The best time for everyone to relax and take a break off from work is the holidays. Most people use this time to unwind from all the hard work they have been doing throughout the year, and this is quite understandable. But as much as the holidays are fun for those who seek to enjoy it, it might be stressful for you if you are planning a move during this season. There will be so many functions, parties, meetups and many other things that you might get overwhelmed; sometimes it might feel as though you need to be in so many events that you might have to plan your move after the holiday.

We very much understand how it can be stressful for you during the holidays, and to this effect, we have gotten some proven tips to help you pack and get ready to move this holiday. The most important first step to having a successful move is first to make sure you are grounded in your organization. Get everything in shape, knowing what to do and when to do it. If you can get this first step, then the rest will no longer be so much of a hassle. The best method is to get everything you need for the holidays written, after which you can know what days you have free, and what days are left for you to have fun.

Here are some of your most wonderful tips to help you pack and move successfully in this season of holiday.

Make Sure You Save Well Enough

The reason why you need to save will become clear to you once you hit the holiday period and you have to spend a lot on keeping the holiday spirit and moving. But you don’t have to wait till that time; you can develop the habit of saving right now, and gather as much as you can. Saving is the best way to live because you will have so much to give into this holiday that you might be drained when you need to move. Trust me, good moving service is not cheap, and if you want the best, then you need to save seriously.

The best way to save is to know the total estimate or budget of what you will be spending. Make sure you make inquiries into what you need to pay in full for moving and every other process that will be covered. You need to know the total amount so that you can plan your budget well. Once you have a full view of what you are to spend, you can know how to save and make enough plans to also cater for your Christmas. The best things in life come when we have made enough plans.

Be the Early Bird

For you, your holiday starts from the moment you get closed from work. It's fine to want to start immediately after you are given this date, but don’t you think every other person planning a move will be thinking the very same thing? To help beat this, you need to start a few weeks, or even months before your closing date is declared. This way, you will be able to have something to work with when you decide to pack. Part of starting early is to also get a place in the home to set up all the boxes you will need for the move. And you also need to select a particular room where you can place the moving supplies, especially boxes.

The next step is to then proceed to each room in your current home. The first step is to make sure you start disposing of everything that will not be moving to your new home. It could be things broken that you hope you would fix one day but never got the chance, it could be a broken plate or anything that you know will not move. Let this process be the purging process, where you rid yourself of anything not needed in the house. This way, you will have a clear focus when you eventually decide to start packing.

Remember, moving day should be a day where you de-clutter a lot of useless stuff. When you have this in your mind, it makes it easier for you to sort out things. You can also decide what things to keep and sell when you have packed your items. Trust me; there are parts of your property you no longer need, you have to break your connection with them and throw them away or sell them or give them out as a gift. You can also pack all of your books into one place; the reason is that you can always get to the library if you need to read. The more you can deal with, the easier for you during the holidays.

Celebrate Only Moderately

Like we stated earlier, the best time to have all your things ready is before your closure day, or before the holiday. Doing this affords you the luxury of having to do other things. You don’t want to seem like a bad person for not attending the event of your best friend. So planning is essential. What you should do is to pack early, this way you will be able to join in on the fun others are having during the holiday. Do not stop celebrating just because you want to move. Make sure you show that you are in control, and don’t let the moving plans overwhelm you.

Now that you know you must still celebrate despite the plans you have for moving, you must try to figure out one thing. And that is the fact that you have to celebrate moderately. The goal is to have the two – moving and the holiday time out, without anyone interfering. So you can make still do the usual things you do but not in the same tenacity. If you want to celebrate surrounded by boxes, then you need to get gift boxes and set your moving boxes aside. You can place them in the garage, so your whole house doesn’t look like you are ready to move that night.

If you know all of your items, and belongings cannot fit into your garage, then this is a pointer to the fact that you need to hold a garage sale. Once you have decided what needs to go and what needs to stay, you can sell off the rest. Moderate celebration helps you achieve two things at the same time. One is the fact that you get rid of more stuff, and reduce the number of items you will be moving. The other is that you earn some hundreds of dollars to help you cover your moving bills. You know some things are essential to go, like your children’s toys, some of them outgrew it a long time ago.

In the spirit of celebration, you still need to continue with the celebration even though you are found moving on the day of Christmas. Plan something with your family, so it doesn’t turn out to be the worst Christmas you’ve had. You can make it the most memorable one. Try to cook your family’s favorite meal, also take some for lunch, have your gifts ready, and open them at the right time. You can help make the process easier by renting a place that will allow you to stay and have the well-deserved fun.

Be Watchful of the Weather

Moving during the holiday means moving when it’s winter time, and that means a lot. The first thing you need to be prepared of is the cold, among many other obstacles. Winter might pose a very serious challenge for you, depending on where you stay. You have to be watchful of the weather, it could suddenly turn from normal snow to heavy snowfall and blizzard, so you have to be very watchful. The road can be blocked for a long time, and if you live in that place, you might not be able to move as you planned. So be very watchful.

Try to check the weather forecast; this is a great way to have a clue of how the weather will be before you set out to move. Once you have a solid report of the weather, you can plan your move in accordance. As you keep going closer to the date you are meant to move, you need to continue checking the weather forecast. This way you will affirm that the date set is the best for your move. If you notice any change in the weather for the set date, you need to either readjust or cancel your move. You don’t want to be stuck in the snow on that day.

As an addition to checking the weather forecast, you also need to prepare yourself and your family as well as the home for the winter season. What you can do to help yourself is to clear the snow in your walkways, help make a clear path also by clearing the snow leading to your house and sprinkling salt on that path. Also, give your family the orientation of how these things work, and tell them how to pack your items in waterproof bags so that the melting snow doesn’t affect some of your belongings. You should also wrap and pad other items to create very heavy insulation against cold if you have items not meant to withstand the cold weather.

Get Holiday Moving Experts

Some local moving companies know how to move your things at any point in time of the year except the holidays. There are also movers who know how to move things, especially during the holidays. They know all the safe practices and the things they must do to ensure a smooth and successful move. These are the experts you need to hire during your time of the move. They are the ones that will help you out with all the necessary precautions you need to take during your move.

Remember that you are not the only one planning to move this holiday, many people have the same plan to move for so many reasons. One is that this is the best time for them to move because the process is lesser, and they can afford it. Another reason is that this is the time most people get to spend with their families. So whatever your reason might be, you need to search for these movers on time. You should book your move as early as possible because others will also plan their move at the same time you are planning yours.

Starting early helps you achieve a whole lot. First is that you get to have more than one option to choose from, you also get to review them on time and know which one of them is the best for you. You ask your friends and family around to help you decide which is best according to the services they have tried. Make sure the company you choose at this time must be insured and licensed. The winter period is a time where the chances of having your belongings damaged are high, and you have to try as much as possible to reduce it. If you are lucky, you can also get some excellent winter discount to help lower the overall price of moving.

In conclusion, we understand what it means to move during the holidays. If you are not proactive or act based on the knowledge, you might end up being frustrated. So we have gathered these useful tips to help you manage both yourself and family well. We also want you to pay attention to any concern raised by your family on what you need to do.

Finding an apartment is not an easy thing, as you have to sift through a lot of trash, with the aim of getting the right one. It can be likened to kissing a lot of frogs in a bid to get to Prince Charming.

You go around, checking the amenities of the buildings, wishing that one would have everything on your checklist. If it doesn't have a big bathroom, it doesn't have a nice kitchen. This is so bad. You are about to give up. Your parents never told you house shopping was that hard, but things will get better, you tell yourself.

After you have checked a lot of buildings, you have finally stumbled on the right one for you. Hallelujah! The next line of action is to move your things. You groan!

Your mind is racing. How will you start packing your things into moving boxes? How will you muster the strength to do the moving? You wonder.

If only, there was something that you could, a magic trick that would save you the stress.

Moving and searching for an apartment, a lot of persons don't know which one is more stressful. To some, going through the entire searching for house and application process is tougher than the other, and vice versa.

One thing we can all agree on is that once we have found a new apartment that we like, we feel a lot lighter, well, until the moving phase starts.

Packing things is a very annoying aspect of moving to a new apartment because it incorporates you trying your best to remain organized as you sift through your belongings.

For us that have large belongings, this can be a pain in the ass because everything becomes too complicated for our liking.

If you have the intention of moving into a new apartment soon, there are some tricks that one can use to make it less overwhelming. Below are tricks that will keep you organized. One thing is sure; you have to make a moving plan for each room. Why is this important? Look at everything you own now; there are some items that will fit a room, and look out of place in another room. For each room you have, create a moving plan. This way, you can easily move what should be in a room into that room without stress.

Making up a plan for each room is easy by doing the following:

1. Mark Your Calendar

Once you have gotten your application for that new apartment accepted, the next line of action is to choose a date you will move, and have it marked on the calendar. Don't be the one that decides to be spontaneous with the moving. It's common to hear some persons say that they will move whenever they are convinced in their guts. That's definitely the recipe for disaster, as you may end up postponing the date until you are forced to move. At the end of the day, you are confused, and without a moving plan for each room. Look at your schedule for the month, what day will you be free to move? Marking the date on the calendar allows you to see physically the amount of time that is left to plan.

The marked date on the calendar will act as a judge, looking at you until you make that decision to start planning. It will guilt you into making plans. That's the goal for persons that do not fancy planning.

That's not all. Once you have marked the date when you will move, use the days between that date and the current day you are in to start packing. Give each day, a pacing project. Say that you will pack the things in the sitting room today. Tomorrow, you will pack the things in one of the bedrooms, and so on and so forth.

Well, it is important to find out if your future or current apartment complex expects that you tell them about your moving schedule. Set this up quickly, and you will have the best moving date. This also saves you the stress of having to move without a plan.

2. Start Early

Immediately the moving date has been marked on the calendar, the next line of action is to begin those preliminary packing projects.

What do you need to do before the moving date? Remember that the moving date is meant solely for you to put your boxes in a moving truck and leave, and not to start arranging your properties in a box. It is important that you know the difference.

Spend the days between now and the moving date to declutter each room. Go to your bedroom, what things will you keep and what things should you give away. Do the same for other rooms, especially the attic and basement.

Look for movers. This is a very important aspect of moving. If you have movers that are crappy, you will be left with a crappy job. If you get a good mover, they can help organize the moving well. Some movers may even give you some tips. Once you see a mover, tell them what you want for each room. The packing of inessential items that fall into each room should be done. Whatever you do, it is important to write out on the boxes which property will work out for each room. This will allow you to do very little when the moving day comes near.

3. Enlist help

Don't be the one that hates asking for help. You will need help, and that's the truth. Instead of trying to do everything yourself, you should ask for help. Do you have a roommate that will move with you? Ask for his or her help. What of friends and family? Call them up and ask for their help. Once you are done, never forget to appreciate them, even if it is a meal. Don't come off as selfish.

They can aid you to declutter the various rooms and organize them back. They can even bring up ideas in moving, especially if they have moved before.

Tell them what you want for each room. You can have them packing a room, and labeling the boxes, while you work on another room. They can also help you on that moving day. Since they already know the moving plan ahead, it is quite easy for them to know what goes into each room.

4. Declutter and Donate

Don't be the hoarder that can't do away with irrelevant items. Look at the things you have, will you need everything? I doubt that.

Before you begin packing everything, move from one room to the other, and look at the items there. Do you need than painting? What of that old chair? Or old clothes? Look at everything and choose which one you want to get rid of, and which you will save.

Don't do this while you pack up your things because you will be stressed totally. Do it before you back. Once you have made up your mind on what you don't want, toss the remaining ones to charity.

Sort everything that is found in every room, and begin to remove those things that you have no plan of using. Is the item broken? Toss it. Is it unusable? Toss it. Is it stained and will take a lot of cleaning? Simply toss it.

Is it looking awesome but you have no use for it, why not donate it? If you have not used an object for long months, there is a great chance that you don't need it.

If you had forgotten that you once possessed this item, you should consider tossing it, as you most likely do not need it. This allows you to pack only a few things.

5. Figure Out What You Need

Now that you have looked at everything you have, it allows you to know how many moving boxes will be needed to move the things in a room. It also permits you to know which moving supplies that you may need to get things out if each room.

Ensure that every room gets the necessary moving bins or boxes that will carry everything that you have decided to keep in each room. What amount of printing paper will each room need? What of the packing paper? If you had not taken a tour of your house, it wouldn't have been finding out this information.

Go and find out from your local liquor store or grocery stores, if they have additional boxes that can easily be used to help reduce how much you will spend on moving boxes.

If a room has a lot of breakables, it is only wise that you get bubble wrap for the room to ensure that everything there is safe.

6. Create a Packing List

Here, we are not asking you to create a list of every item that you possess. No, what we are asking you is to make a list of the important items that you use a lot. Go to each room, what items there will you need a lot? Making the list allows you to know what and what are important in every room. This way, you can easily search for the items once they are moved to the new apartment. You already know where they are, so putting them in their new positions will be easier

It won't be a bad idea to try making the list of those items that you may need immediately at that new apartment you are moving to. It could be the bed sheets, important bathroom supplies, and even kitchen utensils. Immediately you get to an apartment; you may need to use the toilet or whip something up in the kitchen. This is why writing the packing list for each room is important.

7. Pack Like You’re Going on Vacation

It is important that you pack those important things that you may need, packed in a way that you can access them easily. Those big items that you will also need should be packed in such a way.

When you are packing your suitcase, do it in such a way that you would pack for a holiday. Usually, when we pack for a holiday, we do it in such a way to ensure that we won't need to pull out all the clothes in our box when we need something urgent there. Pack those items that you will need on top.

Do the same for your bathroom boxes. It is important to know that if you pack your toothbrush beneath every other bathroom appliance, you may suffer for it. You know that you will need your toothbrush, put it on top of others. This will save you the hassles.

8. Organize Items for the New Apartment, Not the Current One

Packing room by room is very important, but what you should know is how the setting of your new place is. Does it rhyme with your old place? If it does, you can pack room by room, without batting an eyelid.

Look at the rooms that you have in your brand new house, and have your properties organized to fit those new rooms. This will make unpacking quite easy without stress. When you pack a box for every room, you tend to save yourself from any stress.

You can take it up a notch by snapping photos of every item that is entering a box. Once you try to look for those items in your new apartment, you can merely look at your phone gallery, and see which box has the properties that you are seeking.

9. Make Use of Easily Wasted Space

One thing that you should note is that you will have some spaces that won't be used. Since you will end up using bags and suitcases, you may have space in your furniture. You can use them as the extra storage space, but you should not make them very heavy to carry them. Ensure that what you decide to carry shouldn't damage the furniture.

We can't talk about moving without seeing the need to have boxes bought. Boxes are essentially the first thing your mind goes to when you talk about moving. There should be nothing else clouding your mind than what you need to move and when to get the moving supplies. Boxes are very important because of how neatly they make your things look, and how decent all of your items can be arranged in a box. The issue for you after getting all your plans ready should be how many boxes you need for the journey.

One of the most tricky questions to answer is the number if boxes you will need to get in order to move all your stuff. There are no rules to the number of boxes you need because each home is distinct and the number of boxes you might need solely depends on the number of items in your home and what you want to pack. It is almost safe to say that the more you live in a place,  the more likely your chances of acquiring a lot of stuff.

Ideally, moving time should be the best time you have to declutter your home and rid yourself of the things you no longer need in the home. When you are deciding on how to move, and when to move, you should not have all the same items moved to your new home. There will surely be things that you have that you might not use or will not use. You can throw away such items or sell them off. This way you will be able to have less load to worry about, and have fewer boxes to buy. This is the smartest thing you can do for yourself.

In the same manner,  you can help yourself and your family by understanding how your family culture, habits, and ways are. Having a sound knowledge of these things will guide you in making the right choice of what to do and what not to do. You can also know what to declutter from your home knowing your habits.

There are things that spark up memories and are very relevant. Those things can be kept. But the things you have not used in a long while, or might not use should be kept behind. Now it's up to you to do a yard sale, gift them to some of your friends and family or simply throw them away. The choice is yours to make.

Speaking of the best tips to know what to move and how many boxes you will be needing for your move, follow our guide below.

Ask The Local Moving Company

This is like the rule of thumb for those who have not had their experience with moving and they feel they are either going to choose something below the number of boxes or something more than the number of boxes they need. It is very easy when you ask your local movers to help you check your belongings and tell them to provide you with an average of what you need. This way, you don't have to figure out what you need on your own. You simply have to trust their judgment and follow what they say.

You are also human and have your own sense of calculation. You can simply call the moving company to give you a confirmation of what you've been thinking in your mind. It's always very interesting for people who have had their experience of moving before. with the first time experience, they can understand what exactly they need, and how much more they need to add just in case the boxes are not enough.

The Size of the Box

The size of the box is also very important. When you are planning on moving, it is essential you have a detailed list of all the items and belongings you possess. This list will give you the best idea of how many boxes you will need. For some items, you will need large boxes, for some items you will need small boxes. While others you might only need to carry them in a briefcase. But know that the size of the box is very important in helping you point to the typical amount of boxes you will need in the long run.

The Type of Box

Size is not the only characteristic you look at when deciding how many boxes you will need for an effective move. The type of box is another important factor. You will notice that there are some items in your house that have an irregular shape and would need a box that can help you carry it. Other special boxes too should be considered. There are boxes designed for bottles, glassware, and other fragile items.

You also need special boxes for mirrors, and instruments. So as much as you need the size of the box to be optimal for the move, you also need to pay attention to the type of box, so you don't end up using a box that is not meant for an item. The end is usually disastrous. Instead if saving money, and cost you end up spending about 3 times more of what you should have spent if you had done the right thing.

Remember that the size and type of boxes in use are what you have to worry about because you are going to handle the moving on your own. Most of the moving companies already know what to do and how to handle the situation. If you need to move and make it easy for you, you should get medium boxes. Medium sized boxes can be used to carry many different things. It is always advisable to use these box types to carry heavy things. This way it'll be easier for you to carry them. Make sure you label the boxes so you don't end up confusing yourself.

Do The Math

You should also be able to do the math on your own of how many boxes you need. For a start, you should be able to know how many items you have in the home, the total number of rooms you have plus your garage, attic, basement and other places. You also need to know the connection you share with your items. Most people tend to think they only need just a few boxes and at the end of the day find out they need more than they asked for. This issue can easily be resolved if you just take the details of everything you own.

The irony of it all might be that you might be living in a small home and you will still have so much to pack than those living in a large home. If you have a nature of always collecting things, or keeping souvenirs then this might apply to you. It's not always about the size of the home but always about the family, how many members, their habits, and what they have in their home.

Precision is very important. So you need to open all the closed wardrobes, cupboards, and other things in your home. You'd be shocked at how much boxes you need when you get the details of your belongings. Here's a hack. If you like cooking and have a lot of utensils get more medium-sized boxes. If you like cooking then you definitely need small boxes to pack all your books and magazines. Finally, for the fashionistas, you would be needing the wardrobe-type boxes to help you pack all your great fashion dresses.

Ideally, a family of two living in an apartment with a single bedroom would need close to 10 small sized boxes, four large boxes, twenty medium-sized boxes,  a wardrobe box, and any other type of special box depending on their habits and special items they possess. With this standard, you can work out how many boxes you would need for a larger family. If it's a family if five,  the. You need five times the amount of boxes stated earlier. This is the best way to estimate the number of boxes you need for a family.

Standard moving boxes

Those are the cases you will require the most to pack up your family things. They come in 4 distinct sizes:

Small moving box. Surmised estimate: 18'' x 18'' x 16''. Limit: 1.5 cubic feet. Net weight limit: 65 lbs. Inexact cost: $1 per box.

Medium moving box. Rough size: 16'' x 12'' x 12''. Limit: 3.0 cubic feet. Net weight limit: 65 lbs. Estimated cost: $1.50 per box.

Large moving box. Surmised measure: 18'' x 18'' x 24''. Limit: 4.5 cubic feet. Net weight limit: 65 lbs. Inexact cost: $2 per box.

Additional enormous moving box. Estimated measure: 24'' x 18'' x 24''. Limit: 6.0 cubic feet. Net weight limit: 65 lbs. Rough cost: $2.50 per box.

Claim to fame moving boxes

Notwithstanding the standard cardboard boxes referenced above, you may need to utilize various forte boxes to pack books, garments, kitchen things, pictures, individual archives, etc.

Closet boxes. Ideal for moving draping garments with zero possibility of harm to your costly articles of clothing. Closet confines come 3 sizes: little (24" x 24" x 34"; 11.3 cb.; approx. cost: $11), medium (18" x 18" x 46"; 8.6 cb.; approx. value: $12), and huge (24" x 24" x 48"; 16 CB).

Dish barrel boxes. Extraordinary for pressing and moving weak things, for example, kitchen plates, glasses or fragile old fashioned things. Dish packs are twofold walled for greatest assurance. The measure of a dish barrel box is 18" x 18" x 28", with a limit of 5.25 CB. Surmised cost: $6.

Book boxes. Perfect for pressing and transporting substantial books. The components of a book box are 12″ x 12″ x 12″, with a limit of 1.0 cb. Inexact cost: $1.25.

Mirror and picture boxes. Intended to keep encircled things shielded amid a house move – from mirrors to pictures, photographs, works of art and different kinds of confined fine art. Picture encloses come 3 sizes: standard (37" x 4" x 27"; 2.3 cb.; approx. cost: $5), huge (48" x 4" x 32"; 3.9 cb.; approx. cost: $7), 4-piece box (up to 40″ x 60″ x 3-1/2''; approx. cost: $8).

Where to get moving boxes

Now that we know what types and sizes of boxes we need. The next thing is where to get these boxes. You can get them from a number of places.

First. You can get these boxes from stores that sell moving boxes. Here you can find a very large collection of different sizes and different boxes that have special uses. So if you are searching for something you can use for all your special items, you can go to any of the stores around you that specialize in selling moving boxes. All standard sizes and types can be found there in whatever quantity you want.

Another way to get boxes if you are a bit low on a budget is from places around. you can check around your area to get as many boxes as you need for free.  the only thing is that you must start scouting for boxes early. you can go to your local wine store to ask for boxes, you can also go to your grocery store or supermarket and ask that they provide you with the boxes they no longer use.  you can equally find all sizes but you might not be lucky to get special boxes.

In conclusion

The tips and information above will guide you on how to go about knowing how many boxes you need to make a successful move. Different factors are you be considered when deciding ANF we have tried to list a few.  We hope you find this very useful in helping you decide what and how to move.

How to Ship a Car to Another State

Shipping your car to another state is obviously a task that you cannot handle on your own, the task needs to be outsourced to an auto shipping company. Hence, your first assignment in shipping your car to another state is to search for available auto shipping companies that is safe, secure, licensed, and affordable at the same time.

There are certain things you will like to avoid when shipping your car and as a result of this you need to get a transportation company that will guarantee you the following;

• They must be able to deliver your car to your preferred destination as at when due without compromising on the agreed arrival time.
• The car must arrive the new location safely without any damage being done to it, which means there should be no scratches, no paint chips, and no dents whatsoever inflicted on the car.
• Their services must be affordable and yet they must be of top-quality at the same time.
• The whole transportation process has to be seamless without you having to leave other important things you need to attend to and of course, this is the reason why you have decided to engage the services of an experienced auto transportation company.

The first thing to do in shipping a car to another state is to source for aa dependable and trustworthy company that is licensed, secured, and insured and other things will naturally fall in place.

Just like moving from one place to another may be tedious so also moving a car to another state may also be tedious. The bulk of the whole task stops at putting logistics right before, during, and after moving to your new location. If all logistics are in place, then definitely whether you are moving your car or anything else like a piano will be seamless.
I will be highlighting a few steps to be taken when you are moving your car to another state. These steps will guide you and help you have a good experience whenever you plan to move your car.

1. Choose a Shipping Company

Getting a right shopping company is the foundation to everything else you will need to do to have an enjoyable moving experience. If you get the choice correct you are in for a good time. However, if you are unlucky to go with the wrong company, everything might just out a mess, so it is good to take your time to source for the right company. Some of the things you need to do to make the right choice of shipping company are a s follows;

• Check Auto/Shipping Transporter Review: The best measure of future performance is to evaluate past performances, so before you engage any auto transport company make sure you read reviews about them from independent sites so that you don’t read reviews that have been doctored. Find out what their clients say about them, ask friends and families for recommendations.
• Compare Prices: In as much as you want quality services, you still would not want to go outside your budget, s it is good to get quotes from different companies and you compare to make your final decision.
• Check Their Registration: Make sure your selected shipping company is registered and has a valid US Dot number on their website. With this you can know if the company is legitimate or not.
• Liaise With Your Auto Transport Company: Call your auto transporter to have an idea of their professionalism and responsiveness. Try to know if they will answer your call and how fast they will reply to your message or get back to you.

2. Book A Viable Shipping Date

After you have settled for a shipping company, the next thing is to book an available shipping date. Carefully evaluate your situation and select a date and book ahead of time; at least two weeks earlier s that you can get good rates and delivery dates. If you book too close to your move date, it will be considered as an emergency shipment and it will cost more.

3. Prepare Your Car

Make sure you prepare and get your car ready for shipping before the pickup date and time. A few things you need to do in order to get your car ready may include;

• Wash the outside and inside of your car; this will make it easier for you to notice any scratch, and dents that may appear on the car in transition.
• Inspect your car with the tracker.
• Take picture where necessary before your car is transported.
• Empty your tank so that it does not add weight to your car but ensure you have enough fuel that will be enough for unloading and loading.
• Remove all your personal belongings by clearing all you have in the car.
• Handover your car keys to the driver.
• Remove any removable part in your car s that it doesn’t get missing in transition.
• Deactivate your car alarm.

4. Pick Your Car

Your shipping company will give you a delivery window that includes the timing when your car will be delivered. This may take few weeks depending on your destination. You will need to monitor the progress of the job by communicating with your shipper from time to time and also this can be done through a tracker. Your shipping company should provide a means with which you can track your car through a GPS enabled tracker.

Finally, upon delivery, make sure you inspect your car for any damages, dents, and scratches, among others. If your car arrived in good condition, then you can sign the bill of loading. If you find any kind of scratches, dents, or damages you can use the document to file a claim.

Moving your car to another state requires a lot of effort and as such you should make necessary plans ahead of time and make sure you engage a top professional auto transport company to get the job done for you and you will enjoy the whole process without you having to move a morsel.

As much as we all like to make plans, and have everything organized. There are certain times where life hits us with a lot of surprises, and unexpected outcomes. It might never happen to you, and again if you are not so lucky, you might have a taste of what it means to have a moving situation happen to you. You have nothing to worry about really. It all depends on the posture of your mind.

The truth is that a successful move can only occur when you have it well planned from weeks or days before the actual moving. But you don’t have to worry much. We have gathered useful tips that will help you make the best of your time, and pull out a successful moving in just one day.

Make sure you are in the right frame of mind and follow these tips to be at the top of your moving game

1. Relax Your Mind

This is the first significant step. You have to first forget about all the unfortunate instances and possible events of failure that might be running through your head. As much as it might seem like a very daunting task to pull off in one day, you need to appear calm and collected but in mind and action. It doesn’t mean it is impossible; it can be cleared off gradually. You need to break things down into bits to begin. Trust me, panicking has no perk, it only adds to the stress in your mind.

2. Create a Moving list

The next thing you need to place your mind on after relaxing it is to make a list. You know your house more than anyone else. Pick up your pen and make a list of the entire household items you have or own. The first thing will be to get the items all on paper, the next procedure that follows will be to arrange them in order of importance. The list will come in very handy because it will also serve as a checklist where you can tick off items that have been successfully packed.

Having a list is a huge motivation for you to continue moving. Once you have everything on paper, you will be prompted to carry on the next step. Howeve, you want to make a list is up to you. The division, the sections you want to attend to first, as well as the listing of items individually or collectively is all up to you. So to be encouraged, you have to have to get your list ready.

3. Organize Your List

Immediately you have a comprehensive list of all the things you want to move into your home; you will need to have your items organized. Let everything have a section they would fit into. Let the papers go to the paper section, let the glassware go to the glassware section, let the clothes also be organized in the clothes section. The most important thing is having it all figured out; this way you are motivated to continue packing all your items.

Another crucial reason for organizing your stuff is to make sure you also section them according to use. You should organize your items according to useful items, items to be disposed of, items you want to give out, and items you want to sell. Once you have this list, you can sure of what is going with you when you decide to move, and you also know what is not going with you. The organization helps a great deal in helping you know the items you should pack first and the ones you will not need to pack.

4. Now You Need to Get Some Help

The next thing you need to do is to start the packing process. The process should be done in two ways or both at the same time. The first thing you might want to do is to make sure you get to hire movers. Now one thing you should know is that the cost of hiring movers in just a short notice might be a little higher than average. So you might want to get your pocket ready for the task. You can find a couple of moving companies that can very much help you with the emergency moving service and will do a great job.

If you feel the cost of hiring movers is a little above what you can afford, you can try an alternative. The alternative is to have friends and family come over to your place to help you with the move. Friends and family always come in handy in these situations especially if you have reliable friends. If your neighbors are available, then you can call them to lend a hand too, and they will be glad to help you.

Another thing you can try is to get a moving company, and get quotes. You can beat the price down by having your friends come over to assist too. That way, you get a reduced price for getting some work off the ground. The thing about applying this is that you can get the professional movers only to move the most difficult and challenging items, while you and your friends only attend to the much simpler ones.

5. The Next Thing is to Get Moving Supplies or to Improvise

So, here comes the real deal. If you have got enough cash to spend, you can get moving boxes for the items you have after creating a list and organizing all your household items. There are a couple of websites where you can get boxes and have them delivered to your doorstep. You can also go to the store yourself and buy the boxes. Since you know the items you want to move, you can pretty much buy only the specific boxes that suit your moving needs.

If you can’t get the boxes because things are happening very sudden, you can improvise with garbage bags. The best options will be to source for clear garbage bags where you can quickly pour in items to be moved. You can take your list of organized items and put them in the plastic bag while you label them. The labelling is important because it will help you know where to start searching for items in your new home. Make sure you dispose of junks. Don’t be tempted to take along the things you have not used in ages.

6. Think Very Fast

Remember we spoke about you being calm and collected at the beginning. This is where your relaxed mind comes to play. By the time you get to this tip, you should have been in the mood where you are encouraged to move. Then you should think very fast in turning ordinary materials to special materials. For example, you can use your blanket to wrap the fragile cups, and glassware. And many other things that you can do to make sure the moving process is almost stress-free.

7. Start the Packing Categorically

To make the job a lot easier for you, you need to pack your things room by room. You should start with the children room if you have children. Their rooms should give you the least problem since they don’t have a lot of stuff. If your children are grown enough, you can hand them the bag to put in items themselves while you settle other rooms in the home. Once the rooms are settled, you can face other places together. But if you do not have grown up children, you will have to do it for them.

For those who have a baby or babies while they are trying to move, you might need to get the baby or babies a babysitter. It is very tasking to have babies crying while you are trying to settle the arrangement and packing of your stuff. If you can’t get a babysitter in short notice, you can try taking your baby to your friend’s place or anyway they will be safe while you pack with a clear head.

Remember that as a rule of thumb, you should reduce items while you pack. This is the best time to throw away things, so you don’t end up packing junks with useful items.

8. Get a first-day bag

A first-day bag is simply the bag that you can use to pack in all the items, clothes and essentials you will be needing on the first day of moving. You should realize that you might be too busy to start searching through the pile of packed items to get a single item. A smart tip is to make sure you get all the items you will need on the first night, or even for the whole day the next day. Things that can be contained in the box are a change of clothes, toothbrush, underwear, plates, toothpaste, and soap. Etc.

9. Make Plans for a Moving Truck if you are to Move With Friends

Now, if you have chosen the option to pack with your friends, you will need a truck. Renting a truck, and moving with the help of your friends, family, and neighbors will cut down a great deal on the cost of hiring movers. So instead of hiring movers, you Do It Yourself (DIY). Part of planning yourself would be to get the persons to help you on time. Please note that some truck rental companies add manpower; it’s your choice to accept or refuse them.

Now the trick about hiring a truck, or getting someone with the truck is that you need to do it early. Instead of thinking of it as the last thing to do after packing, you can place a call even before you start packing. Seeing the moving truck waiting early for you will motivate you to work faster. You will get things done faster and can move items in as soon as they are packed. You don’t want to sit waiting for the moving truck to arrive hours after you must have finished packing. Waiting in itself can be very tiring.

10. Store Things You Cannot Move in a Day

To make moving achievable in just one day, you need to find where to keep the rest of your items. You can have your items split amongst your friends with a checklist. This way they can help you keep some of the stuff you cannot move on that day. Just give them a date you want to come and pick all the items you must have dropped off with them. This is something many people fail to realize. Once you can do this, you will not worry with regards to your items.

You also have to consider the bulk of what it is that you are going to be storing. If it’s very minimal, then you can keep it at your friends’ or your neighbors. If it is very much, you need to do the needful. Look for companies that are offering excellent warehousing facilities. They will provide you with a very decent warehousing service and give you enough room for the period that you want to leave your items with them. This is a very smart tip that would help you.

In conclusion, we believe moving in just a day might seem impossible in your mind, but it is possible. All you need to do is to apply a system approach to how you organize and move your items, and you will be fine. Make sure you have hands that will help you, give them instructions on what to do, and also be thankful as they help you.

Since time is not on your side, you should watch how well you make use of it. Coordination, planning, structuring, and sound thinking are the elements you need to pull through at a time where the things are sudden.

It is a big decision to want to move from your previous apartment or office to an entirely different place; it means a whole lot to you as a person or organization because of the total structural adjustments that would have to follow the process. Moving is not as easy as it seems, and it is equally very easy, it all depends on the angle you like to see it from and the smart tips you apply to make the process less cumbersome. After making your decision to move out finally, there are things you must have put in places like the new apartment you are moving into, the new day you want to move and a whole lot of other logistics.

The weight of the thinking about the entire process itself can weigh your own even before you start the actual event of moving, and that is why you need to be guided on how to make the packing process a seamless one. Be sure to know that you at the right place right now if you need some really helpful tips and useful guidance with regards to how to pack for a move.

Please find below some of our helpful tips on how to pack for a stress-free move

TIME MANAGEMENT

Among everything you need to consider very carefully when you make up your mind to move is time. Time is of the essence, and how well you structure your time is how well you will be able to make the most of it. The rest of the processes will fit into an already laid down and carefully thought through plan. The first thing you must do in structuring your time is picking a date you want to move; the date should be chosen long before you intend on moving, so you have enough time to plan. The next thing after that should be to create stages for the moving process; you should be able to breakdown the entire moving process into segments and have time to complete each segment, that way you will be able to monitor your progress.

If you are busy with work most of the time and have the weekends to yourself, you can consider using the weekends effectively and also calling your family and friends to make the task a lot easier. Time must be apportioned to the places you want to start with, the rooms you want to declutter and so on.

DECLUTTERING IS THE NEXT BIG STEP

You must never forget that every moving process requires that you are very much into what you are doing. This means that you must be able to apply your mind to the things you need and the ones you do not need so that you can dispose of them. Take a look at your property or items and categorize them. Some would fall under the junks category which, of course, you would dispose, some would fall under the useful items category which you would make use of. Others would also fall under the category of items you want to give out. By the end of the decluttering process, you will realize you have only a few useful items to retain; still, the once voluminous property will shrink and become a lesser burden to bear.

Remember that we will be allocating the time factor to the decluttering process too. For each category of items you will be clearing up in your home, you need to set a time to get it over with quickly. Set a time and date for the items you want to give out or sell. In the same manner, you need to try as much as possible to dispose of all the items you feel are not necessary so that you can have relief after seeing a large chunk of load disposed of.

MAKE A LIST OF WHAT IS LEFT

The next step after decluttering and using your time well, you should get a list of the items that are left. This will give you an idea of what is left for you to manage and proceed to the next level. For this stage, you will need to create a checklist of some sort and go to each room in your home and make a list of the items there, for example, the appliances, furniture, tools, and every other thing. Knowing the entirety of your property gives you a holistic idea of whether you need to hire a professional moving company or doing it yourself. Once you are done with this stage, you can proceed to the next stage.

GET MOVING BOXES TO AID YOUR PACKING

The next big, or let’s say small step for you would be to get moving boxes that you will use to pack all of your items. The reason why we asked that you get a list of the items left in your home is for you to know how you can go about gathering boxes for all of your items. You should know the different sizes of items in your home and the sizes of boxes that you are equally going to use to pack the items. You should gather large, small boxes, as well as specialized boxes also that will be used for special items. Please note that the heaviest weight of box you should use must be 50 pounds.

There are two ways to get moving boxes to go about your moving; the first way is to source for free moving boxes from different places. You can get free boxes from liquor stores, grocery stores, and any other place you know they have an unlimited number of boxes. Another way is that you can buy moving boxes to help all of your items have a haven. Without the boxes, must of your items will not be in a nice shape, and you might even lose some for good¸, so it is very important you acquire these boxes. In my opinion, it is always better to buy boxes than to get for free from places where they have been laid in waste for too long. You might have to start cleaning off dust and removing pests infested in these boxes, so to have no issue with all those infestations and dust; you can get brand new boxes.

Also, be aware that not all types of boxes can be used for all items in your home for the special ware like the glassware, Tupperware, and other delicate items. Get boxes designed for wine glasses and also win. You should also make sure you find enough packing supplies that you can use for padding, taping, and protecting the delicate items.

START INFORMING YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY EARLY

If you have chosen your friends like your work associate to help you with the moving process, you need to start calling them early or remind them frequently beforehand so that it sticks to their minds that they have committed their time to help you. You should have chosen a date, and they should all be aware of the date that you have chosen if they are to move with you. If you have also fixed different dates that you will have your home decluttered or carry out a yard sale, then you also remind them about it. In the same manner, you should also get your babysitters reminded about the specific date they are meant to come and start their job. Do not also forget that you are to set the dates you want to remove your cable and other devices in your home. An early reminder would save you from being disappointed.

START THE ACTUAL PACKING

Immediately you get all the things in place; you can start packing your stuff segment by segment into your boxes, this is with the assumption that you have gathered all the necessary boxes to be used to pack. Then you must first start room by room; if you have little children, it would be best you start from their room first, pack all their things in a way that you know they will not be misplaced. After the children’s rooms, you can proceed to your room and other parts of your home. Packing according to rooms should ease your stress, and make you think better because things would be done in an organized format. After you have gotten your things together, you should be able to label all the boxes in use. Label the boxes that belong to your children according to their ages; you can also use color tapes and color codes to be able to separate them.

Labeling and color codes are also very important in identifying different other components placed in boxes that look alike. You will save yourself from a lot of confusion doing it this way. Things that have similar properties or composition should be placed together, like the cups, glasses and all other related items. Remember also to keep your chemicals in separate boxes, never mix chemicals with all the other items because they can be harmful to those other items and can even damage your belongings for good. So be wise about what you are packing together. Your jewelry and other expensive items should be packed separately in a way, and place that you can monitor them closely. Figure out in your mind which boxes you want to go in first because these are the boxes that will come out last when you eventually get to your new apartment, and you start unpacking.

In everything you are going to be packing, one essential thing is for you to have a first-night pack. This pack will contain everything that you need to survive on the first night after you move into your new apartment. They will include items like your clothes, medications, toiletries, a couple of snacks and things that you can easily access even if you are too tired to unpack your boxes on the first day.

HIRE PROFESSIONAL MOVERS IF YOU CAN’T DO IT YOURSELF

This is a very crucial choice you need to make even before you start moving, it is like the second thing you need to think about after you have structured your time. We always have the idea that we can do a lot of things all by ourselves until we reach the point where we are stranded. If you have a lot of items to move and a large family as well, you should consider hiring professionals to help you with your moving needs. If you also have expensive and delicate items that you don’t want to be broken, a professional moving company can help you get the job done. The only time you should consider doing it yourself is if you have very little to move, then you can hire a DIY truck and move your things around.

Be very careful when trying to hire a moving company to meet your needs, be sure that they are professionals and you must have researched well about them, that’s why you need enough time to check the best. Moving expensive and delicate items should also inform your choice of the type of company to hire, you should be thinking of hiring a company that has insurance and are licensed, this will bring a certain level of assurance to you.

CHANGE YOUR HOME ADDRESS EVEN BEFORE YOU MOVE

To make it sink in well into your mind that you are moving to a new home, you should change your address weeks before you move. The address change is something most people forget to do because they still don’t fully realize that they have moved. Try to bring to your consciousness the fact that you have moved to a new home by checking and updating all necessary documents that require your address. If there are also websites that require your address information, be sure to make the necessary adjustments. Little things like this will inform your mind about the fact that you have moved, it might take a little while for your mind to follow through, but you’ll be fine eventually.

Moving from a place you have spent most of your life can be tough, because of different situations tied to it. Some of the issues that you are likely to face are trying to break the emotional attachment you have with the neighborhood you stay in, trying to truly convince yourself that you are moving and other related issues. Moving is very beautiful in the end, and you give a deep sigh of relief after a successful moving process, but remember, not all moving processes turn out to be successful.

It is very important that you pay attention to the type of moving company you choose as well as the quality of the services they offer. Even if you try to do some things on your own, there are just things that you will need help handling. In this article, we will be talking about how to move your baby grand piano, because it is a very important item you possess, and it is equally very delicate. We will be putting you through on steps that you can take to move your baby grand piano safely from your current apartment to your new apartment without breaking a single thing.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FIRST

Preparing your mind for the move is the most important thing you can do for yourself. The first thing you also have to realize is that there are two ways to go about moving the piano. One way is doing it yourself. If you are very sure that you have what it takes to disassemble the piano, then you can go ahead and do it yourself. The second way is for you to make you sure you hire professionals to help you with the task. Do not try to cut down on cost by watching a few YouTube videos as a crash course on how to disassemble a baby piano. You might end up damaging your keyboard even more than you thought you were about to save on cost. Only use professionals on things you have no idea about, it’s fast, it’s safer.

As a rule of thumb, before you can move your baby piano, you have to be aware of the fact that it needs to be taken apart. First, it sounds scary, yeah? But not to worry, experts can help you with this. Speaking of experts, it is imperative that you know the company you are trying to hire also. Just because a company promises to offer you piano moving services for a low price doesn’t mean you should jump at the offer. Even if they offer a moderate or high price, it still doesn’t pass as being professionals. You have to do your research on whichever company you want to select. To do this, you should be able to run a search online and check the reviews provided by other customers about the local movers or the company you wish to use. Better yet, you can search for websites that offer specialized moving services for baby piano and employ them.

The primary criteria for choosing any professional is making sure they have insurance. Insurance is your saving grace when they damage any part of your piano; this is something you would never get if you try to move the piano on your own.

THE ACTUAL PROCESS OF MOVING

We strongly recommend that you don’t have to bother about moving the baby piano yourself, but if you insist on doing it yourself, we have put together a list of some of the procedures to use in moving the piano. The actual moving process will be described in two sections; one is the disassembling section, and the other is moving the piano.

DISASSEMBLING THE BABY PIANO

We go bit by bit in this process, and the first thing you want to do is to take out the piano lid. The baby piano will be disassembled in an entirely different way from the upright piano. The baby piano also weighs about half the size of the upright piano and so we must reduce the weight by detaching each detachable part. To remove the lid, locate the little screws that hold it in place and remove them using your screwdriver. Be sure to have more than one screwdriver for this process, never lose the screws, except if you intend on not placing the lid back.

Now that you have taken the lid out. Wrap it carefully with a nice moving pad to help protect against any damage, scratch or harm. Make sure the lid is covered entirely by the pads till you cannot see the lid anymore. Blankets are also good substitutes for moving pads if you can’t buy one at the moment.

The next thing you have to focus on removing after the lid is the lyre. The lyre is that thing right underneath the piano to which the pedals are connected. They are made from wood and are fixed in with screws. This again is one of the reasons why you need more than one screwdriver. All you have to do is to remove the screw from the lyre and place the lyre separately. Take the screws and keep them separately. At this point, you need to keep the screw separately and label a bag for each screw to avoid confusion.

After removing the lyre. We would love to focus on taking care of the pedals. The pedals ideally are three, and each must be wrapped separately. Never try to wrap all three at the same time, you might stand at risk of breaking them. Make sure your moving pads are securely wrapped on each, and use tape to keep them firmly in place.

The next thing for you to do is to get your piano to rest against its board. Your piano should have a piano board which is a wooden surface made for the side of your piano, and it can be used to strap the sides of the piano well enough. If your piano doesn’t have one, you can ask from a local music store and get one. Now you should rest the board against your moving pad while you try to remove the other legs. Never let the entire weight of the piano rest on the legs, the other legs are not firm enough to carry 500 pounds without snapping, so be careful.

The next step is an easy one. Once you have your piano board in place, you can rest the piano on that end and make it stand upright, sideways. Then you need to get your moving pads to wrap the piano. Make sure you buy the thick moving pads, and if you must use blankets at all, you have to use thick ones. Wrap the moving pads around it well, and use straps to fasten the moving pads securely onto the piano.

Remember the board? Yeah, this is where it comes in even handy. The board comes with straps that allow you to fasten the piano to its flat surface. Make sure the piano sits well on the board, and check again to see if the straps are tight enough not allowing any little movements out of place. Again, you can check out your local store for straps.

The legs of the piano are the next in line to be removed. It depends on the model of baby piano you use; some have three legs while others have four. The legs are attached to the piano using little bolts or screws which can be removed using an Allen key or a screwdriver. Carefully remove all the legs of the piano without damaging any of them.

The next set of items you want to focus on should be your legs and lyre. Take your legs one by one and wrap them all with the moving pads. Don’t place two together, they must all be wrapped individually, and not only that, but they must also be completely wrapped in such a way that they will be covered completely, till no wood can be seen. After wrapping them, use packaging tape to hold the moving tape in place.

MOVING ALL PARTS OF THE DISASSEMBLED PIANO

For this section, we will be describing how you can move all the parts you have disassembled.

The most obvious part of the piano you will need to be careful about moving is the large part. After wrapping the piano properly, be careful to place it on a dolly. Make sure the dolly is formed enough and moves only in the direction you want it to, to avoid a situation of sliding and slipping out of your control. Make sure it doesn’t tilt in any way and make sure you have firm control over the dolly. Get your friends to help you move the sturdy dolly, an average of three persons at least should do to be on a safe side. Don’t allow children to handle.

We would love to assume that for the fact that you have chosen to move your piano yourself, you are also renting a truck to move it all by yourself. If this is the case, then this is how you should move your piano safely into the truck. Get a very strong plank and place on the truck, and let the rest of the plank touch the ground. Then you get three to four of your friends to help move the piano on the plank. Split yourselves, let some be in the truck while others are outside to roll the piano in. Make sure you keep the piano in an upright position. If you have to move the keyboard down the stairs, try using a plank to ensure the keyboard stays upright. Please note, you must not let the piano slip out of your hand.

After successfully getting the piano through the staircase and into the truck, the next thing is to get the piano fixed firmly in a position where it will not fall or slip. Make sure the piano is made to lie in a vertical position; this way you reduce the risk of having it damaged. See to it also that you do not place any item on the piano so that you don’t damage the keys.

It would be a smart move to try and get a separate truck for the piano to avoid an accident. The remaining parts of the piano can be kept in any position and anywhere in the truck because it is not as sensitive as the piano. But you still need to be careful about the placement so that you don’t break the legs or the lyre or the lid. Do these things, and you should be fine.

We are still back to emphasize that after you have read through the process of packing, and moving the baby piano, and you feel it’s something that is too stressful, you should go ahead to hire professionals to help with the task. Do not be tempted with the simplicity of the description; it might not as easy as you are reading it. To help you with an idea of companies, tailor your search to look for companies that specialize in moving all types of piano, and not to forget that they must have insurance.

On average, the prices of moving a piano vary according to distance, and according to the weight but in average, if you are moving a piano within the same area then you can have it between $200-$600. If you are moving to a farther distance, then the price will be more.

We have gotten you the most useful tips that you can use in moving your baby piano from the initial stage of disassembling it, to the stage where you can finally place it in your new apartment. We hope that you find these tips helpful and can share around with your friends who are trying to move their keyboard. Happy moving and have a great time.

It is quite trite to say that, people relocate all the time, and for various reasons, which are mostly unexpected. The reason could be an emergency, a major job opportunity, educational advancement, occurrence of a natural disaster and so on. The basic point is, whatever the reason, there is often no prior plan to relocate or move. This is where our major issue lies, as moving comes at a very expensive rate, depending on if you are relocating across the state or within the same vicinity.

Most of the time, having enough extra funds at hand or in your account for this situation really makes a difference. However, we know this hardly occurs, as said the extra money is almost never enough for the move. This point is mainly because you cannot adequately calculate the cost of your move, as there are always hidden expenses we fail to budget for. Also, even when we choose to carry out some aspects of the move ourselves, certain expenses still arise that will surely give you difficulty.

However, there exists a fortunate remedy to the problem of lack of funds for unexpected or unplanned relocation. This remedy comes in the form of financial aid strictly provided for relocation. There are a plethora of ways in which one can secure financial aid to give you the capital needed for your move. As, due to the fact that, relocation costs are usually high and often increase via various expenses like traveling, the government along with certain employers often put in place a relocation financial aid program to help curb your relocation financing problems.

The purpose of said programs is to provide moving assistance, in order to make the cost more affordable for you. Furthermore, via these programs, the government and certain organizations, graciously offer funds to help people with the aforesaid problem. However, most people are either not aware of these programs that offer aid or, they are ignorant of how to get financial aid from the programs. This brings us to the crux of this piece, as it shall provide below the major organizations that provide financial assistance, and how to seek aid from the established organizations.

Programs That Provide Financial Assistance For Your Move

As earlier stated, most people do not move or relocate from their homes willingly. Often times, it is prompted by some unforeseen circumstance or the other. Consequently, people under this blanket, often do not have the means to afford the move. This has to lead to the creation of certain programs by the government and other bodies, to effectively curb this problem by providing financial assistance for relocation. To this, below we shall highlight both federal programs and other various programs that offer financial assistance for moving. Furthermore, we shall examine how to get the financial assistance you desire. Therefore, the moving financial assistance programs are:

Federal Financial Assistance For Homeowners

This financial assistance program is usually restricted to a set of people. Therefore, you must fall under the eligibility requirements to get this. To this, it is conducted by the Federal Relocation Assistance Program, and by their standards, if you are a victim of a natural disaster which has displaced you, then you may be eligible to receive financial assistance for your relocation expenses. This also applies to small business owners who may have lost their property due to a natural disaster.

  In other words, to be eligible for this program, you must be an individual family or a small business owner that has just gone through a natural disaster. The aim of this program is to aid families and small business owners with grants to pay for their move and easily move to a new home that is closely similar to their former property. Furthermore, in reference to the small business owners, the program helps them find new locations for their business and also gives them grants to cover their relocation costs. Also, it is pertinent to state that displaced families are also given a deposit for their new home.

Furthermore, the Federal Relocation Assistance Program also reaches out to Renters. If you are a renter who is at risk of becoming homeless due to financial hardship or displacement, this program is for you. In addition to this, Renters can also get aid from the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program at the US Department of Housing & Urban Developments. The program helps pay for moving costs and also provides temporary assistance in paying the rent of the applicant.

Furthermore, the Housing and Urban Development Department also provides renters with relocation assistance, when their current home is to be demolished or acquired for a project. However, the project must be funded by the government.

Federal Financial Assistance For The Prevention Of Homelessness

This is similar to the aid provided by the Housing and Urban Development department to renters. However, this program is targeted at homeowners. It is a grant given to citizen homeowners are about to lose their homes as a result of a sudden eviction notice. These grants when given, usually take care of moving costs, motel or hotel accommodation to prevent sleeping on the street and so on.

The grants are usually given to the homeowners, through housing agencies, religious organizations and local authorities. Also, it is advisable to take advantage of this grant early, as the authorities administering the grants are usually expected to dispense the funds within 3 years. Furthermore, a closely related program is one provided by the Housing Industry Foundation. They provide emergency one time funds for families who require immediate emergency assistance. They aim to lessen the financial problems of families who are unable to raise immediate funds for their emergency relocation.

Relocation Grant For Low-Income People

Most of the time, families who have problems with relocating, are often low-income families. A lot of families with low income regularly find the cost accompanied with moving as a major burden to bear and most times require financial assistance for them to easily relocate. As a means to help this category of people, the government usually creates programs to provide them with grants for their move.

The aim of the programs is to aid low-income families through their move and do this by reducing their financial burdens. Hence, if you fall into this category, it will do you a lot of good to locate whatever authority is currently administering the program on behalf of the government. Most of the time, such programs are administered by various charitable organizations, housing agencies, religious organizations and so on.

Relocation Aid For Physical Challenged Citizens

Unfortunately, it is not so far off to imagine that disabled or physically challenged people are unable to raise money to pay for various services. This also applies to services such as those consisting within relocating. Disabled people are often unable to have the finances needed for moving, be it out of state or within the vicinity. Hence, various organizations, as well as the government agencies, have set up different programs specifically for the purpose of aiding this class of people.

They provide help to this category of people through various grants and policies, whenever the need for relocation arises. So if you fall under this category, or knows someone who does, visit the nearest housing agency or the Housing and Urban Development department, and ask for this.

Employer-Based Relocation Programs

This is a relocation program normally set up by private bodies and organizations. Here, most employers create a policy to provide assistance for employees with relocation financial problems, when necessary. This usually comes up where the need to move is created by your employer. For example, where your employer requests that you move out of town and take a job position in a branch of the organization, you may be entitled to moving allowance or a relocation package.

Said relocation package or moving allowance depends on where the branch you are moving to is, most times,  either out of state or country. The aim of this allowance is to enable the employee to pay for hotels or hostels, acquire temporary accommodation and take care of a lot of other moving expenses. However, it is important to note that, often times the moving allowance is not immediately ready or provided, so the employee often has to use his own money or source for the money before later getting a refund.

Furthermore, depending on your employer and the program set up, you might be reimbursed after a little while or over some time. To this, if the scenario of your employer asking you to move everything comes up, always ask for this.

Tax Rebates

This sought of financial assistance, is also related to your job or a prospective job offer. If you find yourself in a scenario where you are moving based on a job transfer or any job-related issues, you should know that you are eligible to some form of tax rebates on your moving expense. For this sought of financial assistance, it is advisable to consult a tax expert, in order to take full advantage of this. Also, most relocation packages paid by an employer are tax deductible for the employee.

Ultimately, this leads to lessened financial burden when relocating, via deduction of moving expenses from your taxes. However, to take full advantage of this, it is highly pertinent to seek the aid of a tax expert.

Veterans Relocation Assistance Program

This is a special moving financial assistance program created by the government. It is targeted at veteran citizens who meet certain requirements stipulated by the government, such as the state of discharge and such. Said veterans when eligible are granted access to moving assistance in the form of payment for rent and utilities, housing support, security deposits, child care and other forms of aid provided by the Veterans Supportive Services. This program is known to always be available when needed, in matters of relocation and moving, as well as any other matter.

Charities and Religious organizations

This is for those who, for some reason or the other, does not fall into any of the above categories. For such people, there exists many religious organizations that provide moving and relocation assistance. They usually provide such assistance to needy and low-income families as well as single mothers and women low income.

Furthermore, they aid disabled citizens as well. They aid each and every class with moving assistance either by providing financial assistance raised or via the provision of labor and tools to help with the move. However, depending on the religious organization or charity, there may be certain requirements to be met in order to qualify for such assistance. However, you can always try out your luck and see how far it takes you.

In conclusion

if you ever find yourself in a situation where your finances are not enough to handle any complex or unexpected move or relocation, you should be aware that there are a plethora of ways you can be helped. As, from the government to its agencies, to regular housing agencies, religious organizations and various charities, a lot offer and provide genuine and generous assistance to aid you with this particular problem.

So, when next you are moving, you should try to make the most of any or all of the opportunities given above. Furthermore, the fact that the requirements for most of them are not as strenuous as you might have thought, should be a boost to you. Also, there are so many options, so if one does not work for you, seek the next best thing.

Moving homes is a situation which can bring about lukewarm feelings for some reasons. For one thing, moving homes is like going on a new adventure with everything that you own. It can be quite exciting. However, on the other hand, it can also be very scary to think about. There is just so much that you would have to fix or do during this period. One of such things is moving.

Moving would require taking your things over to another property. This would mean carrying heavy objects across your floors into the truck or van outside. One area of your house which could suffer much damage when you are trying to move is your floors. Now the damage of floors can affect you in both ways. For example, floors in your previous home can get scratched or dented in the process of moving on. This would cost a lot including your security payment which would have made earlier. It could also affect your new home as moving to it would require carrying heavy loads through the floors.

There are many important reasons why damaged floors should always be avoided. Here are some of those reasons;

• More spending: damaged floors would not fix themselves. To have them fixed, you would probably need to spend more than you bargained for initially. This would put a strain on your budget and your new move.

• It could also delay your movement as the floors could turn out to be too badly damaged to be used.

• It would also increase the stress levels you already have. After all, moving from one place to another is a lot of work.

When all this is taken into perspective, it becomes important to consider several ways in which floors can be protected when you are trying to move your things to a new location. Here are some tips which would surely help;

Lighter Items Help

When moving, it is always important to remember that dragging your heavy items across the floor is a sure way to make your floors get damaged very quickly. This is because most floors are very delicate and fragile. Dragging your heavy items on it can feel a lasting mark on the floors. Such damages could include dents on wooden floors or the breakage of tiles if you prefer to tile your home. If you want to keep the floors intact, then, the first thing you can do is to ensure that you reduce the heavy things which you drag on your floors. You can do this by carrying items on your arm when you can. These may even include furniture which is light but can have edges which can damage the floors when they are dragged on it.

You should always keep in mind that your floor would always suffer less if the heavy loads are kept out of direct contact with your floor at all times. For the much heavier load, you can always get someone to lift it off the floor with you. This would ensure that the floors are always protected from damage.

Safety comes first

If you want to avoid damage to your floors, the best principle to follow is to be safe first. Safety goes in a lot when you have to pack your items together in general. Following safety tips would help you to avoid damage to your floors. Here are some of those tips;

• If you are dealing with chairs, tables and other forms of furniture, you can ensure that you stay safe by tying or wrapping their legs in a material that covers them completely. For example, you can try to do this with a blanket. This would come in handy in the event of a situation where such a piece of heavy furniture mistakenly falls to the floor when it is being moved out.

• When packing things, it is always a better idea to make use of cardboard boxes to pack. However, it should not just be any cardboard. Ensure that the box which you have chosen would have the power to hold the load or weight they are carrying. The truth is that the biggest cause of damage when moving is the dropping of load unintentionally on the floor. Getting the right cardboard box would help you avoid all of that.

• You should also ensure that the boxes which you have chosen are taped as much as possible. This would prevent it from getting damaged easily.

• It is always better to check the normal standard weight when you are packing. This is usually about 20 pounds for every box which you are carrying.

Your Heavy Furniture may need to be measured

Another thing which would surely make a difference when you are packing to a new destination is measuring your furniture. There are many reasons why it is necessary that you do this. One such reason is that you would be able to know what load can successfully fit into your new location. The other reason is that it would help you to avoid further damage to your floors and previous room. For example, not measuring your furniture would leave you open to the chances of that furniture not being able to pass a door. What you would thus cause for yourself in the process would be scratches or dents on the door and so many other places. The worst case scenario would see the heavy furniture fall to the ground in a heap. This would cause your floors and other fragile items in your home to get damaged.

It is therefore important to know the sizes of your bigger furniture and other items which you intend to move. If this seems a bit hard to figure out, then getting a local moving company to do this for you would be the perfect start. They have a much better experience dealing with issues like this and would take steps to ensure that you move everything that you own with any damage done to the floor.  A great example of a local moving company would be iMoving.com. They are known for their perfectionistic attitude towards any job that they get.

Furniture Sliders

Another way to guard your floors when you are in the process of moving would be getting a furniture slider. Furniture sliders simply refer to a piece which is made from plastic. It is bounded by rubbers which are hard. What this achieves for you is that it eliminates or reduces the friction which dragging furniture around would cause you.

While moving, you are surely going to moving a lot of things around. From huge furniture to even appliances, you would need all the help that you can get. Getting a furniture slider to do the trick for you would be amazing. A furniture slider can be operated by simply ensuring that the furniture slider is placed under the leg area of the item which you intend to move. Once this has been done effectively, you would be able to move your heavy furniture from where it was to where it would be taken to the new home. It would almost be like your item was on a pair of ski! 

It is also important to note that while your budget may not give you the necessary funds to get a furniture slider from the local store, you can always create one from home or create an alternative. You can be pretty sure that you would find this reassuring.

Getting a Dolly

Using wheels to move things has been in existence almost since airplanes were made. This innovation is one of the best things that has happened to humans in such a long time. This innovation would also definitely come into play when you are packing. Moving your items using wheels would be a good way to ensure that you do not have direct contact with the floor. To make sure that the wheels which you are using have no negative effect on the floors, it would also be better to get a dolly.

If you plan on using a dolly, there are some options which are opened to you. One of them is getting an appliance dolly. That would most likely use two wheels; you would also get the opportunity to use a furniture dolly instead. This is usually pushed on four wheels. Four wheels would go a long way to ensuring that your item has all the stability and balance that it should have.

If you are looking to get a dolly, most of them can be rented for a particular fee, or you can simply just purchase your very own. It is important to note that the tires of the dolly should be made of soft rubber. Anything hard has a chance of hurting the ground. You should always check for how clean they look to avoid stains on your floors.

Doormats are useful

Moving to a new property can take place at any point in time. It is therefore essential that you get yourself prepared for anything. For example, you could decide that it is time to move during the snow or when it is raining. If you are in this situation where the weather in your area is not quite favourable, you would realize that your acquisition of doormats would be of assistance. It is all too easy for you to carry stains and dirt from outside into your house especially during the process of packing. There is just so much back and forth that it would hard to keep account of how you work.

If this is the situation that you are faced with, then you should make sure that you have doormats available. The bigger, the better when you are faced with this situation. Ensure that you have at least one doormat at the entrance of your house and another one right after the door has been opened. They should be enough to ensure that everyone legs and shoes get dusted off before they enter into the house. Another benefit of this is the reduction of accidents. When a floor becomes watery for example, the tendency for people to slip and fall to the ground heavily is increased ten-fold. Doormats would also help to keep other things out such as the dust.

Blankets and Rugs

To ensure that your floors are well protected during a transition, you can keep them covered using an old blanket or rug. This always turns out to be excellent protection for your floor as they would not feel the full impact of any fall on them. It would also help you avoid the stains which may affect your floors in the long run. Damages such as dents and scratches would also be avoided due to the presence of the old blankets and rugs.

Another reason why you should use your old blankets and rugs effectively is that you would probably not need them in your new home. Using them to achieve your grand purpose would be so much better than keep your life cluttered in your new home. It would surely help you to simplify your life.

Moving from one place to another is a lot of work which can take a toll on you. Fortunately for us, we have professionals who are skilled at moving items for us. Such companies like iMoving.com make sure your floors are well protected by using protective materials to protect the weaker items in your home. Such things would include lamps, mirrors and so much more.

Conclusion

Moving day can be very special to the heart. It could be the day you finally achieve your long-term goal of having your own house. Keep it that memorable by ensuring that your floors are always well protected. That is the only way to keep on smiling for a long time to come!

Moving homes is a very stressful process, even if you are moving within the same city. More than 30 million Americans move every year! Some move to a different neighborhood, while others go cross country in search of a new life.

Almost all these moves are completed properly. Some families go DIY, renting a moving truck and packing up their possessions. Others hire movers through services like ours at iMoving.com.

Most moving companies offer impeccable service at affordable prices. But some moving companies to take the liberty of crossing lines that should not be crossed. Whether a mover increases the price at the last moment, fails to provide services included within the contractor engages in some other inappropriate behavior, families may be wondering about their options.

Filing a complaint against a moving company is often the best way to get justice. We will go into detail about the possible issues that individuals can experience with movers, along with your options after the fact.

Best Way to File a Complaint Against Moving Company:

Possible Problems With a Moving Company

Many individuals and families think they may have done something wrong to have a bad moving experience. But the truth is that with so many companies offering moving services, vetting can be difficult.

It is why using services such as iMoving.com is so helpful. Services like ours already do a lot of vetting before listing the moving options in a city. Only verified, insured movers with the best conduct are on our list.

If you happened to hire a mover with a poor reputation, you may have experienced one or more of the following issues:

• Moving workers were rude, unprofessional or engaged in harassment.
• Employees arrived very late on moving day.
• Took extra days or weeks to transport your possessions, despite providing a guaranteed delivery date.
• Did minor or serious damage to your possessions during the move.
• Failed to deliver all your belongings. Unable to give you a straight answer on where those boxes or possessions are located.
• Gave you a final bill that was a lot higher than what you were quoted at the time of your possessions being packed and loaded.
• Misrepresented or failed to provide some service that was included in the moving contract you signed.

Individuals or families who have experienced any of these issues with a moving company should take action. When movers are allowed to get away with such behavior, it hurts you and any future customers who may go to that mover for assistance.

Peaceful Resolution

The best way to resolve any issue is through dialogue. Most moving companies are very reasonable and would be willing to help you sort through an issue.

If you booked the movers through iMoving.com or a similar service, you should contact that service provider first for assistance. But if you hired them independently, call the moving company directly and explain your issue.

It is always best to speak in a calm way. Even if you are angry or upset, being aggressive over the phone will not get you anywhere. Calmly explained what happened, why you are upset and how you feel the moving company can make the situation right.

Most professional movers will happily assist you in finding a resolution. They do not want an angry customer. But there will be a few movers who dismiss your claims or act as if it is not a big deal. In such a situation, you may have to escalate the matter to get justice.

Writing a Review

Companies depend more on reviews than ever before. It is so easy to find information about how companies operate, with sites such as Yelp and Yellow Pages providing customer reviews and ratings for businesses.

You can even leave a review directly on Google, as most people use a search engine to find nearby movers. Explain what happened without rambling and leave a star rating that you feel is indicative of your overall experience.

There are many instances where a company will start taking a customer’s complaints seriously after they leave an online review. Do not be surprised if you get an email or a response to your review, with the company asking you to get in touch.

But there are bad apples in every industry. Some movers may respond with a dismissive statement, attempting to discredit what you said. If you experience such a response, there are a few agencies where you can file a complaint.

Filing with the FMCSA

If you found out your mover was unlicensed, overcharged you over 110% of a non-binding estimate, damaged or stolen items, or engaged in some inappropriate behavior, you can take your case to the FMCSA.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, makes it very easy to file a complaint. You can do it online by providing relevant information about yourself and the transaction with the mover.

Two things can happen after you complain to the FMCSA. One is that your complaint is logged in the public record against that company. It shows up when other customers or businesses search for that company.

It is also possible the FMCSA will start an investigation and take action against the company. In such a situation, they may contact you to get more information.

Submit a Complaint to the American Moving & Storage Association

The American Moving & Storage Association offers a “Request for Arbitration” form that you can use to file a complaint against a moving company. They handle cases of overcharging and items that were damaged or stolen.

But the arbitration process does cost money, which is often taken out of any damages that you may receive from the moving company.

Complain to the Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau is still a very powerful agency when it comes to accrediting businesses. They have an online complaint section that you can use to file a complaint against a mover.

It is useful to use the BBB complaint process if the mover you hired is accredited. If they are not, the BBB cannot do much for you.

But if the business is accredited, file a complaint and the BBB will forward it to the mover. They have two weeks to respond. When the two weeks are up, you will be told of the company’s response.

Based on what they say, the BBB will take additional steps to resolve the matter. Most cases are resolved within 30 days. It is possible the mover will offer you compensation, as they do not want their accreditation taken away or their BBB rating lowered.

Taking the Case to Small Claims Court

We hope that you have not come as far without a resolution. But it is possible. If all else fails and you believe the matter is serious enough, you can go to small claims court.

Hire an attorney, explain the situation, and you can take the case to court. It is especially relevant for significant overcharging or cases where expensive items were damaged or stolen.

In the future, it is best to use a service such as iMoving.com to hire verified and reputable movers. It greatly reduces the possibility of you experiencing serious issues during the moving process.

Even the best movers can make mistakes. But movers with a good reputation are the ones that take steps to make up for mishaps. When you hire a reputable mover through iMoving.com, you will know that any issue you experience will be handled swiftly and with the respect you deserve.

The Simple Solution on How To Choose The Right Movers

Moving...just the thought of it can give you a headache, but, remember when the idea of starting over again, somewhere else, somewhere new offered you a sense of excitement? Let’s get back to feeling like that!

Keep these 5 items in mind when you’re looking for the right team for your move. You might be able to find that (calmer) sense of adventure once you’ve found the right candidate. 

1. Look for the professionalism you can trust.

Ethics, respect, confidentiality, and a positive attitude should be non-negotiable elements when it comes to individuals and businesses that consider themselves to be moving professionals.

2. From pricing to reviews and ratings, transparency matters.

Look for teams and individuals who are transparent in all aspects of their business. Nothing should be masked.

3. Respect for others directly translates to how belongings will be handled.

This is a no-brainer, but an easy one to forget. 

4. Expect a thorough walk-through.

A moving estimator who skirts through a home tour may not quite understand the scope of the job. Someone who takes their job seriously will ask a number of questions to make sure they understand the inventory that will be making its way across the country or across town borders. 

5. Don’t forget to do your homework, too.

Often, movers estimate the total cost of the move by how much weight will be moved by truck. If you’re thinking about donating certain heavy bookcases or beds, give it away, donate it, sell it, or offer it to the new owners of your space before you tell the movers it is part of your inventory.