Moving News and Relocation Advice

We’re entering the summery time of year, believe it or not, but Alaska still has a month or two before the really warm weather peaks. Get it?

Sorry for the bad pun, but summer really is beautiful in Alaska, which is why I recommend moving to the great wilderness state this time of year, if you get the chance. But don’t try to do it yourself. Alaska moves are events you’d rather hand off to someone else - like a professional mover.

Alaska truly is a spectacular place. It was purchased from the Russian Empire in 1867 for $7.2 million. It consists of 586,412 square miles and includes more than 3 million lakes. How would you like to sample those for fishing?

When you hire a professional mover to relocate you, your household, and/or your business to Alaska, you get someone who handles all the loading and unloading, handling the finer details such as tax and wrapping, dis-assembly and assembly of furniture, and more. You’ll get:

• Professionally trained movers
• Movers experienced in handling moves to Alaska
• Packing and storage services
• Clean equipment with moving pads
• A flexible, professional, and friendly moving staff

Alaska is truly a great place - to visit and to live. If you are planning to move to Alaska, have a professional mover handle your move.

Just like anything else, moving has some of its own lingo that not everyone knows off hand.   Here are some frequently used moving terms that you may need to know.

PBO (Packed By Owner)

Articles packed into cartons or crates by the shipper, not the carrier.

Of course, these are just some of the terms you may hear in preparation for your move.  There are several more moving terms that you will need to know.  If you are not sure what something means when it is used during your moving plans, be sure to ask so that you have complete understanding of everything in your personal move.

Moving can be a stressful transition all on its own, but moving while pregnant takes the cake. There are tips for all kinds of moving dependent on location or timeline, but there are also tips for moving while pregnant that are key to keep in mind.

1. Limit your weight lifting - It is very tempting to help more than you should during a move.  Of course, no one can do it better than you, right?  No. Remember, it is unsafe for you to move boxes or items weighing more than 15-20 lbs.  If you haven’t lifted much of anything during the pregnancy, you should limit yourself to just 10 lbs.  It is unsafe both for your own body and the baby’s to push yourself too hard.  A sore back due to pulling a muscle will only stress you out more.
2. Keep hydrated - No matter what time of year you are moving, working hard always works up a sweat.  Even though you have the ability to sweat and cool down, your baby does not.  Drinking water regularly throughout the day will keep you hydrated and your body temperature normal.
3. Learn to delegate - Friends and family are always willing to help out in a move, especially if you are pregnant.  It is important to know that you can not do it all and use their help.  You should have prioritized lists made of things that need to be done for the move.  Take these lists and start assigning things to different people.  It is important to keep them busy.  People do not like to feel useless when volunteering their time.  Offer to buy something easy for dinner for everyone who is helping out.

So while life change is always expected during pregnancy, moving can throw your whole life for a loop.  Keeping moving tips for pregnancy in mind while preparing and going through a move is vital.  Stay healthy and keep your baby’s health in mind to have a successful, pregnant move.

There are key items that are necessary for a successful move.  Besides setting up a moving company, what else do you need?  A moving kit.

A moving kit is a group of items that are must haves when preparing to move.  Some are common sense and some are not.  Getting an estimate on a moving kit will help ease the stress of running out of supplies.

With a moving box calculator, you can enter the number of rooms you are moving and the auto calculator will tell you the approximate amount of supplies you will need.  For instance, a 3-4 room move may need 30 medium boxes and 15 large ones while an 8-9 room move would need 80 medium and 40 large boxes.

Other supplies you will find in a moving kit include tape, bubble wrap, and markers.  Why are these items important?  Well, it is obvious why the boxes are important.  They are the main storage for your items and protect them during the move.  The sturdy, durable boxes available will help the move go smoothly. The tape is very important as well.  The tape will help to seal your boxes and protect your items during falls or weight shifts.  The tape will also keep your boxes sturdy.

Bubble wrap will keep your belongings safe more than anything.  It buffers the edges of the box so that your goods do not take the hits.  Markers keep your move as organized as possible.  Be sure to mark each and every box in detail with what is inside of them.  Also, it is important to write which room they are to be taken to at the arrival destination.  If the items inside are fragile, you should make it known with a marker which side of the box is the top.  This will ensure the box is carried correctly and your items will be safe.

Are moving kits really that important? Yes.  They are solely responsible for making your packing and moving much smoother and easier.  The supplies in a moving kit will be sufficient for your move and each one serves an important purpose.

Of course, packing books or dishes is a breeze, but how do you pack the tech stuff?  There are definitely certain things that need to be done when getting ready to pack computers, stereo systems, DVD players, or gaming systems as these items are a big part of moving.

First, decide which equipment to pack first.  It is best to work with the same item from beginning to end and then move to the next item.  Unplug the power source from the wall, and from the equipment as well.  Following the power cord, unplug any other cords or equipment hook ups.  Place all cords for that specific device together, wrap them, and twist tie them.

If you do not have original packaging for the system or computer, be sure to get a sturdy box that is large enough to fit all the components into.  Be sure to have packing materials available for stuffing and covering the more fragile pieces such as a computer monitor.

Next, place the larger items in the box carefully and stuff it with filler, attempting to leave no shifting space.  Packing peanuts, newspaper, or foam will work.  In a truck or trailer during a move, boxes tend to shift on quick turns or high speeds.  Put the cords for that specific item in the same box.  It is important that these pieces do not get separated in order to unpack successfully without stress.  The worst thing is getting ready to hook up a computer and one of the cords is missing.

Lastly, be sure to tape the box securely.  With a large permanent marker, write what the contents of the box are and which side is the top of the box.

Electronics, computers, and gaming systems are some of the most valuable things in a home.  Packing these items with care is a must and following the steps to doing so is sure to save a headache when moving.

It’s time to move and EVERYTHING needs to get packed away in a box, right? Wrong.  There are some items that you will need during your packing days and as soon as you arrive in your new home.

1. Toothbrush & toothpaste – Do not misplace these items as they are very important to have around no matter where you are sleeping during a move.
2. Medicines – Do not pack any prescription or necessary meds away. Instead, keep them with you.  These are not items anyone can afford to misplace among the chaos of a move.
3. Towel & washcloth (soap/ shower items) - Keep out a set so that you can grab a quick shower between moving days.
4. Toilet paper – You must keep at least one roll handy because it is definitely a necessity. Better to be safe than sorry in this situation.
5. Important papers– Do not pack important documents like social security cards, insurance policies, or birth certificates away in a box.  They should be filed somewhere specific so you can get to them at any time.
6. Garbage bags–You will need to be able to get to garbage bags right away as you begin unpacking.  You will be surprised at how much trash accumulates during this time.
7. Children’s or pet’s items – These are items you will need access to as soon as you arrive at your destination.  Kids need to be occupied, diapers changed, fed, and entertained.  Pets have necessities as well and having these things readily available will save time and stress.

Let’s be honest. Basically, you need to pack bags separately from the rest of your home packing.  These bags or suitcases will be the things you will need right away.  If you have moved before, you know how important it is when packing to be sure you know where certain items are placed.  In the end, you will be happy you did.

If you are moving because of a job-related transfer, it is unlikely that you have a choice in your moving date.  If you are moving for personal reasons/choices and have some time to spare, there are a few things to consider when choosing the best time to move.

The weather is always a factor.  Depending on where you live, each season brings its own typical side effects.  Snow and ice are typical of winter months.  These months are hard to move in because of these conditions.  It is unsafe because of a risk of slipping and causing an injury.  Also, the cold is not very convenient for moving.  If this is not a concern in the area where you live, there are other weather-related events that can affect a move.

In the southern U.S., the temperatures can reach unbearable heights in the summer.  July and August, for instance, are not a good time to move in Florida.  Of course, if necessary, it can be done, but again, if you have a choice in the timing, choose a milder time of the year.  Too hot or cold, as well as storm seasons, are things that need to be considered when moving.

Another topic to be thought of when determining the best time to move is price.  It is typically a bit cheaper to move during the week rather than on a weekend.  By getting a free estimate for various dates, you can determine when the best time to move is for you.  By having a moving budget already in place, you can decide what you can afford, and if the flexibility of your moving date will affect the cost.

So when is the best time to move?  It is up to you. Figure out which if these factors matter most to you and decide on a date.  Whether you want to avoid January’s ice storms or August’s heat waves, having the flexibility to choose your move date is awesome.  Take advantage of this opportunity the best you can.

If you have ever moved or are anticipating a move, then you know how crazy life can get admidst the changes.  There are some things you can do to relieve some stress.  Creating a moving plan is a great way to be in control of how your move goes.  If you have a lot of time to prepare for your move, consider yourself lucky.  You may wonder how soon is too soon for an organized plan. For those who don’t have a lot of time, you’d better create a plan now.

There is no such thing as too soon.  As soon as you know you are moving, your brain automatically starts going through all the things that will need to be done.  The best thing to do in this case is to write them all down.  Every idea, thought, and list that crosses your mind should be written down.  After a few days, sit down and put all of these notes together.  Start putting the “to do’s” in chronological order of necessity.  After you have put all of these ideas together, go back and cover bases.  Have you explored packing, travel, rentals, changes of information, etc.?

Try to think of anything you may have missed.  Have your spouse or a friend look over your plans and see if they can think of anything missed.  Having the moving plan created and down on paper will ease the stress levels of a move.  Of course, things come up last minute, but if you have really covered the bases, the things that were forgotten will be no big deal.  So when is too soon to begin creating a moving plan? It’s never too soon.

The more time you have, the more detailed your plan can be, which in turn makes your transition A LOT easier.

Storage units are the answer when getting ready to downsize, or if you are just needing some extra space.  Rental units come in different sizes with temperature control options and with a range of security options. You can load boxes, furniture, and almost anything else in a storage unit, but there a few things that can not and should not be stored in them.

1. Animals CAN NOT and should never be left in a storage unit.  This is not only unsanitary for clean up purposes, but it is neglectful and cruel treatment of the animal.  It can create even more problems if the animal were to pass.  The death of an animal would cause other animals, critters, and insects to swarm the  unit.  This situation can put the entire storage unit property at risk for infestation.
2. Explosive materials of any sort should not be placed in a storage unit.  Not only are they a hazard to your personal belongings, but they are a hazard to the well being of anyone on the premises and their belongings.  It goes without saying that in any drastic temperature change, bad things could happen.
3. Perishable items such as foods should not be stored in a unit.  They can cause foul odor when rotting and that can cause issues for the entire property.  Also, these types of things can cause infestations of many types.  Rodents, insects, and worse, could be attracted to this smell and even to the items before things go sour.  Canned food should be OK as it is not perishable.
4. Stolen property CAN NOT be stored in a rental unit.  Not only would the renter be in trouble, but it could cause serious problems for the owners of the company.  It would be careless to even put that scenario on the table.
5. The last and most obvious item to NOT be stored in a unit is people. No one dead or alive should ever be in a self-storage unit unless they are packing, unpacking, or checking on items for a short time.  Sure, it would be a quick place to stay overnight, but the risk IS NOT worth it.  You not only risk setting off alarms, but you risk losing your storage unit and even contract fees if you signed a contract.

So, while self storage unit possibilities are endless, there are a few rules to stand by when considering what to store.  Hopefully, the no-no’s are no-brainers and aren’t hard to follow.  Keep in mind the different options available for storage units and the ease of packing for storage will follow.

When you are ready to pack your home in preparation for a move, it is important that you take whatever steps necessary to protect your belongings.  Packing is pretty simple, but thinking out of the box will help.

First, be sure to have packing supplies that will protect fragile items.  Bubble wrap, newspaper, and plastic are good for this.  When packing glass or easily breakable items, use these supplies to fill in extra space in the boxes to prevent shifting items.  Also, wrap each of these fragile items in a wrap.  Yes, it can be extra time consuming and somewhat of a hassle, but it is better for your items to arrive in one piece than to have to shop for all new items!

Next, think outside the box.  Think about items that do not seem to be fragile but indeed are.  For example, candles, DVDs, and gaming systems.  These things aren’t made of glass or exceedingly fragile, but they can be damaged easily by extreme temperatures or with pressure.  Be sure to strategically pack them and wrap them as well.  Make sure not to put heavy items on top of fragile items as the boxes can shift in the truck.

Lastly, be sure to care for your furniture.  As things shift in the truck and furniture can be scratched easily, be sure to cover it.  Take cushions off of couches so they do not get worn down.  Use full blankets or furniture covers on all items just in case of anything.  Again, strategically pack so that the least amount of damage is probable.  Be sure to pack tightly to keep the shifting minimal.

Simply thinking of blatently fragile items is not enough for effective packing.  When preparing for a move, all items must be considered and protected.  Your property arriving safely to your destination is the most important part of a move, so do your part to make it happen.