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.
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!
Moving Concerns – Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
Every time you change your address, you become susceptible to identity theft. You need to know why it’s possible for thieves to steal your information and use it to their benefit. By getting yourself properly informed, you can make sure that all vulnerabilities are dealt with before moving to a new home.
Identity theft generally occurs when a person gains access to your personal information and use it to use your credit cards, gain access to your bank account or even create fake documents using your name. When people move, it often becomes easier for identity thieves to attack since people mostly leave valuable information behind that others can possibly use. Identity theft is highly likely if you fail to reroute mail to your new address, shred important papers which are just left in the garbage can, or if you happen to hire rogue movers.
To avoid identity theft, make sure to do the following things:
Create a Checklist of Change of Address – Before moving day, ensure that you spare enough time to list all companies and subscriptions you receive via postal system. Mail theft is one of the most common and easiest methods that somebody can acquire your personal identity. This does not necessarily mean though that those people who are going to live in your old home after you move out are not trustworthy enough; it’s just that people often throw out mails that don’t belong to them. Thus, don’t forget to make a list. Try to imagine every possible situation and who might contact you through mail, including your former employers, school of your children, banks, real estate agents, lawyer offices, magazine and newspaper subscriptions and credit card companies.
Destroy Records and Files Properly – Get rid of those files and records you don’t need any more. However, be sure to do so properly. Shred documents well and if there are any vulnerable information like bank statements or credit card applications, you can bring those to professional shredding companies who can dispose of the materials properly. Alternatively, you can buy a home paper shredder that can shred things like old credit cards.
Take Important Documents With You – If you’re going to move important documents, don’t pack them along with your other household belongings that will be moved through the moving truck. Instead, pack them very carefully and take them with you in the car. If you must stop by a hotel, don’t forget to take the documents into the room. Never leave them in your car, just to be safe.
Hire Reliable Chicago Movers – Hiring trustworthy Chicago movers is the best way to make sure that your possessions reach your home in the safest way possible. It’s quite a difficult task but you need to take some time to do your research and shortlist companies in order to select the best one that fits your needs. Ask the right questions and be wary of rogue movers.
Make a Complete Home Inventory – If you’re thoroughly aware of which stuff you’ve packed and what things the movers will move, then it would be quicker to find out what could be missing. Keep track of your household belongings by taking a home inventory. It’s also necessary in case you need to make a claim or report the moving company.
Check Up the Address Changes After Moving – After the move, check your change of address list again and contact those that could pose a risk in security like credit card companies, banks, etc. Inquire if they have your new address and if they have rerouted the mail.
Hiring trustworthy movers like New City Moving will help to ease the stress of moving, and make sure you have the best experience possible. For a free moving estimate give us a call toll free at 800-733-6644.
Moving Tips – Maintaining Safety
Moving is quite stressful, both physically and emotionally. Your body can experience much stress and possible injuries along the way. Ensure that you keep your home safety-proofed, even if you’re hiring movers for the moving process.
Box Weight – All of your boxes should weigh not more than 50 pounds. If you’re not certain about the weight of a box, try to lift it. You must not experience too much strain when lifting it and you should also feel steady while standing. You may have to carry the boxes over a long distance to the truck or up and down the stairs so consider the accessibility issues of both your old and new home. Also, take note of the proper way to lift things; avoid bending over when picking up an item. You can just squat down; then lift the box with your whole lower body.
Proper Equipment – Rent the right equipment to save yourself from back strain. Having proper equipment will also help you move and stack bigger, heavier pieces more easily. A dolly can help you in carrying boxes. You may also want to use straps to secure boxes to the dolly or to help you in lifting big items.
Examine the Property and Check for Any Dangerous Areas – Before moving day, try to check areas around your old and new home. Find the nearest spot where the moving truck can park safely. It might be necessary to reserve the spot prior to the move. Check if there are any uneven walkway or sidewalk spots. Make sure that steps in the front walkway of your house are clearly visible. You can mark the steps with chalk, if necessary, and highlight where the step is situated. People get easily distracted during a move and those helping you with the move may not see the steps, especially if they are not familiar with your home.
Rent a traction mat if the entrance to your house tends to become slippery when wet. You can rent it from mat rental outlets and moving companies. Additionally, mats are useful in making sure that movers don’t accidentally step on fragile areas.
Take note of other dangerous areas such as tree branches, poles, posts or anything that could potentially pose a problem for movers. Remove low hanging obstacles or mark them.
Top Five Things You Might Forget to Do on Moving Day
You may have read lots of tips about preparations for moving day and important things to do before you move. However, even though you’ve packed up everything else and you’re ready for the Chicago movers to come, there might still be things you’ll forget to do on moving day. Here’s a list of top five things you wouldn’t want to neglect doing.
1. Save parking space for the Chicago apartment movers. – Whether you opt to move yourself or you’ve chosen to hire movers, it’s very important to make sure that there’s ample parking space for the moving truck. It’s best to inform your neighbors about your move and tell them that you will have to use the front parking spaces or perhaps the back alley, whichever one is more convenient. If you’ve hired movers, ensure that they park the truck close to your old house and also your new home. If you’re not yet aware, moving companies actually charge extra fees for a “long carry” that’s why you should block off enough parking space for the moving truck so your movers won’t have to park down the street.
2. Inform your neighbors. – As mentioned earlier, notifying your neighbors is important and not meant to be neglected. Not only should you inform them that you’ll need more parking space, but of any inconvenience too that they may experience on your moving day. If you plan to move on a weekend, your neighbors are more likely to stay at home so tell them beforehand that you’ll use the space out front or the sidewalk.
3. Have some cash. – You may have to tip your movers, especially if they have done a great job, or you may want to buy some snacks along the way so it’s good to have some cash at hand. This will save you the hassles of having to run to the bank or fumble for a credit card at the last minute. It’s advisable to tip your movers with cash so be sure to have it ready in your pocket on moving day.
4. Leave the keys behind. – Make sure you actually know what to do with the house keys before moving day. If you own your house, contact the new owners or the real estate agent; if you’re renting your place, contact your landlord. Collect all copies of the keys from your family members and friends. More importantly, of course don’t forget to have the keys to your new house ready. Don’t let your movers wait while you fumble for the keys; this may cost you extra fees.
5. Provide specific and correct driving directions to your new place. – You may be very familiar about how to get to your new house but the movers might have a difficult time. Thus, it’s necessary to provide them with detailed instructions such as where to park. Additionally, friends or relatives who are helping you move also need to know specifically where to go. The last thing you’d want to make you stressed out is finding out that not everyone is following in the right direction.
Moving is definitely a stressful process but if you prepare well and remember the tips above, then you can get by as scheduled! Before selecting a company make sure to check out the Chicago movers reviews online to ensure you have a reliable company!
Helping Your Children Settle into New Bedrooms
Kids may feel enthralled or very anxious when it comes to moving out. As a responsible parent, you should help them deal with the move properly, ease their worries, and settle in well at the new place. It’s important for them to say goodbye to friends and neighbors. Another common problem during the first few nights after the move is sleeping in their new rooms. Try to make them feel comfortable as much as you can. After the kitchen, the next place to unpack should be the bedroom.
Same as you have allowed your kids to sort through their own stuff and pack some things, allow them to unpack things as well. Ask them about their preferences for arranging the room and let them feel that they have freedom to manage their own space. Make their beds up with their usual blankets or any fave sheets. Put up any pictures or posters to make the room more familiar. Remember, your kids can adjust to the new space more quickly if the bedroom stuff get unpacked as soon as possible.
To help them feel more comfortable with the new room, try to make arrangements so that the new room will look like the one at your old home. Display the same items in the new room. Introduce them to every corner of the room and the things that could be put there. Always ask suggestions. Your kids might want the wall painted with a better color. Let them feel safe and secure by showing a positive attitude.
Walk your children through their area of the house several times so they can get familiar easily and they can also feel comfortable knowing which rooms you sleep or where the bathroom is. You may want to keep a soft light on in the bathroom or plug in nightlights to help your little kids adjust for the first week after moving.
Here you can find more information on our website regarding Moving with Children.
Top Six What If Questions People Ask When Moving
All of us have our own fears when it comes to moving, and these fears lead to doubts that somehow weaken your belief that the move will work out. Let’s discuss the top questions that most people tend to ask themselves when moving out. Learn how to combat these fears to deal with the move more aptly.
• What if the movers fail to show up on the day of the move?
Well, this is easily the most common question in everyone’s heads. Once you opt to hire Chicago movers, the thought that they won’t appear on moving day might bug you several days before the move. This has actually happened to some people due to unprecedented and inevitable events. If it ever happens to you, what you need to do first is contact the moving truck’s driver to check if he/she has been delayed. If you find out that surprisingly, the movers simply don’t want to move you, then you’d better get over the shock and take out your list of those Chicago moving companies you had interviewed previously and call each of them immediately to see if some arrangements can be made. To avoid time issues, it’s best to allow ample time for possible delays such as these when you’re scheduling the move.
• What if I lose my reservation for the truck I reserved from a rental agency?
This is another thing that could bother people who have already reserved a moving truck a few months in advance. If you’re in luck, you might be able to find another agency with an available truck the moment you need it. However, just to be sure situations don’t get very stressful and disappointing, it’s important to have a back-up plan. Find out which agencies have available trucks on your moving day and create a list of their prices and contact numbers.
• What if the people whom I’ve asked for help suddenly cancel?
This is such a difficult situation, especially if you’re counting on family and friends rather than paid services. Call your friends or relatives two days prior the move to determine if they will be available. Additionally, you should always have a list of movers at hand. If some of the movers are not busy on a move, then they could probably help you for a fee. Just inform them that you’re not in need of their truck.
• What if we can’t move into our new home on moving day because it’s not available?
There is a slim chance that this could occur, but it does happen sometimes and it can occur because of the landlord’s fault. You might end up paying your movers for loading and unloading your goods into storage for a couple of days until the new place becomes ready. So, it’s good to incorporate this type of contingency plan into your budget. It’s good to have extra funds for unexpected expenses.
• What if the movers deliver our goods on the scheduled day?
There’s possibility for this to occur for those moving over a long distance. Your movers will give you a schedule of the time they’ll reach your home, so be sure that it’s included in your contract. If the movers get late, you should contact the moving company frequently while waiting. If you doubt the responses of the moving company, then you should call the BBB and report the issue. But before you do that, be sure to inform your movers first that you’ll report them if your goods fail to arrive any sooner.
• What if some of my belongings go missing after the move?
After the move, it’s imperative that you check each of your items as they enter your door. Use the household inventory sheet you’ve created and check all items. Don’t sign the waybill if you find any box or item missing. Also, ensure that the item is marked clearly to enable the company trace the missing item. You should have ample insurance. Try to report any missing item immediately.
If you have any other questions about moving, feel free to ask the team at New City Moving.
Tips for Selecting the Right Chicago Mover for You – Moving Quotes
Once you’ve done your research and you’ve shortlisted at least two or three moving companies, the next step would be contacting the Chicago moving companies and asking for moving quotes before you make a final decision. Take your time so you can carefully assess each Chicago moving company and select the best one that meets your requirements. Selecting the right moving can take up to 10 weeks, depending on the season. The busiest moving season is during summer and if you’re about to move within this time, then be sure to have some flexibility in your schedule. It may be quite tough to book a move during summer as well as arranging estimate interviews.
Don’t forget to create detailed notes of whatever is necessary for the move such as your household goods and if you have any large, awkward pieces of furniture. Specify the number of rooms the movers need to move and which type of rooms these are. Estimate the number of boxes necessary for each room.
Take note of the boxes’ contents. Try to assign a fairly precise weight to every box since some boxes may weigh considerably heavier than the others. Be sure to provide the same information to all moving companies you‘ll interview.
Be wary of movers in Chicago that suspiciously offer you a low estimate only to ask for twice as much eventually. To avoid such situations, ensure that the estimate is provided in writing and mentions a “not to exceed” clause or statement assuring that the estimate they gave you is binding.
According to the FMCSA, a moving company should provide a client with a written estimate. Thus, you should receive a copy of the written estimate that covers all charges including accessorial, transportation, and advance charges. You and the mover must sign the estimate and the moving company also has to provide you with the estimate’s dated copy at the time you sign it.
Which Type of Movers Should You Hire?
Self Service Moves vs. Full Service Moves
A very important and often very tough decision to make when planning to move is whether to carry it out yourself or just hire movers. More often than not, the decision boils down to costs and time left; both of these factors are crucial to a successful move. The situation becomes all the more difficult when you feel that you want to hire Chicago Movers but you can’t afford the expensive charges. In such case, a self service move could be your best option.
Self Service Move
A self service move involves hiring movers who will provide you with quite limited services, unlike full service moves wherein movers transport your household belongings to a moving truck, drive the truck to your new place and unload things too. Self service movers simply do the task of driving the truck. You will be the one responsible for packing your goods and unpacking them upon arriving at your new home. This is somehow an inexpensive and ideal option for those who want to save some money when moving.
Services Offered by Self Service Movers
As mentioned earlier, self service moves basically involve a professional driver and the moving truck. You will be responsible for all other costs, from packing everything that you need to move, packing the truck, and unloading items when you reach the destination. Sometimes, self service companies provide a moving container, which is a big mobile unit that you can place on your front lawn several days before the move. With this type of service, you can pack the container for a longer period of time; thus, you don’t have to worry about tripping over boxes as you proceed with packing your goods.
Cost of Self Service Moves
Costs vary greatly depending on how much stuff you have, the distance that you’re moving and the places where you’re moving to and from. Additionally, costs will depend on the type of service you need, whether you require a mobile container or need the truck for a longer time. Be sure to ask the company upfront about which services the estimate cost includes and what extra charges may apply.
Is a Self Service Move Really Inexpensive?
Self service moves don’t necessarily mean that you can save a lot. To determine if this service is best for you, you should assess the amount of time it will take to move your belongings to the truck and the number of people you need to help in the moving process. If you have plenty of time and lots of people to help you out, then it’s optimal to select this service.
However, I highly recommend that you weigh and compare the costs of a full service and self service move. You might find that a full service move is actually worth the cost, particularly if you have large pieces of furniture and awkward objects to move and a limited time. Consider not only the overall costs but the time, effort, resources, and stress required for the move. Also, if you have lots of valuable items to move, then perhaps it would be better to hire professional movers to ensure safety and security.
Call New City Moving to get a free quote from the best Movers in Chicago at 800-733-6644!
How to Protect Your Carpets on Moving Day
Sorting through stuff and packing them carefully are undoubtedly top priorities in a moving preparation process. In addition, another important task you may want to plan is how to protect your carpets effectively. Your carpets will probably get soiled and dirty with all the hustle and bustle during a moving process, especially if it rains on your moving day. You and your movers will have to enter and go out many times so bringing in some dirt will be inevitable. Here are a few useful tips to help you preserve the cleanliness of your carpets.
When protecting your carpet, the most significant thing you need to remember is that there will be two sets of carpets that need protection – one in your new home and of course the other one in your old home. Be sure to plan ahead in time on protecting your carpet at both places.
Before you decide upon which method will be best to use, contact your selected Chicago Moving Companies first to find out which measures they will employ to protect your carpet. Generally, there aren’t any standard procedures in protecting carpets, but your movers may prevent carpet damage by having runners or drop clothes laid out during the moving process. In any case, you should know in advance what the situation will be and what extra fees you need to pay.
A great way to avoid any damages to your carpet is using Carpet Shield which is a plastic, self-adhesive film that can be applied to carpets. Through this product, you can cloak your carpet conveniently with a non-slip, tear-free surface. It’s available in various sizes and it typically doesn’t leave any adhesive residue on carpets. To lay the film out more easily, you can buy a paint roller-like applicator. However, since it’s such a great product to use, it’s also very expensive.
If by any chance you haven’t been able to find Carpet Shield, or you’re too thrift and refuse to spend any more dimes on any moving material, there are still other good alternatives available.
Collect some towels, blankets, bed sheets, or even drop cloths and place them on top of your carpet. You can also use old rolls of carpet by cutting them into strips and putting them over your carpet. Although these materials are a cheap means to protect carpets, they can bunch up on you easily. To avoid this, use masking tape and tape them down. Just be sure to take extra care and caution when stepping on these things. Tell your movers to be careful too.
If these materials are not available in your house at the moment of the move, you still have one probable alternative – cover your feet. You may want to buy cloth, paper, or plastic boot covers and request your movers to put them on during the move.
With the help of these tips, hopefully you can ensure the cleanliness of your carpet and have it free from mud, water, or dirt even after the moving process. Make sure to hire a reliable Chicago Moving Company like New City Moving to assist you with all your moving needs.
We are proud members of:
Our Insurance Companies
We Accept
©2009 New City Moving Inc. IL ICC #158051: Terms of Use
2358 N. Damen Ave. Chicago, IL 60647