It’s difficult enough to have to pack all your life to move into a new home, but when you have to do that and still, do it fast, you better have an easy and practical method to support you, otherwise the memories you will hold for years to come will be bitter and frustrating, turning what should have been a joyous occasion into a living nightmare!

Luckily, that easy and practical method is reachable; there are many ways to make any fast move go smoothly and enjoyably, and it has all to do with organization.  Follow these tips and find the bright side of moving.

1.    Prepare a list.  Write down everything, no matter how insignificant it seems.  Create a simple record keeping system to pack boxes, be it numbers, colors, or anything else.  Get a notebook and write down in detail everything that goes in each labeled box, when it is ready, put it down on your designated “To Go Central”, meaning, everything that is there is ready to go.  You should also have a packing area, where you have everything from scissors to labels, tape and markers.

2.    Have enough supplies. Get enough boxes, better safe than sorry.  Save around ten boxes for last minute packing, things like bedding, clothing, and cleaning supplies.  Use strong tape and unprinted newspaper or bubble wrap to protect your belongings.  You will need more than you think of everything, so get a lot of supplies and return what’s left at the end.

3.    Use wardrobe boxes. They are great for things like pillows, comforters, blankets, and clothes.  Calculate how many boxes you will need and ask the Seattle moving company to bring enough so that you don’t have to over stuff each.

4.    Use wardrobe boxes strategically. The movers can move some of your things ahead of time, thus, pack a little ahead of time and as early as possible.  Also, take advantage of the size of the boxes and fill them in a way that is easy to unpack and to keep everything organized inside: shopping bags filled with several closet items at the bottom, then hanging clothes, and finally some purses or sweaters.

5.    Coordinate colors. Choose a color for each room in your new home, put a color sticker on each box, near the number, and put a matching sticker on the door of every room.  In this way, the movers will know where everything goes.

6.    Keep together things that belong together. Tape small parts to the items these belong to, or put them inside an envelope.  Picture hooks with pictures and shelf brackets with bookcases.  Designate a “parts box” and put any cables, pieces, parts or nails that appear here and there inside, so that you can easily find everything on moving day.

7.    Pack ahead. Anything you can pack ahead of time will free you to take care of important stuff on moving day.  Leave only the indispensable and pack everything else.

8.    Organize cleaning supplies. Clean you old place ahead of time, but have a cleaning kit ready for action on moving day.

9.    Use luggage to pack. Fill them with clothes, sheets, towels and papers.

10.    Keep an eye on valuables. As much as possible, everything valuable must remain with you.  Review the movers’ insurance to see how you are covered in case you lose something.

11.    Guard important papers. This means birth certificates, school records, mover estimates, job contracts, utility company numbers, bank records, bills, phone lists, closing papers, realtor information, maps and installation manuals.  Always keep them with you.

12.    Get a box for each person. Each family member should get a special box.  It should contain items that will be needed immediately after the move.

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When the time comes to move to a new home, office, or just move a special piece of furniture, most people spend a lot of time searching for a mover they can trust with the job.  Contrary to what you may think, finding the right moving company is not as easy as it seems once you consider that your furniture is among the most precious possessions you have, even more so if these are antique pieces or were inherited from generations back.  Thus, it is crucial that you find a moving company that can get the job done, and done right.

Once you start your search, ask yourself how valuable your furniture is.  The answer will tell you how much you should be willing to pay the moving company, as very valuable pieces will require more experienced and expensive movers.  You may even want to consider hiring a company specialized in handling expensive art collections or antique furniture if you own a considerable amount of these.  In the same way, if your furniture is nice, but not especially valuable, you will be OK by hiring an established moving company, one that will give you a good price and quality service, but not specialized service like the one required for valuable furniture.

Specialty movers make sure your pieces are handled individually and take extreme measures to ensure nothing happens to your furniture.  For example, they will build special padded wood crates to pack your furniture or art pieces.  Specialty movers are extremely skilled and know the best techniques to handle very valuable items.

There are all sorts of moving companies that are experienced in moving all kinds of pieces.  Take a piano, for example.  Not just anyone can move such a heavy and unmanageable object without damaging one or more of its delicate internal parts.  You better believe it; you will want your piano to be in the best hands if you want it to delight you with its glorious sounds for years to come.

You must search for a mover in Seattle that suits you and your belongings.  One you can be open with about your wishes and needs, and that understands the value of your pieces, be it monetary or sentimental.  In any case, always look for reputable companies with impeccable references if you want the job well done and off your shoulders.

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If moving home comes with its stresses and difficulties, you can be certain that moving to a new office comes with troubles of its own. If your job is to manage the transfer and make sure your employees keep their sanity during it, take note of these important tips for helping your office move run as smoothly as possible.

1. Make a floor plan
Know the layout of your new office residence well and make a floor plan of where things will be located in advance. Have measurements taken and be sure your office items fit well into them. Copy your plan, labeling items such as desks, cabinets, stations, etc, and distribute them to staff, movers and other helpers ahead of time. The less confusion there is, the less time wasted.

2. Guide for employees
Take the time to create a moving guide for employees. Note procedures they should adhere to before the move, e.g, how to label their belongings or what to pack, and procedures to be followed after its completion. Keeping staff well informed about their role in the move will help them co-operate with the process.

3. Use color-coding
Buy colored stickers and create a code for what they signify, e.g red could mean the placement of desks or cabinets. Notify your movers of this code and arrange stickers on your new office floor before the move. This ensures your office rooms are arranged as you want and helps movers too, especially if you have a corresponding floor plan.

4. How to pack most office items
Follow these general rules: Pack small items such as books and stationary into boxes. Don’t empty filing cabinets; just secure them by locking or fastening them with string or tape so they won’t open accidentally while being moved. Take all personal or important belongings with you, e.g, pictures, plants and legal papers, and move them to the new office yourself. Empty desks completely and pack contents into boxes. Finally, lock all security files and make prior arrangements with your moving company if they require escorts.

5. How to pack office machinery
Prevent electrical machinery from being damaged during the move. Follow these rules: Remove all fluids from photocopying machines. Remove all items from vending machines. Empty water from water dispensers. Notify rental companies if you are moving any of their rented equipment.

6. Get ready for extra garbage
Don’t waste time and money moving items that are unwanted.  Arrange to have an industrial-sized dumpster placed in front of your building (permission from your city may be needed) and have employees throw away anything they no longer need.

7. Hire a reliable moving firm
If you’re looking for respectable movers in Seattle, WA make sure you hire a company that has years of experience and is equipped to deal with moving office equipment such as monitors, photocopiers and other office items. Choose a company that will give you peace of mind!

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Moving is no easy business, or so you have heard or even experienced, however, there are several tips you can follow to make it smooth and even enjoyable, one more quality time activity to share with your family and friends.

Some of these tips may seem obvious, but this is the main reason why they are normally overlooked, causing unnecessary stress and trouble among the family members involved in the process.

These tips will work for you before and right after you have moved, so make sure you take advantage of them and include them in your checklist for constant reminding.

-    Take notes.  Write everything down, like your shipment registration number to have it available to call your moving company with any questions about your stuff.

-    Make the bed.  Remember that you will be tired on the first night in your new home, so pack separately the sheets and towels for your bed so that you do not have to look all over the place and in every single box for them.

-    Remember the refrigerator.  After it has been cleaned up, put some fresh coffee, baking soda or charcoal inside a sock and put it inside the refrigerator to keep it smelling fresh.

-    Keep your old phone book.  You may need to contact someone from your former neighborhood or a business close to it.

-    Heavy packing vs. light packing.  Heavy things go in small boxes and the light stuff goes in large boxes.

-    Give out your contact information.  Make sure the movers have your cell phone number as well as any other number they may need, in case they are not able to contact you directly.

-    Care for your memories.  As much as possible, personally take care of your valuable items, but if it is necessary to pack them, make sure you cover them extensively to protect them.

-    Learn to pack plates and records.  These must be packed on end vertically, not flat and stacked.

-    List your main necessities.  You will need toilet paper, telephone, toiletries, snacks, coffee with pot, soap, tooth brush, comb, flashlight, screwdriver, pliers, can opener, paper plates, cups, utensils, pans and paper towels, among others.  Pack these all together in a box and have it handy once you have moved.

-    Unscrew all the bulbs before packing your lamps.

-    Tag every item.  During a garage sale, be ready to wheel and deal, people love to bargain, so make sure everything is tagged.

-    Give kids something to do.  Keep them busy writing their names and new address on their boxes, in this way, they will learn their new address and will easily identify what belongs to them during moving day in the new house.

-    Protect your pet.  Keep pets away from the hassle, ask a friend to look after your best friend for a while during the move.

-    Be nice to plants.  Be careful when moving them as they are very sensitive to heat and harsh movements.

-    Give your computer a break.  Let it get used to the new room temperature before plugging it in. Crazy? Not really, temperature variations do affect its performance.

-    Enjoy the help.  Let the professional mover in Seattle do his job while you sit back, rest, and enjoy your new home.

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If moving is a stressful activity for you, you must know that it can be the same or even worse for your cat.

Cats are extremely suspicious creatures when it comes to change within their space.  Even small changes within a room can make them nervous; thus, imagine what a complete change of house can do to them.

Luckily, there are some tips you can follow to ease your friend’s reaction to a major house move and make it less stressful for you too, if putting him in a good pet nursery for a few days is not an option.

1.    About a month before you move, leave the carrier in which you will be transporting your friend close to his surroundings, so that the cat gets used to its sight and smell.

2.    On moving day, put the cat in a completely closed room to keep him away from the hectic activity and to be able to find him easily when you’re ready to leave.  Do not forget to provide a litter tray, water and food for him, and to put a note on the door reminding everyone that the door must remain shut at all times.

3.    When you are ready to go, put the cat inside the carrier with a familiar blanket and secure him in the car with a seat belt.

4.    If the trip is long, offer him water and a litter box.  If you stop at some point, leave a window open and park the car in the shade, as high temperatures inside the car may be fatal.

5.    Once you arrive to your new home, leave the cat inside the carrier until a room is ready to accommodate him along with his tray, water and food.  Do not leave any doors or windows open, and make his environment feel as safe as possible.

6.    As soon as the Seattle movers are done and all exterior doors are closed, let the cat out of the room and allow him to explore the new environment; you can start with two rooms to take it slow.

7.    Cats rub their heads and bodies on furniture, walls, doors, and everything else to leave their scent on them, as it gives them a sense of security.  So, to help them settle in, grab a soft cloth and rub it gently around their face to pick up their scent, then, pass the cloth around the places the cats will be exploring, this will make them feel confident in their new space.  Do this daily for about a week.

8.    Feed the cat with small frequent meals at first to have more contact with him and to reassure him that everything is fine.

9.    Do not let the cat out of the house during the first two or three weeks to give him time to learn his new space and get used to the smells.  When you finally let him out, make sure he is hungry so that he doesn’t go too far.  Ensure also that it is a quiet time and go with him.  Let him go a little further every day, but never alone, and always wearing a clear ID.

With some patience and perseverance, you and your cat will soon feel right at home in your new place, ready to enjoy it fully and happily.

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Every good business knows that time equals money. An upcoming office move may have you worrying about the productivity of your company, team or the completion of your own personal duties as the moving process disrupts normal functioning. While you might not be able to avoid this disruption, you can still ensure you function as best as possible. Follow these eight tips for staying productive during your office move.

1. Be flexible about your moving time if you can
Are you able to move a week before or after everyone else? If this is possible, you can avoid the larger confusions of the main move.

2. Move over a weekend
The best time to plan a move is on a Friday night. If you are the employer, give your workers the opportunity to come in on the weekend to unpack and prepare for the working week ahead.

3. Label your office belongings well
Office items should be clearly marked with bold and legible labels so if they do get misplaced during the move, they can be easily returned. You and your team should also write clear lists of everything that has been packed and in which boxes they have been placed. If boxes go missing, you’ll know exactly what office items you’ll be lacking until they are found.

4. Take home a box of essentials
Pack your own box of important work essentials and ask employees to do the same too, e.g, current files you are working on, contact books, documents you will need to access shortly. Take this box home with you and bring it back after the move so you can continue working without having to carry out major unpacking straight away. This also ensures the items you rely on don’t get mislaid.

5. Work from alternative locations
If possible, work from home, the library or another suitable location on the day of the move. Save work that can be carried out from these locations especially for your moving day.

6. Be prepared for further disruption
Often, a company may have problems re-establishing its computer network or phone system after a move. Anticipate this and plan to carry out work that does not require either of these facilities. If you manage a team, have your employees identify tasks or work they can carry out if such a problem occurs.

7. Communicate with clients
Keep clients informed about your move. Notify them about new contact details, provide ones that can be used during the move and let them know when the move is finally completed. This lets them anticipate slower response times and shows your concern for their business.

8. Hire a good moving firm
Are you looking for Seattle moving companies? Hire a professional firm that has experience in dealing with office moves. Employing professionals for your move ensures your move goes as smoothly as possible so business can resume as normal as soon as possible.

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Getting ready for that big move?  Rallying all the friends and neighbors to help?  Although this may give you a great reason for a big party, there IS a downside to having non-professionals handle this critical job for you.

First of all, your friends are not trained in handling large pieces of furniture delicately.   They could, without meaning to, scratch your prize antique dining table or drop the box marked delicate on your daughter’s toes during the big event.

Movers in Seattle will wrap your prize furniture in blankets before loading it onto their large trucks – meaning it will arrive at your new location intact and scratch free.  Your fragile items will be packed in bubble wrap – and not dropped.

Friends also may drag items across hardwood flooring – because they just don’t know any better and want to be done with things and get on with drinking beer!   Seattle Movers will make sure that your flooring is kept pristine, and will move items in such a way that nothing gets damaged.

Another reason not to count on friends is – let’s face it – moving is just not going to be top on their list of what they want to do with their weekend.  You can count on at least two or three people suddenly getting the flu, or remembering a wedding they have to attend, or … the list goes on.

If you plan on renting a truck, you and most of your friends are probably not USED to driving a large truck.  This means the risk of an accident is higher than normal, and YOU are liable unless you purchase expensive insurance.  It is true that many insurance policies will cover you as a driver of another vehicle, but do you really want your premiums to go up if anything happens?

Last but not least, moving IS stressful.  Leaving all the details to the pros means that you can continue your life as usual with minimal disruption to your routine.   Stress is at a minimum, and you can rest assured that everything is being handled professionally.

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Moving from one office to another can be a very stressful and time consuming process.  There are many things to consider before going through an office move of your own.  How much time will this move take?  How much is it going to cost me?  How am I going to do business in between moves?  These are all legitimate concerns when confronting the possibility of moving your business, and should all be carefully considered.

An office move can be particularly stressful because of the following reasons.  You may have a lot of merchandise at your store, which means you’re going to have to take a very detailed inventory.  You will need an inventory of all your office supplies, furniture, and any other company resources.  This can be a torturous, and very slow moving affair, so be prepared for this.  You may also have certain things in your office that require specific care, or might seem impossible to move.  Some of these things may be expensive machines like X-Ray machines that need professional assistance to move because of the possible radiation leakage.  Moving offices can be a complicated process if you are not prepared.

One of the biggest challenges to moving into a new office is time.  The first thing you better do is to take a closer look at your finances and see if moving is even an affordable option.  The time alone that it is going to take to do a proper inventory, find a new business residence, box everything up, and everything else to prepare for the move, could make you lose thousands in business and productivity.  Make sure that it is cost effective.  You may be moving into a new factory that can double your output, but you don’t want to bankrupt your company doing it.  Do your research first, and then you will be prepared.

There are also other options to consider when deciding to move your business to a new location.  Will it be logistically possible?  If your business is in New York and you’re moving it to Seattle, that might be a complicated and costly process.  You will need to decide whether you are going to hire a moving company from New York or a Seattle moving company instead.  Which one is cheaper, which one is better?  You will also have to consider what your employees’ reactions might be to this move.  They are an important part of the decision as well.  As long as you consider all steps carefully, your office to office transition will be as painless, and effortless as possible.

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