Month: May 2020

Tips for Moving in the Spring

Posted on by Dorothy

With the arrival of the spring, you might feel energized to act upon what was delayed during cold winter times. Spring is the right time to make a new decision happen. Weather is brighter, nature is waking up, and you are ready to make a new life for yourself. There are various advantages to moving in the spring. Rent prices are lower, there is more availability of moving companies, and the weather is mild. Moving is surely a bold step, and not rarely it is stressful enough to go through the process. Prepare ahead of time and execute everything as smooth as possible. 

Before you proceed to the moving itself, most likely you will go through the research on where your new home will be, which house you will choose, etc. This will depend widely on the lifestyle you are looking for. Luckily enough, many tips can help you find your new residence. Many people share bits of advice online on how to find a perfect home. You will easily find many allies here-by doing research on Google, joining groups on Facebook related to a new hometown, searching for local tourism sites and blogs, or you can view government city websites and blogs.

There are a few aspects to consider when preparing for your moving journey. Follow some of the tips below to help you get the best out of your spring move:

Book in advance

Booking in Advance Movers for Your Spring Moving
 

When you are finally ready for a new chapter, an important step will be finding the right moving company. You want your possessions to be transported safely, in a timely and professional manner. Booking early means that you will be able to choose exactly what you are looking for rather than choosing from what is left available at the given time. Earlier in the spring is a good time for moving. The closer to the summer, the busier the moving companies get. Early booking will also help you be gentle on your budget, as many moving companies have massive discounts for booking ahead of time. You can get a free price quote to help you plan your budget and minimize the cost of moving.

The right time for your spring moving

Picking the Right Time for Spring Moving
 

If you are moving with kids, probably you are worried about extra scheduling that you will have to deal with. You want the move to be convenient, but you also want what is best for your kids. You want to avoid them having any turbulence during their school year. Make it easier by organizing your move during the spring break. This will help you avoid a headache in the middle of a busy week between school classes and moving. 

Spring cleaning

Cleaning before Moving in the Spring
 

Once you have the big move planned, you are ready for your next step – spring cleaning. This will refresh your entire home, and save the time later when it comes to packing. Start by cleaning only one area at a time. You might want to start with a room that has the most unused items. Who doesn’t enjoy getting rid of the clutter? Make categories by taking different boxes and marking them with “pack”, “trash”, or “pass”. The “pass” category should be the one with things you are sure you will no longer use but are in good condition to be thrown away. If you are into charity, you can donate those items. Go for quick research online to get more tips and ideas on how to make spring cleaning more entertaining and efficient.

Yard sale before moving in the spring

Now that your spring cleaning is done, you have those items that are marked as “pass”. Good enough that one man’s don’t-know-what-to-do with-item is another man’s treasure. Nowadays vintage and second-hand shops are as popular as ever because people enjoy the excitement of browsing through the randomness of this kind of sale. If you live in a neighborhood where you are familiar with most of the residents, you can even send some fun invitations. Let your friends know in advance about the pre-move garage sale. Check the forecast, choose one of the sunny spring days, put on some music, and get your possessions out in the yard. Go ahead and make some refreshments for your customers and make it all a fun experience for everyone. What’s better than shopping with music, good prices, and pink lemonade in your hand?  

Packing

Packing for Spring Moving
 

At this time you should have only be left with the stuff that you need and will use in your future home. It might get overwhelming to pack a whole house and easily get confused with mixed boxes. So before you start, make a strategy and supply yourself with necessary items such as a sufficient amount of boxes and duct tape. If you care about the environment, you can even rent recycled boxes. Proceed with packing strategically, one room at the time. This will make it easier to organize the boxes, as well as to save a whole lot of time once you reach your new destination. 

Weather 

It might easily happen that the date of your move is the sunniest day of them all. However, as the spring is unpredictable, the rain might begin moments after the sunshine. Let this not come as a surprise to you and have your rain gear handy. Include a raincoat or an umbrella in the bag with things necessary for a trip. Wearing layers is also a smart move, as the temperature can drop or increase several times during one day. A shirt and a jacket are always an easy option, as you can wear a jacket around your waist in case you don’t need it. 

Any season has its pros and cons when it comes to moving. There is definitely more than one benefit to moving in the springtime. 

Dorothy & Martha moving company is here to be your perfect ally in your relocation. Wheatear you are moving near or long distance, our company got you covered. Get a free price quote ahead of time and get ready for your big move. Happy spring coming!

How to Pack Electronics for Moving

Posted on by Dorothy

With the advancement of technology, electronics have become an inevitable part of our lives. Whether we enjoy ourselves playing video games on the latest console, or we work from home on our laptop, PC, or tablet, we cannot live without electronics. Not to mention flat-screen TVs without which our favorite series would never be the same. It is important to learn how to pack electronics properly before you move. These items are indeed useful, but they can be quite expensive as well. So, packing them correctly is your number one priority, and we will help you with this endeavor, do not worry.

Get the right packing equipment

Packing Supplies for Electronics

Having the right packing equipment is half the job already. Go into the nearest DIY store or improvement store to get the high-quality packing material for your electronic devices. Here is what you will need:

– Moving boxes

Only in case you do not have the original boxes in which your devices came in, get high-quality moving boxes. Make sure to measure the items first and get moving boxes that are just slightly larger than the dimensions of the items.

– Anti-static bubble wrap

This type of bubble wrap will prevent damage to your electronic devices, so you want to buy a whole roll of it.

– Packing paper

Packing paper is vital here, as we do not recommend using old newspapers in this situation. Newspaper print can leave marks on your devices and also cause unnecessary scratches. So, it is better to stick to the packing paper.

– Moving blankets

If you cannot find a moving box that would fit some of your items, you can use moving blankets. Regular blankets will help, too.

– Permanent markers

Labeling the boxes that contain electronic devices is simply a must.

Before you start packing electronics for moving

There are a few things that you need to do before you start packing your beloved electronics.

– Back up all the important documents

In case of any accidents it is possible that you can lose every important document that you have on your laptop or tablet, or even a PC. So, before moving your items, do a backup, and save all the important things on an external hard disk or a cloud. In this way, even if something does happen to your items, the damage will be considerably smaller if you still have your files.

– Change your passwords

Whether you are doing a DIY move or hiring a moving company to relocate your items, consider changing your passwords. Just to be safe, you should have a password on your electronic devices that is really hard to guess.

– Take photos

You will have to disconnect everything before the move, so you want to take photos of your devices. This is particularly good as evidence in case some of the items get damaged. However, your primary concern is to have the photos of which cable goes where, which will make it easier for you to unpack.

– Disconnect all cords and cables and keep them together

Take a sealable plastic bag and remove all the cords and cables from your electronic devices. Take a separate bag for each electronic device. Saving all items in this way will help you unpack electronics with ease. Plus, it would not be great if you lost remote control or your mouse, and if you have to buy them again.

Protect the devices before packing them in a moving box

Packing Electronics in Bubble Wrap

Take each electronic device that you have and roll it up in a packing paper or plastic stretch wrap. Apply the bubble wrap after the packing paper. It is not recommended that you apply the bubble wrap directly on the screen of your computer for example, so always have a protective material go first. Bubble wrap will help you tremendously to protect electronics, just not when applied directly. Also, you can use moving blankets to cover your items, especially if you are not placing them inside the moving boxes (If you were not able to find the moving boxes of the right dimensions, for example).

Place the items inside the moving boxes and tape the boxes

This part is somewhat tricky. Place the protected items inside the moving boxes carefully. We highly recommend that you always call somebody to help you, be it your friends, or Brooklyn movers. The important thing is that you do not accidentally drop your items, or damage them when placing them in a moving box. Tape the moving boxes on the bottom and on the top to ensure that they will not open during the relocation.

Label the moving boxes and the plastic bags

Lalbe Electronics Fragile

In other words, label everything. As soon as you pack a moving box with a certain item, write what is in it immediately. Otherwise, you will forget, and you will have to open the box once again. Put a big “fragile” label on at least 3 sides of the moving boxes. Furthermore, put a label for “This side up” and “This side down”. Label the plastic bags so that you know which pieces belong to which electronic device. Make your life easier by labeling the moving boxes before the move.

Place your items safely inside the moving truck

This is also a vital part of the packing process. Place all the boxes upright and do not lay them down. If possible, put them between soft items such as mattresses and rugs. Also, make sure that no other item can fall on your electronic devices.

Hire professionals to pack electronics for you

Two Young Male Movers
 

Remember, you can always hire professional moving companies Brooklyn to assist you with packing your electronics for moving. If you do not have the time or your electronic devices are just too expensive, hire the pros. They have the right skills and know how to prepare the items for relocation. Plus, you will always have moving insurance. What matters most is that you do not stress about the relocation too much, your health should be your primary concern. Good luck!

Eco-friendly Moving Tips

Posted on by Dorothy

Awareness of the carbon footprint that we are leaving behind is making us conscious about our surroundings. This is especially true on the moving day that requires driving and leaves us with many disposable things. Are you searching for a way to lessen the waste during your move? Do you want your repositioning to go as smoothly as possible, but you want to stay green while doing so? Take your environmental game one step further by following these eco-friendly moving tips:

1. Hire an NYC moving company that has a larger vehicle

Two White Moving Trucks

Car fuel is making one of the biggest impacts on the planet. Ask your movers if they have a large vehicle that can fit all of your possessions. Rather than making several trips to and from your new address, transport everything at once instead. By doing so, it will greatly reduce the amount of gas used, which we all know is affecting the atmosphere.

2. Reusable moving boxes lessen the waste

The good news about these boxes is that they are made of recycled plastic. The better news is that you can rent them. How amazing it is to transport your items, and not have a huge amount of waste afterward? You can use them for as long as you need, and conveniently stack and take them back. Not only you will avoid a lot of waste, but they are also easy to use. Additionally, plastic is sturdy enough to carry any heavy item.

3. Boxes from the store save the day

Eco-friendly Moving Boxes

Liquor store, book store, grocery store, basically any store near you will use cardboard boxes when getting delivery of their goods. Go ahead and reuse them, just ask one of the local stores in advance to keep them for you on the loading day. There are also some websites like Craigslist or Freecycle where you can find free boxes. Give them another round of use before they head to recycling. Besides being friendly to the surrounding, it will leave some extra money in your pocket. It will be one less expense on the list of often-overlooked costs when moving.

4. Wrap with home items that you already have

T-shirts and other clothes can be handy or old newspapers and kitchen cloths. Tuck those in-between items placed in the moving box. For any fragile items that require bubble wrap, take a look at the next tip.

5. Biodegradable wrapping materials

Packing Supplies

Some items are too valuable to you or fragile so that they need to be handled carefully and wrapped properly. However, it still doesn’t mean you need to use a ton of plastic bubble wrap. Luckily, there is an eco-friendly bubble wrap made of recycled materials, which will do the job while not harming the environment.

6. Everything becomes a moving box

Every item counts when it comes to eco-friendly moving. If you are packing a pot, fill it up with a non-breakable kitchen item, or if you are packing a bathroom bin, pack it up with cosmetics. Put all of your suitcases to use by squeezing as many clothes as you can inside, as well as your weekend bags, duffle bags; everything can be used as a container to transport things.

7. Skip the heavy plastic covers

Be gentle to the surrounding by avoiding heavy plastic covers. Certainly, there are plenty of things in your home that can be put to use. Think of all the blankets, sheets, any bed covers that you have. If an item requires a plastic cover, opt for something that you can reuse-like a painting cover that you can use for a picnic later on.

8. Avoid plastic cutlery − go for a camping one instead

When your kitchen is already packed, the last thing you want is to dig through the boxes searching for a kitchen item. Moving finds you too busy to prepare meals anyways. During these days, food delivery is often a lifesaver. If you want to reach for disposable plastic forks, avoid those and get yourself a camping-like kit that you can use over and over again. Perhaps a picnic after a successful move will be a perfect occasion to use your new cutlery.  

9. Have you heard about green moving companies?

Why not get a partner while moving and saving the environment? Many moving companies care about the environment. From using cleaner biodiesel fuel to offering trucks compartmentalized with other movers, a professional that has an eco-friendly approach should definitely be your first choice.  

10. Spring cleaning − declutter time

Eco-Friendly Moving Recycling Center

It is always a great idea to do a spring cleaning before your moving day. Get rid of all the unnecessary items before reaching your new home. Be a good sport and donate to charity some of the things you never use. Or get a few extra dollars by making a yard sale. For sure there will be plenty of things ready for the garbage. Go eco-friendly and research online for local recycling services. Not only this step will leave you with only the things you really need and like, but it will help pack easier. By packing lighter, you will need fewer boxes, which directly implies less waste afterward. Having a smaller total weight of your belongings might also affect the cost of the moving company’s services.

You don’t necessarily need to apply all of the above eco-friendly moving tips, just go for as many as you can at the moment. Start getting green by starting small. The important thing to keep in mind is that everything counts, no matter how small or insignificant it might seem. While searching for your eco-friendly tools, get an estimated price quote from NYC moving company.

6 Reasons to Use Climate-controlled Storage

Posted on by Dorothy

After you found the right moving company and made a home inventory, you found yourself with some extra items. You decided to give some of them away, few can be sold, and some will end up being discarded. How about those ones that are not fit for the current situation, but are still in good condition and you will want to use them in the future? Climate-controlled storage might be the right solution.

If you have too many possessions for your current place of stay, probably you have already looked into some of the storage units for rent. If you want to store your belongings for a longer period, make sure not to overlook the fact that some of them might be sensitive to humidity, heat, or pests. While you want to get extra space by putting away things that are valuable to you, you also want to have a peace of mind and be confident it won’t get damaged.

Two questions to ask when renting climate-controlled storage:

Do I need it?

Before you go for this type of storage, take a look at your items to decide if those can be affected by storage conditions. For sure if you have only several things that are not so important to you, regular storage will do just fine. While traditional storage will work for some items, others can be susceptible to damage.

Climate Controlled Storage Units Dorothy & Martha Moving NYC

Items that could benefit from climate-controlled storage:

  • Important documents
  • Antiques
  • Artwork
  • Family heirlooms
  • Electronics
  • Cosmetics
  • Leather good
  • Metal appliances
  • Music instruments

How much does it cost?

The price will vary depending on your state, location, current demand, etc.
Typically controlled units are anywhere from 25% to 50% higher in price compared to traditional ones. Depending on the length of the time you plan on using it, as well as the value that items have to you, you can calculate if that extra money is worth spending. The best way to calculate the difference is to contact a few local storage providers and figure out how much extra money you will need. Sometimes spending more at the moment will pay off in the long term.

Here are a few advantages to the climate-controlled storage:

1. The temperature at the optimum level

If you are planning to store your items for an extended period, most likely the weather changes will happen a few times. Do you live in the area known for its extreme temperature, whether low or high? It will most likely be the case in the storage as well since isolation is not the priority for the traditional type of units. On the other hand, climate-controlled storage will keep the temperature at the optimum level for the best care of your goods. This fact especially comes handy if you are storing things that can be affected by extreme temperatures. Think about electronic equipment being exposed to freezing temperatures or cosmetics being exposed to extreme heat. Indoor placed storages with their controlled temperature are without a doubt a much better solution.

2. Circulating air

Climate-controlled Storage Brooklyn

In most storage spaces air does not circulate in or out. Most probably the airflow will happen only once when you store your things and once when you take them away. Poor quality of air can also tamper the condition of your valuables over time. Climate controlled storage is ventilated so that the air is constantly circulating. Documents or electronics are the items that will benefit from the fresh air flow the most.

3. Security benefits of climate-controlled storage

Climate Controlled Storage Units Brooklyn

Climate controlled storages use mechanical means for keeping the temperature and fresh air. They also require special materials to be made of and sealed properly. To make perfect conditions indoors is expensive, which leads to security being at a higher level. Minimizing the risk of theft is a great advantage when renting any type of space. You will benefit the most from this fact if you are storing valuable items, such as artwork or important family heirlooms. It is also way more convenient to walk in the secured area than to the regular one when you want to pick up your staff.

4. Pest protection

Have you ever found an amazing piece of vintage furniture only to find it was damaged by pests? Let this not happen to any of your things by placing them safely in the climate-controlled storage. Traditional units are not sealed, therefore pests, rodents, insects can crawl into them. On the other hand, controlled units are placed indoors which solves the pest issue.

5. Less dust and debris created

Walls and floors of controlled storages are sealed and the unit is secluded for optimum conditions. It also means that less dust and debris will be created, therefore less potential damage for your possessions. Besides being better for your goods, it will save time later when you decide to pick things up and have to clean them.

6. Less stress

A combination of security, circulating air and regulated temperature makes it a safe option to store more or less valuable items. By utilizing this type of storage, you can be at peace and not stress about the condition or safety of your belongings.

Whichever type of storage you choose to rent, take a bit of time to research what will fit your requirements the most – fine art storage NYC, piano storage, etc.

While you are searching for the storage to keep things not necessary at the moment, Brooklyn movers will take care of transporting all the other ones you decided to take on your new journey.

Packing and Moving Tips for Seniors

Posted on by Dorothy

As we get older our needs change, and we adapt to them by relocating to a home that will fit our needs better. After retirement, or after the kids move out and start living their lives separately, seniors usually decide to downsize. Moving to a smaller house or an apartment is ideal, as you will not have to spend as much time cleaning and maintaining your two-story house and a large backyard. That is why we have prepared a lot of packing and moving tips for seniors that we know you will enjoy. Plus, we can recommend the excellent Brooklyn movers to make your move stress free.

Seniors Packing or Unpacking Moving Boxes

Professional Moving Tips for Seniors

1. Start on time

Whether you are downsizing or upsizing, the truth is that moving takes a lot of time. According to the statistics, for a local move, you need to start with the preparations 8-12 weeks in advance. An interstate move, on the other hand, can take up 12-16 weeks of your time. There are a lot of things to be done, and that is why you should start making plans and organizing the move in advance. Make an inventory list where you will write everything that you need to do in the upcoming weeks. After you finish something, just tick it off and enjoy.

Moving Calendar

2. Downsize

When we starting preparing for a move, we tend to see our belongings in a different light. Over the years, a lot of items have accumulated in our house that we never really use. Moving is an excellent opportunity to downsize and take with you only the items that you love and use on a regular basis. Seniors know that life is all about creating new memories and that there is no point in holding onto items just because we used them at some point in our lives. Go through your items carefully, and decide which you can use. You can donate or give away the rest of your items, or even sell them if they are in good condition.

3. Hire a reliable moving company

Packing and moving for seniors is not that easy. An all day of packing does not sound fun, and it can take up a lot of unnecessary time. By hiring a reputable moving company, you will be able to focus on other things as well and rest, or just be with your family. Professionals can pack your items and move them to your new address in a matter of hours.

In order to hire one of the moving companies NYC that you can rely on, it is important to avoid rogue movers. You can ask someone for a recommendation about which moving company to use, as this is the safest way to know that the moving company is not a fraud. If no one you know has recently moved, you can search the Internet and compare at least three moving companies. A review can help you pick the most suitable movers, as well.

4. Avoid moving injuries

As our body gets older, we heal more slowly. This is why seniors should be extra careful when packing items for the move. Do not try to lift heavy items, even though it seems like a five-minute thing to do. Improper lifting techniques can hurt your back and cause you unnecessary troubles. Only handle light-weight items such as clothes, souvenirs, towels, blankets, etc. And, avoid lifting boxes once you fill them up. Moving companies Brooklyn will provide you with every service that you need, including packing and moving your items.

Senior man having back pain

5. Pack an essentials box

An essentials box will serve you in the first 24-48 hours after you move to your new home. Unpacking requires time and effort, and this is precisely why you need to have an essentials box ready. It should contain clothes, an extra pair of shoes, soap, a toothbrush, towel, but also your phone charger, important documents, the key to your new home, etc. Make a list of all the things you might need at the very beginning of your new life and place those items in this box. It will make the move immensely easier and stress-free as you will not have to rummage through the boxes for hours to find a pair of slippers.

6. Use moving insurance

Depending on how many items you are planning to move and how valuable are they, we strongly suggest that you use moving insurance when moving to a new home. There are two types of moving insurance that people generally take, but you can always go ahead and purchase additional moving insurance from the third party.

Released value moving insurance – This type of moving insurance does not cost anything, and in case of any damage to your belongings, you will be compensated by the moving company. Your moving company will usually pay 0.60 cents per pound per item, which is not really high if you have valuable items that do not weigh much.

Full value moving insurance – This is the type of moving insurance that is more suitable if you have valuable items such as a piano. So, you can rest assured that in case of damage you would be reimbursed for the current market value of the item. In the meanwhile, you can use piano storage NYC services and relaxed as your piano will be insured and safe.

7. Choose your new home wisely

This is the most important thing that you need to do before you move away. Whether you are downsizing or moving to be closer to your grandchildren, choose your new home wisely. Your house should not be too big or have a lot of stairs. It should not be in the vicinity of main roads, as you will want to enjoy yourself in peace and quiet. And finally, it should be near the people that you love, your family members or friends.

Packing and moving for seniors does not have to be stressful. If you are worried about your art, art shipping services NYC are the best in the field. Good luck!

 

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