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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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Moving, Moving Tips, Residential Movers, Uncategorized

Guide to Packing Your Dining Room

In most homes, the dining room is one of the most important rooms of the house. It often includes expensive china and crystal. In some cases, the breakables may be important antiques or family heirlooms. These are fragile pieces that are highly valued, and not just financially. The value could be sentimental, but it is rarely trivial.

How to Pack Glass and China

  • Chinaware, glass, and crystal stemware are often some of the most valued items in a home, but especially in a dining room.
  • Place layers of newspaper on the bottom and top of the box
  • Wrap all glass and china individually in paper
  • Wrap the outside of your glasses and tuck the edges of the paper over the lips into the cups
  • Cushion all glassware and china by placing paper or bubble wrap between the individual pieces in the box
  • Double up on the paper for highly valued pieces
  • Label boxes with the contents and the words “FRAGILE – THIS SIDE UP” in bold colorful letters

Moving House: Happy Woman Unpacking Dishes

Packing Tips for Flat Glassware

Flatware is easier to pack than stemware, but it’s still important to protect it from breakage.

  • Place layers of newspaper on the bottom and top of the box
  • Wrap each piece in paper individually
  • Bundle your flatware in sets of three by wrapping the bundle in another layer of paper
  • Place each bundle on edge and in rows within the box
  • Lay a double layer of newspaper across the top of the bundles in the box
  • Label the box with contents and write “FRAGILE – THIS SIDE UP” in bold letters

Tips for Packing Silver and Other Delicates

The biggest issue for silver is tarnishing. To prevent this from happening, try

  • Wrapping it in newspaper or plastic
  • Wrap hollow ware like cups and bowls individually
  • Place loose flatware in a box or wrap it in a bundle
  • To prevent shifting in chests, wrap pieces of silver individually and place back inside the chest then fill the chest with paper
  • Mirrors, plaques, pictures, and curios should be wrapped individually in tissue with an outer layer of newsprint

Do not wrap lamp shades in newspaper. The print will seep into the shade and discolor it. Use tissue paper instead. You can nest smaller lamp shades inside larger ones. Keep lamp shades separate from other items and pack them in their own boxes clearly labeled.

If you have large items made of glass, such as dining tables or table leaves, china cabinets, etc., consult with your moving company on such items.

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Things To Have On Hand At Your New Home

When you move into a new home and haven’t unpacked everything from your old home, you might feel a bit discombobulated. After all, everything you need is packed. But it doesn’t have to be. Before you move out of the old home, think ahead and pack everything you’ll need right away at the new home into one box, then label it so you can find it easily.

So what items are those, exactly?

New Home Move-In Box

Here are the essential items to pack in your ‘New Home Move-In’ box:

  1. Broom, mop, and dust pan – Okay, maybe you shouldn’t pack them in a box, but you should make sure they’re accessible. The first thing you should do before moving in is sweep and mop. If you have carpet, make sure your vacuum cleaner is accessible.
  2. Kitchen items – It will take you a couple of days, at least, before you get everything unpacked and in its place. Make sure you have all the kitchen items you need for your first couple of meals: Plates, silverware, bowls and glasses, and items you need for cooking. Don’t forget can and bottle openers.
  3. Toiletries – This includes toilet paper, bar soap, toothbrushes and tooth paste, wash cloths and towels, and shampoo.
  4. Tools – You’ll need a screwdriver and a pair of pliers at a minimum. Check your plumbing, door frames, and anything else that might typically need routine maintenance. Also, have a hammer at the ready in case you need it. The furniture you took apart at your old house will need to be reassembled.
  5. Duct tape – You know you’re going to need it.
  6. Phone numbers – You’ll need essential phone numbers for the electrical company, water company, and other services just in case they haven’t hooked you up yet. You did call them before moving out of your old home, didn’t you?
  7. A change of clothes – Nothing is worse than arriving in your new home and not having a change of clothes in case you get caught in the rain or something goes amiss during the move.
  8. Bedding or sleeping bags – If possible, make making your bed one of your first tasks when you arrive. Chances are you’ll be exhausted from your move and you’ll want somewhere to lay your head at the end of a long day when you’re too tired to do anything else.

Make sure you pack everything you’re going to need on your first evening in your new place in a box that is labeled and easy to find. It will help to ease some of the stress the first day in your new home.

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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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Moving Tips, Uncategorized

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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