Move during the week

Relocating on a weekday is less popular than the weekend, since many customers may not be able to take time off from work. If you must move on a weekend, never schedule your move on Memorial Day weekend or the last weekend in July–these are often the busiest days of the year for movers.

Have plenty of cold drinks on hand.

Not only for yourself, but the movers as well! Lugging heavy furniture in and out of your home and hauling it onto a moving trailer is hard, sweaty labor in ninety-degree summer heat. Keeping a cooler of ice-cold water and sports drinks on hand is a gracious gesture to keep your movers hydrated and happy. Of course, offering to buy them lunch is always very kind and greatly appreciated as well.

Pack your belongings with the heat in mind.

Don’t pack anything that can melt in extreme temperatures in your moving truck–no candles, photographs, or anything of extreme value that could be ruined. DVDs and CDs can also warp and be destroyed in especially hot and humid conditions. Consider packing these items and loading them in your own vehicle to transport yourself so they are not exposed to unfavorable temperatures.  Never wrap leather or wood furniture in plastic shrink wrap–it can melt in the heat and ruin your furniture. It may also trap condensation in conditions of high humidity and cause mildew and moisture damage. Always wrap furniture in fabric pads, and then follow with plastic shrink wrap or bubble wrap if you wish.

Conserve energy.

While it might be tempting to leave the air-conditioning on inside your home in the middle  of a sweltering  summer day, remember that the doors to your new and old homes will be wide open for hours as the movers lug your belongings to and fro. This can result in quite hefty energy bills if that ice-cold AC air is just wafting outside instead of keeping your home’s temperature at a comfortable level. Additionally, make sure your electric is connected before you move in at your new home, so you won’t have to wait to start using your air-conditioning once you are ready to unpack and settle in.

Photo credit: freedigitalphotos/artur84

While you may be excited to shed your winter clothes for a pair of shorts and your favorite shades, summer is the season where budgeting your energy use can sometimes fall by the wayside. It’s that extra few hours of running the air conditioning, or letting the kids play in the sprinklers all afternoon while running in and out of the house, which can cause havoc when it comes to your bills at the end of the month.

Keep your air conditioner clean:

Whether you have window units or a central air system, your house cannot get to your set temperature on the thermostat if the air conditioner is dirty. It will cause the unit to over compensate and run constantly and therefore utilize a lot more energy than you may have intended. Be sure to clean your ducts and vents regularly during the summer months, and change your air filters. If you are unfamiliar with this process, it is well worth the money to hire a professional HVAC Service Technician to come out and perform the maintenance.

Keep your home sealed:

Air can escape through tiny cracks and crevices in your home that you don’t even know about, like in the attic or basement. You also want to be sure that all windows are shut and locked when running the air conditioner – you wouldn’t want all of your cool air escaping through a window because you forgot to shut it properly. Keeping blinds drawn during the day also helps keep hot sunrays from spilling in through the windows, which can cause the temperature to rise. If you have ceiling fans, you can keep these running during the day to circulate the air instead of running the air conditioning.

If you need more information about ways to keep your house cool during the summer without draining your wallet, check out our guide here!

It’s almost that time for bathing suits and beaches, suntan lotion and surfboards, and flip-flops and fireworks. It’s almost summer! But instead of getting your favorite grill apron out, you’re coordinating your family’s move – a painstaking task that can ultimately turn your summer lovin’ attitude into the blues.

While seemingly inconvenient and more expensive (and not to mention, hot!), there are plenty of reasons why people move during the summer. Many times, this is the season of leases coming to an end, schools letting out and businesses starting new fiscal years. You wouldn’t want to pull your child out of school mid-year unless it was absolutely unavoidable, so the summer time is often the easiest way to transition a child to a new home and start fresh at a new school in the fall.

If you’re going to sacrifice your fun in the sun to moving in the heat, here are a few things to remember:

Safety First:

Physical labor takes a toll on our bodies, especially when it’s hotter outside. The more we sweat, the more dehydrated we become. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids, take the necessary amounts of breaks if your body is telling you to do so (especially if you’re taking on a do-it-yourself move), and dress in light colored loose fitting clothes.

Think Ahead:

Summer is the most popular season to move. With that in mind, many people might think that the price of moving companies is the only thing that fluctuates during this season. They would be wrong! Just because you’re paying more, doesn’t mean you will be guaranteed a moving service the day of your move. Book in advance, and do so at least a month prior to your move date.

Be Prepared:

Because the season is busy, there might be some unforeseen “hiccups” that could take place during your move. Make sure you plan ahead with some breathing room in case your delivery arrives slightly after you were expecting it, and try to pack your goods well in advance prior to your movers arriving – this saves precious time.

Need more tips for moving in the summer? Check out our guide on how to prepare and plan for your summer move, right here at Movers.com

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and you will find the aged adage holds very true during a garage sale. Though it seems like a tremendous task, having a garage sale is simple. Just follow these easy tips and you will have more free space and a fuller wallet before you know it.

Apply for Sign and Garage Sale Permits 

Believe it or not, you must seek approval to post signs for and hold a garage sale in many cities or from your homeowner’s association. This can be done by visiting the administration or homeowner’s association website or calling the local government or neighborhood organization. Representatives will readily inform you on the steps you need to take to legally place garage sale signs throughout the community and to hold the event on a designated day. Though you may not need approval depending on
your location, it is better to be safe than sorry so you can avoid any fines. 

Advertise 

Once you have approval, it is time to advertise your upcoming sale. Timing is everything, so do not advertise too soon or too late to avoid customers forgetting about sale or not having enough time to plan around the event. The ideal time to advertise for a garage sale is five to seven days before the event by placing signs throughout the neighborhood, placing an ad in the newspaper, posting event on Craigslist, Facebook, Twitter and any other popular social media sites and e-mailing and texting your friends and family. When advertising, describe in detail the items for sale so you can attract customers who may be looking for exactly what you are trying to give away. 

Tagging and Boxing Items 

Now that the date is set, you have given yourself a deadline. Within this time, you will need to tag each item with a price and prepare it for display. Make sure to dust off and wash down all of the items so they
appear as new as possible. If an item requires a battery, make sure you have fresh cells in it or if an item requires an electrical outlet, make sure you have an extension cord available to plug it in. Now that everything is clean and tagged, place items in boxes and set them aside for the big day. 

Preparing Your Yard 

Presentation is everything, especially when holding a garage sale. Make sure you have a fresh cut lawn and trimmed shrubbery the day of the sale. It is also a good idea to place some extra chairs to the side in the case a customer wants to take a seat. To create an even more pleasant atmosphere, place your IPod and speakers or CD player to the side so you can play some light music during the event. Lastly,
buy some water and inexpensive snacks to sell in case a customer becomes thirsty or hungry. 

Providing Parking 

Though you may have little control over the available parking spaces on your road or surrounding streets, you can provide as much parking by moving your own cars down the block so there are as many spots as possible close to your home. 

Change and Bags 

One of the last things you need to take care of is assuring you have a significant amount of change to use when making a sale. From pennies to quarters and singles to fives, guarantee you will be able to provide exact change for each item sold. It is also just as important to provide bags, both big and small, so customers can easily carry away the items they purchased. 

Displaying Items 

Now that you have taken care of everything surrounding the event, it is time to place all of your items out for sale. While you may want to place some items on plain tables, you may want to exhibit
some more expensive or rare goods on decorated stands. When displaying books and CD’s, remember to place them out so the title is easily visible. Use wire hangers for clothing so that you do not give away your plastic hangers during the sale. And most importantly, while you make sure all items appear nice, make sure you are dressed well and always wearing a smile. 

Bargain Wisely 

When it comes time to bargaining, make sure you have that noted smile on your face. It is easier to get flies with honey just as it is easier to agree with a customer when you are kind. Though you may be emotionally attached to certain items and cannot imagine selling them cheaper, remember the customer is not as attached and may very well walk away if you are not willing to bargain. 

Wrap it Up and Take Down the Signs 

After an afternoon of selling your stuff, it is time to break down what is left. Use the boxes you used to transport the items outside to store what you did not sell. If you have extra storage space, put boxes away
and bring them out again when you have a future sale. If you do not want to keep any leftover items, than contact the local Salvation Army to find out when and where you can drop of the goods for those less fortunate. On the way home from the non-profit, stop and take down all the signs you posted around the
neighborhood and remove advertisement off of Internet. 

Pat Yourself on the Back 

Now that all the hard work is done, pat yourself on the back and treat yourself to something to eat with some of the money you made. Of course you may want to avoid a seven course meal since it would be nice to put some of the money in the piggy bank you couldn’t sell!

Put away your winter attire

Need room in your closet for your brand new summer wardrobe? Sweaters, boots, winter coats and scarves can all take up copious amounts of your precious storage space during the summer months. To free up some room for your bikinis, shorts and sandals, you may opt to put your cold-weather clothes into a storage unit until next fall. If you are a shopaholic with more clothes than closet space, a storage unit may be a worthy investment.

Stow your dorm furniture

College students are often faced with the dilemma of what to do with their dorm room or apartment furniture when they return home for summer break. Hauling all of your belongings back and forth twice a year can add considerable cost onto your moving budget, and it may be more affordable to simply rent a storage unit near campus for the summer. You can even split a unit with your roommate or another classmate for optimum savings. However, don’t delay–storage facilities near colleges tend to book up fast!

Stash your winter equipment

If you have cumbersome winter tools or sporting equipment taking up room in your garage–such as a snow-blower, external heater, skis, or a snowboard–you can make room for summer projects by placing these items into storage. Many homeowners plan renovations during the warm summer months, and you may need the extra garage space to plan and work.

Tips for summer storage

Face it, summer is hot and sticky–not exactly the best time of year to cram your things into a small space, right? Fortunately, there are many ways to keep your belongings cool and dry while you store them in the sweaty summer months.

• Use a climate-controlled unit. If you will be storing clothing (especially leather or fur), wood furniture, photographs, or electronics, your safest option is to rent a climate-controlled unit. Extreme heat and high humidity typical of the summer months can cause mildew, mold, rust and decay. Climate-controlled storage will maintain a steady temperature between 55 and 80 degrees, with about 55 percent relative humidity.
• Make sure everything is clean and dry before storing it. Storing anything damp will contribute to the moisture in the air and cause damage to your belongings. Make sure all clothing is washed (and thoroughly dry) before storing as well. Dirt, oils, perfumes or stains on unclean clothing will attract pest infestations, especially in high temperatures.
• Make sure everything is adequately packed. Make sure all furniture and mattresses are wrapped and covered with furniture blankets, then covered with a plastic sheet to keep out moisture (never place plastic directly against furniture). Clothing and furs should be cleaned before going into storage and hung inside wardrobe boxes. You should also place your possessions on top of wooden pallets if your unit has a concrete floor–this will keep them away from condensation.
• Use desiccants. To absorb moisture in storage units in the summer, you can make homemade desiccant packs by filling a fabric pouch will silica gel and hanging it somewhere inside your unit. You can also opt for natural alternatives, such as charcoal briquettes, clay cat litter, or cedar chips.

1. De-clutter and purge.

The first step for a successful spring clean is removing the excess junk from your home. Clutter only facilitates the accumulation of dust, dirt and grime and makes everything ten times more difficult to clean. Grab several boxes and start sorting through your belongings, deciding what you will donate, sell or toss. The warm weather is perfect for a yard sale to unload some of those unwanted items. You may also opt to sell them online or donate to charity. Now that you have purged, your home will already feel lighter and refreshed. The chore of spring cleaning will also seem much easier to accomplish with less mess.

2. Get help.

Don’t try and take on your whole home by yourself.  Enlist the aid of your spouse and children to roll up their sleeves and start scrubbing. If you live alone, gather up some pals to lend you a hand. If they are reluctant, offer your cleaning services to them in reciprocation. With an army of cleaners cooperating to accomplish the task, it will take much less time to complete.

3. Tackle one room at a time.

You may feel overwhelmed by the thought of cleaning your entire home top to bottom. Where do you begin? Working on one room at a time will help you to organize your time and keep track of what you have done. It will also seem much more feasible a chore to handle if you focus on just one room rather than your entire home.

4.  Work top to bottom.

Dirt follows the law of gravity–you don’t want to begin by doing the floors only to knock dusty ceiling cobwebs all over them later. Clean each room top to bottom–beginning with the ceilings, then high shelves and cabinets, then counters and table-tops, and floors last.

5. Go natural.

When you’re doing this much cleaning, it’s important to use products that won’t engulf you in harmful fumes. Some chemical cleaners can actually become toxic when mixed with others. A mixture of vinegar and baking soda is a great natural alternative to chemical-based cleaners for kitchen and bathroom scrubbing. There are also numerous natural and organic multipurpose cleaning products on the market to choose from.

Photo credit: Ambro/Freedigitalphotos.net

Because summer is such a convenient time to move, most people clamor to schedule their relocation during this season. Because of the raised demand, rates will be considerably higher. This is even more reason to start planning in advance, so you have ample time to research and compare quotes from various moving companies to find a great deal from an affordable, but reputable mover.

To begin planning your move, consider your moving options. Do you gave a small, manageable move across town? You may opt to rent a truck and transport your own goods, or hire small movers to ship your belongings. Are you moving to the next state or cross-country? A full-service move with packing, loading and driving assistance may make the overwhelming task a less stressful and harried one.

Once you have contemplated your needs and the services you require, its time to start comparing quotes from reputable moving companies at Movers.com! Fill out our fast and easy quote form to start browsing  rates from different moving services customized for your individual move. Before booking a mover, don’t forget to:

• Get an in-home estimate
• Check the company’s background, verify licensing credentials, and read user reviews
• Ask about insurance coverage
• Ask about any extra fees for special services you require
• Find out what materials the movers will use to protect your goods and home
• Ask about their claims procedure should anything be lost or damaged during your move

These are just a few questions to ask a mover you are considering for hire to avoid the many common mistakes customers make when hiring a moving company. In order to ensure your move is smooth and without mishap, you want to be positive you are hiring a reliable, experienced and professional company–not a rogue mover that will only try to scam you.

So don’t delay another day–start researching movers now at Movers.com! Good luck and happy moving!

Your vehicle is one of your most valuable and prized possessions, so trusting it in the hands of auto shippers when you’re relocating can be a stressful, harrowing experience. When you’re moving, you are often under a lot of pressure, with many tasks to take care of in a certain time frame. If you are under specific time constraints, you may be dependent on your vehicle arriving at its destination by a certain date, unscathed, without spending a fortune–moving costs enough as it is! With so much at stake, you will want to hire auto movers that can get your car to you quickly, safely and at a great price.

Unfortunately, there are numerous factors involved in auto shipping and many ways that things can go awry. Your vehicle’s delivery may be delayed, you may receive an incorrect quote, your vehicle could sustain damage, or you could even fall victim to a scam. Read on to learn more about the possible problems that can arise during auto transport, how to solve them, and what you can do to prevent them.

Late delivery

One of the most common problems to arise during auto shipping is delayed delivery. While car shippers do their best to provide customers with an accurate date of expected delivery, there are many factors that can contribute to a late shipment. Unexpected traffic jams, extreme weather, mechanical trouble, accidents or a flat tire can all hold up your car’s delivery. Additionally, since trailers are often carrying eight to ten vehicles at any given time, late customers and paperwork can also cause late shipments.

Because of the likelihood of delays, auto shippers will rarely provide you with an exact date and time for delivery. Be wary of any company that does. Car movers will typically estimate your delivery within a three-day window. If there is any occurrence that will delay your shipment, the shipper will contact you as soon as possible with your new expected date of delivery. Some companies may offer you a discount if you car is late by more than three days, but it shouldn’t be expected.

Incorrect quote

Occasionally, an incorrect quote may be given due to a misunderstanding about your location. For instance, if there are two cities in the same state with very similar names, located several hundred miles apart, this can cause a variance of hundreds of dollars in your estimate. When speaking with an auto carrier or broker, make sure to reiterate the zip codes of your pick-up and delivery locations to ensure you are being quoted the correct price (not to mention avoiding your car being delivered to the wrong city!).

Damage

Another common mishap that can occur during transport is damage to your vehicle. When your car arrives, be sure to thoroughly inspect it in a well-lit area for any scratches, dent, cracked glass or any other damage. Don’t forget to check the roof and under the bumpers–these areas are often overlooked.

If you find any new damage that wasn’t there when your car was picked up, make a note of it on the Original Inspection Report (also known as the Bill of Lading). Then have the delivery driver sign the document–you will have trouble filing a claim later if the driver doesn’t sign the document before leaving.

Next, you will want to contact your shipper with your complaint. They will likely ask you to send them the Original Inspection Report, photos of your damage, and a copy of an estimate on the damages from your mechanic. If the company does not respond to your claim with an offer for resolution, you may want to contact the Better Business Bureau to prompt the company to quickly resolve the matter.

Bait and switch estimates

Like any other moving service, the auto transport industry is often plagued by fraud and scam– the most common being the bait-and-switch estimate. This occurs when a company offers an unusually low quote for their service, then tacks on an array of “hidden fees” that raise the price astronomically. When the customer disputes the cost, the company refuses delivery until the amount is paid in full.

You can avoid falling victim to scams by thoroughly researching your auto mover before hiring them. Check their record on the website for the Better Business Bureau, read online reviews, ask for customer references, request the company’s MC number (what’s this) and verify it on the FMCSA website (what’s this?). These steps will help you be sure that you are hiring an honest, reputable auto mover to ship your vehicle.

Purge the junk

It’s much easier to get organized and begin the packing process if there are less things to pack. Sift through your closet and make a pile of things that you haven’t worn in over a year, old and outdated styles, tattered or stained articles, and anything you can’t envision yourself ever putting on again. Toss out broken appliances and outdated technology, like the VCR you still have stowed away under your bed. Do you have a garage, basement or attic filled with forgotten items? If you don’t even remember it’s there, you can probably live without it. Make piles of things that are broken/worn/not usable and throw them away. Take clothes still bearing tags or unopened DVDs and CDs to consignment shops or list them on merchant websites like eBay or Amazon. Have a yard sale for the rest, or donate it to charity. Once your house is looking a bit emptier, the packing process might not seem as scary. Of course, you still have to find the motivation to sort and discard, which may pose another problem all together!

Get your supplies

Before you begin packing, you’ll need to acquire boxes, packing paper, tape, markers, and bubble wrap for breakables. Purchasing specialty packing boxes can be beneficial in ensuring your possessions arrive at their new location safely. However, these materials can also grow very costly, especially if you are moving the contents of a large home. Other option is asking friends, relatives, or coworkers that have recently moved for supplies, visiting a local grocery or liquor store to ask for free boxes, or purchasing used boxes online. You can also use newspaper in place of packing paper, and old towels, linens or quilts to protect furniture and breakables.

Start slow

Packing is a big job, but there’s no reason it has to feel like it. Set a date you need to be finished by and then start packing far in advance, so you can take your time and alleviate the pressure. Tell yourself you’re going to start packing just a few items a day to ease yourself into the process without feeling overwhelmed. As time passes, you may realize that packing is not as difficult as you had dreaded, and you will begin working faster and faster to meet your deadline.

Pack least important to most important

There are many things you will need to use while you are still living in your home, and wrapping them with paper and taping them inside a cardboard box will make that quite difficult. You don’t want to start by packing your cooking utensils and cutlery unless you plan on dining out for the last couple months in your home. Begin by packing things you don’t use everyday, such as clothing that’s out of season, books, DVDs and CDs, collectibles or knick-knacks and decorations that  have no utility or serve no purpose other than ornamental. When you grow closer to moving day, that’s when you begin packing everyday essentials like cookware, bathroom amenities and bedding.

Be sure to label.

Label each and every box with the room and contents immediately after you pack it. This will make the entire process much easier and less stressful if you can’t remember if you already packed something or not. It will also make unpacking a breeze. Keeping an inventory list of items you have already packed up could be helpful as well–this way you will know if a box doesn’t make it to your new location. Don’t forget to label your breakables Fragile, and to draw arrows on your boxes indicating which side should be facing upwards at all times.

Now you have no more excuses to procrastinate. Get packing!

Photo:gopherexpress.com

The simplest way to avoid any confusion and facilitate your unpacking is to color-code your move.

• Purchase colored packing tape, stickers or markers. Designate a specific color to each room in your new house. For example, red for the kitchen, blue for the living room, green for the dining room, yellow for the downstairs bathroom, etc. Keep a list of which colors correlate to which room so you don’t get confused.

• Color-code your boxes. Use the red tape to seal your kitchen boxes, place a red sticker in the corner of the box, or use a red marker to draw a circle on the box. If using stickers or markers be sure to mark them on the same spot for every box to make it easier to find. One of the top corners is the best place for visibility. You should also identify the floor it belongs on–write one for ground level, two for upstairs, three for attic, B for basement.
• Make a key. Take a sheet of paper and place a piece of each color tape or sticker, or draw a circle with each color marker, and write the room it represents beside it. Post the key somewhere clearly visible when you first enter the home.
• Color-code the rooms. Go to each room in your house and place to appropriate sticker or strip of tape on the door or doorway. If you are using markers, color a small Post-it or piece of paper and tape it to the wall. This will make it even easier for the movers to find the correct location for each box.
• Get even more specific. If you want to increase unpacking efficiency even more, consider purchasing a wider range of colored tape or stickers, perhaps even in different patterns. Designate each pattern an item category–for instance, in your kitchen boxes you may have plates, cutlery, glassware, and cookware. If red is your kitchen color, all of these boxes will have red markings. You can then designate a different patterned tape for each kitchen item–stripes for glassware, polka dots for cutlery, flowers for plates.