Category Archives: Residential Movers

Packing electronics for a move can be a tedious process, but it’s very important if you don’t want your electronic gadgets busted, broken, or dysfunctional upon arrival. And if you’re moving anywhere in this century, there’s more than even chance that you have some electronics – and parts to move.

Here are some of our best tips for moving your electronics so that they remain intact from origin to destination:

Save your original boxes or your moving company can loan flat screen TV boxes on the move day. Your electronic equipment will fit better in the boxes they came in than in any other box, and that includes the packing materials such as peanuts and form-fitting foam.
Before you disassemble your electronics, consult your owner’s manual. The manufacturer may have included a section on moving your electronics. Follow their guidelines because the manufacturer knows best about how to protect products they make during a move.
If you don’t have the original boxes, get boxes that are close to the size of your equipment and pack old newspapers around them to keep them from moving.
When disassembling electronics with a lot of power cords, tape small colored stickers on both ends of each cord and label them so you know where to connect them again when you reassemble them.
Make a list of all the components that go together and put it inside the box with your electronic equipment. Make sure you have the proper tools before you start taking apart your equipment.
Put your nuts, bolts, and screws for each electronic gadget in separate zip top baggies, label them and place inside the box with the appropriate equipment.
Wrapping electronics in linen or clean paper can help prevent dust build up during your move.
Use box tape to keep boxes closed tight around your electronics.
If necessary, use climate-controlled storage units for TVs, computers, and other sensitive electronics.

The main thing to keep in mind with electronics is to keep them safe during the move. If you have to, write “fragile” on the outside of boxes to notify movers that they should be careful of banging things around.

Matt's Moving

Moving, Moving Tips, Residential Movers, Uncategorized

Moving Insurance: Is It Really Necessary?

You might be tempted to cut a few corners when moving your home or office. Maybe you’re moving across town and you figure you can get by without bubble wrap. Perhaps you can. But the one area you should not try to skimp on is moving insurance. It really is necessary. RJ Moving offers .60 per lb. per article at no cost to the customer or you can purchase $15,000 Maximum Value Protection @ $90. Your homeowner’s policy may cover your move, so also check with them. RJ Moving crews work hard to provide a claim free move for you.

The purpose for moving insurance is to cover the replacement or restoration of furniture and other items should they get damaged during your move. Trust us, accidents happen, event with the best of movers.

What Kind of Items Can You Insure?

No matter how careful you are in choosing moving companies, and no matter how good your moving company is, accidents can happen. And it may not necessarily be the movers fault. But if you do hire a mover to relocate your home or office—whether in the same town or across country—and an accident causes something to be damaged, you will not get it replaced without insurance. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

So what can you insure?*

Furniture
Kitchen items such as bowls, plates, and silver ware
Appliances
Electronics
Books
Clothes
Knickknacks
Fine art (should be crated to ensure protection – ask your representative)
Antiques
High-value items
Jewelry (should not be moved with any movers)

* Please Note: RJ Moving cannot insure individual items. It is everything or nothing. Boxes packed by homeowner are not insured unless the box shows mishandling.

Typically, what cannot be insured are items of significant emotional or sentimental value. You may be able to file a claim against lost jewelry, for instance, but that broach that Aunt Martha bought you for Christmas when you were ten years old cannot be claimed for more than its actual value. You can’t recover sentimental value. Family photos typically fall into that category.

For that reason, if you have items of significant sentimental or emotional value, you’d be better off moving them yourself.

What Kind of Damages Can You Recover?

Recovery for damages is another item altogether. Generally speaking, you’ll only be able to recover the actual value of something that is lost or damaged. The tricky part is declaring that value. Movers will want estimated purchased date and price and will use the internet for compared item.

Most moving companies use weight as a measure for .60 per lb. per article coverage. Total weight of an item, times .60 per lb. per article is how it is figured. If you lose just one item in the mix, an industry standard or the internet will assist in putting a weight to an item.

Let’s say you have a load that is valuable. You can assess the value of your items and purchase insurance based on that assessment. This is very important for items that are very valuable, such as rare pieces of fine art, antiques, and the like.

To assess the value of your belongings, you should take pictures and list each item you are moving on a manifest. If something is not on the moving list, you will likely not get recovery on those items if they are lost or damaged.

Be sure to meet with your moving company representative to discuss your moving manifest and the value of any of your specialty belongings that require extra care. Your crews will perform a pre-move/post-move condition of your goods. An inventory and a post-move inventory of your items will be provided IF moving into RJ Moving warehouse storage.

Matt's Moving

Moving, Moving Tips, Residential Movers, Uncategorized

Packing Supplies to Make Your Move Easier

Packing Supplies to Make Your Move Easier

What kind of supplies do you need to pack your items for a move? Whether you are moving a home or an office you’ll need certain materials to make that move go more smoothly. Here’s a short list of items you may want to have on hand for your next move:

Packing Paper – Bubble wrap may be fine for wrapping some items but it is very expensive and isn’t so great for inserting into things like glasses and bowls. Packing paper is better suited for that task since you can crumple it up and stuff it inside. It prevents the glass from shattering upon contact with other items. Also use it to pack between items. RJ Moving encourages packing paper over bubble wrap as it is more environmentally friendly and will save you money too.

Boxes – Boxes – you can’t move without them! Collect more than you think you may need in various sizes.
Packing Tape – You’ll need something to secure your boxes with.
Packing Labeling – Use a marker to label boxes to avoid a label coming off during the handling of your boxes – especially in cold climates. Keep your move organized – use a system. Write which room where each box goes into on their final destination and list the items of the box. That way, when you get to where you’re going, you aren’t looking for what you need.
Stretch Wrap – Large items won’t wrap well with packing paper or bubble wrap. RJ Moving will provide shrink wrap for necessary items.
Hand truck – Also known as a dolly, or “two-wheeler.” It’s a great tool to have around for moving large items that you can’t carry. This includes book shelves, appliances, and even multiple or large oblong boxes. RJ Moving trucks are fully equipped to move your goods for you.
Blankets – Blankets make nice cushions to shove between furniture and other large items in your moving truck so they don’t bang up against each other and get scratched. RJ Moving trucks are fully equipped including industry moving pads to move your goods for you.
Tie Downs – Secure your items on the moving truck with tie downs. If things can’t move, they can’t bang against each other. Even if you use tie downs, however, you should still use blankets and stretch wrap. It never hurts to be safe rather than sorry. RJ Moving trucks are fully equipped to move your goods for you.
Furniture Sliders – You’ll inevitably have to slide heavy furniture across a floor. Furniture sliders will make that easier. Hire RJ Moving – we do the lifting and carrying of your furniture!

Don’t try to make your move without the proper moving supplies and moving tools. Start collecting these items a couple of weeks before your move so you’ll be prepared. Hire RJ Moving to save you, your family and friends from the hard work of moving with our well-equipped truck and professionally trained crews.

Matt's Moving

Moving, Moving Tips, Residential Movers, Uncategorized

Items You Must Move On Your Own

When it comes to moving your household, there are items that you should plan on moving yourself. Some of those items are restricted by laws while others are personal items that you should want to move yourself.

Moving Hazardous Materials

Every household has certain hazardous materials that pose a threat when relocated by a moving company. These items are best carried to your new home by you so that everyone involved can be safer during the move. Items such as these go on that list:

• Aerosol cans
• Guns and ammunition
• Car batteries
• Charcoal and lighter fluid
• Cleaning solvents
• Darkroom chemicals
• Fire extinguisher
• Gasoline
• Liquid bleach
• Matches
• Motor oil
• Nail polish and remover
• Paint and paint thinner
• Pesticides
• Poisons
• Pool chemicals
• Propane tanks
• Scuba tanks
• Weed killer
• Anything flammable, corrosive, or explosive

You should plan on moving these types of items in your private vehicle. Otherwise, such items could get banged up enough or heat up enough in a moving truck to spontaneously combust. You could lose your furniture and other valuable items. More importantly, someone could get hurt, or worse.

Moving Your Personal Items

Some items are so personal that you should move them yourself. It isn’t necessarily the monetary value of such items you should concern yourself with as the sentimental value. Things that provide you with personal benefit that you can never get back if lost should go on your “move myself” list. These may include:

• Address books
• Airline or event tickets
• Car keys, titles, and insurance papers
• Cash
• Cell phones
• Checkbooks
• Financial documents and insurance policies
• Jewelry
• Laptop computers
• Medical and dental records
• Medicine
• Photo albums
• Plants
• Professional files with sensitive information you are required by law to protect
• School records
• Stocks and bonds

These types of items are valuable in ways that money can’t buy. Even those items that hold financial value (like laptop computers, jewelry, and financial documents) are difficult to replace if lost. If you keep them on your person or within your control during the move, they’ll be much safer.

Also, if you are moving perishable items, move those in your vehicle so that they can go straight from the storage area of your old home to the storage area of your new home quickly.

Matt's Moving

Moving, Moving Tips, Residential Movers, Uncategorized

How to Compare Moving Company Bids

The surest way to ensure you find a solid moving company that will move your home for a fair price is to take bids. By getting moving companies to compete for your business, you remain in control of the process and have the benefit of choice.

The first thing you should do is realize that different moving companies use different methods of bidding.

Factors that influence the cost of a moving service include:

Cumulative weight of all the items you are moving
How far you are moving (mileage)
Whether or not movers will have to navigate stairs during the move
Distance from the moving truck to the front door
Weather conditions
How much the moving company does versus how much you do

Compare Apples to Apples

It’s best to determine beforehand what exactly you want your moving company to do. Will you pack your items and have the moving company pick them up, or do you want the moving company to pack your items too? Make that decision before you call any mover because you don’t want to compare a quote from a moving company that didn’t factor in you packing your items against a quote from a moving company that did factor it into the cost. Compare similar services.

Ask each moving company to list additional fees they add to their service. For instance, if one company adds a stair fee and another one doesn’t, make sure that you factor in the difference in your comparison.

Also, if moving companies base their prices on different factors, try to convert one of them to match. For instance, Moving Company A quotes you a price of $1,800 for 1,000 pounds of household items you plan to move and 50 cents per mile while Moving Company B quotes you $2,000 to move 500 miles. That 50 cents per mile with Moving Company A means you’ll actually pay $2,050 for the 500-mile move. If there are no additional fees with Moving Company B, that would be the better deal.

Get Your Moving Quotes in Writing

The most important part about taking bids from moving companies is to get a quote in writing. Otherwise, you may show up on moving day only to find out the cost of moving has changed from what you were originally quoted. Compare all moving quotes based on written estimates only.

Matt's Moving

Moving Tips, Residential Movers, Uncategorized

Clothes Packing Tips that Won’t Have Your Undies in a Bundle

You’ve planned your move to your new home with strategic precision. Boxes are packed and labeled. You’ve de-cluttered, and you know where everything is going to go in your new home.

All that’s left is to pile your clothing in your car and take it with you when you go – right? While many of our Minneapolis residential moving customers tell us that this is their plan, we often suggest a better strategy. Those clothes don’t look too heavy hanging in your closet. Several trips later and a big messy pile of clothes in the back of your car later – and you’ll be wishing you’d taken these suggestions:

1. Discard Unused and Unwanted Items – A good rule of thumb is – if you haven’t worn it in a year – get rid of it. There are many non-profits that accept donations of used clothing, and you can take a tax deduction for doing a good deed while making your move easier.

2. Make Use of Wardrobe Moving Boxes – Instead of having your clothing in a big pile, or stuffed into a box, using wardrobe moving boxes allows you to hang your clothing and move it virtually wrinkle-free.

3. Pack an Overnight Bag – Rather than feeling stressed once you arrive at your new home, having an overnight bag with a change of clothes and all of your essentials, medications, toiletries, etc. means you’ll be able to freshen up while you’re unpacking.

Matt's Moving

Moving, Moving Tips, Residential Movers, Uncategorized

Top 3 Tips to Make Your Next Move Less Stressful

While many articles claim that moving is one of the top 10 most stressful life events you can experience, surprisingly there are no official studies that support that. Widely accepted as the standard in evaluating life events that contribute to illness, the Holmes and Rahe scale doesn’t even include moving on their list of the top 43 most stressful events.

So – moving must not be that stressful – right? Try telling that to someone who is getting ready to move their home, and you might hear a different story!

As expert residential movers in Minnesota, we talk with people often who are anywhere from mildly nervous to extremely worried about moving and all it entails. Working with RJ Moving, our clients receive lots of advice and tips on how to take the stress out of their move.

Here are our top 3 tips for making your next move less stressful:

1. Plan Ahead

One of the best things you can do is to plan ahead for your upcoming move, and give yourself plenty of time to handle all the details – including packing, determining where your belongings will go in your new home, and properly labeling all of your boxes so your movers will know where to place your items when they get there. Check out our residential moving timeline for tips on when to get started and what to consider in your moving timeline.

2. Do Your Research

You’ll have many choices when it comes to picking a moving company to handle your move. Make sure to research the moving companies you are considering thoroughly:

Call the company and ask them if they offer a free quote for your move.
Find out what services they offer – for instance, some companies will help you pack your belongings and help you plan your move.
Make sure you are comparing apples-to-apples when you review the quotes you receive.
Check online for reviews about the company you choose to make sure others vouch for them as well.

3. Downsize and De-clutter Before You Move
While it may be tempting to bring everything with you – just in case you need it – it is far more efficient to plan very carefully which items you’ll want to utilize in your new home. De-cluttering and downsizing before you move will keep your moving costs down, and make your overall move more efficient, easier – and less stressful for you in the long run.

Matt's Moving

Moving Tips, Residential Movers, Uncategorized

Moving Day: The Aftermath

Lots of moving blogs focus on the days leading up to a move and then moving day itself. Today, RJ Moving, residential movers in Plymouth, want to give you a few tips on what to do after your residential movers leave and you are fully moved into your new home. As one of the best residential movers in the area, we feel like we’ve learned a thing or two and would love to share our knowledge with you!

One of the first things you should do is hang up some curtains. This applies especially in areas where privacy is a must, like in bedrooms and in bathrooms (if there are any windows in the bathrooms).

The next thing you should do is remember to feed yourself and your family! Even if you just order in some pizza after your residential movers leave, making sure everyone is well-fed and hydrated is a must.

Then, it’s time to unpack your bedding and your pajamas. It was probably a very busy moving day – from the moment your residential movers arrived until they departed, we’re pretty sure you and your family were going non-stop. Taking the time to make your bed and change into comfy clothes can help everyone relax and start to settle into your new home. If you have one, put up a shower curtain so everyone can take a bath. That definitely helps with relaxation!

Finally, if you’re feeling up to it, hook up your DVD player and watch a movie or two. This is another way to unwind, bond together as a family, and start getting used to your new home. Don’t worry about unpacking right away! That will happen eventually, as will cleaning. The main thing you should focus on after your residential movers leave is unpacking some basic stuff, ensuring your family’s privacy, making sure everyone had enough to eat and drink, and unwinding.

When you are ready to make a move in or around Plymouth and you need reliable residential movers, call RJ Moving at 612-384-2028 or Get A Free Quote.

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Matt's Moving

Commercial Movers, Moving, Residential Movers

RJ Moving Employs A Couple of Tough Mudders!

The team at RJ Moving recently participated in the local Tough Mudder event. This physically challenging team building activity was enjoyed by all those who participated. We want to extend a huge thank you to all who complete the course on our team! Who’s ready to start training for the next one?

Jul232013NOCOMMENTS

Matt's Moving

Commercial Movers, Moving, Residential Movers

Professional Moving Services in Minnesota

Are you moving anywhere in the state of Minnesota or the City of Saint Paul? Then RJ Moving is your new best friend. You can greatly reduce the stress of moving with the help of a professional moving company. We can get your belongings where they need to be with no worries. If you’re moving to or from Minneapolis or Saint Paul, professional moving services can help you get the job done right and efficiently.

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Category Archives: Residential Movers

Tips for Packing Electronics

Moving Insurance: Is It Really Necessary?

Packing Supplies to Make Your Move Easier

Items You Must Move On Your Own

How to Compare Moving Company Bids

Clothes Packing Tips that Won’t Have Your Undies in a Bundle

Top 3 Tips to Make Your Next Move Less Stressful

Moving Day: The Aftermath

RJ Moving Employs A Couple of Tough Mudders!

Professional Moving Services in Minnesota

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