It is not only you who is moving this year.  Thousands or even millions of people who change homes or offices every year join you, and thus, it is only logical to try to reduce waste as much as possible when moving.

It has been determined that each person produces around 1580 pounds of waste per year, most of it, some 602 pounds, are in the form of paper and paperboard, 149 pounds are plastic, 58 pounds are textiles, and 82 pounds are wood.

Even though it is believed that America is recycling almost 30% of the waste produced, the amount of waste generated is increasing every single year, and, although recycling has grown in general, there is a marked growth of the recycling of certain materials like paper, plastic soft drink bottles, aluminum cans, steel packaging and major appliances.

In order to help the growing and crucial recycling efforts, here are several ideas to help you reduce waste when moving to a new home or office:

1.    Avoid buying new boxes, and instead, save old ones.  Find leftover boxes from local shops or neighbors.

2.    If you can’t find old boxes, use corrugated ones made out of recycled materials.

3.    Recycle every box after you have used it.

4.    Use your luggage and handbags to pack your clothes, linens, and bathroom items.

5.    Ask the movers in Seattle about renting reusable storage crates.  These last many years and are recyclable.

6.    Wrap up fragile things in old newspapers.

7.    Select eco-friendly packing materials like cushioning peanuts made of biodegradable cornstarch and bubble wrap containing recycled plastic.  Always recycle these materials after utilizing them.

8.    Make sure you dispose appropriately of non-recyclable materials like cleaners, paints, and car supplies before you move.  Find the correct way to get rid of them.

9.    When possible, use recycled paint for house projects.

10.    Make a garage sale before you move to get rid of things you don’t need or want but are in good condition.

11.    Donate whatever you think can be used and appreciated by others.

After you move, find out about recycling programs in the community and join it.  Also, start buying only recyclable products and items that can be repaired and used for a long time.

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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 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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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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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.