How a moving company can help even a small office move

Even though you may run out of a small office, you should still talk to a professional mover about getting set up in your new space. You may have assumed a moving company wouldn’t bother with a small office move, but you are going to need the help just like any other size of office.

The problem with an office move is that many times, business needs to halt until the move is complete. When a moving company takes on the task, you’ll have minimal downtime and a quicker turnaround. Take a look at how moving companies help even a small office move.

Why hire office movers

Time is money and when you have to move your office for an expansion or changing needs, you don’t have much time you can afford to be down. That is why it only makes sense to hire an office moving company. They can help to make your move efficient and quick and all you have to do is keep in communication with your movers and your customers.

A moving crew will be able to eliminate the stress of doing it yourself while having both the experience and the manpower to handle it efficiently. You won’t lose as much time as you would doing it yourself and the movers will have the skill set to handle your equipment and sensitive belongings with care. When you move offices, everything moving is a bit more delicate than a typical household move, which is why having highly trained professionals that are trained in special handling is essential.

What you should do to prepare

Once you’ve hired your moving crew and have your new space ready to go, you’ll want to follow a few steps to ensure your move is a success. First, discuss the move with your staff and answer any questions or concerns about the changes for your business and new location. Then, you’ll want to make sure everyone has a way to communicate in order to ensure there are no issues during the transition.

From here you can set a timeline for the move to make sure you are preparing well ahead of time. You’ll want each task to go smoothly which is why you should be detailed and avoid anything that feels rushed. Your change in location will be a fresh start for your business and will allow you to improve the systems you have in place now.

You’ll love the end result once you get through the relocation, because you’ll be able to situate everyone as you best see fit in the new space, set up new systems that work best in the new office, and can say goodbye to the things that were holding your brand back in the current space.

What to expect

You’ll want to do some calculations to make sure your bottom line can handle the upcoming move. You’ll need to budget for the new space, the moving crew, the business downtime, the time you’ll spend away from the business to work on the move, and moving insurance. You’ll want to put the bulk of your moving budget into a proper moving crew.

Then you’ll want to consider if you need to invest in a storage space based on the inventory of your office. Talk to your moving company about insurance. Then consider what you will lose in downtime for your business and time you are spending preparing for the move and unpacking.

Once you’ve decided it’s the right time for an office move whether it’s because your lease was up or you’ve outgrown a space, hire your movers and start preparing your office. You may need to advise your clients, vendors, business partners, and service providers that your office will be down for a day or two, or you’ll need to start operating your office from your mobile devices.

 Inform the banks, insurance company, the post office, and the courier company as well. Get everyone in the office on the same page about the plan for the week and what is expected. Then your moving crew will be able to properly disconnect, pack, move, and unpack your equipment so that you can get back up and running in your new space.

Don’t try to handle a move on your just because your office is small. You’ll want a team that knows how to handle your sensitive office equipment and other items properly and with care while you avoid too much downtime that could affect your business.

5 life hacks for a successful & stress free move

Moving, by nature, is a stressful process, but fortunately, you can make it more manageable with some simple life hacks. Rather than getting overwhelmed from the start and allowing it to take over your move, you can choose to look at your move as accomplishing one thing at a time until the whole process is complete.

Once your move is done, you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor with a fantastic new space and new neighborhood for your family to become part of. Take a look at some tricks that will make your move simpler and much less stressful!

Take photos of everything

One of the best tips for a stress-free move is to take photos during the process. That means to first take a photo of your house setup now so that you can remember how you like the TV placed, what the bookcase was arranged like, and where all of your favorite knick-knacks were placed.

Then, you’ll want to take pictures as you pack so that you have a way to reference the items during the unpacking process. In the event that something was lost, you’ll be able to verify what box it was put in.

You’ll love having photos to reference at the new house because you may want to set up your home just like it was before or you may be looking for some specific items to use right away and your photos will help you determine which box they were packed in. Before you leave, take photos of your previous home in the event that you need to show someone like a landlord what state you left it in.

Pack a box for the first week

Speaking of items you may need right away, you should definitely pack yourself a separate box that can be used during your first week at the new home. While you can take your time unpacking your beautiful vases, the things you keep in the guest room, and the things you’ll want in your garage, you will need to be able to do things right away like cooking in the kitchen and taking a shower.

Pack the first-week box with things like shower curtains, towels, pots and pans, glasses, and the pet food bowls. Obviously, your family will need their bedding and clothing, but keep items handy like a first aid kit, trash bags, and cleaning supplies.

Keep hardware handy

In addition to these items that you’ll need right away, you’ll also want to keep your tools and hardware handy. It would be a pain to have packed away things like brackets, screws, and mounting pieces to furniture in a box somewhere when you want to reassemble your couch or table. Be sure to keep the hardware labeled and in your first-week box, along with tools to use.

Take care of your movers

One life hack you may not have thought about would be to take great care of your moving crew. While they are in your home to serve you today, make sure you to offer a beverage or some help throughout the process. Your small effort to keep them more comfortable will likely result in the crew taking extra good care of your belongings. Offering these things can avoid someone hurting themselves or getting dehydrated.

Use your own containers too

Lastly, remember that some of the things you will need to pack can actually work as a container too. You’ll have so many cardboard boxes or plastic containers being moved that it may be comforting to see your suitcases of clothing stand out when you are trying to find things. You can also save money by utilizing these containers you already have, such as decorative baskets and hampers. Just avoid using trash bags in case someone mistakes it for trash.

Use these simple life hacks to make your residential move even easier and stress-free this year!

How to properly use a dolly during a move

It’s moving day and it’s time to start using that moving dolly you’ve gotten your hands on. This is going to make moving those heavy items so much easier, right? It’s important that you know how to use a tool that is designed to help you do something more efficiently, and very dangerous to use something incorrectly due to improper training on it.

You don’t want to get hurt using a furniture dolly incorrectly and ending up taking on the weight of the furniture onto your body. Take a look at the types of dollies you can use for moving, how they can help you, and how to properly use them.

Types of moving dollies

 A dolly is a platform on wheels that allows you to move large, heavy items while steering it along the way. This could be used for furniture, appliances, and more. The first type of dolly you made be looking for is an upright utility dolly which is also called a hand truck.

This is an L-shaped platform that tends to be small in size needing only two wheels and a handle. By just sliding the lower portion of the dolly under the item, you can then tilt it backward to move the item where you need it to go. This is perfect for just about anything from lightweight furniture pieces to moving several boxes at once.

The next type is a furniture dolly that you would use to move large and bulky pieces. When you need to move a couch, dresser, desk, or other big items, you can use furniture dollies for this purpose. It’s intended to work for those heavy items that you wouldn’t use a simpler utility dolly for. You can typically handle up to 1,000 lbs. using a furniture dolly. It just can’t be used on stairs.

Another option is an appliance dolly which will work similarly to the utility dolly in the way it’s made but this will allow you to move big and heavy appliances. This is perfect for when you need refrigerators and washing machines. It will secure the appliance in place with strong straps and other safety features. You can roll this one up and down stairs while it carries around 700lbs.

How to properly use a dolly

First, you’ll want t make sure you’ve cleared the space for a path without any obstacles going towards your destination. Avoid topping a stack on the dolly with anything that will obstruct your view. Use a hand truck for anything going upstairs. Simply roll over bumps straight on if you encounter bumps as you roll onward.

To apply an item to your dolly, tip the dolly forward enough that you can slip the bottom flat surface underneath an item. Then you can tip the dolly back on its wheels while holding the item in place with your other hand. Largest and heaviest items go on the bottom but make sure the whole stack is balanced and aligned.

If you are going to be moving appliances, furniture, and other fragile items with the dolly, be sure to wrap these things in furniture blankets while still leaving room to get a proper grip on the item during transport.

Take out drawers if moving furniture with loose parts to help make it easier to maneuver and a little lighter in weight. Secure items that you put on these dollies and wrap anything that you want to protect the finish of like a wooden cabinet. It’s important to tie up loose items to avoid damage, such as hoses, plugs, and wires that you don’t want dragging on the floor.

If you want to move large items in your upcoming move, call a professional moving company to handle the job for you or practice these safety tips above.

What to Wear When Moving

Moving day is just around the corner and you need to figure out what you should wear. This is a stressful, hectic day filled with plenty of emotion. The last thing you want is to be uncomfortable because you chose the wrong outfit. Even if you’ve hired a professional Chicago moving company, you need to dress for the day. Here are some tips to help you figure out what to wear on moving day.

Pants or Shorts

Depending on the time of year, you will want to wear pants or shorts on moving day. Avoid wearing a skirt as you will likely be bending over quite a bit and skirts can become very revealing. Choose a breathable and flexible fabric you feel comfortable moving around in. Plan for comfort, not cuteness and you'll we well on your way to feeling great on moving day.

Shoes

One of the most important things to wear on moving day is comfortable shoes. You will spend plenty of time on your feet, so comfortable sneakers are best. You also want to make sure you protect your feet, so skip anything with an open toe.

Don't wear shoes you love for moving day. If something happens to them, you may not be very happy about it. Tennis shoes, boots, sneakers or some type of shoes you'll be comfortable in and don't care about getting dirty are best.

Dress for the Weather

The weather in Chicago changes with the season. It can be extremely hot in the summer and extremely cold in the winter. Sometimes, you don't get to choose when you move and you certainly won't get to choose the weather.

Check the weather forecast the day before and make sure you dress appropriately. If it's going to be 100-degrees, you probably don't want to wear jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. However, if you're moving in the winter, you may want several layers to keep you warm.

Wear Clothing with Pockets

Moving day will have you needing to keep track of things, such as keys, your wallet, your phone and even pieces of furniture or other hardware. If you have pockets, you can easily throw these items in your pockets and go on about your business.

What to Avoid Wearing on Moving Day

While there are certain things you should wear on moving day, there are some things you want to avoid wearing including:

• Avoid any long jewelry that could get in the way or get hooked on something. If you love it, don't wear it on moving day.

• Don't wear baggy clothing as it will make you uncomfortable during moving day.

• Avoid wearing flip-flops, sandals, high-heels shoes or basically any cute shoes as they are not safe on moving day.

While there are no rules set in stone for what you should wear for moving day, you do want to make sure you dress appropriately. Dress for the weather, for comfort and for function, not fashion. Moving day isn't the day to make sure you look cute. It's the day to be dressed to move boxes, furniture and get a little dirty.

Top Ways to Sell Your Unwanted Items Before a Move

Before you make the move to Chicago, it's best to unload anything you don't want or need anymore. Maybe you're downsizing or you've bought a new house. Getting rid of the old to make room for something new is easiest to do before you move.

The best part about getting rid of things before you move, most of what you have can be sold. There are several ways to sell your unwanted items before you move. Here are a few of the top ways to sell your stuff if you're getting ready to move.

Craigslist

An easy way to unload furniture or anything too large or heavy to ship, Craigslist is the marketplace for these items. You can list your items free of charge and sell all types of things, such as appliances, yard equipment, bicycles and more.

Facebook

The Facebook marketplace is another great place to sell your larger items or more expensive items. Usually, you can get a little bit more cash for your items on Facebook compared to Craigslist. If your items are nicer, list them on Facebook and watch them sell fast.

Word of Mouth

Of course, you can speak to your family and friends first to see what they may want to buy from you. They may be looking for exactly what you have or maybe you have a friend that has loved your sofa for years. Now is the time to let them know you're selling and give them the first shot to buy what you have.

In addition, telling friends and family what you're selling will turn them into salespeople for you. Often, they will talk to co-workers, friends and other people they know. They may find someone interested in what you have for sale.

Garage Sales

A great way to unload those items that are too cheap to sell on Facebook or Craigslist is a garage sale or moving sale. Keep your prices reasonable and you will sell plenty of things and end up with some good cash in hand. You can even use this as a way to sell the large items if you get the right offer.

eBay

If you're selling something you can ship and it's worth $50 or more, eBay may be the place to sell it. You can list your item for sale and let the auction run from one day to 10 days. You can even to a Buy Now listing with just a price for sale or take offers. Just make sure you consider the price of shipping when selling on eBay.

Free Apps

There are also a handful of good free apps you can use to sell your things, such as OfferUp, Close5, LetGo, Decluttr, and others. If you prefer a way to sell your things from your smartphone, this may be the way to go.

Selling your things before you move doesn't have to be difficult. Use these marketplaces to list your items for sale and you'll likely get plenty sold before you pack up to move.