Packing Up Your Bedroom Before You Move

Each room in your home will have special packing needs for your move. Every room is unique. It is important to have all of your packing materials present in or near the room to pack properly. You will need cardboard boxes, strong packing tape, preferably plastic masking tape, bubble wrap, shrink wrap, maybe even some twine or rope. There may be other materials you have around the house that you want to use as packing materials. You will also want to be sure that you have a good set of markers so that you can label all of your belongings and certainly you boxes. You might not be able to pack everything in the room right away since certain items or furniture can’t be packed till the last minute. However, it is still important to have the packing materials available for when you will need them.

Your bedroom or really any of the bedrooms in your home will include certain items. Most likely this will include a bed, dresser, probably a desk, chair and book shelves, free standing or table lamps, clothing, books and most likely electronics.

Let’s start with the easiest items to pack which will be anything that will go into a box. This will be certainly clothing and books. Remember that any heavy items that you have such as books should be packed into smaller boxes, about the size of an average microwave. Be sure to build the boxes properly using masking tape. Use lots of masking tape so that the boxes will stay sealed.

Books are fairly easy to pack since they are fairly symmetrical. You usually don’t need any other packing materials besides the boxes when you pack book. Remember, never overfill the boxes and be sure that when you seal them that the top will be sealed and flat. This makes it east for you to stack them and for the movers to load and unload them from the moving truck.

Packing clothing is also simple. If you have any clothing that can be easily damaged or must be hung and not folded, consider purchasing a few wardrobe boxes. Otherwise, standard mid sized boxes (they are about the size of a small dormitory refrigerator) will serve your needs. Sometimes rolling up clothing, linens or towels will save space in the box and in the end you will have fewer boxes. You might also consider using some of your towels or linens as wrapping materials for small breakable items you have in the bedroom.

If your table lamps will fit into the boxes you have, that would be great. If not, you might want to purchase special lamp boxes. Remember to carefully wrap the table lamps before you put them into boxes and avoid any damage. Be sure to label these boxes as lamps and mark the box stating that they are fragile! Free stand lamps can be protected with bubble wrap. You might want to consider removing any glass parts of fixtures of the floor lamps sp that they won’t be broken.

All of the electronics you have in the bedroom should be boxed. Remember to gather all of the cables for a computer of certain kinds of televisions. Pack them along with the equipment in a way that they can’t be damaged. When you pack a table top computer, monitor or a table top television, leave the box open until the movers see how you packed them. Only after they have seen that everything was prepared properly, seal the box. This will help if any insurance problems come up. Bubble wrap your computer monitor or television for extra protection.

Dressers, desks and night stands that have drawers should be emptied prior to your move. What you have in the drawers should be packed into boxes. You certainly don’t want to find whatever you have in the drawers scattered all over the place when a drawer flies open. Also this is additional weight for the furniture. For example, most dressers are not designed to be moved when they are full of. It would make it that much heavier and hard to move around. The extra weight can also cause damage the furniture. Why take that chance. Dressers, desks and chairs will be blanket wrapped by the movers. However, it is worth considering extra protection for furniture that can be easily damaged. For some of it, shrink wrap will enough. It would also be a good idea to take flattened out cardboard boxes and wrap them around the furniture for extra protection. Most chairs that you will have in a bedroom will not need special care and the moving blankets that the movers will bring are enough protection.

If you have a standing book case of wall unit in your bedroom, speak with your moving company about it. It might be necessary to disassemble them. If it is necessary, then remember to keep any of the hardware used in the assembly in a place where you will have easy access to it so that it can be reassembled quickly and easily. Keep it in plastic bags. You might even consider taping to the disassembled furniture. If there are glass shelves in the book case or wall unit or you have shelves hanging on the walls containing glass, remember that by law, all glass must be bubble wrapped. This is to protect both the glass and to protect the movers from injury.

The last items that will need to be packed are your beds. Since you will still need your bed to sleep on you won’t be able to prepare it for your move until the last minute. Be sure that you have a mattress bag for the mattress. This will help to keep it safe and clean. It is also required by most moving companies. They can be found in any store that sells packing materials. If the frame of the bed can be disassembled, it is worth considering this. If not make sure that it is well protected and won’t be damaged. This is especially true if it is made out of wood or Formica.

It’s always worth overprotecting your belongings. Moving companies are always willing to offer advice and help about packing. This is always based on many years of experience. Feel free to always ask the movers any questions and for any advice about packing bedrooms. You can find out more at www.5movers.com

Why Do Americans Move?

Americans are quite unique when it comes to moving. Maybe because of our historical pioneering spirit, we tend to relocate to new locations more often than citizens in any other country in the world. Even tough we all have roots in our respective communities we are quite willing to relocate when it suits us and for the right reasons.

Why do Americans move? The biggest reason is that we are looking for a better way of life that will offer us new and good opportunities. These might include better housing, good jobs and economic growth or stability. We might be looking for a better place to raise our children. Sometimes, like in these unsure economic times, we might be looking for that place we can go to start over. We also might be looking for the best ways to cut our costs of living without sacrificing our living standards or our comforts.

Surprisingly, there are many locations within the country that have shown stability and even economic growth over the past few years. Believe it or not, this even includes many cities and communities in what is called the rust belt states. Many of these locations have been busy reinventing themselves and offer many new business and job opportunities. They also offer inexpensive housing and a lower cost of living. Also, many of the cities that house government offices are thriving. University towns and cities have also shown remarkable stability and growth.

There are many way for us to move or relocate to communities like these. Some of the options will depend on you. If for example you are you young person that is just starting out, then you will probably only want to take with you your personal belongings and maybe a few other things. If you are a couple that is relocating to a new town or city, then you have more belongings that you will be interested in taking with you. Certainly if you are a family that is moving, you will have a whole household the needs to be moved.

Remember the first rule of moving, especially for long distance moving. If it will cost you more to buy it new, then take it with you, as long as it is in good condition. Especially now, when we are all trying as hard as we can to cut back on our spending everyone wants to save as much as we can.

There are lots of ways to transport your belongings between your old location and your new home. If you don’t plan on taking much with you, then your clothes might just fit into a suitcase and you don’t need to think twice about any moving expenses. If you have furniture and other belongings or you are a couple or a family, then you will need to consider the different moving options available to you. These will include a moving truck rental, a upack moving service or the different moving services offered by moving companies.

Since everyone has their own needs and we are trying to budget the move, then it is important to take into account all the costs that you might incur with each of the options. Also, take into consideration storage you might need for some of your belongings. Some of you might also have a car you need to move. If you don’t want to drive, there are great possibilities that are available for transporting cars.

Successfully moving of your belongings will make your relocation that much more comfortable. We all enjoy having what is familiar around us and it makes easier for us to move. Plan your move well. Research all of the possible locations you are interested in relocating to and you will have a great new start to your life.

Affordable Places to Live in America

With the economy the way it is affordable living has become the biggest reason to move. The key to finding an affordable city to live in or move to is the chance of finding suitable employment and reasonably priced housing. This means a low unemployment rate, inexpensive living and most the chance to earn a good salary. Affordable living doesn’t mean moving to the end of the world! Everyone wants to have things to do with their spare time.
A good way to measure affordability is the cost of groceries, services, health care and transportation in the city. Certainly nobody wants to move to a city with a depressed economy, high unemployment or where everything is expensive.
One recent report has shown that many state capitols and university cities are very affordable places to move. These are cities that maintain their level of affordability and most often have low unemployment rates. They also offer all of the services that anyone could possibly want. They will also have lots of entertainment to fill anyone’s needs.
Many older and established cities have gone through major changes and revitalized themselves making them attractive places to move. They have developed new industries, mainly hi-tech.
Here is a recently published list of the 10 most affordable cities to move.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Buffalo, New York
Rochester, New York
Nashville, Tennessee
San Antonio, Texas
Houston, Texas
Louisville, Kentucky
Birmingham, Alabama
Austin, Texas
Other cities you might consider are Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Indianapolis, Indiana. These are all cities of 100,000 people or more. They have a low cost of living, inexpensive housing and most of all low unemployment.
So if you are considering moving, take this into account. Find out more about these cities and what they have to offer.

Have Consumers or Moving Companies Benefited from Deregulation?

Over the past 30 years we have seen deregulation in many service oriented industries in America. Telephones, electricity and many other service providers have gone through major changes, caused by deregulation.

The purpose of deregulation is to open markets to competition. More competition should create better service and better prices.

In reality, what has happened? Overnight there were many fly by night companies in every service oriented industry. They offered fantastic services and prices, often too good to be true. Then, they disappeared. Or the services that we actually received were sub par and way below expectations.

One industry that has gone through deregulation is the long distance moving industry.
In 1980 the federal government passed the “Household Goods Transportation Act”. This created a wide open market, changing the moving industry. Until then there was a limited amount of moving companies and pricing was governed by a tariff.

Suddenly, this all changed. By the 1990’s there were hundreds of moving companies competing for business in the long distance moving market.

This should have had a great impact and have been a major victory for consumers. It should have helped the long distance moving industry grow, since Americans move more often than anyone else in the world. There should be lower prices and better service. Is this what happened?

Most American business owners are honest people. A business owner is also a consumer. Business owners treat their customers with the same respect they expect to receive. They are honest and hard working people.

In reality there is a lot of confusion about moving and the moving industry. It seems that we have created a virtual monster! Something very simple like moving has turned into something overly complex. It has also created lots of mistrust and without question a number of scams.

As Americans, we are firm believers in open markets. However there needs to be an official body that oversees the moving industry.

There must be clear guidelines and rules that will protect both consumers and moving companies.

Here are some simple examples where guidelines are needed to protect consumers.
1-Standard weights and measurements used when moving companies create a moving quote. Very often you will see that they vary from company to company.

When the weights and measurements are either too low or too high, the consumer will not be properly protected. Either way the consumer will lose. If the weight is too high, then the move is more expensive than it needs to be. If the weight is too low, the consumer will pay a big penalty to the moving company.

2-There must be a standard language used on moving quotes. A moving quote should be a document that is easy for the consumer to understand.

Quotes from different companies will never be the same and many movers use vague language to confuse consumers.

The moving quote must also mention all of the rights and responsibilities of the consumer and the moving companies.

3-Binding Moving Quotes-A full explanation about binding moving quotes must be supplied on the quote to the customer. It must explain under what circumstances the quote will be binding and under what circumstances it will no longer be binding.
The quote must also mention any penalties the customer can expect when the moving quote is no longer binding.

4-The consumer must be provided in advance of their move with all information necessary for properly preparing their belongings. This information must include how to properly pack glass items and about boxing their belongings.

5-Every quote must mention the pick up and delivery windows. It must also mention the transit time the customer can expect between the pick up until the delivery of their belongings.

6-Quotes should include a simple explanation about moving insurance and the insurance that moving companies must carry by law.

7-The body governing moving should be the “complaint bureau” for the consumers. This body should be able to investigate all complaints and draw conclusions.

Here are examples for protecting the rights of the moving companies.

1-Binding Quotes-It must be understood by consumers that when they have more belongings that are listed on their inventory or when additional services are needed, they are not covered by the binding quote.

It pays for consumers to be honest and up front with their moving company.

2-Unavoidable Delays-There are unavoidable delays that can occur during a move. Trucks can break down or there can be bad weather. These unavoidable delays are not the fault of the moving company and they should not be held liable.

3-Damage to belongings not caused by the movers-Damage to a customers belongings not caused by the mover are not his responsibility.

If you are moving, be sure to check every item on moving day along with the foreman before it leaves your home. If there is already damage, he will mark that on the bill of lading and you might be asked to sign a waiver.

4-The movers deserve to know that they will be paid for their work. Most movers require a deposit in order to make a reservation. Movers will require an additional payment at the pick up and final payment on delivery.

These are just a few suggestions that will help overcome issues created since the moving industry was deregulated. They will help to protect consumers and moving companies alike. This way everyone can benefit from deregulating.

Should I Move It or Should I Sell It?

When someone moves one of the biggest questions they always ask themselves is should I move it, sell it or give it away? This is a great question.
It can be many things. It could be furniture, lamps, carpets, electronics or any of your possessions including clothing.
If you are moving locally or you are moving a long distance away this might effect your decision making process.
What’s the best way to deal with this big question?
The first thing to do is make a list or an inventory of everything you have. A great way to do this is buy a notebook and some colored pencils. Go through each of your rooms and make a list of everything in the room. Remember the garage, patio furniture and all that stuff in the attic.
Once you have a list of everything, sit down with a cup of coffee. Start to go over that list.
Here is where those colored pencils come in handy. Make up a color code for yourself. One color is for YES, I’m taking it. The next is YEAH, I’d like to take it. The third is for well, I’d LIKE to take it if I can. This will help you organize your thoughts about this.
The second thing to think about is replacing it. Is it in good condition or not? How much would it cost me to replace it? Will it be useful to me or not after I move?
Thirdly, if you are downsizing or moving to someplace larger will it fit in? Is it the right size or do I need something larger or do I need something smaller?
Fourth, if you are moving to somewhere with a different climate, will I need all of those winter or summer things? Should I take some the seasonal things, just in case? Is the furniture just right for the way of life in a different area with a different climate?
Fifth, are some of those things I’m thinking about not taking useful to me for the move? For example, you might find that you can save some money using those old curtains that you hate as a packing or wrapping material.
If you are never going to use it, then sell it or give it away! Why spend the money to move it?
If it is something you want or need then keep it. You will want it after your move.
The bottom line is this. To plan a successful and stress free move, make your decisions about your belongings in advance. When moving day comes, you want to have everything organized and prepared for your movers.
Most importantly, you want to move it when it’s to your benefit.

How to Compare Movers, Moving Services and Moving Quotes

Nowadays there are many types of moving companies and moving services available to the public in America for local and long distance moves. Each of us wants to make a good and educated decision when it comes to spending all of that money for moving. Each of us has our own specific needs. A college student moving into or out of their dorm rooms certainly has different needs that a senior citizen moving to an assisted care facility! Of course, there are a budget issues and schedules that need to be met as well as different moving services that we will want to consider for our moves.
When we gather information about different moving companies and moving services we are suddenly flooded with phone calls and information. It’s so easy to get lost when you are on information overload. Most important of all is deciphering all of that information and putting everything into practical terms that you can understand.

The first step in moving is always advanced planning. Make a list or inventory of ALL of the items in your possession. At this stage of the game, it’s worth listing it all and then deleting items along the way. Go room by room listing each item and if you want make a “guesstimate” of how many boxes you will need for each room. (Don’t worry about being exact with this, since the point of it is to give you a general idea.) I always recommend doing this in a notebook and in pencil, so that it will easy for you to make changes along the way and keep track of it all.)
Once you have created an inventory with a general box count, you will need to sit down and take a look at it. This will be the” big picture” for your move and help you see the smaller parts of the puzzle! With this list you will be able to get an idea of how labor intensive your move will be and help you to decide what kind of moving services would be of interest you! There are quite a few out there!
Here is a list and a general description of the most popular moving services available for moving in the United States.
Full Service Deluxe Moving Companies-These are the large and well known moving companies. They offer full service moving packages. This means that they do all of the labor for you including packing and unpacking all of your boxes. Their prices will already include all packing materials.
Standard Moving Companies-These are companies that might not be as well known. They offer many different options for moving depending on what moving services you are looking for or might need. These companies can offer large discounts based on your inventory and how labor and material intensive your move will be. They can also supply packing materials for an additional charge.
U Load We Drive Moving Companies-Here you are responsible for everything: packing boxes, preparing your furniture, loading the truck and unloading the truck. The only thing you won’t need to do is drive the truck! You are responsible for all packing materials at your own expense.
Truck Rental Companies- You rent the truck and equipment you need, do all of the packing, driving, loading and unloading. You will be paying for everything, including the gas.
Remember that all moving companies must be licensed, bonded and insured, meeting all federal and state requirements for operating as moving companies and moving services. It’s also important to note that all moving companies will base their prices on the space needed (in cubic feet) for your belongings, weight of your shipment, additional services required and the distance of your move. (For a local move it will be based on an hourly rate.)
One popular addition for U Load We Drive and Truck Rental moves is moving labor. There are companies that will supply moving labor to assist you with your packing and unpacking or loading and unloading needs. This will of course be at an additional charge above the cost of the moving services fees.

Now that we know what the different moving services are, it’s time to think about what you need, what you want, what you can afford and which moving services you want to explore? Do you want to be able to compare the different moving services to each other? Do you want to compare the prices of the different movers and moving services to each other? Which of them do you want to compare?

The simplest way to research any subject is on the internet. It will save lots of time and the expense of making lots of telephone calls. You can research each moving service on many websites. The internet is also the best way to get free moving quotes for all of the different moving services. Let the movers run after you! Let them tell you what they have to offer and send you free moving quotes to your email. There are also moving companies and moving services that offer “in house” moving quotes and moving estimates. It’s important to remember that these quotes are estimates. If on your moving day there will be additional services required of you have more belongings that is shown on your inventory, it will cost you move. If you have a U Pack move and use more space, it will cost more.

Now that you have all of these moving quotes, you want to be able to compare them and make a good decision for you move. It’s important to compare each of the moving services to each other. See what each moving company and moving service is offering you. Which service is offering you what you want or can afford?
I always recommend printing all of the free quotes. It will make your life much easier when you can sit down and really look at them and not on the computer screen. Separate the quotes according to the specific moving service they are for. This way you can easily compare the quotes from each of the moving services.
Remember, READ THE FINE PRINT! A vague quote of any kind should be considered suspicious. If you are promised something by a moving company or moving service, make sure it is written on the quote. If it isn’t on the quote, it will be as if it doesn’t exist. A quote with lots of fine print is always going to be preferable to anything vague. You can always ask the movers any questions about that and it’s always preferable to having a bad surprise later on your moving day.
One other item that will help you decipher a free moving quote is a moving dictionary or glossary of moving terms. As in any industry, it’s very important to know the terminology to understand what you are reading and what you are actually being offered. There are many websites that have good glossaries for moving.

Now you are ready to make a decision about your move. You have all the information necessary to make a good and educated decision.
Here is one last piece of advice that I always offer to customers. Find out from any of the companies that you are in contact with what their cancelation policies are and what you need to do if you need to cancel and how you need to do it. This will tell you a lot about the integrity of the companies you are speaking with. A Company that will make this difficult for you is a company that you really don’t want to do business with. Also, remember you can always consult with the moving specialist or consultant at your moving company or moving service and they will always give you their best advice.

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Welcome to 5MOVERS and our brand new moving blog!

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