Getting Acquainted With Your Neighbors When Moving in Chicago

Getting Acquainted With Your Neighbors When Moving

Moving into a new neighborhood in Chicago can be a very dreadful situation, if you do not know anything about that neighborhood. You are surrounded by strangers, in a place that is unfamiliar to you.At The Professionals Moving Specialists, we understand that moving can be a very difficult process, but assimilating into a new area can be just as daunting.Therefore, it is very important that upon arriving in a new location, that you try to get better acquainted with your surroundings.One of the best ways is to make friends, to ease into the transition of moving.

Getting Acquainted With Your Neighbors When Moving in Chicago is significant advantages.Neighbors can help you understand where things are in your neighborhood, where all the entertainment centers are, where to shop, which are the fastest routes of travel, what schools are the best, which areas to avoid and other important information.Beyond these advantages sometimes it can just be nice to have people that you can talk and relate to, and share in exciting new experiences.Meeting new people for the first time though can be a very nervous task, so the following are some helpful ideas to help you get better associated with your neighbors, and assimilate better into your neighborhood.

Attend Neighborhood Events

Attending neighborhood events and getting involved in your community is an excellent way to make new friends and get better familiar with your area.Things like neighborhood watch , city council and other neighborhood socials are a great way to voice your opinion about different aspects of your community and give yourself a more enriching experience.You will meet people, learn about events and become more sociable.

Invite Neighbors to a House Warming Party

Inviting neighbors to a housewarming party can be a great way to introduce yourself.You can impress them with your culinary skills, enjoy a movie, drink wine, and any other enjoyable activity you can think of.House warming parties do not necessarily have to be exactly what was mentioned before, nor do they have to be extravagant events.Simply inviting someone over for lunch is a sufficient way of showing your interest to be more sociable.

Greet New Members

In much the same way that you would like to be treated upon entering a new neighborhood, you should provide the same kindness to newcomers.Invite new neighbors to your house, give them tips and advice about living in the neighborhood in Chicago and make yourself available to them if they ever need any help.This can be a great way of making fast friends, and becoming more at ease with your neighborhood.

In general, making yourself more available to the community, and engaging in more sociable practices with your neighbors, can alleviate any anxiety of being a stranger in a strange land.At The Professionals Moving Specialists, we hope that you can use these tips to become better acquainted with your neighbors and make your moving experience a rewarding one.

For moving services and tips read our Chicago Movers Blog The Professionals Moving Specialists, one of the most trusted names in moving.

20 Things People Forget When Moving

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Through the course of your move, while you are rushing to get organized and get your things in order, your belongings can occasionally be misplaced or forgotten altogether. Amidst all of the chaos, it is therefore important to remain organized, and make sure not to forget critical things that you will need in your new residence. At The Professionals Moving Specialists, we want to make sure that you stay well coordinated in your move so that you don’t leave anything behind. Past moving experience of helping clients move from one location in Chicago, IL to another, we have unfortunately heard individuals have forgotten key items that they have needed later on. Below is a list of the top Items Regularly forgotten during moving process.These items include:

1. Personal Records - Often times during the moving process, one of the most significant and forgotten items are personal records. Personal records take a decent amount of time to accrue, and should be gotten weeks prior to your move. These include dental records, medical records, veterinarian, and birth certificates.

2. Valuables - Jewelry and other valuable items are sometimes forgotten as they are usually placed in hidden or well protected areas. Make sure that you have all of your expensive and valuable items packed before you begin your move.

3. Library Books - This is one is also one of the most forgotten items on the list. Typically people tend not to forget to pack their bookshelves and books, but they do forget that some of these books are library books and are, in fact, due to be returned. Make sure to return all lent and borrowed library books to their proper library.

4. Dry Cleaning - Dry cleaning is also a very common thing that most people tend to forget while moving, as people leave their clothes at the dry cleaners and forget to pick them up. Make sure that if you have laundry or dry cleaning tickets around you make sure to recover all your clothes and not leave them behind.

5. Plungers and Toilet Bowl Cleaners - This is an example of another item often forgotten that people forget is theirs and not apart of the home. Plungers and toilet bowl cleaners as well as all other bathroom appliances are necessary in your new home.

6. Phone Books - Other typically forgotten items are phonebooks and address books. Be sure that you remember to bring your phonebooks with you as you don’t want to leave behind all of your contacts.

7. Keys - Keys of all kinds can be forgotten during the moving process. This can include old house keys, new house keys, car keys, cabinet keys, safe keys etc. Make sure to recover all of your keys as it will cause you difficulty later on.

8. Household plants - Household plants are another very common item that is often forgotten. Do not forget your household plants as they will not be properly cared for and watered and will likely wither away in your absence.

9. Coffee Makers - Often forgotten as if a piece of the abandoned kitchen themselves, many people forget their coffee makers in their old house. Pack you coffee makers or else how else will you wake up in the morning!!!

10. Gardening Tools - Gardening tools are typically located outside of the home which explains why they are typically forgotten. Hoses, lawnmowers are among the most forgotten items, so be sure you do not forget them when you are preparing for your move.

11. Microwaves - Another kitchen appliance often thought of as part of the kitchen themselves, and the main reason why it is left behind. A microwave is a significant part of your home and home dining, so be sure not to forget to pack it.

12. Medicine - Often left in cabinets and closets, medicines are a very important and should not be forgotten. Some prescription medication is needed regularly and forgetting them can be an extreme detriment to your well-being. Be sure not to forget your medicines.

13. Tools - This refers to all kinds of household tools such as hammers, nails and thing of that nature. Make sure that you collect all of your tools and place them in a tool box that is easy to carry and manage.

14. Toilet Paper - Arguably the most important item on this list. Do not forget toilet paper...you will regret it later.

15. Mail/Bills - A common mistake people tend to make when moving is to inform the post office of their change of address. Failing to do this will result in your mail being sent to your old address, and you will not be able to get a hold of important bills and other significant mail.

16. Garage Door Opener - Another example of one of the most forgotten moving items. Garage Door Openers can sometimes be an expensive tool and most people forget to remove their openers to bring to their new residence.

17. Gym Memberships - In a similar light to mails/bills, most people forget to cancel their gym memberships in their old neighborhoods and still incur the costs associated with membership fees. Be sure to cancel your gym memberships and all other memberships and subscriptions.

18. Trash and recycle bins - Another group of items people often forget are their trash and recycle bins, as they are located on the outside of the home. Make sure to recover these items, as the new residents will most certainly use them.

19. Lamps and other lighting equipment - People often forget their lamps and other lighting equipment in the home as well. Make sure that anything that is plugged into an outlet is removed which brings us to the next item...

20. Chargers and other plug ins - Once again be sure to remove any items plugged into outlets. Chargers especially are important as you cannot use your phone without them.

The Professionals Moving Specialists hope is by showing you this list, and making movers aware of commonly forgotten items, you can become more organized in your move. And if you are looking for a superlative moving company to help you transition into your new residence, be sure to contact The Professionals Moving Specialists, one of the most trusted names in moving.

10 Things You Don't Need But Should Bring To Your Dorm Anyway

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College can be the best time of your life, but also very stressful.  Where else is it normal to see young adults sprawled and asleep in the most random places, curled up on the couch or floor like a child?  Once finals week hits, it’s a free for all and everyone is eating and sleeping in those free minutes in between studying for a different class.

This is exactly why you should have an escape.  For those moments when school is too much and you need to relax with your friends, make sure you have everything you need.

Here are 10 things to bring to your dorm that you don’t really need, but will be glad you brought anyway.

TV

You never need to bring your TV.  It’s just nice to have around, especially if you are like me and watch basically every show on air.  It’s also a nice, mindless activity for the moments when you don’t want to think.

Game Station

Whether you have an Xbox or a Playstation, bring it with your TV.  Sometimes there is nothing more relaxing that gunning down enemies in Call of Duty or beating all your friends in Super Mario.

Snacks

This is sort of essential, but sort of not.  It depends on what kind of snacks and food you bring.  Sometimes you just need to be unhealthy and stuff your face with chips and chocolate.

Board Games

Video games can only take you so far.  Sometimes there is nothing better than breaking out the old Monopoly board or a surprisingly aggressive game of Cranium.

Nintendo DS

Do you have one?  Because if you don’t you should get one…or a PSP.  Yeah, I know phones have apps nowadays, but battery life goes so fast.  Not to mention, those games aren’t half as complicated as the ones you can play on the DS.

Snuggie

Whoever created the Snuggie is a genius, especially on those winter nights where it’s warm in your room, but somehow you still have a chill under your skin.  Not to mention they are great during testing weeks when you fall asleep where you are studying.

Books

They weigh a lot and take up space, but sometimes you just need your favorite stories with you.  You know, the ones that are beat up with pages ripped because you’ve read them so much.

Stuffed Animals

Don’t trust anyone who doesn’t like stuffed animals because they are most likely evil.  There is nothing better than cuddling up with your favorite teddy bear as you are trying to figure your way through the chemistry textbook which seems to be written in every other language but English.

Baking Sheets

There are moments that can be made a thousand times better by the smell of baked goods.  Every dorm has a kitchen and every kitchen has an oven.  Grab some of your friends and whip up a batch of brownies or cupcakes or something.  It’s fun and you’ll have something sweet to eat after.

Kirugumi

Kirugumis are the proper name for animal onsies.  They are so comfy, you really need to get one.  So what if you’re a college student?  The time to do it is now because you won’t have an excuse later.  On cold days, have a Kirugumi party with your friends.

For more information about student moving in Chicago, click here.

Tackling Office Relocation in Chicago, IL

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Commercial moving is always tedious, especially if you have a large office.  Office Relocation in Chicago, IL is more of an easier moving process when hiring the Professionals Moving Specialists. There are a number of people to account for and even more equipment and furniture.  To make you Chicago office moves easier, see our moving tips below.

Planning Always Works

For something as large scale as an office move, planning is one of the most important things to do.  Depending on the size of your office, give yourself five yourself three to eight months to prepare.  Remember that it’s never too early to start preparing and the more ready you are, the easier the move will be.

Firstly, make sure everyone in your office knows that they will be moving.  You don’t want moving day to come only to find out an entire department had not been informed.  Then get the floor plans for the new office.  You will want everything ready there before you move in.  Plot out where the desks and cubicles will go.  Is there going to be a copier room or a file and storage room?  Also remember to have the interior decorators in early.  You don’t want the carpenters still putting in carpet when you move in.

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Time To Tell The World

There is always someone you will need to tell.  It depends on what type of business you run, but some important people include vendors and contractors.  Your lawyers and clients should most definitely be notified as well.  On your stationary, all addresses on business cards and letterheads will have to be changed.  The move should also be announced on your website if you have one and altered on any advertisements you have out.  Make sure everyone knows the date of the move as well.  You don’t want anyone going to the new offices before they’re finished or going to the old offices after you’ve moved out.

Time To Re-Evaluate the Tech

Moving gives you an excuse to upgrade like you’ve been meaning to for the past year.  With technology moving so fast nowadays, machines that are 5 years old are actually 10 years out-of-date.  Here is a perfect excuse to throw out the bulky models for some sleeker, newer versions.  If you keep your current computers and machines, make sure they will all be carefully packed for transport.  You don’t want anything damaged.

For your new offices, call ahead to get phone lines and internet installed.  That way any potential problems will be resolved by the time you move in.  With everything ready, you’ll be up and running in no time.

office

Time To Organize

Organization is one of the most important elements if you want a smooth move.  With so much stuff, it is really easy to misplace boxes and lose files.  Your workers will pack their own things.  Make sure they properly label all their boxes so nothing gets sent to the wrong place.  Then write up a master list of everything that is packed.  It’s a simple way to keep track of the large amount of items about to be relocated.

Hire Professional Movers

Great movers can make all the difference.  If you are moving your business within Chicago, The Professionals Moving Specialists is the moving company to call.  Our team is fast, efficient, and extremely courteous.  We pride ourselves in our customer service.  We will help you pack and unpack your equipment and machines.  We will also help you take apart and rebuild furniture and cubicle dividers.  The Professionals Moving Specialists are an all-inclusive service that aims to please.  Our goal is to help you move so that your business will have as little downtime as possible.

Not Everything Goes According To Plan

And that is okay.  You may have plan the move to the smallest of details, but there will always be surprises.  If something unexpected happens, don’t panic.  It is only a small bump.  The rest of the move has already been planned out.  Remember to be flexible and have some leeway.  Being able to adapt will make moving a lot more stress-free.

Helping Seniors Move

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Moving is a difficult procedure when you’re young, so imagine how challenging it is when you are a senior citizen and you can no longer move as agilely as you did in your youth.  Not to mention, as you get older you develop a set routine and it becomes harder to adapt to change.  If you are helping Seniors Move or elderly adult in their advanced years move in the Chicago area, check out some of these tips to make the transition an easier experience for everyone.

Explanation

It’s important to explain to your senior citizen what is happening.  It is imperative to tell them that they are moving several months ahead of time so they can become accustomed to the idea.  It may be a new apartment, or a new house, or an assisted living facility.  Whatever it is, it is most likely different from what their current living arrangement is.  Walk them through what living in their new place is going to be like.  Also explain to them what is going to happen on moving day.  Once the movers come in everything will be happening quickly.  This might be overwhelming for the elderly if they do not know what is going on.  Also, it gives them a semblance of control over this change.  They will be able bring up some ideas of specific needs that you can keep in mind.

Early Start

It’s always smart to start packing early.  It gives you more time to sort through your stuff and decide what you want to keep and what you want to throw away.  After living for so long, it is very likely that things pile up.  It will take a while for your senior to get through all the clutter they have collected throughout the years.  Starting early is especially vital if they are moving to a smaller location.  A lot is going to have to be thrown out, donated, or stored away.

Medication

If your senior citizen is not on some sort of medication then he or she is very healthy and I applaud his/her health.  Unfortunately, as the body ages the need for medication arises and it is more likely than not that your older adult has a cocktail of pills they need to take every day.  Keep the medication with you.  Pill bottles can be easily lost in mess that is moving and packing and you don’t want to be ripping open boxes if an emergency happens.  Also, check out the new area before the move.  Find out where the local drugstores and doctors are.  Once your elderly person has properly moved in, you can show them where to fill out their prescriptions and the way to the doctor’s office for appointments.

Who Are Your Movers?

Who your movers are can be very important.  Let them meet the workers and talk to them.  It will help any anxiety they have about strangers handling their things.  They can also help with reassuring your senior citizen by explain their procedures.  Most importantly, do not let your older adult do any heavy lifting.  They are at greater risk for serious injury, so avoid the possibilities of any broken bones or dislocated joints by letting the movers do their job.

It’ll Be Okay

Everyone needs reassurance sometimes and that goes for the elderly as well.  The flurry of activity on moving day will most likely overwhelm them.  Stay by their side and make sure they are okay.  Comfort them when you need to and talk them through what is going on.  Half the panic is usually a result of not knowing.

The Professionals Moving Specialists

Here at The Professionals Moving Specialists, customer service is our number one priority.  We understand the stress of moving and it is our job to make it as minimal as possible.  We will work with you and your senior citizen so that the experience will be as comfortable as possible.  We can help pack and unpack your items and we will coordinate every step of the process with you.  With multiple awards and great yelp reviews under our belt, you know we are the movers you want when you are moving in the Chicago area.