on Your Taxes
Families are often surprised to learn that their moving-related expenses are tax-deductible. If you are moving for a job, and the move is 50 miles or farther from your old home, you may be able to write it off on your taxes. This includes things like boxes, bubble wrap, tape, utility transfer fees, hiring a moving company, etc. Check the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) official website fore more information.
#3) Make Fewer Trips
By making fewer tips to and from your new home, you’ll cut down on fuel costs. If you’re moving yourself, rent a larger truck that’s capable of hauling your belongings in just one or two loads. You’ll have to pay more upfront for a larger moving truck, but the savings it offers in fuel costs makes it a smart investment.
#4) Get Free Boxes
We talk about this in a previous blog post about buying boxes and packing supplies, but there are several different ways to acquire free boxes and other packing materials, such as checking local grocery stores, furniture stores, liquor/wine stores, and asking friends and family members. So before you spend $1-$2 bucks for each new box at the packing supplies store, try some of these avenues first.
#5) Choose a Reputable Moving Company
Hiring a professional moving company can save you time, energy and money. However, the key thing to remember is that you need to choose a reputable company, because there are some movers out there who aim to take advantage of clients by charging them hidden fees and expenses. Do your homework beforehand and choose a company with a positive reputation.
Our team of moving professionals are here to help. We specialize in making your move as easy and stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move. Get a free online moving quote today.
Read more Home moving tips here.
Published in categories: Home Moving Tips
Moving a Corporate Office To a New Location
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Moving a corporate office to a new location is a major task that involves extensive planning, preparation, and execution.
Whether you’re moving across state lines or a couple blocks down the road, you must use extra caution to ensure all of your company’s equipment and supplies are packaged and handled with care to prevent damage.
Acquire a Floor Plan
The first step in relocating a corporate office to a new location is to acquire a floor plan of the current layout. Some companies may have just a single small unit of cubicles, whereas others may have several floors or even an entire multi-story building.
Having a floor plan on hand will give you a better understanding of what’s required to move your corporate office.
When your corporate relocation is with a professional moving company, let them know you have a floor plan of the existing layout. Some companies may refer to this for guidance.
Layouts are an invaluable asset when performing large-scale corporate moves. And by assisting the moving company, your corporate relocation will run faster and smoother.
Check Electrical Layout
Assuming your business uses computers, printers, fax machines, telephones, and other electronics, you’ll want to check and see where the outlets are located in the new building. Look for power outlets and phone jacks, as the availability of these two items may dictate the setup of your new office.
Granted, you can usually run new outlets if necessary, but you’ll probably want to use the current ones at least for the time being.
Label Everything in Detail
If you plan on packing your office items yourself, label each and every box with its respective contents along with its future floor/room location.
Failing to label your boxes can make setting up your new corporate office a nightmare, as workers must blindly open each box to see what’s inside. Marking it “Computers – Floor 1, Room 3B,” however, will make your corporate relocation much easier.
Lighten The Load
Moving a corporate office to a new location is the perfect time for companies to perform a little spring cleaning. Rather than packing and transporting every items to your new location, perhaps you can get rid of some of the unnecessary equipment that’s taking up space.
Outdated computers, television screens, and old office furniture are just a few items that business owners may want to leave behind. Contact a local recycling agency to see if they are willing to come and pick up any unwanted items. The more items you get rid of, the less you have to carry to your new destination.
We’d Love to Help
Our team of office moving professionals are here to help. We specialize in making your move as easy and stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move. Get a free online moving quote today.
Read more about moving your office here.
Published in categories: Full Service Move, Moving Your Office
UT Austin Ranked In Top 30 of World’s Best Universities
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The University of Texas in Austin ranked as the 22nd best university in the country and 29th best university in the world in a recently published 2014 Center for World University Rankings.
The Center for World University Rankings use eight different factors to determine a schools ranking:
- Education Quality – the number of alumni who’ve won international awards, prizes and medals (note: this is relative to the university’s size).
- Alumni Employment – percentage of alumni who currently work in CEO positions at top companies.
- Faculty Quality – percentage of faculty members who’ve won international awards, prizes and medals.
- Publications – number of research papers written from students which appear in major journals.
- Influence – number of research papers in “highly-influential” journals.
- Citations – number of research paper citations mentioning the school.
- Broad Impact – measurement of the school’s h-Index.
- Patents – number of patents filed by the school and its students.
University of Texas President Bill Powers issued a statement, citing the importance of “world-class faculty” in modern education.
“This ranking confirms what we’ve known for a long time — that world-class universities are built by world-class faculty,” said UT President Bill Powers. “I’m gratified that excellence at UT Austin has been recognized by yet another organization with a multifaceted analysis of the world’s best academies. This is more good news for Texas alumni, whose diplomas increase in value the higher our rankings go.”
According to the UT website, the single most influential factor in helping the school achieve such a high ranking as its faculty. UT faculty members have won dozens upon dozens of awards and accolades, including the Nobel Prize, Schock Prize, Turing Award, and the World Prize. The Center for World University Rankings bases 25% of its ranking decision on this criteria.
Crash Course History Lesson on UT Austin…
The origins of the University of Texas Austin can be traced back to the 1830s, when Texas obtained independence from Mexico. When Congress adopted the Constitution of Republic in 1836, it included a provision to create two universities, one of which would become the UT. It wasn’t until 1882, however, when construction began, with its doors finally opening on September 15, 1883.
The Victorian-Gothic Main Building served as the primary hub for UT for over 40 years. Due to the school’s growth, however, it needed a larger building to accommodate its students and faculty. In the 1930s, the old building was replaced with the modern-day tower and current Main Building.
If you are moving to Austin to attend the University of Texas or you’ve just completed your education and are moving away, we would love to help with your next move. Get a free online moving quote today.
Read more posts about the great city of Austin, Texas here.
Published in categories: Austin Texas, Community News, Higher Education in The Austin Area
Tips For Packing and Moving Electronic Devices
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According to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the average U.S. household has two dozen different electronic devices. From flat-screen televisions and DVD/BluRay players to alarm clocks, stereos, computers and more, we live in age where electronics are a staple part of society. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) even reports sales of electronic devices (commercial and residential) have doubled from 1997 to 2009.
When relocating to a new home, families should use extra caution to protect their electronic devices from damage. While they may appear durable from the outside, electronics are susceptible to dust, humidity, and damage caused by blunt force (e.g. dropping it on the ground).
Failure to take the necessary precautions could result in your devices being damaged in transit to your new home.
Ideally, televisions should be moved in their original packaging. This usually consists of a foam cut-out that’s designed to fit the respective TV, along with box and packing paper. The foam cut-out is placed around the TV and then squeezed into the box. The purpose of this foam is to eliminate any “wiggle room” per-se, so the TV won’t shift around inside the box when it’s being transported or otherwise handled.
If you don’t have access to the original packaging, you can secure your television using a couple layers of bubble wrap and placing it inside a box. Next, fill the sides with packing paper or foam packing peanuts to secure the TV in place.
Smaller electronic devices, such as computers, routers, monitors, alarm clocks, etc. are generally easier to move. Again, you want to follow the same principle of wrapping your devices in bubble wrap, placing them in boxes, and adding some type of filler, such as packing peanuts, to prevent them from moving around. Slap some tape across the top and it’s ready to be loaded on the back of the moving truck!
When you are finished packing a device, label its contents on the outside of the box. Whether you’re moving everything yourself, or if you plan to hire a professional moving company, labeling your boxes with electronics will ensure people use more caution when handling them.
If you’re worried that your electronic devices will suffer damage during transit, consider moving them in your personal vehicle rather than the back of a moving truck. This will give you the peace of mind knowing your devices are safe, and it will also make finding them a breeze.
Upon arrival at your new home, you can grab your electronics from your vehicle and immediately begin setting them up.
And if you need some professional help with your next move we would love to help. We specialize in making your move as easy and stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move. Get a free online moving quote today.
Read more Home moving tips here.
Published in categories: Home Moving Tips
Save Money By Comparing Moving Truck Rental Quotes
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Opting for a do-it-yourself move as opposed to hiring a professional moving company will usually save you time and money. Granted, DIY moves are more laborious, but the extra work is a small sacrifice to make given the money you’ll save. You can save even more money by calling around and requesting quotes from multiple truck rental companies. Doing so will allow you to selectively choose the one with the lowest price that meets your needs.
Where To Find Moving Truck Rental Companies In Your Area
There are several different ways to locate moving truck rental companies, one of which is by looking in the phone book. While fewer companies list their services in phone books nowadays, they still offer a fast and easy way to find local businesses. Go through each truck rental company in the phone book, crossing them off one-by-one after you receive a quote.
An easier and arguably more effective way to locate a moving truck rental company is by using the Internet. Fire up your web browser and Google “moving truck rental.” This should reveal listings of truck rental companies in your immediate area. In addition, you may also see reviews from past customers, which is immensely valuable in choosing a reputable company.
Getting Quotes on Moving Truck Rentals
Make sure you have a set date for picking up the rental truck and dropping it off before you call and request a quote. Companies need this information to offer an accurate quote.
When you call, politely request a quote for a moving truck during your scheduled moving dates. You should also ask about any “hidden” charges or fees, such as gas, mileage, etc. Some companies allow for a certain amount of driving miles; any miles driven past this limit will result in additional charges. Make a note of any extra fees or charges next to the respective company’s price quote.
Another consideration you should make when renting a moving truck is the truck size. Trucks come in a range of different sizes, from just 10 foot to 26+ foot. Larger trucks will obviously allow you to pack more boxes and belongings, but they cost more and are slightly more difficult to drive.
If the truck rental company has a website, check to see if there’s an online price quote tool. Truck rental companies often have interactive tools which allow customers to receive price quotes online. You simply choose your pick up and drop off date, and it will yield a price quote directly on your screen.
And if you need some professional help with your next move we would love to help. We specialize in making your move as easy and stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move. Get a free online moving quote today.
Read more Home moving tips here.
Published in categories: Home Moving Tips
Moving Across State Lines? Here’s What You Should Know.
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Moving to a new state can be intimidating. In addition to the normal stresses of moving, you’ll have other responsibilities and tasks to handle, such as changing your license. These added responsibilities can make the already stressful process of moving even more daunting. However, this shouldn’t stop you from tackling your state-to-state move head-on.
DIY vs Professional Movers
You have one of two options when moving across state lines: you can either do it yourself by renting a moving van, or you can hire a professional moving company. So, which is the best option? There are advantages and disadvantages associated with each. Some people prefer to move themselves, as this is usually (not always) cheaper and provides greater control over the process, whereas others prefer the hands-off convenience of hiring professionals.
If you plan on moving everything yourself, check with the truck rental company to see if they have a drop-off station around your new home. If the company does not have a drop-off station, you’ll be forced to drive the rental truck back to the original location, which costs you additional time and money.
Pack and Load Efficiently
Hiring a professional moving company can an enormous amount of stress off your shoulder when moving to a new state. They’ll handle the laborious task of loading and unloading your belongings, as well as driving them across state lines.
When moving across state lines, you want to make the fewest amount of trips as possible. No one wants to drive for hours on the interstate, especially when it can be avoided. To reduce the number of trips required, make sure all of your boxes are efficiently packed with minimal open space. Try placing large flat items in boxes first, such as books, and then covering it with loose “filler” items, such as clothes. Your goal when packing is to fill every available inch of box space with your belongings.
Driver’s License
Once you’ve moved into your new home, you should contact the local Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) to order a new driver’s license. Requirements vary from state to state, but most places require residents to get a new driver’s license within 30 days of moving.
Car Tag
If you own a car, truck or other full-sized vehicle, you will need to acquire a new tag for it. This is typically done through the respective county’s tax office, so contact them once you are settled in for more information.
Our team of moving professionals are here to help. We specialize in making your move as stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move. Get a free online moving quote today.
Read more posts about moving long distances.
Published in categories: Full Service Move, Home Moving Tips, Moving Long Distances
It’s Never Too Early To Prepare For a Move!
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Some people wait until the week before their scheduled moving day to begin packing boxes and preparing their furniture. In doing so, they often end up unprepared when the movers show up to take their belongings to their new home. A smarter approach is to prepare for your move months in advance. While some tasks can only be done on the day of the move, others tasks can be done long before.
Pack Up Your Fine China
Go through your kitchen and dining room cabinets to begin packing up your fine china. As long as you don’t intend to use it between now and when you move, there’s no reason why you can’t pack it now.
Packing fine china is often a tedious and time-consuming task that requires lots of packing paper, bubble wrap and boxes. So when you’re sitting around the house one evening with nothing else to do, pull out your packing supplies and start preparing your fine china for the move.
This can save you an enormous amount of time, and trouble, when your moving day rolls around.
Out-of-Season Clothes
You can also pack up your out-of-season clothes, shoes and accessories. If you plan on moving during the summer, for instance, start packing your winter coats, sweaters, scarves, and other cold-weather apparel. Since you won’t be wearing these clothes anytime soon, you can pack them into boxes or garment bags to prepare them for the upcoming move.
Eat More and Buy Less
Try to get into the habit of buying less food and beverages at the grocery store as your moving day approaches. The more food you have in your kitchen, the more stuff you’ll have to carry. Focus on eating the food you already have to make moving just a little bit easier.
Note: you can contact a charity organization in your area to come pick up your canned and packaged food. This will reduce some of the labor required during your move while simultaneously helping those in need.
Take Down Your Decorative Accessories
Another way you can prepare for a move months in advance is by taking down paintings, framed photos, wall art and other decorative accessories.
There’s really no point in keeping these accessories up if you’re going to move soon. Go from room to room, removing any decorative accessories lining the walls. You can then either wrap them in packing paper or place them inside a box.
These are just a few of the many ways individuals and families can prepare for a move months in advance. Just place any packed boxes in a room or storage area where they are out of the way for the time being.
Our team of moving professionals are here to help. We specialize in making your move as stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move. Get a free online moving quote today.
Read more posts about preparing to move here.
Published in categories: Home Moving Tips, Preparing To Move
Protect Your Mattress and Box Spring With Covers When You Move!
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When moving into a new home, most people toss their bed in the back of the moving truck along with their other furniture and belongings. In doing so, however, the bed is exposed to dirt, dust and debris – all of which may contribute to damage.
If you want to enjoy a relaxing, peaceful night of sleep in your new home, you should follow some basic steps to ensure both your mattress and box spring are protected from damage during transit.
The most effective way to protect your mattress from damage is to use a mattress cover. Usually starting around $30 bucks, these covers are made of highly protective synthetic material, such as polyester or polypropylene, which block out moisture and potential contaminants.
The cover is wrapped around the mattress to create an impenetrable seal, giving owners the peace of mind knowing their mattress is safe against common pollutants.
Mattress covers do more than just block out dirt and dust; they also protect against dust mites, bed bugs, and other creepy crawlies that you probably don’t want lingering in your mattress while you sleep.
It’s not something most people want to think about, but just a single gram of dust may contain as many as 1,000 dust mites and 250,000 dust mite fecal pellets. Dust mite allergen is also the leading cause of perennial allergic rhinitis.
The bottom line is that you should use a mattress cover to protect your mattress against potential damage when moving, as well as dust mites and bed bugs.
So, how can you protect your box spring from damage? Even if you don’t intend to sleep directly on your box spring (which most people don’t), you should still take the necessary precautions to protect it from damage and possible pollutants when moving.
Furniture stores and certain online retailers sell covers which are specifically designed for box springs. They work in a similar manner as mattress covers, using synthetic fabrics to block out dirt, dust, moisture and pests.
Investing in covers for your mattress and box spring will keep them safe and sound from most forms of damage when moving into a new home. The back of a moving van may look clean from afar, but it’s likely riddled with dust and other elements that would otherwise leave your mattress with a musky odor.
This is easily prevented, however, by wrapping your mattress up in a cover before loading it on the truck.
Our team of moving professionals are here to help. We specialize in making your move as easy and stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move. Get a free online moving quote today.
Read more Home moving tips here.
Published in categories: Home Moving Tips
5 Surprising Ways To Save Money Moving
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According to a study conducted by Worldwide ERC, the average cost of relocating to a new home within the U.S. is approximately $12,230 (2010). Following these few tips below will help you save money moving.
#1) Write It Off On Taxes
Uncle Sam offers tax-deductible write-offs for moving-related expenses, including the cost of hiring a professional moving company, boxes and packing supplies, storage (30 days maximum), disconnecting/connecting utilities, and more. In order to qualify for these tax write-offs, however, your move must be job-related, and the commute from your previous job to your old home must be a minimum of 50 miles.
#2) Get Free Boxes and Packing Supplies
Did you know that liquor stores, supermarkets and furniture stores frequently give away boxes and other packing supplies? Rather than paying $1-$2 bucks for each new box, you should check out some of these places around your city. It only takes a couple of minutes to ask the owner if he or she has any extra boxes, and the worst that can happen is they’ll say no.
For more information check out our previous blog post on how to acquire boxes, bubble wrap and other packing supplies at no cost.
#3) Move During The Middle of The Month
Here’s a secret that not many people know: moving during the middle of the month can save you money due to the fact that leases typically end around the beginning or end of the month.
Professional moving companies are often busier during the first and last weeks of the month, so they naturally charge more during this time. If possible, consider moving during the middle of the month to cut down on the cost of professional movers and other related expenses.
#4) Make Fewer Trips
The more trips you make between your old and new home, the more money you’ll spend. Fewer trips means less labor and less gas, two budget-draining elements of every move.
So, how can you reduce the number of trips during your move? If you’re moving everything yourself, consider renting a larger truck. Most truck rental companies charge more for larger trucks, but the additional cost if worth it if you can make fewer trips.
#5) Get Quotes From Multiple Utility Companies
Call around and get quotes from several different utility companies that provide service to your new area. Most people rarely (if ever) check the prices of other utility companies, paying their monthly bills without question. However, doing some price comparison work can save you hundreds of dollars per year.
Got any tips you would like to share? If so, please do so in the comments below.
Our team of moving professionals are here to help. We specialize in making your move as easy and stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move. Get a free online moving quote today.
Read more Home moving tips here.
Published in categories: Home Moving Tips
