Making the decision to move is only the very first of a long list of decisions waiting for you.  Once your house is sold and you know when and where you are moving, you will need to make plans for the best move for you.  A professional mover in Seattle is as near as your keyboard or telephone, and consulting with them will help you decide just which of the many services they offer are the ones that you can make use of.  To help you get started here is a brief rundown of moving services that are generally offered.

Free Estimates
All moving companies of reputable status will offer free moving estimates.  They will most likely send a consultant to your home to assess your belongings in order to give you an accurate estimate.  Be wary of companies that don’t visit you to do an estimate.  If they just give you a quote over the phone or online, the actual numbers could change and be a lot higher than originally expected.  Using an online quote as a starting point can be helpful but bear in mind that it will be an estimate.  Be sure to get a final quote in writing before committing to a moving service.

Packing and Unpacking
Depending on how much time you have and how busy your lifestyle is, you will need to decide if you will pack and or unpack yourself or have the movers do it for you.  For many folks, packing up their things to move is a very personal thing and not something they want left to strangers.  Likewise with unpacking, they want the adventure and excitement of unpacking all their cherished belongings and carefully choosing where to put them in their new home.  For others, however, the perfect moving scenario is to sell the house, go away on a little trip and come back to a new home all unpacked and ready to live in.  For them, the more the moving company can do the better.  Movers will most often offer as little or as much of a service as you wish.

Boxes and Packing Supplies
If you are doing your own packing, make certain your moving company can supply you with boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape and any other materials you may need.  These items can be purchased separately so you need only buy what you actually need.  Movers can also offer some good packing tips if you ask them, such as the best boxes for particular items and how to pack fragile items.

Oversize Furniture/Specialty Items
Even if you are doing all the packing yourself, you may still need to know if your moving service will move your piano or large pieces.

Storage
If you are moving into a home with big renovation plans, you may want to ask your movers if they offer temporary storage of your items until you are finished with the renovations.  Most Seattle moving companies will offer this for a fairly reasonable extra charge.

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Right after you move, it is important to take the time to make a thorough inventory of your belongings and make sure everything arrived in good condition and that nothing has been lost.

Most probably, movers will ask you to check your valuables as they bring them to your new home.  They will provide an inventory sheet with corresponding numbers and descriptions for the task.  Even though it may be difficult to concentrate with all the work being done around you during the move and with movers bringing several loads together, try to focus and organize the inventory check so that you don’t miss any items.  You could ask a friend to help you double-check every valuable, or divide the duties of checking the list and looking over the items.

Check furniture and appliances very carefully for missing feet, broken knobs, and scratches, and plug in appliances to ensure they are working correctly.   If there is something missing, mark it and tell the movers immediately.  If you see damage, make a note on the inventory list.  Do not sign the sheet until you are certain that everything has been accounted for.  It will greatly simplify things if you locate boxes or discuss damages while the movers are still there.

While you unpack, make notes about what you think is missing or damaged.  You’ve already checked for missing boxes, but not for missing things inside them.  Everyone who is unpacking should have an inventory list for the box they are working on.

Everything should be checked within the next few days after the move; otherwise, damages or losses may not be covered by the movers’ insurance.

As soon as you’re done unpacking and if you have found missing or damaged items, call the movers and ask them to track the items; maybe something was forgotten in the truck and is easy to recover.  If something is not found, call the insurance company to file a claim.  You will have to give detailed information about the item that is missing or has been damaged, and the inventory list you made prior to moving will be crucial.

Even though something could go wrong, normally everything works smoothly if you have taken the precaution of researching locally and hiring quality Movers in Seattle WA to help you handle the move.  Investing a little more could save you lots of headaches and bad experiences later.

A lot of people dread moves, but this is because they don’t take it seriously and fail to plan ahead.  When you know exactly what to expect, how to get organized, and even what could go wrong, nothing can get you off balance, and you will be ready to deal with whatever happens in an effective way.

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If you are thinking about moving to an apartment, you better have a digital camera handy.  It can really simplify your apartment search and move-in processes, by instantly capturing every crucial space and its condition.

Once you really get going, you will visit dozens of apartments, and it will be very hard to remember all of the details for each one of them, unless you have an out-of-this-world memory.  Through the pictures, us mere mortals will have no way of forgetting about the interesting or not so practical details regarding the design, style and colors.  These are research photos that will be very useful when making a final decision.

The pictures will help you move in too, as they will help you buy appliances and furniture that will truly fit and enhance the space.

Once you have chosen the perfect place, and before you call the movers in Seattle to help you, take a walk through the apartment and take photos to record its condition.  This will be very useful once you decide to move out, because you will only get your security deposit back if the apartment is in the exact same state.  Take pictures of problem areas, like stained carpets, so that you have a way to prove that it was not you who damaged it.  Make sure you talk to the landlord about any concern or damages you see before you move in.

When moving to a new apartment it is fundamental that you get rental insurance and be prepared in case of a burglary.  For this, you must take pictures of your belongings and the electronics’ serial numbers, and save the receipts for expensive appliances like TV’s, furniture, computers, china, and stereos, so that you can file an insurance claim with enough proof in hand.

And since they say that thinking ahead is thinking wise, when the time comes to leave the place, do not forget to take pictures of the condition you are leaving the apartment in.  The same as before you moved in, clear the space and take some ‘after’ pictures as a back up, just in case you have trouble when getting your deposit back.

The set of pictures you take must last several years in good condition, at least while you are living at the place, thus, file them in a safe place where you can find them easily, and also store them online as a back up.  And of course, make sure you take good care of your digital camera!

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Not feeling that homey feeling yet because your new place is loaded with boxes and empty walls?  Do not despair!  There is a way to get there easily: you just have to unpack! (Ughhh…)

When seeing a lot of boxes piled up and a mess everywhere, most people’s first reaction is to open all the boxes and get everything out and in place just to get the work done and start enjoying their new home ASAP.  However, there are two things you must consider before rushing into unpacking and in order to keep your sanity and everyone else’s:

-    It is not necessary to unpack everything in a day.
-    Unpacking can be a lot of fun if you see it as the end of a great adventure.

In order to start unpacking in an intelligent and fun way, think of your family’s basic needs, which are eating, bathing, and resting, and get to the task following that order and centering on one room at a time.  Aim to get those areas operational so that you can take care of the details later without a sense of urgency.

Of course, we are assuming when you packed, you labeled all the boxes and know exactly which ones belong to what room.  You did that, right?

1.    Unpacking the kitchen
Commonly, the kitchen is the heart of the home.  Once it is a little organized, everyone will start meeting there.  Do not rush to organize it perfectly immediately though, start with the most important things and leave items that you do not need on a daily basis in the boxes until you decide where to store them.

2.    Unpacking the bathrooms
After the kitchen is ready, move to the bathroom.  Unpack your toiletries and put them where they belong.  Very important! Make sure everything is working correctly in every bathroom and that they’re properly supplied with fresh towels.

3.    Unpacking the bedroom
Bedrooms don’t really need to be ready for the first night.  You can sleep with the mattresses on the floor and make it a fun first night.  Assemble the beds and organize heavy furniture together, but let the bedroom owner take care of the rest on his or her own.

4.    Unpacking the living room
Finally, center your efforts on the family room or living room.  Do not just start moving furniture around, it is much better to draw a plan of the room showing where you would like to put the furniture pieces based on how you want the space to look.  In this way, pieces that have to be assembled can be put together where they belong.  You will save lots of energy, muscle ache, scratches, and probably even broken items.

Leave the garage for last; nothing in there is urgent, so take the time to think of the best way to organize it and keep it clear before taking things out of the boxes.

Once the basic stuff is ready, take some time to enjoy your new home, and work on the details for a few hours every day.

Believe it, unpacking can be a great activity, even a relaxing and meditative one, if you just don’t obsess over it.

To make it even easier, request the help of your local movers in Seattle; nothing beats the help of a professional!

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When moving into a new office, it is very important that your business move as quickly and efficiently as possible.  When it comes to moving your office, whether it is from an existing office nearby, or moving into a new office out of state, every second wasted means your hard earned money going down the drain.  But moving your office is much more complicated than just moving it quickly. It involves detailed planning and professional movers, as well as money.  It is very important, when moving your office, that your business not suffer too much during this relocation period.  But if your company follows the right steps, hires the right moving company, and spends its money wisely, then your business is sure not to lose hours of work and productivity with a poorly planned move.

In any business relocation move, planning is the most crucial, and important, step.  It is important to remember, that while your business is relocating to a different office, or building, it is literally making no money in this process.  This is why it is vital that your relocation period take place as swiftly as possible, without cutting the necessary corners in a large office move like this.  This is why planning is so crucial to your moving endeavors.  And one way to do this is to hire a professional moving company that specializes in large office moves, so that the moving will run smoothly, and get you back up and running as soon as possible.

To help your move stay cost-effective, as well as moving swiftly, there are a number of services that you can use that you may not be aware of.  One of those is taking advantage of a business relocation service.  These services can provide packing materials, can sometimes help with the actual move, and even help to reassemble your office equipment and furniture, when you successfully move into your new office.  Now it is important to remember, that these services are not a replacement to a professional moving company, but can be a helpful addition to your moving team.

Another important planning step your company should take is to get very familiar with the new office you’re planning on moving into.  Try to visit the office as many times as you can, to get a feel for where you plan on placing furniture, and what kind of plan you have for the new office in general.  It is important to obtain measurements, understand the location of outlets, special wiring, as well as Internet hookups.  Another important planning step you could take would be to create a detailed floor plan in advance.  By creating a detailed floor plan, you will be able to visually see how everything will work out in advance, as well as giving the movers an important resource to go from.  Once your items are in place, you will be able to make the necessary adjustments, instead of doing it all on the fly.  Whether you’re hiring a local moving company, movers in Seattle WA, or one out of Cleveland, the more information you can give your movers, the easier the move will be for everyone.

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A moving company can offer a multitude of services, depending on your specific needs.  If you are moving locally, out of state, or into a bigger business setting, a moving company can offer you the tools, and the professional support that you might be looking for.  But when choosing a moving company for your next move, there are a number of factors you will want to take into consideration.

You will want to evaluate exactly what you’re planning on moving and, most importantly, if you can find someone you can trust. By correctly weighing your options, and doing the proper research, there is no question there is a moving company out there to fit your specific needs.  But what should you be looking for?

Whether you are hiring a Seattle moving company, or a moving company out of Dallas, or Chicago, the most important thing you want to look for in a moving company is their reputation.  Remember, moving can sometimes be a very expensive endeavor, not to mention, when hiring an outside moving company. You will most likely be trusting complete strangers to be handling some of your most personal, and valued possessions.  So how can you make sure, that the moving company you’re choosing can even be trusted?

By taking a few simple, yet effective steps, you can ensure that you’re not only getting the best price, but you are getting a reliable and trustworthy moving company to fit all your moving needs.  The best thing you can do when evaluating moving companies’ reputations is to do a lot of research.  The first thing you can do is to look up different moving companies on the Internet.  Most reliable companies will have their own web site, including the services they offer, what sets them apart from other moving companies, and why you should give them your business.  Another important feature to look for is if the company has customer referrals on their web site.  This can be a great way to obtain some feedback about the company, from people who have actually used the service.

Besides checking out the company’s website itself, there are a number of other steps you can take to evaluate their credibility.  One step would be to call the local Better Business Bureau, to get more information about the company that you’re considering.  The Better Business Bureau can be an important resource because not only can they provide information on the legitimacy of the business, but will have any reports filed by unsatisfied customers, including if the matter was resolved in a timely fashion, or not at all.

Here are some things that you might want to look for as red flags.  One of those is that there is no website or no listed address for the company.  Another red flag to look for is if the company only accepts cash, and may want a large deposit upfront.  This can be a telltale sign of a con artist.  Also, make sure the moving company has insurance, and most importantly remember to sign a contract before any payment is transferred.

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There is a very simple answer to that question:  there is never ‘too much’ when talking about safety after a move.  After the not-so-much-fun part of the move is over, and the movers in Seattle are gone, you just want to relax and enjoy your new home in the company of your family and friends, however, there is one more thing you must take care of, and it is to make sure your loved ones are completely safe in the new nest.

Keep them safe from what, you say?  How about potential fires, carbon monoxide poisoning and burglars?  Yes, believe it or not, these are more than common hazards that afflict thousands of moving families across America.  Fire alone, kills more than 3,000 people per year in their homes, and more than 350,000 residential fires are attended by fire departments.

So, first things first:

1.    As soon as you move, put new batteries in the smoke alarm devices and ensure they are working OK.  Monthly maintenance is key!

2.    Work on an evacuation plan after carefully studying the floor plan, and identify the safest areas.

3.    Install a carbon monoxide detector if there is none.  It is a great risk in the presence of furnaces, ranges, and water and room heaters.  Symptoms are similar to those associated with the common flu: headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizziness and difficulty breathing.

4.    Get someone to inspect the heating system for blockages, corrosion and disconnections.

5.    Install all appliances following the manufacturer’s instructions and local building codes.

6.    Make it a habit to lock all doors and windows while you are away and during the night.  Many, out of the more than a million burglaries that happen each year, are avoidable, but it has been confirmed that homeowners do not know how to keep their homes safe:

-    Do not place valuables in front of windows, where they will be seen by people walking by.

-    Ensure every door and window has a lock.  For doors, get deadbolt locks with a one-inch throw and reinforced strike plate.

-    Sliding doors should be secured with a metal rod in the track to prevent forced opening.

-    Always lock the attached garage.

-    Get a good outdoor lighting system.

-    Trim the shrubs near the entrance so that there is no place for burglars to hide.

-    Inquire if the neighborhood has a community watch program; if yes, join it; if not, encourage neighbors to start one.

-    Install an alarm; it has proven very useful to discourage crime and give peace of mind to homeowners.

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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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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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So the big day is almost here.  Time to check the list and make sure everything is ready to go.  The only things left to consider are those big items that the moving company has to take care of.  Thank goodness it’s not up to you to figure out how these things get moved!  All you care about is that they arrive safe and sound and in one piece at the new location! Here is a list of the Top 5 most difficult things to move and how movers such as Seattle movers do it, and what you can do to help.

Aquariums
If you have an aquarium, most movers agree that expecting all your fish to arrive alive is very optimistic.  If you can, you may want to consider giving your stock away to friends or family and just moving the tank.  You will have to disassemble the tank for the move. This means taking out your plants, stones, decorative items, and the filtration equipment.  These should all be packed like any fragile item.  The aquarium itself will then be wrapped and packed as a fragile item on its own.

Big Screen T.V
As with all electronic items, moving them is best done in their original packaging.  However, since quite often these items are not still at hand, here is the best way to prepare that star of the living room, your big screen TV.  The top, bottom and sides of the TV should be protected with foam forms available from moving and packing companies. The whole TV is then slid into a large box and empty space is also filled with foam forms.  The box should then be taped shut and marked fragile.

Plants
No one wants to lose a favorite houseplant collection when they move.  Your moving company should be able to help you relocate with all greenery intact.  In some cases, plants and flowers are not allowed to be moved within a moving van.  You should check with your mover to see if your move is one that allows their transport.  In cases where plants cannot be moved, proper packing materials and helpful hints for how to pack your plants are available through most moving companies.  One of the most harmful things to living plants is extreme temperatures.  Try to keep your plants in the same kind of environment that they are used to.   Plants can be moved successfully if placed upright in the proper sized box surrounded by clean newsprint.

Art and Mirrors
Moving companies have an amazing variety of packing boxes available and there should be one to fit any sized art print or mirror.  They are generally large and flat to allow for little movement of the piece inside.  Each piece is wrapped in newsprint and bubble wrap before being placed in their snug cardboard box.  Large, bright “FRAGILE” stickers are always placed on such boxes for instant visibility.

Computers
Like that big screen TV, your computer system is another difficult item to have packed to move.  When you have invested thousands of dollars into something, you definitely don’t want it damaged.  Before you start packing, be sure you have backed up all the data on your computer just in case.   Rigid foam forms again are often used to protect a computer system when original packaging is not available.  Monitor screens should be protected with bubble wrap to prevent scratching.  Your computer tower should be packed upright and in the right sized box surrounded by bubble wrap or another type of shock resistant insulation such as Styrofoam popcorn.

Taking the extra time to discuss moving these items with your moving company will ensure a safe and secure move for all your important belongings.

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