Solar panels soaking up rays.

Solar panel technology is a cutting edge way to provide green power to your home. Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity. The photovoltaic cells are comprised of semiconductors (usually silicon). When light strikes the cell, some of it is absorbed into the semiconductor material. That energy is then converted into electricity.

For those that are concerned about the damage that traditional electricity conversion processes may to do the planet, you can rely on solar panels to deliver more eco-friendly energy to your home. In many jurisdictions, there are even tax deductions available to those who install their own solar system.

The biggest challenge when it comes to installing solar panels is the upfront cost. Installation of a solar system in your home can be very expensive. It could cost somewhere between $35,000 and $72,000, depending on the size of your new home and the amount of energy you typically use. Another downside is that solar technology only works while the sun is shining. When it’s not, you’ll have to rely on utility power, generated power, or power stored in batteries.

There is an upside, however, to having solar panels on your home. In addition to using greener electricity, your monthly electricity bills will be greatly reduced. If you’re planning on living in your new home for quite a few years, you can actually save money in the long run.

Advancements are being made in photovoltaic technology frequently, so even if you can’t afford to get it now, you should keep an eye on the industry. It’s quite possible that advancements in that field will reduce the upfront costs of installing the technology sometime in the future.

That being said, I wish my colleagues a speedy recovery, and I hope that everyone has a great, and healthy, weekend!

1. Movers don’t show up - As you wait for your movers to arrive, you might worry that they will be late or possible not arrive at all, leaving you stranded on your moving day.

2. Bad weather - As explored in another top ten list, there are several weather conditions that can disrupt your move. Unfortunately, all you can do is keep checking the weather forecasts and hope for the best.

3. Things getting broken - With all of your belongings packed into cardboard boxes, driven around in a truck, and carried into your new home, it is hard not to worry about them getting broken. This fear lasts throughout the unpacking process as you open up each box and hope that everything is intact.

4. Don’t have enough time - Moving involves so much planning and work that it’s easy to underestimate the time you need. Being afraid that you don’t have enough time to get everything done in time is a very common and valid concern.

5. Your things won’t fit - If you have large furniture, you might worry about getting these objects through the door. This fear can lead to other fears; you could then stress about damaging your door frames in case things have to be squeezed inside.

6. Forgetting something - What could be worse than getting to your new home and realizing you left a box behind? Since moving days can be chaotic, it is easy to get overwhelmed and to overlook certain things.

7. Leaving your home - Moving often involves starting a new life somewhere else, which means that you have to leave your familiar surroundings behind. The anxiety of leaving your home and getting adjusted to life in a new home is perhaps the most common moving fear.

8. Having to unpack - Though transporting your goods can be hard enough, you’ll then have to worry about the unpacking process. Unpacking is a timely process that no one looks forward to.

9. Fear about your roommate(s) - If you are moving to a college dorm or to an apartment with people you don’t know, you could very well have some fears about living with them. Even if you are moving in with a friend, relative, or significant other, you will probably be nervous about sharing a home with someone else.

10. Wrong key - One of the worst fears you may have on moving day is that your key won’t work. Imagine getting to your new home with all your stuff, but you end up being locked out. After all the trouble you go through to get to your home, having to wait outside and call a locksmith would be devastating.

Open the door to a new home...and a new life!

If you are reading the Movers.com blog, then you are likely thinking about moving, getting ready to move, or are currently in the process of moving. No matter what stage of the move you are in, you are likely to moving for one of two reasons: personal or business.

There are many reasons for moving regarding changes in your personal life. For instance, such events as marriage, divorce, or death of a family member can all cause you to relocate. If you are getting any additions to the family, you might have to move to a bigger place so your kids have more room. You might also want to move to improve your quality of life. Moving to a safer neighborhood or an area with a better school system is always a valid reason.

You may also be moving for job-related reasons. If your current company relocates you to another branch, you’ll likely have to move closer to the new location. Alternately, your company might be moving the entire office to another city, so you would have to move in order to keep your job. Another work-related relocation occurs if you find a job outside your immediate neighborhood. Should you accept the offer, you may have to move closer to the new office.

These are just some of the many reasons people move. To read more about these reasons for relocating, check out our online guide. If you have ever moved for a reason not mentioned here, tell us about it with a comment below!

Even creepy pumpkins wish you a Happy Halloween!

The Movers.com office has been full of Halloween spirit for the past few weeks, as you can tell by our Halloween content. After thinking about it for so long, it’s hard to believe that the holiday will finally be here tomorrow. We are all pretty excited about it and will be celebrating in our own ways - watching scary movies, going to New York City, or, like me, attending a Halloween party in Atlantic City.

While Halloween is reason enough to rejoice and eat less-than-healthy food, we had another cause of celebration today - Alex S.’s birthday! We gorged ourselves on Mexican food and sang “Happy Birthday.” Though Alex P. filmed the whole event, he accidentally had the camera’s audio turned off! For some of us, that’s probably a good thing. Either way, it’s always great to take same time out to have fun with your co-workers. And what better day to have fun than the Friday before Halloween!

On behalf of the entire Movers.com team, we hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween weekend!

Happy Halloween!

From Halloween history and lore to creative costume ideas, you can find it all here in the top ten Movers.com Halloween guides.  We have all of the spooky resources you’re looking for–and we hope they’ll help you celebrate this frighteningly fun holiday!

1. Jack-O-Lanterns 101 - Everything you need to know about making a jack-o-lantern. This guide tells you the tools you’ll need, techniques you can use, and even gives you some jack-o-lantern templates.

2. From Harvest to Horrors:  A Brief History of Halloween - Did you know that Halloween is over 6000 years old? You’ll find out about the fascinating history of Halloween and how it transformed from a harvest festival into the spooky holiday we celebrate today.

3. The Ultimate Transformation: Werewolves, Witches, Vampires, and Ghosts - These are Halloween’s classic costumes. Learn a little bit about their history and style as well as how to make the four-part transformation yourself.

4. Spooky Urban Legends - These urban legends are great for story telling at parties or while trick-or-treating. They are classic stories that are sure to give you chills. Readers beware: these aren’t for the faint of heart!

5. The Top 5 Tunes of Terror: Halloween Songs and Their Ghoulish Lyrics - These five songs capture the spirit (pun intended) of Halloween. If you don’t know about many good Halloween songs, now’s your chance to fill up your iPod!

6. Devilishly Good Décor - Looking for good Halloween decorating ideas? This guide gives you tips on how to bring the best (or maybe worst) out of your decorations. You’ll learn how to blend color, decorations, and props into a spooky scene at your home.

7. Creative Costumes From Your Closet - Here are some great ideas for those looking to create their own costume. Most of these great costumes can be made with things you have around the house, but if you do need to buy anything, it’s sure to be inexpensive. You can save money without sacrificing quality scares.

8. Tricks for Safe, Fun Trick-or-Treating - These practical tips will help you and your kids get the most of trick-or-treating.  Hassles and squabbles can be avoided if you take a little extra time to prepare before heading off into the night.

9. Hosting a Halloween Party - If you’re looking to host a Halloween party, this guide will tell you all you need to know to pull it off. There are ideas about everything from contests and games to food and music.

10. Safe, Secure, and Fun Alternatives to Candy - Finally, if you want to spare trick-or-treaters from the true horrors of dental woes and childhood obesity, you can look here for alternatives to candy. These ideas are fun and creative–so you can rest assured knowing you won’t be spoiling a child’s Halloween by giving them thoughtful treats.

How are you planning to celebrate Halloween?  Tell us about it with a comment below!

Recycling is easy!

As you move, you probably have a ton of things that you would like to get rid of.  Crusty old bread, wrinkled pillows, and scandalous leg lamps are probably at the top of your list.  But what about the bubble wrap and boxes you use during your move–and what if you want to be eco-friendly, too?

You can recycle packing supplies that you don’t plan on selling or reusing instead of simply throwing them away.  Here is a list of some of the most recyclable supplies:

• Corrugated cardboard boxes
• Newspaper
• Mixed papers
• Plastic bags and boxes
• Non-standard packing materials:
  clothing and magazines

You should contact your local waste management facility or township office to inquire about recycling services offered in your area.  You may have the option of leaving your recyclable items curbside for pick-up or dropping them off at a recycling center at your convenience.

If you do recycle your packing materials, make sure that you are following the specific instructions for recycling those particular items.  Most recyclable packing materials will need to be cleaned, separated, or tied and stacked together before they can be recycled.  Also, don’t mix items of different materials as this contamination can lead to the entire lot being thrown out.

Learn more about recycling your packing materials here, and best wishes for a successful move!

Have you been able to recycle any other packing materials?  Tell us with a comment below!

A storm's a-brewin'!

Unfortunately, there are several things that can complicate your moving day. High on that list is the weather. While it would be nice if everyone’s moving day involved 70° weather along with blue skies, fluffy white clouds, and a slight breeze, this doesn’t happen that often. Instead, there are several weather situations that can lead to trouble when you move. Depending on the region you live in and the time of year, you or your movers may encounter some of the following:

1. Extreme Heat - Moving in any weather can be quite the workout. If it is excessively hot on the day of your move, the move will take an even greater toll on your body. Make sure to work slowly, take a lot of breaks, and drink plenty of water. It’s not just your body you have to worry about in hot weather. Your temperature-sensitive items can also be damaged by extreme heat.

2. Extreme Cold - On the opposite side of the spectrum, a cold snap can also be detrimental to your move. Since you’ll likely have to wear gloves, coats, and other bulky clothes, carrying your goods to the moving truck will be more difficult. The move can also take a lot longer, since you’ll want to take plenty of breaks inside to stay warm.

3. Mist - Though mist might not seem like much, it can still have an impact on your move. For one, a gray sky and moist air can cause some frustration as you stress about whether it will rain or not. At the same time, since you might not see or even feel the mist, you could assume that there is no precipitation. Later on, though, you might end up with soggy cardboard boxes. On top of this, the mist can make the roads very slick, making the drive to your new home more dangerous.

4. Downpour - A more obvious problem than mist is a downpour. Not only will strong, steady rain make the roads slippery, it can also be hard to see as you drive. Moving your belongings from your home to the truck is more risky - you could slip on the driveway or end up with damaged goods if they get wet. Also, your goods can become slippery in the wet weather, causing you to drop something.

5. High Winds - Another weather condition that can ruin a move is wind. Though you might not think it could be such a problem, strong winds can definitely be troublesome. When carrying big items, like a mattress, they can easily catch wind. This could cause you to drop the mattress, resulting in damage to you, the mattress, or other nearby objects. The wind can also affect the drive to your new home. The truck can easily be swayed by the strong winds, making the drive more treacherous.

6. Snow/Sleet/Ice - These weather problems can make moving especially difficult. Since they involve precipitation and cold weather, and very well include strong winds, snow, sleet, and ice can cause serious problems on your moving day. For instance, your moving company might not carry out the move if the roads are bad. If driving yourself in a rental truck, you might not be comfortable driving in this weather either. Even if you do end up moving in such conditions, it will likely take a lot longer.

7. Hurricanes - Hurricanes also combine some of the above factors - notably high winds and heavy downpours. Of course, if you are in the direct path of a hurricane, it would probably be best to postpone the move. Even if you aren’t in the direct path, you can still be susceptible to its effects. Also, hurricanes could potentially delay your move well after it passes through, since they can lead to road closures due to flooding or downed power lines and trees.

8. Hail - While hail is mostly encountered in the interior of the country, they aren’t always confined to specific regions, like some of the other weather problems. As hailstones can sometimes be as large as grapefruits, they can easily damage you and your precious goods as you try to load up the moving truck.

9. Dust Storms - If you live in an arid or semi-arid part of the country, then your move might be affected by dust storms. These result from dry sand and topsoil getting caught in strong winds. While you won’t want to be outside during a dust storm, your move can be delayed if you experience such an event. Your move could still be delayed by the after effects of a dust storm; once the dust settles, it can completely cover the roads and make unsuitable for driving.

10. Nice Weather - Even perfect weather can pose some problems on your moving day. Mainly, if the weather is so nice, you probably won’t want to spend the beautiful day moving. However, it might not be a good idea to put aside your move to enjoy the nice weather - you never know what the weather will be like the next day…

Regardless of whichever weather problems you encounter on your moving day, always take the appropriate measures to protect yourself, your family, your movers, and your belongings. If the weather is going to cause some issues for your move, it will be better to reschedule the move than to take the risk of moving in extreme weather.

Image by ww5.komen.org

Here at Movers.com, we again had something fun to celebrate this week. Pradeep had a birthday on Monday, and thanks to Alex P. and Alex S., we all had delicious Subway sandwiches and cookies-and-cream angel food cake!

On an unrelated note, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Many people I know have participated in marathons and walks to raise awareness.  As a Susan G. Komen advocate, I appreciate and support any effort geared toward finding a cure for the disease and educating women on early prevention and the importance of getting a mammogram.  (And with just over a week left in the month, it’s not too late to do something to participate!)  Of course, I am not the only supporter out there.  Have you seen the NFL lately? Nothing says that it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month like a bunch of linebackers wearing pink athletic shoes!

Photo by i.usatoday.net

This weekend, I’ll definitely be watching some football!  I hope that everyone else also gets some much-deserved enjoyment out of their own weekend!

Photo by DontbBlue, sxc.hu

Fortunately, you have options on how to transport your wine collection safely to your new home.  Make sure to tell your mover that you have a wine collection, and then ask the following questions:

Do you have climate-controlled vans? Moving your wine collection in a climate-controlled van is ideal for maintaining your wine’s flavor and appearance.  The recommended temperature for most wines is fifty-five degrees, but you should check with an expert before you request a specific temperature.

What kinds of boxes do you use to transport wine collections? There are special boxes designed for transporting wine bottles.  Make  sure to give the mover information about the quantity and size of your wine collection. These details will help your mover confirm that they not only have the right-sized box, but have enough boxes to assist you with your special move.

Do you know of the restrictions in my destination area regarding the transport of alcoholic beverages? The mover should be aware that restrictions regarding the amount of alcohol that can be brought in for personal use may apply to your move.  You or the mover should contact alcohol beverage control authorities in your destination area before you move.

Do you have any coverage plans that would apply to my wine collection in the even that any bottles are damaged, stolen, or lost? You may want coverage for your wine collection during the transportation process.  If so, ask your moving specialist if this is a service they provide, under what circumstances would your items receive coverage, and the definition of any terms.  Most likely, the specialist would send you their insurance policy before you commit to any agreement.

To further assess the value of your wine collection, you might want to consider having your collection appraised.  Many local wine merchants offer this service.

You do have the option of transporting the wine by car, which will give you or another passenger full control over the climate.  You’ll also be able to monitor the condition of your wine during the move.  Some commercial airlines do offer wine transport services, but this can be a very expensive option.

The best time of year to move your wine collection is when temperatures are most mild, like early spring or late fall.   Luckily, a climate-controlled vehicle will give you year-round flexibility and ensures that your wine collection arrives safely to its destination.

Have you ever transported your wine collection?  Tell us about it with a quick comment below!