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4 Free Apps to Help With Your Move

Moving again?

In an age of hyper-technology, one of the benefits to moving is that you can use technology to your advantage. If you own a cell phone there are a many applications to help with your move.

4 Moving Apps to Help With Your Next Move

App Icons On Smart Phone

Here are four mobile apps we like that are designed to help you move your family to your new home and keep you organized during this hectic time:

  1. Sortly – is an organizational app. Take photos of your items, tag them, keep tabs on where you are storing your items (at home or in storage), and make tracking your belongings easier. Know in an instant which box your items are in. You can even create records of your moving chores, such as keeping records for insurance purposes, tracking your house-hunting activities, and even keeping visual inventories of your business stuff. Keep your records in the cloud for free.
  2. TaskRabbit – is an app that will help you find people to handle tasks you don’t want to do yourself. Need to clean out your garage but don’t have the time? Search your neighborhood for someone who can handle that task for you. You post a task and TaskRabbit will give you a list of taskers who are willing to handle it for you along with their hourly rates. You make secure payments and go back to doing what’s important to you.
  3. BrightNest – bills itself as an app that will help you simplify your life and keep your home in tip-top shape. It’s powered by the popular business directory Angie’s List. The app provides you with great tips on keeping your home maintained, clean, and healthy for the entire family.
  4. Houzz – offers you great tips for designing your home, from your kitchen to your back patio. Get photos of great living spaces and purchase furniture for your rooms – right from the app itself. After you’ve moved into your new home, start looking for the items you need to make it comfortable and livable at a price that you can afford.

Why not take advantage of these great tech tools to make your next move as smooth and efficient as possible.

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How to Move Appliances

Moving large appliances can be a challenge if you don’t have a plan, and especially if you’ve never done it before. You could run the risk of causing major damage to them. Here are some guidelines to prepare and move your large appliances safely.

Moving Your Refrigerator

One of the biggest challenges many people face in moving their appliances is the refrigerator. If you do it incorrectly you could end up buying a new one. Here are a things take care of before the move:

  • Prepare the refrigerator days before your move to allow time for it to dry thoroughly to avoid mildew and mold
  • Remove all contents and throw your perishables away first
  • Wash the inside and all removable parts and dry them thoroughly
  • Pack loose parts and shelves in a tight container
  • Vacuum the condenser or compressor
  • Empty/clean the evaporator pan
  • Turn off water and disconnect the water line
  • Empty the water reservoir

Appliance delivery. Hand truck and fridge. 3d

Washing Machine and Dryer

  • Dry inside of washer including rubber seal and drain if necessary
  • Disconnect and wrap metal connector ends of hoses in a towel and place inside washer
  • Secure the washer tub on front load machines-check your owner’s manual.
  • Clean your dryer’s lint screen
  • Make sure to check your new home’s power supply for the correct electrical requirements before plugging in your dryer

Dishwasher

  • Clean and dry thoroughly
  • Disconnect and drain all your hoses
  • Leave the door open for a few days before you move to allow time for it to dry thoroughly
  • Wrap dry hoses in towels and packing paper, then place them inside the dishwasher

Stove and Oven

  • Clean your range thoroughly before you move it
  • Take off any removable parts and pack them in a box
  • Have your gas range disconnected prior to moving day by a qualified professional
  • Schedule a qualified professional to reconnect your gas range in your new home

Microwave Oven

  • Take out your glass trays and clean them. Wrap and secure in a safe box
  • If you have the original box, store your microwave in the box for your move. Otherwise, wrap it in bubble wrap and place it in a box. Large microwaves can be wrapped in a pad on moving day
  • Secure the microwave door closed during transit

The key to moving appliances is to plan ahead – have them prepped and ready to go when the movers arrive and you’ll save valuable time on moving day.

 

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Moving Day: Be Prepared to Ensure a Smooth Move

If you want your moving experience to go smoothly, then you have to prepare for the day long before it arrives. You can’t just show up on moving day without any prior planning and expect it to go well. In fact, if you do that, it will likely end up a disaster.

What exactly constitutes good pre-planning for a successful move?

Pre-Packing and Centralizing Your Household Items

Don’t wait until the day of your move to start packing. You should be packing your belongings a full week ahead of your move. Start with items you won’t need on your last week, such as the kitchenware you use for special occasions and guestroom linen. Start organizing your storage items, things you keep in your garage, and keep a central list of your household items and what rooms you keep them in.

As you pack, label your boxes with the items packed in them as well as the rooms they are associated with. This alone will go a long way to making your moving day go without a hitch. Staging your packed boxes in a central location is also a time saver for the crews which is a money saver for you.

Moving boxes and furniture in new home

Disassemble Furniture

Office desks, TV stands, living room furniture, and anything else that requires assembly and disassembly should be taken apart before moving day. Start with items you don’t use often. You can begin disassembling furniture two weeks before your move if you are sure you won’t need those items before moving day.

Items that you use often can be disassembled the day before the move. That includes beds, video game consoles, and stereo racks. (Any items you do disassemble cannot be assembled by the crews due to safety concerns.)

Be Patient and Have Fun

Moving day is stressful any way you look at it. Prior planning and organization will make it go a lot more smoothly. You will also want to take a healthy dose of your patient pills that morning, but you may want to ramp up on the patience the week prior. Things will get hectic, so plan for the inevitable and try to keep things organized.

You also want to have a little fun. Just because work is involved doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it. Your professional movers will take care of moving the majority of your belongings, but why not get your friends to help with miscellaneous tasks and promise them a pizza party at the end. Take breaks throughout the move to kid around and keep everyone motivated. A smile and words of thanks will go a long way on moving day.

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Tips for Choosing a Home Security System

Even if you live in the best and safest neighborhood, it’s wise to equip your home with a security system because you never know when your home could be targeted for a burglary. It’s better to be safe than sorry. But what constitutes an effective security system for your home?

The Various Parts of an Effective Home Security System

First, you need a smoke detector in case your home falls victim to a fire and you are home. A glass break detector is also a good thing because if your home is targeted for a break-in, you’ll want to know it as soon as possible. Panic buttons ensure that you can sound the alarm at the push of a button and know that help is on its way. Pressure mats are sneaky; you place them under your rugs and when an intruder steps on them they activate your alarm system. A closed-circuit TV system will monitor your home in real-time video footage. Alarm screens are mesh window coverings that sound off an alarm if cut or removed.

Home security alarm monitor

How to Select the Right Security System

Your best bet for choosing the right home security system is to start local. A local security company will understand the neighborhoods in your area best.

Your first step is to contact several companies to get quotes. Ask each one if they are members of a federal or state burglar and fire alarm association such as ALARM. Also, ask if they are licensed through the Minnesota Electronic Security and Technology Association.

The Better Business Bureau should have information on each security company that offers you a quote. Find out if they have any complaints and, if so, how they responded to them.

Choose 3 or 4 companies and arrange to have a representative of each company visit your Minneapolis home to survey your security needs. Get all quotes and the results of your home inspection in writing. Be sure to ask the representative of each security company for references – and be sure to check them.

Read the fine print on all of your contracts. Make sure you understand all the provisions of the contract before you sign it. Don’t make a decision on price alone.

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Commercial Movers, Moving, Moving Tips, Residential Movers, Uncategorized

How to Save on Moving Expenses

Let’s face it. Moving can be expensive. Whether you are moving across town or across country, you could spend thousands of dollars on moving your family and personal items. But you don’t have to.

Courtesy of your favorite Minneapolis residential movers – here are a few tips designed to help you save on the cost of moving:

  • Get rid of the unnecessary stuff – Why move all that stuff you no longer use or need? Ditch it first. There are a number of ways to do this. You can hold a yard sale prior to moving. You could give it away to a charity. Or you might use it as collateral to trade for other items you do need (or will need in your new home). Another alternative is, if you can’t sell it or give it away, just toss it.
  • Use free moving supplies – Professional moving companies will sell you boxes, tape, and other moving supplies, but you don’t have to buy them. You can get free boxes for your move at retail stores that throw out boxes after unloading the merchandise for their stores.
  • Pack your own items – Having the movers pack your boxes can be an added expensive. You can save money by doing it yourself.

young couple packing moving boxes, ready for move out

  • Plan your move for off-season – If you move during peak season, you’ll probably pay higher prices. Instead, plan your move for when others aren’t—such as during the week.
  • Ask your employer to help you move – If you company is moving you due to a promotion or interoffice transfer, ask them to pick up the tab for your moving expenses. If you are in the military, the government will pay for your move through its DITY program. Having your employer pay for your move – or at least a part of it – will save you a bundle in moving expenses.

You’ll also want to get more than one estimate. Compare the moving companies in Minneapolis before choosing one. They all have their unique ways of pricing their services, so pick the moving company that is best for you. If you do some due diligence and plan your move ahead of time, you’ll be able to spot opportunities for where you can save on the costs.  Always ask your sales representative for ideas, as they are a great resource.

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Helping Your Kids Adjust to a Move

Moving can be a stressful time. On moving day, you have a lot of things to think about in order to make the move successful and, you hope, more efficient. After the move, you may have a sense of loss. You are in a new home and have to adjust to a new layout. Your kids may have no friends in your new neighborhood. You’ll have to adjust to a new climate. There is an adjustment period overall. Your life will be less tense if you prepare your children for the move beforehand.

Positives vs. Negatives

Your children will likely focus on the negative aspects of a move:

  • Loss of friends
  • Meeting new people
  • Adjustments at school
  • New extracurricular activities

As a parent, you can help your children deal with the negative aspects of moving by helping them to see the positives. Emphasize the opportunities they have of meeting new people and learning about a different culture. Explain that they can remain in contact with old friends by phone, email or skype and still make new friends in their new home.

If your child is stressing about moving to a new school because they are afraid of falling behind academically, explain that their academic skills are fine and will likely lead to their success. Offer to hire a tutor to help them adjust if necessary.

Turn your child’s negatives into positives by presenting them as opportunities.

Family with arms up celebrating they are moving home

Let Your Children Express Themselves

Instead of arguing with your child, give them the freedom to express how they feel about the move. In many cases, children just want to be heard. They want to know that you care about how they feel. Express that you do care and that you understand their feelings, but emphasize the importance of the move and the reasons for the move. If it’s related to your job, explain the benefits in a way that she can understand (e.g. Is there a pay raise or a promotion? Maybe it’s an opportunity to meet new people related to your new company move.).

Another way to approach a move with some children is to discuss the excitement and adventure aspect of the move. Explain how the Pilgrims became pioneers and moved to a new country for a fresh start and your move is similar to theirs. Make your child the hero.

Visit the New Community Before Moving

If possible, take your children to visit your new community before you move. If they see the neighborhood (the school, the park, churches, etc.) before arriving, they may be less apprehensive about the move. Getting eyes on the new neighborhood could be a way for your kids to get familiar with their new surroundings before they are immersed in them.

Above all, communicate with your child. Prepare them for the move emotionally and psychologically before you make it. That will go a long way to relieving the stress.

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Tips for Packing Electronics

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.

Tv And Box On White Background. Isolated 3D Image

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.

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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.

Cardboard Box And Packaging

  • 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.

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Top 11 Tips to Make Moving Your Home Easier

Moving is a fact of life. Most of us do it a few times throughout our lifetimes. Some of us do it more often than others. Chances are you’ll have to move your home again sometime in the next decade. The following tips are designed to help you improve your home moving experience and to make it go more smoothly.

  1. Pack items you’ll need at your new home immediately into a clear plastic tote – Think about what you’ll need as soon as you arrive at your new home. Things like box cutters, furniture assembling tools, trash bags, kitchenware for one meal, etc. Pack them first and make them easily accessible.
  2. Hire a sitter – If you have children and pets, hire a sitter. Otherwise, your move will take longer as you’ll have to tend to their needs while you move.
  3. Pack breakables with clothing – Both items need to be packed. Packing them together saves storage space and prevents breakables from breaking during the move.
  4. Photograph the back of electronics – Ever forget how to rewire your electronics? Photograph the backs of them so you can see how the wires should be reconnected.
  5. Label boxes – List the items in each box and write the room they go into on the outside of the box. Use color codes for easy identification.
  6. Use plastic wrap for open containers – Wrap your open bottles, such as shampoo and dish washing liquid, with plastic wrap, then put the lids back on them so they won’t spill and ruin your belongings.
  7. Take pictures of your living space – If you are a renter and want your deposit back, take pictures of the old home after moving out and of your new home before moving your stuff in.
  8. Sell valuable items well in advance – Be sure to sell valuable items you aren’t giving away at least two months in advance. Things may not sell right away.
  9. Use sandwich bags – Drop nails, screws, and other small items into sandwich bags. Group them and tape them to the items they go with so they won’t get lost.
  10. Change your address a couple of weeks before you move – It will take some time for your mail to catch up with you if you don’t.
  11. Have charity organizations pick up your donations – Call them a couple of weeks before you move.

Packages For House Moving

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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.

Make Your Move Less Stressful

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.

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