Posted by admin on November 17, 2011 under Long Distance, Moving Tips | 
This is a guest post provided by AmericanMovers.Org, a portal of long distance movers.
There are various costs to consider when you decide to move. If you hire a mover, you will need to pay for the pick up, transport and unloading of your household goods. You may want to also have the movers pack your things, which will increase the cost but will result in a faster, easier move, depending on your timetable and specific needs. The cost of transporting your household using professional moving company is determined by the number of items, rooms and the total weight of the shipment.
For a two-bedroom home, an average cost would be 4,000 pounds, but keep in mind that this is just an estimate. A four bedroom home might weigh 13,000 pounds or more. For the sake of comparison, if you move a four-bedroom home from Albany, NY to Denver, CO and it weighs13,000. pounds, it would cost approximately $11, 500, based on a professional moving company calculator. It is always helpful to get as many moving company estimates as possible as well.
Another consideration is insurance costs, which vary according to the value of the items. If you have many antiques and other valuables, be sure to take clear photos of each item and write a description of it as well, in case it is damaged or broken and you need to prove that it was in good condition before the move. Get the best insurance coverage that you can afford. You must be covered or make sure that your North American movers are.
Some people drive rental trucks themselves, which is generally less costly than using a moving company, but renting a truck requires time, a driver or two, packing the truck yourselves or paying someone to load it, then there is the time factor. Do you have the time to take off work to drive across the country? What about the price of gas in the states that you will be travelling through?
When you arrive at your destination will the unpacking be done by you, or will you have help? In some cases, the expense of replacing your furniture in your new location is less than the price of taking it—only you can decide if that solution is right for you. If you have a lot of boxes and other items that will need to be stored, that is another expanse to calculate before you move.
Posted by admin on October 17, 2011 under Long Distance, Moving Tips |
As if the anxiety of moving long distance does not overwhelm you enough, you have to also set aside time and patience to start packing for your move. Packing for a long distance move usually involves doing so with great precision; you want to ensure that the items are packed and properly padded so that the long distance movers you hire get everything there in one piece. In light of this, packing for long distance should always commence some eight weeks before moving day.
One of the first things that you would need to do is to clear the clutter from your living space. You may have a few items laying around that you may not have used in years; this is time to get those items out so you can sell it through a garage sale or give them away to family and friends or your favorite charity.
The next step would be to get packing supplies. If you are in need of boxes, your local grocery store should have those in abundance. Ensure that these boxes are sturdy and can withstand the move across country. Other supplies to get include moving blankets, storage bins, note pads, plastic wrap, markers, tape and labels.
Packing experts would tell you that when packing, you should start room by room. This is to make sure that all your household items are not in a muddle which would make it harder to sort out when you get to the new house. As you pack each room, you should label the box and container by the room’s name for easy access.
Begin throwing out items as you go along as well. In the kitchen in particular, you may need to go through your refrigerator and cupboards and get rid of all the expired items. Next, wash, dry and pack the appliances from the kitchen; if there is a breakable item like a blender then you should either wrap it in moving blankets or wrap it within several sheets of newsprint paper. The same goes for your plates, glasses etc. and your other breakable wares.
Computers should go back in their original boxes if you still have them. If you don’t then you can fit it snugly in another box along with pieces of foam at the corners to hold it steady. You should also pack your printers and appliances the same way that you pack the computer. This would prevent your household items from moving around this way and that in the truck, which can ultimately lead to damage.
Pack each item neatly in the box and tight enough so that the items would not move around when the boxes are sealed. In some cases you may be moving with a family heirloom such as a chinaware set or other fragile items. You simply wrap them all in a towel so that it would not shatter during the ride.
For packing larger items, both shrink wrap and moving blankets should be your friends; they can protect your furniture from the weather.
As you pack don’t forget to label the box or storage container by the name of each room. When you have completed packing from each room, you should then relocate the boxes and storage container to a room in your house that does not have much people traffic. This would make it accessible and less stressful for the movers when they get there.
This articles was provided by FindGoodMovers.com for our readers, a moving portal for local and long distance moving companies.
Posted by admin on June 23, 2011 under Before Your Move, Moving Tips |
Moving or relocating is never an easy job even if it is just across town, but when you relocate across the country or to another state it can become a little more challenging. Relocating to another state can be job related, a change of scenery, a divorce or a host of other reasons. Whatever the reason will dictate the steps you need to take early in the planning stage and will also tell you how much time you have to relocate. Relocating is a good reason to have a yard sale or donate those items you no longer need to a store like Goodwill.
You can start to pack the items that you do want to take with you, but you do need to take special care with this type of packing because these items will be traveling in a moving van for quite awhile. It is not like you can pack a box, not tape it shut, and transport it across town. You should make sure that you have extra packing material, glass separators, etc. Anything to make sure that your valuables, dishes, and any other breakable items make it from point A to point B without breaking.
If you do not have a place to live where you are relocating, you may have to store your items in a storage unit until you do unless you make a trip to where you are moving to secure an apartment, condo, or purchase a home before you relocate. If you are driving across country, you do not want to be house or apartment hunting right when you get there. If you do have to store your items, there is another added expense not to mention having to either move the stuff yourself or hire a mover to move it to your new home or apartment.
Although this may be the most expensive way it might be best to hire a moving company to relocate your belongings. You can rent a truck and move yourself, but then you have your car that you have to get to your new destination. Some moving van you rent do have a trailer in which you can hitch to the moving van and tow your car. While this may be the cheaper route, you still have to do all the loading and unloading, and pay for the gas for the moving van. If you have children, this way of moving may not be the best idea.
Before you relocate, plan ahead and everything will run smoother.
Posted by admin on December 23, 2010 under Illinois |
Thinking of moving to Chicago might be one of the finest conclusions you will ever bring to your lifestyle. Not only it is among the most vivacious and diverse urban centers in the world but is also one of the cleanest places you will ever travel to. Next time you visit Chicago have a look around and you’ll see a ton of freshly planted trees, green rooftops, and just a very green conscience city doing its best to create a difference in the peoples live.
One of the features that makes the city so unique loved from any other city are its neighborhoods. Chicago is dissimilar than any other city, it is uniquely formed and sketched by its neighborhoods like Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Logan Square and River North.
Then when you add up in what it has to offer with its arts, architecture, music and sports teams such as Bulls, White Sox, Black Hawks no wonder college graduates move to Chicago. There are lots of colleges that have their own limited spot particularly the nearby Big Ten Schools. It’s a legitimate advance for a graduate to relocate to Chicago and find a job in a field of study because of the lifestyle and capability Chicago offers.
So the question is where are you going to live and how are you going to move? With hundreds of moving companies and rental agencies to select from, how does one make a decision on a mover and neighborhood that is best for you and your needs? Certainly you will find many rental agencies and movers in Chicago but putting your living experience and belongings in the hands of someone who you don’t know can be excruciating. And going through this route alone is not only a trouble but very time taking, going through all companies to hire from looking for the best deals.
Making a conclusion like finding a new apartment or a moving company in Chicago can really make or break your experience. Luckily there are agencies such as Chamber of Commerce and Better Business Bureau and the service is always free.
Whether you are moving and trying to settle in the city for the first time, or simply searching a change, the decisions you reach for your living should be right at the top of your list before you move to Illinois. Find the right home in the good neighborhood, and you’ll get the best time and experience of your life here.
Posted by admin on November 17, 2010 under Winter Moving |
Except for the cheap moving rates, ask anyone who has recently moved and they will tell you that winter moves are never pretty. When moving during the wintertime you are no doubt cold and there is no place that you would rather be than sitting by the fireplace or in your easy chair with a cozy blanket thrown over your legs. While thinking warm thoughts could give you something to look forward to when you get to your new home, we also have a few more moving tips to ensure that the cold weather does not get you down.
Firstly, if you have a scheduled move this winter you can do yourself a favor by thinking warm thoughts, but more importantly preparing for the move to your new home. No matter where you are moving to, you should always try to bundle up by dressing warm so that you would feel comfortable in the car when driving to your new home. Even if you are moving out of state from a slightly cold weather climate to one that gets icy cold this time of year, you should wear something warm just in case your vehicle breaks down and you may have to get out to fix something.
To avoid having to stop and check your car, you should take your vehicle in to the mechanic a week before moving so that he can service it and make it ready for the road.
Experts would also advise you to rid your walkways and driveways of excessive snow at both homes before the movers arrive. This would not only ensure a smooth move for them to get back and forth with your household items in a safe fashion but it would also avoid any slips and falls that you could be liable for.
There is nothing that beats walking into a warm home when you are coming in from the cold outdoors. It would be nice if you can have the heat going in both the old and new home so that the movers could feel comfortable as they move your items. In addition, you can reward the movers with cups of hot beverage including hot chocolate, tea or even coffee. This would be a great way to tip the movers for their service.
Posted by admin on August 7, 2010 under Before Your Move |
Start planning early! Summertime is usually the busiest season for the moving companies. The first and the end of the month are normally busier than mid-month, regardless what season it is. During that time period the need for moving companies and rental trucks is heavy. If you can schedule your move between the months of October and April, you will get lower moving rates and better availability.
If you’re moving with children, it’s preferred to hold until the completion of the academic term. For younger kids, relocating to a new school will most likely not make any academic troubles. Even so, it perhaps harder for older kids and teenagers to change schools in the middle of the term. Older kids will also have acquired firmer bonds to their friends and may have more difficult time adapting if moved mid-term.
Make sure to schedule an on-site moving estimate before you hire a mover. A moving company’s representative should visit your home and make an inventory of the items that you are planning to transport. He will then produce a written moving quote for your review.
Select the items you would like to move and what will be junked or donated to charities. Check all rooms of your home before the moving consultant will come. Show the consultant everything that you’ll be taking with you. Don’t be shy, ask all those questions you had in mind.
Effective communication with a moving company is an important element for a successful move. Make sure all items are listed on the inventory sheet. The representative will prepare a moving estimate which will include moving charges and the fees for extra services that you may request. Remember that if you decide to move more items or take less items the total amount of your move will alter. If you are going to make any changes to your move, notify the moving company before the moving day.
If you pack your goods yourself, the moving company will not take responsibility for damages to boxes packed by you. However, if there is visible exterior damage, mention it on the inventory list of your shipment. The crew leader has the right to decline any box that may be improperly packed. If the movers have to re-pack boxes that you have packed, extra fees will apply.
There are also some items moving companies are not allowed to move because state rules and regulations.
