Tips for Loading the Moving Truck in Chicago
So you have already booked a moving truck and you’ve also finished packing your household goods. The next thing to do now is to think about moving day. You may want to carefully plan about how to load the truck. It’s always good to plan ahead on how to load your moving truck.
If you’re quite detailed and organized about things, you can go through your house and take note of the order through which items get loaded. Create a list and group boxes of similar sizes. This way, moving day will go smoothly and quickly.
The heaviest and largest things should be moved first, including appliances like washing machine, refrigerator, stove and items that require two or more people to move. You should load these items on the truck before everything else and try to place them against the far wall nearest to the cab. They should be positioned upright. Ensure that the truck is balanced by putting heavy objects on opposite sides.
To protect corners and wood surfaces, better use furniture padding which you can rent from the truck rental company. This padded protection will help you slide heavier things more easily onto the truck.
The next items you should move would be the longer items such as mattresses, box springs, headboards, long mirrors, sofas, etc. Put them against the truck’s longest walls to keep them upright and to save some space. Don’t forget to utilize mattress covers to avoid any rips and tears on your bed and sofa.
Disassemble bed frames and then tape the pieces together. The same should be done for longer items like poles and skis. When rolling up your carpets, put these items inside before taping your carpet closed. Put the carpet on the truck’s floor.
Next, load the biggest and heaviest boxes. Put them on top of your furniture and appliances. Fill any gaps and spaces under desks, tables, and on chair seats.
Lighter boxes should be transferred and stacked on the heavier ones, ensuring that they are put on top.
The last things to be put inside are fragile items and those with awkward shapes. Make sure that they will not shift around during the move.
With the help of these tips, hopefully you can plan your move properly and avoid confusion and hassles when loading your truck on moving day.
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.
Step by Step Procedure for Hanging Pictures in Your New Home
Once you move in to your new house, you’d want to make it feel like a home. One of the first touches you can add is personal artwork such as family photos. Here’s a short and easy process for hanging pictures in your home.
Things You’ll Need:
Framed artwork
Nails or any tool/device for hanging pictures
Hammer
Brown paper or any large plain paper
Pencils
Scissors
Level
Measuring tape
Floor space
1) First, make sure that you have already arranged the larger pieces of furniture in the space and the room is organized firmly. Adding artwork enhances or even defines a room and it can only be done after you have arranged furniture.
2) Assess the space on the wall where you will be placing the artwork. If you plan to hang several pieces on different walls, you may want to lay out the artwork on the ground first to determine which ones will look best together. Make sure that those pieces you select actually fit on the available wall space and all the furniture below or around it. If you desire to balance the room by filling space, you can try combining large artwork with smaller pieces. Mix and match until you achieve the best results.
3) Use large pieces of paper in tracing the frames. Then, cut out the paper counterparts of the artwork you want to hang. This way, you can arrange the pieces more easily. This will also help you avoid having to put many holes in the wall in a trial and error process.
4) Tape the paper representatives on the wall and use a measuring tape or level to make sure that the artwork will hang in even spaces. If you plan to put various art pieces side by side, be sure that the top of every frame will be evenly spaced and line up. Measure from a door frame’s top or from the ceiling down. Stand back and check if the arrangement works well with your furniture placement and the room space. Match different pieces and see if it creates a favorable effect. For rooms with a large, central furniture piece, the artwork should preferably be simple. On the other hand, plain walls need more creative artwork.
5) After deciding where to put the pieces, keep the paper placed on the walls while you hammer in the picture hanging unit or nail. Whichever tool you prefer to hang the frame should be capable of holding the weight of the artwork. A wall anchor may be necessary for very heavy pieces. Ask suggestions from a local home repair store.
6) With the nail in place, you can now remove the paper. Hang the artwork, stand back and behold your masterpiece!
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!
Moving Chicago the Right Way
Maybe you’ve got a great new job and it’s time to relocate. Maybe you’re starting graduate school at DePaul or Northwestern. Or maybe it’s just time for a change. Regardless of the reason, moving Chicago style requires a little panache and a lot of know how because the city of broad shoulders is also a Mecca of steep prices. Acquainting yourself with affordable and reputable Chicago moving companies is as important as understanding those arcane numbers are on every major street sign (hint: all the roads are on a grid save for five). Finding the right movers in Chicago requires the right attitude: realize that saving money and getting the most out of a move means meeting a company half-way by doing a little work of your own.
The best way to save money on a move is by doing your own packing. Don’t worry – it isn’t as horrendous as it sounds. As long you allot enough time and have the right materials, getting everything ready for the movers is as easy as throwing on your headphones and filling boxes. Whether you are in a studio apartment or a three-bedroom house, the first items to start stuffing into cardboard are the ones you won’t need until you are resettled. This includes basically anything that sits in storage areas like under the sink or in the utility closet. Sure, you want the hedge-clippers and drain cleaner available at a moment’s notice, but it’s probably better to queue them up for the move. The same applies to those unused clothes cluttering the majority of your closet.
It’s best to have everything ready to go the night before the movers show up. The only things you shouldn’t back are the items you’ll need that night and morning. Don’t subject the movers to morning breath because you packed the mouthwash ahead of time. Smaller items like toiletries can be thrown into a bag rather than a bulky box.
Don’t make boxes heavier than 50 pounds if you’re worried about your mover’s children having parents. It’ll also make the transport swifter. Newspaper makes a great lightweight packing material for anything from DVDs to basic kitchenware. The most effective way to get boxes together is by packing for each room separately and labeling accordingly. If you setup a plan and stick to it, you’re guaranteed to have a good move for a good price.
Last Minute Moving Tips – How to Sort and Pack Quickly
Typically, the ideal preparation time for most people when moving is a minimum of eight weeks. This involves all the necessary planning and packing. However, sometimes last-minute moves occur and people need to move in just four weeks or so. If you’re stuck in this situation and you need to move immediately, here are some useful tips to help you quickly sort and pack all of your household items.
How to Sort Your Stuff
Get rid of unnecessary things. Perhaps a great benefit with last-minute moves is that people tend to be careless about how they sort through their things. Well, this basically means that you can get rid lots of useless things since you don’t have enough time to think about whether you should keep possessions which you don’t really need but somewhat have a sentimental value. If you’re hiring professional movers, lesser stuff equals lesser charges. Plus, you’d require less time and effort in packing and moving them. So, get rid as much as you can!
Go through every room and try to separate your belongings into three piles. The first one will be the ones to keep; the second one for the ones to donate; and the last pile for stuff to toss. If there’s anything you haven’t actually used for a year, just toss it or give it away. Let your family, and also the kids, participate in the sorting process. They can follow this rule when sorting through their stuff. Tip: if you’re hesitating whether to toss or keep something, just toss it!
Call for Help
When it seems like everything else is too much to handle on your own, call for help! This will make things easier and faster. There are three types of help you can seek: from friends, family, and service companies. Family and friends will probably be ready to help you out in the packing process. Create a list of tasks that you will assign to them before enlisting their support.
Professional packers can do the job easily for you, if you feel that you can’t pack things properly. They can pack all of your household items in a safe and secure way. You can save yourself from headaches and wasting time, although you need to pay the corresponding price. Since hiring packers can be expensive, contact them in advance to ask about the rates before inviting them to your home.
There are also other services available to help you such as pick-up companies, whose job is to gather and dispose of junk for you. Again, call a company beforehand to know about the charges.
Additionally, most charities will be willing to pick up your to-be-donated stuff. If you have compiled a large donation heap or if you’re giving away some nice furniture, you can ask a non-profit organization to pick up the things for you. This will save you time and energy. Contact them and set up a date and time. Some charities pick up items only on particular dates and locations so ask before booking.
Start Packing
So, now that you have gotten rid of unwanted stuff the next step is packing, of course. Gather enough packing supplies. It’s good to utilize used boxes for the packing procedure but since you’re running out of time already, you might just as well purchase new boxes and packing supplies from any office supply shop or a moving company. Alternatively, if you’re about to move locally, try to look for a green mover who can supply you some plastic bins for packing. Generally, companies will be willing to drop off the required bins on a date that you desire, and they will pick up the bins after you’ve done unpacking and moving. It’s quite convenient, actually.
Be sure to pack fragile items securely if you decide to pack on your own or hire Chicago Movers such as New City Moving and choose our professional packing services.
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.
Moving Chicago Apartments an Easier Way
When you’ve gotten that big promotion at work, you know the first thing you’re going to do is get out of the dingy apartment you can no longer stand. Finding a new place is hard, but moving Chicago apartments can be even more of a headache. Unless you have an uncle that owns a chain of moving companies, you’re probably going to have to fall back on however many people and cars you can scrounge up for the day you have to relocate. It’s a quietly accepted fact of life that everyone hates the hassle of moving and having to helping other people move. But there’s no reason to despair because there are a plethora of affordable movers in Chicago whose whole purpose is to make changing apartments painless.
Setting the date for your move is important because you want to make sure it’s on a day acceptable to the terms of your new lease and also when your bank and government agencies will be open. This is because if you suddenly need money or have to quickly resolve a municipal issue involved with your move, you can. Once you have decided a day start searching for a company that can work during the hours you are available and your new building allows moving during. Discuss the logistics of getting your things into your apartment with your landlords, as they may have special doors or elevators they would like you to use. All this information needs to be relayed back to the company so you don’t break the agreement of your lease before you’ve even gotten settled.
When you’re choosing between Chicago moving companies, look for proper accreditation from the Better Business Bureau as well as state and federal licensing that permits them to operate as a commercial moving business. Look up reviews online and don’t be afraid to ask for referrals. Ending up with a fly-by-night firm can be a million times worse than doing the move on your own. Get quotes from at least three different companies and understand a contract before you sign it. Ask about a “binding do-no-exceed” clause that means a company can’t go bill you beyond the estimate.
If you think an estimate seems to low or you get a weird vibe when you’re meeting with a representative, don’t hire them. The last thing you want to do is entrust all your most valuable possessions to a shady mover that may not only do the job slowly, but cause damage along the way. Also get a customer support number you can call any time of day for questions or issues.
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