Top 6 Things You Might Forget to Do When Moving

The moving process is an overwhelming one, and it can be easy to forget to handle certain details. You may be tempted to choose the first moving company you come across without comparing option, just like you may find it tempting to just pack everything up without getting rid of unused things first.

Did you pay for a bunch of moving boxes you'll never use? Did you look into Green Moving Solutions? There are so many things to keep track of and handle before the move that preparing ahead time will help you avoid rushing through the process and neglecting important tasks. Jot down these 6 things that you may forget to do when moving so that you can cross all the t’s and dot all the i’s.

Sort your items and label the boxes

First, you’ll want to start looking at your items to see if there are things you no longer need. It’s smart to do this before a move so that you can spend less on moving expenses. Sometimes there are things you never use or that you know you’re ready to part with, such as furniture that won’t look good in the new house, wardrobe items, or old holiday items.

Consider what items would be great for donating or put in a garage sale to earn some extra cash for the move. When it’s time to pack everything up, be sure to label each box thoroughly and remind yourself which room each box was intended for, such as “kitchen box” or “bedroom.” We have free moving labels available if you need them!

Get the pets a check-up

Since you’re moving somewhere new, it may take time to find a new doctor, dentist, and vet. Now is the time to get your pet in for a check-up before going somewhere new, and to ensure your pet is handling the stress of the move well. Your pet’s health is important before taking a long trip to a new place, and it will help to have updated pet records from your current vet for when you go to a new vet.

Collect important documents

Now is the time to gather and maintain important documents for your move. You don’t want to have to dig through boxes to find your resume, medical records, or school records when you need them in your new town. Keep your important documents and records handy so as to not pack them into boxes that may not get unpacked for a while.

Compare moving companies

Be sure to do your homework to find a reputable moving company (*wink wink*) rather than hiring the one with the best price or the first one on your google search. Be sure to compare services, prices, conditions, and reviews, and select a reliable moving company in your area that can prove they are licensed and insured, will do an in-home visit, and has a great reputation in the community.

Create your moving checklist

Creating a moving checklist will help you avoid forgetting some of these tasks and others that may slip your mind later. Remind yourself to call for quotes with moving companies, to call around for free moving boxes, and to get utilities set up at your new home.

Remind yourself to redirect your mail and have the furniture sent to your home the day after you’ve moved everything. Be sure to have all of the times and dates on your checklist, as well as things to do and things not to forget on there.

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Pack an essentials box

Lastly, make sure you pack a “first week essentials” box. This should include things you’ll need to access right away, such as a shower curtain and towels, cookware and cups, as well as medicine and dog food. These types of things can end up packed with your regular household goods, and make the time after your move a stressful one.

These are the top 6 things that you won’t want to forget to do when it’s time for your upcoming move.

Why You Need Professional Office Movers When Relocating Your Chicago Business

Relocating comes with a lot of work, a lot of details to consider, and a lot of things to do. That is why hiring a moving company to handle the heavy lifting makes sense for your back, your schedule, and the safety of your belongings. When it comes to an office move, many people think that they can just have their staff handle moving their own belongings and that a moving company isn’t necessary.

If you are relocating your Chicago business, you are wise to leave the job to a professional office mover who will know how to not only protect your sensitive materials, but they can stick to a timeline to make sure you aren’t out of the office for long and help keep you organized from start to finish. Take a look at the reasons below as to why it is important to hire a professional office mover.

Staying organized and on time

First and foremost, your professional office movers will keep things organized and on time for you. It’s too easy for an office move to become unorganized and keeping your team out of the office for longer than intended.

Hiring a professional office mover means that you can rest assured that you’ll keep company data, your calendar, lease paperwork, and more organized from point A to B utilizing the crates and boxes they bring to you for the move. You can focus on other details while your moving crew helps you efficiently move your office’s sensitive information, equipment, and furniture to your new office.

You can also guarantee a return to the office date to your clients because you can count on your movers to keep things timely. When you move on your own, it’s too easy to find yourself with more stuff to pack, move, unpack, and set up before you can get back to work than you were expecting.

Since your movers can get you an ETA of how long the move will take, you’ll be able to plan accordingly to get things done before and after the move with a timeline in place. They can tell you how long to expect for packing, moving, unpacking, setting up, and cleaning up from the move so that you can know when to expect to be back to work.

Helping with the technological elements

In addition to the hassle of packing things without damaging them, moving them to the new location, unpacking them and setting up your office, your movers can help you in the technology department as well. Just like the time you had someone set up your office phone system and your desktop computer, your moving crew will be able to disconnect all of your technology, move it efficiently, and set it back up for you at the new location.

If you had to hire a team to set everything up for you, you will likely need help getting everything set up again at the new location. Allow a professional office mover to handle all of your office belongings and your technological needs so that you can focus on taking care of your clients before and after the move.

If an office mover is right for you, be sure to call The Professionals Moving Specialists in your area to get the move done carefully, efficiently, and properly, from start to finish.

Moving Insurance: Do you Need it? What is the Cost?

It doesn't matter if you're moving one neighborhood over or across the country; you may want to consider moving insurance. Before you decide to buy moving insurance, however, it's important to understand what it will protect and how much it costs.

Most homeowners choose a good moving company instead of going through the stressful process of packing and moving. Will using a residential moving company guarantee an item that covered if lost or damaged? Is the coverage offered good enough or should you get moving insurance?

Are Moving Companies Liable for Your Things?

Licensed moving companies in Illinois are liable for the value of the items they transport. If an item becomes damaged, while they are moving it, they are responsible. Moving companies have to offer two levels of liability, which are Movers Liability and Valuation.

With Valuation coverage, there is usually a fee associated. If an item is damaged the moving company will attempt to repair the damage and if not repairable the client will receive depreciated value for the item.

Movers Liability coverage is usually included in your move and the moving company will pay, if an item is broken. However, they only pay up to 30 cents per pound, per item. So, if you have a heavy coffee table worth $1,500 and it's damaged, the company only pays 60 cents per pound. Even if it weighs 100 pounds, that's only $30.

Buying Moving Insurance

These policies will provide coverage much like a standard insurance policy, which means you, will pay upfront for the coverage and pay a deductible if you make a claim.

It’s important to understand the type of protection you’re getting when buying moving insurance.  With some insurance policies, you will need to create a selected inventory to be covered, while other policies just cover the total value of your goods.

While you may not think you need the added coverage, you’ll probably wish you had it, if something does happen. Even the best moving companies cannot avoid every accident, but with good moving insurance, you’ll be covered.

Third-Party Moving Insurance

While purchasing moving insurance from a third-party may seem like a good idea, it can be rather expensive. This type of coverage can run anywhere from about $200 to $1,000, which is often much more expensive than purchasing additional coverage from your moving company. In addition, the deductible may be much higher in order to make the upfront rate lower.

Moving insurance offers an additional level of protection for your items when you need to move. If you don't feel like the required coverage offered by your professional moving company is enough, consider purchasing additional moving insurance from your moving company for full protection.