A little preparation could save a world of grief on your next move.

1. Give Each Item a Destination Address. Sketch a map of your new place labeling each room. Say “A” is for kitchen (you know, where all the Apples are kept). Just before the move, safely tape a sign at the entrance to each room with the tag ID you’ve given it. When you’ve finished packing each box, write your label with contents like, “A-spices,” or “A-dishes.” Then stack the boxes by their destination room so the movers can be more organized, too. Be sure to label each box on at least two sides to increase the chances the movers will see your label.

2. Keep Your Organization Tools Organized. When the moving day arrives, you may not be done. Keep everything you need for organizing the move-felt tip pens, packing tape, scissors, etc. in a box labeled “Do Not Move.” You don’t want the movers to ship your tools while you need them.

3. Designate a “Magnet” Location for All “Holdout” Items. You should move some items yourself-money, jewels, valuable documents, pets, and other irreplaceable items. Some items movers are not allowed to handle, like flammables, guns, explosives, ammunition, and other hazardous materials.

Don’t mark your valuables in a way that would attract thieves. Keep your cleaning supplies here, too, so you can clean your old home when the movers are gone. Your magnet location should include all of the papers, keys, map with directions, phone numbers, security codes and everything else you will need on the move. Label the area, “Do Not Move.”

4. Prepare a Portable Refreshment Center. You know you’re going to get hungry and thirsty with all of this activity. So, keep an ice chest and/or box with snacks and drinks.

5. Pace Yourself. Packing for a house full of possessions takes between 2-3 months. Take the amount of time you have until moving date, and divide your estimated number of boxes by that amount of time. Pack the items you rarely use, first. Say your Seattle moving company estimates you’ll need 100 boxes of a certain size to pack everything. Schedule to pack between 5 and 10 boxes per week. And keep track so that you don’t have too much to do in the last few weeks.

6. Offload Dead Weight. Donate or sell those items you never use or won’t have room for in your new home. This could give you extra cash or a tax deduction, plus it may save on the final moving cost.

7. Create a “Goodie Box.” This is your special “reward” box of items you will need to get started in your new home. This will include everything you and your family will need in the first few days. Ask each family member what they couldn’t do without after they arrive. This could include snacks for the dog, paper plates for the inevitable take-out, and your children’s favorite play things.

Every move is a challenge. These tips help to keep the madness under control so you can get back to your life as soon as possible after the move is done.

Service Disconnects

Every service your old house or apartment enjoys should be disconnected and re-established at your new residence. This may seem obvious, but if you don’t have a checklist of these, you may forget one or more.

Not all of them will necessarily apply, of course. If your new home is all electric, you won’t need gas hookup. Here is a list to get you started. This may not be complete for your own situation, so add items as you think of them.

• Phone service
• Electricity
• Natural gas
• Water
• Cable or satellite television
• Internet connection
• Mail delivery
• Gardening service
• Pool cleaning
• Bottled water delivery

Make certain to notify all of your providers far enough in advance so that they can schedule the discontinuance at your old location and start at your new location so that you are not left in the dark after your arrival. You may also find that some providers do not operate at your new location. In that case, you will need to find a new provider. If you take care of this early enough, surprises like this will be far less painful.

Mechanics of the Move

Giving each room in your new place a unique name or letter will allow you to label each box for its destination room.

When you label your boxes, make certain you label at least two sides to increase the chance the movers will see your all-important information.

It may seem to be a pain, but why not label all sides. When you have a mountain of boxes and you need an item in a box with a label that is not immediately visible, you don’t want to have to dig through the mountain just to reveal that hidden label. If the label is on all sides, you increase your chances of finding what you need without a lot of extra effort.

Keep all of the tools for your move (tape, scissors, felt tip marking pens, etc.), important information, and valuable documents in a box or location clearly labeled “Do Not Move,” otherwise the movers may take them while you still need them.

Use old newspaper, sheets and towels to wrap your breakable items. This can save you money on more expensive packing materials.

Valuables

Think about any items you would never be able to replace if the movers were to break them. Not a comforting thought, but even the best Seattle, Redmond or Tacoma movers occasional break things. That’s the nature of the business, and that’s why move insurance is offered. Why not move your valuables yourself so you don’t have to worry about them?

Anyone that has ever resided within the Emerald City will certainly tell you that relocating across town can be a harrowing journey. During your move, the challenges to overcome in this beautiful metropolis are sometimes very hard to endure. Learning everything you can about these difficulties will certainly give you an edge when it concerns moving to a new home or office.

Here are 5 preventative measures that you should take when moving in Seattle.

1.  Be Mindful of the Weather

It’s no secret that Seattle has the highest level of precipitation than any other city in the country. It’s wise to expect that it’s going to rain on the day of your move. Therefore, the actual chances of having your uncovered furniture getting wet are very, very high. Take the initiative and purchase some tarp or plastic sheeting to help cover your belongings when moving into your house.

2. Plan Your Route

To ensure that your move is going to be as stress-free as possible, the timing of it is very important. If you’re moving within the downtown area, try to avoid rush hour and lunch time. The best time to relocate is either very early in the morning (before people go to work) or early afternoon. Also, moving across town during the months of May-September is widely considered the best time of year to avoid inclement weather.

3. Manage Your Time Wisely

Allow yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. Fortunately, Seattle is a fairly small city, and it sometimes only takes 30 minutes to get across the entire town. However, even though this is a somewhat compact city, it’s bustling with activity. Take your time while on the road and don’t put yourself in a situation where “time is of the essence”.

4. Inspect Your Property

Seasoned Seattle movers know that every piece of property has flaws. Sometimes there are: uneven sidewalks, slippery surfaces, poles, low-hanging branches and holes. Try to map out your path when moving in and invest in a traction mat if you’re dealing with wet sidewalks.

5. Pace Yourself

Even though moving is a tedious venture, be sure to stay patient and unload everything one box at a time. Assigning everyone a particular job to accomplish will create a system that will get everything done in a timely fashion and keep chaos at bay.

Although, some of these rules are subjective toward the city of Seattle, they can easily be used for moving in other cities, as well. They are all important to keep in mind while relocating to another area. If you expect the unexpected, then you’ll be ready for just about anything. Always keep your guard up and be careful when moving in the radiant Emerald City!

Many of us have never used a storage unit and we may think these are meant for people who work with merchandise; however, it is very normal today for people to rent storage units when they are in between homes.

If you are faced with any of these situations you may want to consider renting a storage unit:

1. Temporary move

This is very practical moving advice! Let’s say you have to transfer temporarily¾2 years¾for a job… in such a case you probably don’t want to move everything you own with you since this is not a permanent situation, then… a storage unit is the best solution. You are able to move only with what you need/want.

2. Home selling

It may happen that you are selling your current home. In this situation, you know that when showing your home to potential buyers the first impression is crucial, and too much clutter will make people run the other way!

Your home must feel spacious, and this is only achieved with a clean and uncluttered space. Anything that can jeopardize the sale must go… or be stored somewhere else.

3. College years

Many parents with kids in college know that once they finish studying they may come back home for a few years while they find a job and make some money to move out.

In this case, it is a good idea not to sell the kids’ furniture, but store it while they’re away so that the empty nesters can use the space in other ways for a while.

4. Inheritance

Parents may have some furniture they no longer need but want to pass to their children once they move out.

When renting a storage facility, make sure you check the contract termination policy, just in case you need to get your stuff out before the original intended date.

Also, check the locks and ensure the place has good security, because your things will be there for a long period of time without you keeping an eye on them. You should make a list of what you’re storing and review it with the person in charge of the facility.

Keep in hand the facility’s phone number and operation hours, and make sure they have your number too, in case of emergency.

If a Seattle moving company is dropping off your boxes, talk to your contact at the facility ahead of time and let him/her know who’s coming, and ask the movers to look for this person when they arrive to the place to comply with safety procedures.

Storage units are a great short-term solution for people with busy and very active lives, but it is never a bad idea to think about getting rid of some stuff through garage sales, donations, online auctions, or the garbage, if you have a lot of things that can be considered clutter.

As with anything you buy, it’s good to do some research, first. Whether you’re researching Seattle moving companies, Tacoma movers, Redmond movers or any others in the area, be sure to keep the following points in mind.

Check with the Better Business Bureau in your area to see if there have been any complaints about any of the companies you are investigating. Unfair or shady practices are typically reported to the BBB to help warn others. You can also check with moving review websites like, www.mymovingreviews.com or www.movingscam.com. Or simply search for the name of the moving company. Some consumers become so enraged by the practices of moving companies that they create a website to warn others.

1. Bad review. Someone else’s move involved a late pickup and/or a late delivery. The amount billed far exceeded amount quoted. The items moved were held hostage until all overcharges were paid.

2. In business for less than 10 years. Naturally, every company has to start somewhere. So, you can still find good companies that are relatively new, but they’re competing with all of the bad companies who won’t be in business for terribly long-at least under their current name.

3. They’re a moving broker. If they refer moving jobs but don’t handle the jobs themselves, stay away from them. While it may seem to be a nice idea, this is where many of the scams lurk.

4. They’re only on the internet. A reputable business that deals in a real-world presence like moving furniture or office furnishings will have a physical presence, too. Look in the yellow pages.

5. Unprofessional facility. Visit their office. Is it clean and presentable? Look at their storage facility. Does it look secure? If they can’t keep their own place presentable, how do you think they will treat your belongings?

6. No trucks with their logo. If they don’t have a fleet of trucks (at least 2 or 3) with their company logo permanently emblazoned across it, they could be a fly-by-night operation.

7. They want you to sign paperwork with blank fields. Never, ever, under any circumstances sign a legal contract with blank fields. Otherwise, you leave yourself open for a nasty surprise and there’s little you can do about it.

8. They won’t do an in-home estimate. If they don’t have the time or willingness to do an accurate assessment of the job, then you should suspect that they’re not going to live by any quote they give you.

9. They will be subcontracting out the job. If they won’t be doing the move themselves, look elsewhere.

10. Quote by cubic feet. This should at least raise a red flag. Later, they could charge you by weight, but know that they have to provide proof of the weight of your belongings at no additional charge to you. And, as of August, 2005, interstate moves based on cubic feet are illegal.

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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After a move, most people are left with dozens or even hundreds of boxes they don’t know how to dispose of.  Obviously, you are anxious to get rid of all that stuff that is only cluttering your beautiful new home, however, you should take the time to do it right and dispose of them in a useful and eco-friendly way instead of just throwing them in the garbage.

Here we give you some tips as to how to give moving boxes a good use after you don’t need them anymore:

1.    Contact a box broker
In many cities, there are companies that specialize in buying and selling used moving boxes; find one near you and sell them all of yours.

2.    List your boxes on BoxCycle
This is a service within the US.  You access the website, list your boxes for sale, and the company will sell them for you.  The service has great reviews, a clear sign of how well it works.

3.    Post on Craigslist
This is another great place to list the boxes you want to get rid of, sell, exchange, or just give away, and it is free.

4.    Use some of them as compost containers
This is a good option if you have an herb garden or beautiful yard at home and you are into organic gardening.  You just have to ensure the boxes are protected from animals that could destroy them.

5.    Contact a charity
Normally, libraries, community groups, and shelters need lots of boxes to move books, clothes, shoes, appliances, and food, among other things.  You can find a lot of places to help with just a few phone calls.

6.    Find local recycling programs
Almost every city has a place for recycling big quantities of cardboard material.  In some cases you will have to take the boxes to the recycling center yourself, but that is not a big inconvenience.  Make sure you find out details like how many boxes they will take, sizes, and if you have to flatten them before delivery.

Seattle moving companies can help you find the different recycling, reusing, and disposing options in the area; maybe they will even offer to take your boxes to help you dispose of them.  The important thing to remember is that when moving, cleaning up and disposing of materials in the right way is as important as packing, unpacking, and getting your home organized.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.psmoving.com as the original source).

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Whatever the type of move, be it a residential or office move, be it a small or big one, in order to ensure that everything is handled correctly and safely, you must hire a professional moving company to help you.

But read this carefully: do not hire just ANY company.  Prior to selecting the best one for your needs, make sure you research thoroughly among Seattle moving companies.

In order to help you make an informed decision, here we present you 8 important questions that you should ask any company that you are considering seriously:

1.    Are you a broker or a company employee?
The broker’s job is to help people find moving companies; nevertheless, he cannot provide an obligatory estimate and is not responsible for losses and damages.

2.    Do you offer obligatory estimates?
Movers or brokers may give you an estimate over the phone, but it is not an obligatory one.  Prior to giving you such an estimate, the mover must check your valuables in person.

3.    Are any extra charges included in the estimate?
Charges like, long-carry, appliances, parking, storage, fuel, and special furniture, among others, are examples of costs that may or may not be included within a moving estimate.  You must let the moving company know about special furniture pieces you own or other special conditions about your move ahead of time so that they can include them in the estimate.

4.    What kind of equipment do you have?
It is important to know if the movers have equipment for heavy tasks and to handle special furniture pieces professionally.  It is an important part of ensuring you are getting the best help for your needs.

5.    Is there any transfer required?
Depending on the distance between your old home and the new one, your valuables may have to be transferred from one vehicle to another.  This increases damage risk, so you must know about it.

6.    What payment options do you offer and what are the conditions?
Try to stay away from movers that only take cash.  Be clear on how much you have to give as deposit and if it is refundable, and how much you have to pay upon delivery of your valuables.

7.    What type of insurance are you offering me, and what other types are available?
Normally, there is a basic coverage fee that can be upgraded at a very sensible price.  You can also research the option of third party insurance providers to cover your move.  In any case, investigate all your options in order to make an informed decision.

8.    How do you handle damages and loses? What is your level of responsibility?
When asking this, the answer must leave no doubt as to who is responsible for what.  If you are packing your belongings, the moving company may not pay for damages due to poor packing, for example, but they will most certainly teach you how to pack appropriately if you ask them to.  Just get a clear picture in advance.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.psmoving.com as the original source).

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Moving is a very stressful activity in itself, and if you still have to worry about whether your furniture and other valuables will arrive safely, or if they will arrive at all, you can bet a move is something you won’t want to repeat ever again.

Even though the majority of the more than 1.5 million moves a year happen without any problems, an important number does suffer in the hands of a cheating moving company.  More than 3,000 complaints are received by the U.S. Department of Transportation in regards to abuses performed by phony movers.

Imagine this scenario: a person surfs the web and hires a moving company that offers a low estimate.  As soon as the trucks are loaded, that estimate duplicates, triplicates or even quadruplicates, and the owners are told that either they pay or their goods will be auctioned.  This has happened in the past and is only one of the scams out there.  In other cases, the person’s belongings will never show up or show up damaged, and the company refuses to pay.  Some movers are not even real ones, and they steal from the weak who fall for it, old and ignorant people.

So, how can you prevent falling for a scam that could cost you thousands of dollars besides the anguish and despair of losing your valuable possessions?

Here are 14 tips provided by the professionals and the leaders in the moving business:

1.    Plan your move in advance.

2.    Check the companies against your local Better Business Bureau.

3.    Ask for at least three estimates, for example, from three Seattle moving companies.

4.    Tell each company about the destination and time for the move.

5.    Ask everything about the services offered, rates and extra charges that apply.

6.    Ask about their liability and claims protection for your belongings.

7.    Have everything in writing.

8.    Inquire how pickup and delivery will work.

9.    Ask them to explain the estimates in detail and give you copy.

10.    Non-binding estimates are not final; the real charges may be about 10% higher.

11.    Clearly specify the pickup and delivery dates in the service order.

12.    Read thoroughly the Bill of Lading; it is your contract.  Make sure you clarify any questions you may have.

13.    Be there every time the cargo is weighed, you can ask for it to be weighed more than once.

14.    Submit to arbitration any unresolved loss or damage claims.

Now you are very well-informed so, good luck with your move!

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Very few people in this world enjoy the process of moving. There’s all the sorting, packing, carrying, organizing, and re-organizing that usually comes with it. Seattle movers put together a checklist meant to make it easy and flawless. A lot of pain can be avoided by following these steps:

Step 1 – Set a moving date.

Step 2 – Set two days prior to your moving date as the deadline to have all issues pertaining to your move resolved.

Step 3 – Get rid of all old clothes and other items you know you will not want to keep. One nice way to do this is by giving to charity.

Step 4 – Create an inventory list that includes everything you did not throw out or donate. Start by listing large items, such as furniture. Include a description and also any serial numbers or other pertinent information that can identify each item. Estimate a value in cash for each item. Once you’re done with furniture and other large items, work down to the tiniest – such as jewelry. There will be things you won’t care to list in detail – this of course can be done and you can just include them in one large, generic category.

Step 5 – If you have not already done so, contact a moving company and send your inventory in order to get an estimate from at least three sources.

Step 6 – Call all utilities companies and let them know of your move-out date. Call utilities companies at your destination and set up installation dates.

Step 7 – If you don’t mind using old boxes, you can find them for free at supermarkets. They usually can be had for nothing from the employees who work at the receiving docks in the back part of the store building. Otherwise, buy enough boxes for your items and assemble them. Make the boxes safer by reinforcing the edges and corners with duct tape.

Step 8 – Pack

Step 9 – Make sure you mark every box according to the room the items came from. Give each box a number and use it on your inventory list to reference what box each item went to.

Step 10 – Pack sensitive documents and valuables in small boxes you can take with you on the moving trip.

On moving day, you will be very thankful you followed steps 1 through 10. You will be able to sit back and let the moving company do their job while you relax.