Tips for the Employee before the Big Move
Even with telecommuting and open space offices on the move, whenever a company picks up stakes and heads to a new location there are adjustments that need to be made. Whether that means picking up a whole sorting operation, cleaning out a cubicle, or just going through your desks there are a few things that you as an employee should know before a Chicago Mover starts transporting your office.
MARK EVERYTHING. While it may seem horribly inconvenient besides the “Toss everything in the trucks” option, the fact is that when you reach your destination and start unpacking you may not know what many of the files, items, or appliances that appear belong or where they came from. While most offices form a “lost and found” system for a few weeks following their move, a good inventory system or even instructions scrawled on the top of each box can help bring order to moving chaos.
PERSONAL PROPERTY. When your office moves you want to make sure that any of your personal property, whether it involves sentimental value, real value, or it is just yours, gets moved with you. If it is damaged during transport it may not be covered by insurance (as the company is moving, not you). Otherwise it may go missing or it may go “missing” (especially if the secretary two floors down has noticed your new fangled stapler in the past). Eliminate the risk and get a box for yourself.
CLEAR YOUR FILING CABINET EARLY. These are going to be too heavy to move with all the files in them, making a company move the perfect opportunity to sort, scan, or recycle old documents. Those that you do decide to take with you should be put into carefully labeled boxes in order as to make their re-filing as easy and clear cut as possible.
Tips to Help Out When You Are Getting Ready for Your Move
1) Take advantage of ‘hidden’ space that you can use while you are moving. For instance, if you have a dresser with drawers use it to move extra clothing, just make sure that the drawers are taped or rubber banded shut.
2) Have the heaviest items in a box or suitcase paced at the bottom to help stabilize the container during the move and prevent your heavier items from crushing the lighter items.
3) Don’t over pack boxes. This can result in the box breaking and splitting open and it can make it very difficult for one person at a time to move boxes.
4) Don’t trust plastic or paper bags during your move. While these are abundant and are fine for groceries, if they are damaged, lose handles, or split open while you are moving it will start to add a lot of hassle to the process.
5) Plan your route. Know the loading zones and stair wells that you are going to be using as you move into and out of your new and old residences. This may mean asking to reserve a certain parking spot, dealing with loading elevator times, or picking up extra blankets to help get your furniture around stairwell turns without rubbing or scraping. Thinking ahead will cut down on your ‘figuring out’ time the day of.
6) Label your essentials box with “load last, unload first.” This may mean computers, power strips, tools to put furniture together, etc…
7) make sure that if you are moving a rug or carpeting that you put it on top. You don’t want to have to move everything around it more than you need to.
Call New City Moving about the heavy lifting and navigating for your move. A professional Chicago Mover will let you know what your move is going to take, how much it will cost, how long it will be, and what you have to expect. The call is free and the headaches that they will prevent are greatly to be desired.
Moving in Chicago?
If you are a private citizen moving within the great and windy city of Chicago you have a great number of choices as to how you want to move. But are they all good?
Many people don’t understand just how stuff they have. It isn’t a simple matter of calling up your friends and asking them if you can borrow their car. While most of us have tried this at some point, what you end up with is most of your friends creating awkwardly contrived excuses to avoid helping while those who are their awkwardly try to load all of your stuff into too few cars (as many urbanites go without vehicles due to high prices, public transportation, and hectic driving conditions). It ends up taking a long time and creating relational strain. Also you need to deal with parking shortages and limited timeframes and loading zones. Trying to move with a taxi service is even worse, though there are stories of it occurring on occasion.
Others call up relations to borrow vehicles and ask for help. While this may be a good option for families located in the Chicago area, a huge proportion of the city has immigrated from other parts of the country requiring relatives to drive over state lines with trucks or trailers that are hard to work within the unrelenting traffic patterns around Chicago neighborhoods. Finding parking at both moving sites that is nearby and has good access to loading elevators can add hours to the process.
New City Moving provides a better alternative. As professional Chicago movers we competitive and tailored pricing packages to help you complete your move as fast as possible in as short of time as possible. We deal with parking, moving your boxes, wrapping your furniture, and operating freight elevator systems. Take the stress out of moving and call today for a no-obligation consultation.
What Yelp Has to Say about New City Moving
“Fast, efficient and delivered all they promised…”
“If I could give 10 stars, I would…”
“These guys really do know how a company should be run!”
“I will never move myself again after hiring New City. Best money I’ve probably ever spent!”
“These guys are reasonably priced and really do treat your stuff like it is theirs. Totally awesome.”
New City Moving has long been a believer in honesty and transparency in our service, in giving people the best possible service and letting them tell everyone they want! This explains our active participation on the social media and review site Yelp where we have almost two hundred reviews and an average rating of five stars… Out of five stars! If you don’t believe that our service is everything we advertise just go online and read up on others who have used other Chicago Movers, and who have used us. They will tell you there is no comparison and that they are never going to try ‘going it alone’ or ‘doing it yourself’ again.
And while you’re on yelp, try looking up some of our competitors. Try it. Just see if they stack up the way that we do. We are certified by the Better Business Bureau for a reason and active with the Chicago Chamber of Commerce and the Chicago Association of Realtors. And look us up on Angie’s List as well.
No other moving company in Chicago offers the diversity of service that New city moving does. No other company stands by our performance the way we do. Call today and talk to one of our professional moving consultants about your needs and the options and prices available to you. The consultation is free and there is no obligation. Come and see why New City Moving is the best Chicago moving option out there, guaranteed.
Why New City Moving Is THE Choice for Your Commercial Move
If you have a business you know exactly how important time is. Time waits for no one and missing days of work for something as basic as changing location can cost you clients, leads, profits, and opportunities. But you can avoid the loss. New City Moving, a company made up of distinguished and premier Chicago Movers, is committed to helping you make your move go as smoothly and as quickly as possible so that your employees can keep doing what they do and your company doesn’t need to break stride.
New City Moving assigns every commercial moving client with a personal moving consultant. That means you get their number and any time, day or night, before the move or after you can call them to address problems, concerns, or changes. This consultant will help you determine just how much equipment, space, and time your move will require and will offer a range of pricing options to secure your complete and total satisfaction.
At no additional charge New City Moving will load, move, and unload all your equipment using one of our fleet of moving trucks and a timely and professional moving crew. We also make sure that all furniture is securely and safely padded during transport and that large pieces are carefully disassembled and reassembled after the move is complete. We offer 100% insurance on all of your property and document the state of your inventory before and after the move is complete using a coded and itemized inventory system.
Don’t let a move slow your office down any more than it needs to. Call to today for a no-obligation consultation and quote and see why New City Moving is the choice for Chicago businesses on their way to bigger and better things.
Budgeting Tips for Moving within Chicago
Moving costs a lot, no matter how you undertake it. There are various expenses involved in a moving process but as long as you know beforehand the amount you’re willing to spend and the amount you need to spend, you won’t be entirely astounded with the final computation of your moving costs.
The best method to budget your move effectively is to make a spreadsheet. Through this, you can record and keep track of all things you purchase and pay for. It’s also easy to update and modify accordingly. Just be sure to have a couple of printed copies before packing up your computer for moving day.To create an optimal budget, your first step should be figuring out how much you’ll spend approximately as you leave your house. Make an estimate of final fees such as utility bills and lease termination.
Next, determine the actual cost of moving your belongings. For best results, try to ask for estimates from at least three moving companies and compare the charges. Create the highest estimate possible in your budget, until you’re able to decide which moving company to hire. Additionally, it’s important to factor in the insurance cost and all other expenses, including your tip for the movers.
Consider relocating the items yourself, if you’re moving over a short distance. You’ll have to spend on extra costs for renting a van or a moving truck. Estimate fuel costs, rent for tools like handcart and loading ramp.
Purchase all necessary packing supplies, whether you opt to rent a cargo van or hire a moving truck. Albeit moving supplies may be considered as the cheapest expenses during the moving process, particularly if you can have free or second-hand boxes and supplies, you should still include them in your budget.
Once you determine the costs of packing and shipping your possessions, you can then assess the costs of getting yourself to your new residence. Estimate the required costs for gas, food, and even hotel rental during the trip. If you need to fly to your new place, make sure to record related fees especially the cost of plane tickets. Don’t forget to jot down costs of hiring babysitters for your kiddos as you prepare to move.
Another portion of your budget should comprise costs after moving in to your new home. Such costs may include mortgage payments, security deposits, rent, and other associated expenses. Additionally, find out in advance about the costs of starting utility services, parking permits, pet fees for apartments, etc.
Although you may not really quite consider it as part of your budget, it’s still recommended that you include grocery costs upon moving. Also, try to include costs of take-out food, since you probably wouldn’t want to cook on move-in day. Serve snacks and refreshments to your movers and anyone helping in the moving process. After adding up all of these costs to your spreadsheet, get the total.
Finally, add about 5-10% of the total cost to your tally. This additional amount will serve as backup budget in case there are any unexpected fees incurred during the move. By planning your budget accurately in advance, you’ll be able to prepare yourself for whatever the final cost turns out to be. With a detailed list at hand, you can easily review your budget and search for areas where you can possibly cut corners.
Tips for Helping Your Kids Settle into the New Chicago Home
Moving is quite a difficult event for children. After all the moving and packing are done, they have to deal with settling into their new space and it can be the toughest adjustment for them. They have experienced the difficulties of saying goodbye to good friends in the old neighborhood and school; however, there is also the excitement of meeting new neighbors, friends and exploring the new place. To help make the transition easier for them, you can follow the following tips and suggestions which you can employ during the first few weeks after the move.
Take a tour. – It’s good to take a tour around the house and neighborhood, even if your family has already seen the place before the move. Allow your kids to get familiar to the spaces in your new home, especially the bathroom as your little ones may find it a bit hesitant to go the bathroom in the middle of the night, knowing that it’s a whole new place for them. Walk your family through each space and tell them the purpose of the room and what activities will take place there. Ask for their opinions about how to organize the space. Visit each and every room, including the garage and the yard. You can then allow them to explore the new space on their own. Make the exploration a fun activity. Play games, such as hide and seek to encourage your children to explore and have fun.
Ensure that each family member has their own essentials box. – Everyone in your family should pack an essentials box, including your kids or teens. They can put their favorite stuff, including entertainment things like games, music, books, etc. The essentials box is the very first thing to get unpacked once you arrive at your new home.
Unpack your children’s rooms first. – Well, essentially, the kitchen is the very first room that should get unpacked. You can unpack basic stuff and necessities, especially those utensils and kitchenware that you’ll need for the next few days. After unpacking those important kitchen items, you can then start unpacking the kids’ rooms. Allow your children to unpack their own things, while assisting them once in a while. Let them express their opinions about how they want their room to be organized. Let them take part in the decision-making process so they can feel that they own the new space. This will help them settle into the new room more easily.
Get back into your family’s usual routine as soon as possible. – You can let your kids stay up a little longer on the first night of the move since it’s a special day for everyone. However, you should try to establish a daily routine after that. Stick to your usual mealtimes, playtimes and bedtime hours. This way, everyone in the family can feel more settled. Disrupting the daily schedule is a big no-no and it can be quite stressful. If you used to take your children to the nearest park on weekends, then find a local park in the neighborhood and incorporate the activity into your schedule. It can be tough to balance a lot of things, but settling is a very important part of the moving process so you should try to make time. Additionally, as a parent, you also need to enjoy your new home and know the neighborhood.
If possible, it’s best to hire professional unpackers to help you in the unpacking procedure. What may take you several weeks or months to unpack may only take expert unpackers a day or two to finish. This can surely save you plenty of time and effort.
Tips for Selecting the Best Chicago Neighborhood
Choosing the best neighborhood for you and your family is a very crucial decision to make, same as selecting the right house or apartment. The place should be safe to live in and affordable as well. Moreover, it should be able to provide you with all the things you need, including amenities.
If you plan to buy a home, remember that you’re not just going to purchase any house; rather you’re going to invest in a neighborhood. You have to be very cautious and careful when selecting the area you’ll live in.
You should ask yourself about the important features your ideal neighborhood should have. Do you prefer busy, active streets or quiet ones? Do you like to walk to amenities? Do you want to live near malls and restaurants? Do you like newer, developed cities or older neighborhoods? These are only some of the questions you can consider when choosing the right neighborhood that suits your needs and personal preferences.
After picturing that perfect neighborhood in your mind, you should also consider several factors.
Crime and Safety – Search the Internet for the crime statistics of your chosen city and neighborhood. Gather as much information as you can to find out about the safety of the place where you want to live in. Larger urban areas generally have detailed crime reports, whereas smaller places may have lesser information. Contact the city’s local police department where you can acquire specific information about a particular place.
Drive around the place and try to observe the surroundings. See if there are any sorts of vandalism such as graffiti and broken windows. Check if the houses have strong deterrents and signs.
Look and Feel – Take some time to walk around the neighborhood. Observe the condition of the streets, sidewalks, houses, front yards, etc. Check the traffic and noise. Take note of the type of people living in the place, whether it’s teeming with college students, young families or older ones. Try to take several walks through the neighborhood at different times of the day so you can find out more about the area and find out if you feel comfortable with it.
Transportation – Determine the length of time it takes to get to the workplace, school and other major places. Check for any public transportation.
School – A well-kept school is a good indication of a good neighborhood. If you have kids, it’s best to give importance to the schools in an area, when searching for and comparing neighborhoods.
Property Values and Taxes – Ask about the current value of the houses in your selected neighborhood. Then, contact a real estate agent and ask how that value would compare with the average value five or ten years earlier. Find out how much the property has increased and how much the neighborhood has changed. Also, find out if there are any potential future developments.
Regarding future development, you can acquire related information through the local Chamber of Commerce or at the city hall. It’s important to know about future developments since they can greatly change an area, such as changes in traffic and increase in taxes. Assess if such developments are amenable to the welfare of you and your family.
Property Taxes – Determine the current tax rate and its changes for the past five years. Know if there are expected increases and how much you may have to pay within five years. You can consider building the amount into your moving budget.
Amenities – If ease of access to amenities is important to you, then you should ensure that daily requirements can be met. Check the distance from the neighborhood to the convenience stores, grocery stores, restaurants, etc. You may also want to check bars and how noisy they can get over the weekends, if you prefer.
How to Hire Chicago Movers for Moving a Small Amount of Household Goods
Some people move with only a small amount of things, especially those who live in tiny apartments. If you’re wondering whether Chicago apartment movers will move even just a small amount of stuff, well, yes there are a good number of movers who can consider adding your items to a bigger shipment. There are several exceptions though.
Local moves are generally the most difficult. If you’re going to move across the city, there’s a lesser chance that local movers will move a small amount of stuff. Mostly, people opt to move themselves or ask help from friends. However, in long distance moves, moving companies utilize big transport trucks to transport goods across the country or state and along the way, they typically include a few pick-ups. If they still have room left, your things could be picked up.
To be certain, always ask a moving company about the services they offer and the costs. Contact a reliable and reputable moving company to find out if they can move your things.
Movers are less likely to take a small amount during peak seasons, such as summer. Most companies are already booked several weeks or months in advance, hence leaving no more extra space on the truck for pick-ups. So, if you’re planning to move during summer, be sure to spare some time to search for good movers early on. Alternatively, you can consider moving the things yourself.
Still, the decision to hire movers also depends on what type of stuff you’re going to move. If you need to move large pieces of furniture or appliances, like big screen TV, then it would be more preferable to hire a professional mover to ensure that your things reach your home safely. You may also need specialized services for some special items like pianos and appliances. Know the measurements of the things you’re moving, as well as its value, before calling a moving company so that the mover can give you proper insurance.
How to Move Your Computer
Computers are indispensable tools at home. If you’re like many people, you probably value your PC so much and you’d want to move it with you to your new home. However, since they are fragile electronic equipment, they require special care when moving. Thus, no matter how cumbersome the task can be, you must not neglect preparing your computer for the move. Here are a few tips to guide you.
Obtain enough insurance. Ensure that your moving insurance will cover any possible damages to your PC. Generally, moving companies base their insurance on weight so if your computer weighs around 50 pounds and your things are insured at 30 cents/pound, then you will be getting 20 dollars. This may seem barely sufficient for fixing your machine or replacing valuable information and documents so you must have adequate insurance.
Make sure to copy all of your files. With the technology we have today, copying files has become very easy and convenient so it would be a relatively quick task for you. If you’re capable of burning a DVD, then you should resort to this option. Depending on the speed of burning, DVDs can usually hold 4.7GB. This would make adequate space for your files. However, if you can’t burn DVDs, then you can buy a flash drive or portable drive. Increase the storage space or buy a second flash drive, if you have plenty of graphic intensive files. Don’t forget to put your flash drives in a safe place since they are small and easy to lose. You may want to buy a small lock box where you can store your flash drive or DVD, along with any software disks and instruction manuals.
Find the original box of your computer set. This should provide the best protection for the machine. After all, that’s the purpose it serves for. However, if you’ve already lost or used those boxes, then your next option would be to contact a specialty box company and ask for electronic or computer boxes. Ask for Styrofoam inserts as well to ensure that the computer parts are kept safe. The essential thing here is to protect your computer, particularly the hard drive, from bumps and damages. Additionally, the monitor is fragile so you may also want to buy a monitor box.
Check your computer thoroughly and be sure to remove any disk from the drives.
Be sure to turn the power off of the box and the monitor first before taking the computer apart. Then, disconnect it from the power source.
If this is your first time to dismantle a computer, you can label the cords before you unplug them. Write the purpose of the plug and where you should plug it in the box, on a piece of masking tape. Most computers nowadays have tiny images and a color-coded system for easier assembly.
After labeling everything, you can now unplug the cords from both the monitor and the box. Wind the cords up, tie them and them put them in a plastic bag or storage container. Keep them with your PC.
After packing up your computer and sealing the boxes, don’t forget to mark the boxes correctly. Indicate that the item is fragile and write down the contents.
Repeat the process when packing your other computer equipment such as printer and scanner. Make sure that each item is secured and nothing shifts during transit.
If there is enough space in your car, it would be good to take the machine with you. Just be sure to park your vehicle in a safe area when staying overnight at a hotel. You can also take it with you in the suite, for safety purposes.
Now that you know how to pack that fragile computer, you can be assured that it will be moved safely to your new home.
If you are searching for the best Chicago office movers, look no further than New City Moving! We safely move thousands of computers for our clients each year!
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