saven Tips For Relocating Your ELderly Loved One

                                                    

How to move an elderly loved one successfully 

There comes a time when your parent, grandparent or elderly loved one cannot live on their own anymore. Helping them understand it is time to move to either an assisted living facility or to your home can be a difficult experience. Not only are you handling the logistics for your loved one, but the emotional challenges can be exhausting. It is not easy to move from a home where your family as made so many beautiful memories together. It’s also not easy losing your sense of independence. All this and more are hard realizations your loved one will be going through, and it will mean the world if you handle all the details so they don’t have to.

Get their Medical Needs in Order - First and foremost, if your loved one will not be able to see their current doctors, make sure they have new doctor referrals before they arrive. Medical needs should be first priority, especially if your loved one will not be moving into an assisted living facility.
Prepare the New Floorplan Ahead of Time - If your loved one is moving into a smaller home or simply a new location with a assisted living, request the blueprint of the space beforehand so you can plan the layout to suit your loved one’s needs. This will also help you get a feel for what can move with them and what may need to go into storage.
Out With The Old For a New Experience - It’s likely your loved one has been in their current house for a long time, so their will be plenty of donatables to sift through. Organize three bins into “Donate”, “Throw Away” and “Sell” and together go through clothes, knick-knacks and even furniture to determine what stays and and what goes. Remind your loved one that this is not just an ending but a fresh start.
Get The Family On Board - This is an event when all family hands should be on deck. The more love and support you can provide, the easier the move will be. Of course, request assistance from family members well in advance, and don’t expect them to do all the moving. Hire professional movers in San Francisco to take care of all the heavy lifting and hauling.
Rent a Storage Unit - There are bound to be some belongings that hold tremendous value but are too big and bulky to go into the new space. Rent a storage unit to store these items and provide your loved one with some piece of mind. If it is important for your loved one to be part of the planning, let them be in charge of choosing the storage unit facility, as it is a relatively stress-free decision and they will know exactly where their belongings are at all times.
Create a Travel Plan - Your loved one is likely to have certain health needs that could complicate their relocation. Prepare a list of procedurals and necessary items to make the move as comfortable as possible. This may include an itinerary that includes meal and bathroom breaks and medication or mobility considerations. If your loved one is travelling by plane, be sure to call the airline ahead of time to brief them on the situation so they can make proper accommodations.
Hire Professional Movers in San Francisco - You have a lot of details to take care of, moving and hauling should not be one of them. Save your energy for the details that truly matter to your loved one, so you can make this experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. HIring professional movers with great ratings and reviews will give you a bit more peace of mind.

Preparing to relocate your loved one? Call Moving Forward Professional Movers in San Francisco to get your Free Quote.  

Making moving easier for dog

Moving is chaotic for people--that’s why there are so many blogs about moving to help us out--but if things can get this overwhelming for people, can you imagine what moving is like for your dog? Not only does he have zero verbal confirmation of what is going on around him, but he also has no control or say over the situation. So how do we make this easy for our four-legged best friends? Our professional movers at Moving Forward have moved plenty of families with dogs, and we’ve learned a few key ways to make the move easier for Fido.
Keep His Routine The Same
While certain details about your dog’s routine will be difficult to keep the same, the more you can keep normal, the less stress your dog will feel. Make sure meal times, bed times and bathroom times are around the same time of day. Keep your dog comfortable by maintaining the everyday routine.
Keep His Toys With Him
The house is going to start to get messy as you prepare to move, but you will want to make sure your dog’s toys and bed stay with him or where they always go. If he usually sleeps in the living, do your best to makes sure it stays that way. Again, any change in routine will cause your dog to stress out, which could leave to destructive behaviors

Hire a Dog Sitter
During the actual move, hire a dog sitter or take your dog to a friend’s house to keep him comfortable and calm. All the moving boxes and strangers (i.e. professional movers) will only stress him out.

Exercise Your Dog
When you arrive to your new location, take your dog to the park and play some fetch. Get as much energy out as you can, so that way your dog will sleep well on his first night in a new home.

After The Move: Be Compassionate
Your dog will be in an unfamiliar place once you move, and he will need to take some time familiarizing himself with the new environment. Be patient. It could take a few weeks for your dog to assimilate, and it’s possible that they will pee in the house or start digging through the trash.

Have any tips for making the move easier for a dog? Share them with us! We want to help make these moves as stress-free as possible for all of our customers.

Getting ready to move yourself? Call Moving Forward today for your free estimate!









san francisco moving

The Pros and Cons of Renting a Portable Storage Unit

     Should you rent a portable storage unit or hire a Sunnyvale professional moving company?
 
The question is out: should you rent a portable storage unit or hire a professional moving company? Honestly, it all boils down to your needs, which might sound surprising coming from a Sunnyvale professional moving company. There are pros and cons to both depending on the nature of your move. (Some people have chosen our Sunnyvale professional moving company for one move and rented a portable storage unit for another).

Whether you’re moving from a three-story home across the country or from one apartment to another in the same neighborhood, these are a few pros and cons to help you make an informed decision that makes sense for your move.

Pros and Cons Of Renting a Portable Storage Unit

The Pros
Renting a portable storage unit is notably cheaper than hiring a professional moving company to move your belongings for you. If you’re on a budget, this might be the more appropriate option for you.
Portable storage units are convenient. A truck drops it off and then picks it up after it’s ready to be delivered to your new home. Once the unit is completely unloaded, they will pick it up and that’s that.
Portable moving containers are great for storing your belongings during the move, especially if you’re moving out of a rental and have a lot of cleaning to do to earn back that deposit. 
Rental a portable storage unit allows for more flexibility in your move. Maybe you’re moving for a job with a TBD start date, but you want to get a headstart on packing. Whatever the circumstance, a portable storage unit can sit for weeks while a professional moving company is unable to do so.

The Cons
While portable storage units include a lock, they can still be vandalized or broken into. If this should happen, the rental company is not liable for anything stolen or damaged. 
Portable moving storage units are cheaper than a professional moving company because you have to do the work yourself (or bribe a few of your friends with pizza to help with the heavy lifting.)
If you’re deciding between renting a storage unit or a moving truck, you will find that the storage unit is more expensive upfront. However, moving truck rentals often have additional fees, so it’s best to decide which rental is best depending on the distance of your move. 
If you are a senior citizen or have physical limitations, then choosing a portable moving container will be more of a hassle than a help.
If you want to place your portable storage unit on the street, you may need to contact your local government and get a parking permit. Check with your local government or HOA to see if there are any regulations against keeping it in front of your house.

Final Thoughts
Renting a portable storage unit makes sense if you’re on a budget, need a flexible moving time, or you’re strong enough and willing to do the move on your own. If you need to move in a rush, you have bulky or valuable items (grand pianos, dining room tables, antique furniture), or you do not have the physical capabilities to move on your own, we suggest hiring our professional Sunnyvale movers instead.

Researching Sunnyvale Moving Companies? Contact us today for a free quote!

How To Move Houseplants - A Guide by Palo Alto Movers

House and garden plants enliven a living space and have a way of transforming a house into a home. Here in Palo Alto, we’re lucky to live in a climate that is absolute paradise for most plants, so your own home probably feels like an oasis with all the greenery! But if you’re planning to relocate, moving all those plants might seem intimidating. It is true that moving plants can be a bit of a hassle if you’ve never done it before. In fact many moving companies will not move your plants at all, and all moving companies refuse to take liability for damaged plants (yes, that includes our Palo Alto movers here at Moving Forward).This is because plants are so sensitive and they don’t do well in the heat of a moving truck. If you have a large collection of houseplants, you probably want to take them with you (they’re your babies!). You’ve put a lot of time and energy toward your plants, and it would be a waste if you had to throw them all the away. Before you start packing up those plants, make sure you know what to do with these quick tips.

Before you start packing your plants, understand that if you’re moving across state borders, there may be rules against bringing certain plants across state lines. Check inspection guidelines in the state you’re moving to and avoid hold ups or having to toss your plants at the border. If you find that you can’t take your plants with you, give them to a friend before you go. You might be sad, but at least they will have a happy home.

Pack Plants Last
Plants should be the last of your items to be boxed up, because it is bad for plants to be in a hot car or truck for too long. Leave your plants be until you have packed up the rest of your belongings first and put them in the truck. Ideally you will pack up your plants right before departure.

Packing Your Plants
Use boxes and line them with plastic, then stuff the boxes around the planter with plenty of packing materials so they don’t jostle around. This will help you avoid a broken planter and soil in your car. To protect your tall plants with branches and fragile leaves, wrap them in plastic and poke holes in the plastic so they can breathe.

Crank Up The AC
If you’re moving during the summer, keep the air conditioner on so your plants don’t overheat. Anytime you stop for a bathroom break, park in the shade and roll down a window to give your plants some fresh air. If you are moving during the winter, stuff plenty of newspaper into your plant’s boxes so they stay warm. Cold weather can do a number on your plants, so keep them at a comfortable temperature.

Don’t Over Water
Keep an eye on the soil and only water your plants if they are looking abnormally dry. There might be a tendency to water them just to cover all bases, but this could end up damaging your plant.

Get A Room
If you’re travelling for a few days, bring your plants into your lodging location and provide the proper lighting situation for them. Remember, extreme temperatures are only made more extreme in a car, so do not forget to bring your plants inside with you.

Give Those Plants Some Post-Move Love
Once you arrive to your new destination, remove all the plastic from the plants immediately. Give them some water and food if necessary. If you removed your plants from their pots to move and plan to repot them upon arrival, wait at least a week to do so. The plants have already gone through a lot of strain during the move, and repotting will only cause more strain.
be sure to care for your plants so they can revive after a long journey. Take a look at this awesome plant care guide by Palo Alto Movers to find out how to care for your plants.


How will you move the rest of your belongings? For full moving services, call Moving Forward to get your free quote today!

Moving During the Holidays: Pros and Cons You Should Consider

Outline:
Intro:

• Found yourself moving during the holidays? That’s bittersweet. Check out these pros and cons of moving during this time.

Pro : Not in Busy Season
Con: Professional Movers Celebrate the Holidays Too
Pro: Friends and Family Invite You Over
Con: Winter Weather Can Cause Risks and Delays
Pro: Enjoy Lower Expectations for Your Holiday
Con: You May Get Pretty Nostalgic and Homesick
Pro: The Kids Can Start School Mid-Year (Which Can Be Awesome!)

 

The Pros and Cons of Moving During the Holidays

People are stringing their holiday lights, baking cookies, and wrapping gifts. That’s right, it’s the holidays. And while you may be excited about the general holiday spirit, if you’re moving, you have other priorities on your mind too. Not sure whether moving during the holidays is the right move for you? Check your list twice--the pros and cons list, that is. Use our list of pros and cons for moving during the holidays to determine whether it’s a good idea for your situation.

Pro: Not in Busy Season
Peak moving season is May-September, so if you move during the holidays, you’re missing that huge rush. Everyone else is hunkering down in their current homes to enjoy the holidays. You can often find lower rates for moving during this time. However, you still will want to call ahead in well enough in advance to make sure your professional movers are working that day.

Con: Professional Movers Celebrate the Holidays Too
Even though you are not moving during peak season, remember that professional movers like to enjoy the holidays too. Check the holiday hours for professional moving companies. Some moving companies are closed the last week of December and even through New Years Day. However, you can usually find a professional moving companies that can work on a holiday for an additional fee.

Pro: Friends and Family Invite You Over
When you’re moving, friends and family can safely assume you’re not cooking dinner or hosting the gift opening this year. Instead, you get to be the guest! With all the pressure and stress of moving, it will feel like your very own holiday miracle to ease of the holiday commitments and just relax in someone else’s home. Consider it a vacation from the stress of the holiday season!

Con: Winter Weather Can Cause Risks and Delays
Winter wonderlands could cause delays on moving day, so aim to be more flexible about the exact time and date you are leaving. It’s better to be safe than stranded on the side of the road in a blizzard. Check the forecast a few days out and keep in contact with your moving company to agree on the safest day to travel.

Pro: Enjoy Lower Expectations for Your Holiday
When you’re packing up all these boxes, the last thing you want to think about is wrapping even more. Additionally, that holiday budget may now be used up in moving expenses. Talk to your friends and family about expectations for the holiday season, and they are sure to understand. If you’re the type who usually goes big on holiday gifts, talk to you family about maybe trying something different this year. White Elephant exchanges or Secret Santa exchanges. Who knows, you could create a new family tradition!

Con: You May Get Pretty Nostalgic and Homesick
The holidays can be an emotional time, even if you’re not moving. Memories are flurrying around like snowflakes, and between grandma’s killer cookie recipe and all the old friends that are popping into town, you could feel a little homesick. The best thing to do is to anticipate these feelings are coming, and find ways to cope with them in a healthy way. Call up your friends for a quick chat, or distract  yourself with a fun holiday tree lighting or festive event in your new city.


Final Thoughts
We hope this list of pros and cons helps you make the appropriate decision whether to move during the holidays. If you choose to move soon, give our professional Palo Alto Movers at Moving Forward a call. We’re always here to take your call and provide a free quote. Happy Holidays!

The Smartest Holiday Moving Tips For A Successful Move

Outline:
Intro:

• Holidays are hectic, and moving is too, how to do both at the same time?

Choose Your Moving Day Wisely

• Best and worst travel days

Create and Immaculate Budget

• See expenses side by side - holiday, travel, moving
• Where can you repurpose (boxes, wrapping, etc.)

• Moving before gift-giving or after? 

Create Expectations with Family

• Do you usually host the feast?
• Kids not happy about moving schools mid-year?

Pack, But Keep the Holiday Spirit Intact

• Pack holiday decorations last in separate, clearly labeled boxes.

Keep Your Home Safe

• Robberies, et.c (moving and holidays are the biggest target for robbers)

Prepare for Moving in a Winter Wonderland

• Moving somewhere cold? Have proper moving supplies and clothing.
• Prepare for delays (who do you need to call? Cushion time when starting work?)

Moving Forward’s Best Advice for Moving During the Holidays

Moving takes a lot of planning, preparation, and a calm demeanor. Curiously enough, the holidays require the same things from you! So what happens when you plan to move during the holidays? Well, you need more planning, more preparation, and maybe an eggnog to get through it all.

Moving during the holidays can be a wonderful experience, if you know how to plan for it. Our team here at Moving Forward has plenty of experience moving families during the holidays. If this is your first time, use our best advice for moving during the holidays. Oh, and don’t forget your eggnog!

Choose Your Moving Day Wisely
While the holidays are not technically within peak moving season (May-September), it happens to be one of the busiest travel seasons. One of the smartest tips for holiday moving is to choose a moving date that does not align with one of the busiest travel days of the year. For example, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is one of the worst travel days, while THanksgiving and Black Friday are a couple of the best days. 

Create an Immaculate Budget
You know it’s helpful to create a holiday budget, and you may have heard how much you can save by creating a moving budget. But budgeting for both at the same time? It’s intimidating, but you can do it!

To survive this holiday season while moving, create a super-budget that accounts for gifts and gift wrap, food, packing supplies, travel expenses, cleaning services, and any other details you can think of.

We recommend creating two inventories of holiday needs and moving needs, and then seeing where those lists overlap. For example, You may be able to repurpose some gift wrapping supplies for moving and packing, especially if you are moving the week after Christmas or Hanukkah. You may also be able to take advantage of leftovers to prevent overbuying groceries while you’re packing.

Keep in mind that if you are enjoying your holidays in your old home and then moving, your budget will look much different than if you were spending the holidays in your new home.

Another detail to consider: the holidays are full of indulgence and excess, but this year may have to be a little different. Make an additional list holiday essentials and holiday extras. Do you need a tree to feel the holiday spirit? Is the annual holiday cookie party necessary? Only you know what’s necessary and what can be left out this year. Our advice: aim for a minimalist holiday season.

Be Careful What You Ask Santa For
As you purge your closets and start donating furniture in preparation for the move, don’t forget that Santa may have some plans of his own. Tell Santa this is not the year to give you a Peloton bike. Make sure you communicate that gifts should be small and easy to pack. Ask for gift cards or jewelry -- something that won’t take up a lot of room on the moving truck. If Santa is excited to get the kids a new trampoline, tell him to send it to your new home a day or two after you have arrived.

Create Expectations with Family
Do you usually host Thanksgiving? Are you known as the hostess with the mostess this time of year? You may need to set more realistic expectations with your friends and family. If you simple love hosting the holidays, give yourself a break and invite less people over, or ask friends and family if they would be interested in a holiday potluck. There’s also no shame in dining out. If it saves you time, energy, and even some money, use your convenience card and breathe easy.

Pack, But Keep the Holiday Spirit Intact
Moving is important and time-sensitive, but that doesn’t mean you have to forego the entire holiday spirit for the sake of efficiency. Decide which low-maintenance decorations you would like to set out this year. Then, start packing up all the items in your house you likely won’t need over the next two months.

Once the holidays are over, pack all your decorations in separate, clearly-labeled boxes. It’s actually better that these boxes are hauled onto the truck last, because you will unload and pack them away first! If you’re moving between Thanksgiving and Christmas, you can easily access them for decorating your new home. But if you arrive after the gifts have been opened, you can easily store them away in your garage or basement for next year.

Keep Your Home Safe
The holiday season is one of the highest rates of burglary. Additionally, people that are moving are target for burglary. Put those two scenarios together and you have yourself a lot of risk.  Make sure you take preventative measures to keep your family and home safe from burglars. Always close the blinds and lock all the doors when you leave your home, and never leave gifts in sight through the windows.

A few more tips: if you are having more people over during the holiday season, be mindful of people you don’t know. Always be skeptical of people disguising themselves as service providers or overly nosy part guests who want to see extensive tours of your home.

Prepare for Moving in a Winter Wonderland
Wishing for a winter wonderland is practically a holiday tradition, but when you’re moving, dealing with snow is the last thing you wish for. Unfortunately, you can’t control the weather -- but you can prepare for it! Make sure you check the forecast 10 days out from your moving day to determine if you can expect dangerous weather. If there’s a snow or rainstorm moving in, it may be better to postpone your moving day for clear skies.

If you do end up getting caught in a storm on moving day, to what you can ahead of time to prepare for delays. Inform your emergency contacts to be on standby, and plan for a little cushion time between your arrival and first day of work. Make sure to also pack appropriate clothing and supplies in case you get stuck on the side of the road.


For more help, give a call to our professional San Francisco Movers at Moving Forward.

The Best Farewell Gifts for Friends Who Are Moving Out of State

Outline:


- Wouldn’t it be easier if everyone stayed in the same place and carried on as if everything were going to remain great forever?
- Friends reference

Meal Delivery Kit
A Box of Letters
Photo Book
Gift Certificate to an Awesome Place in Their New Town
A Hometown Delicacy
Energy Cleansing Kit
Housewarming Goods
An “Essential” Store Gift Card

Do You Have a Friend Moving Out of State? Get Some Inspiration With These Gift Ideas!

The last season of the iconic show Friends hits you in the feels harder than most. Why? Because as you the show creeps down to its final minutes, you realize that this is the end of an era. Joey will no longer steal food from Monica’s fridge. Monica won’t raid her brother’s living room for cash. And we will no longer be freeting over whether Ross and Rachel will ever get back together.

The characters move on to embark on the next era of their lives, even though it’s painful to see everyone part ways. If you have a friend moving out of state soon, you may be feeling the same way. But the end of one era doesn’t mean the world has to get a little dimmer.

Your friend is probably stressed and busy and struggling to find time to say goodbye to people while she packs up her life and prepares to move. Show her that you care by giving her a gift that will improve her moving experience or remind her of home.

Not sure what the perfect gift for someone moving out of state or abroad would be? It comes down to a couple categories:

• A gift that reminds them of home
• A gift that eases the transition
• A gift that makes them remember the good times
• A gift that helps them make their new house a home

Still need some inspiration? Use this complete list of goodbye gift ideas for friends. You’re bound to find something that suits their spirit!

Meal Delivery Kit
Those first few weeks of settling into a new house can be pretty hectic. And the idea of grocery shopping or, god forbig, getting back into the routine of meal prepping sounds like torture. Help your friends out by signing them up for a meal delivery subscription. Your friend will be so happy to come home to the ingredients for a meal that takes 30 minutes to toss together. If your friend is big on healthy eating but not so great at work-life balance, this is an excellent gift for her.

Magazine Subscription
Warm up that new mailbox with a magazine subscription from a publication your friend enjoys. Whether that’s the Wall Street Journal or Cosmopolitan Magazine. Coming home to a little customized light reading always helps break in a new home. Also, every time that magazine arrives, they will think of you!

Photo Book
Do you have too many amazing memories together to count? Organize your wedding photos and vacations abroad into a beautiful photo book that your friend can cherish whenever she feels lonely.

A Hometown Delicacy
Do you have a world class coffee shop in your hometown? Or maybe there’s a museum your friend is absolutely obsessed with. Pick up a little delicacy from a hometown hallmark that your friend can place in their new home. It’s amazing what bringing the best from your hometown can do for your new home.

Gift Certificate to an Awesome Place in Their New Town
While sentimental gifts areas always a winning choice, helping your friend adaptto their new neighborhood is always a good friend move. Do some research and find one of the better restaurants, bars, or even spas in town. Think about what your friend likes. Are they big on monthly pedicures or do they prefer to wind down with a pizza and a glass of wine? You know your friend best! Pair them with the perfect night out.


Energy Cleansing Kit
OK, this one is for your friend who believes in energy cleansing. She is moving into a new home, which means someone else’s energy may still be lingering about. Give her a hand and buy her an energy cleansing kit. Most kits include sage and palo santo, along with some essential oils.

Housewarming Goods
Is your friend a candle aficionado? Does she think home equals wine and cozy blankets? Put together a housewarming basket of all her favorite cozy items. It could be fun to mail the kit to your friend so it arrives on the day that she does! Or you could wait until she’s settled in a bit. You know your friend best!

An “Essential” Store Gift Card
OK, back to the practical stuff. If your friend is the kind of person who goes nuts stocking up for the apocalypse at Costco or buys can openers “just in case” it may be a good idea to buy her a gift card to a store like Target, Costco, or TJMaxx. This could also be a good gift for a friend who isn’t very practical and may gave forgotten basic stuff when packing … like a frying pan.

You’re about to be the best friend there ever was! Just remember, this gift is supposed to support your friend during this move, not coax her to stay in your hometown. Keep your eyes on the new era, and you will come up with the perfect going away gift for your friend.

For more help, give a call to professional San Francisco Movers at Moving Forward.

The Most Important Moving In Together Checklist On the Internet

Outline:
Intro
Lay the Ground Rules
Get Comfortable
Determine Your Must-Haves
Consolidate Furniture
Consolidate Duplicates

How to Consolidate Furniture When Moving in Together

Moving in together is a big step in a relationship. Choosing to cohabitate is exciting, but as you begin to look for places to live, one thing becomes apparent: you will have to get rid of some of your stuff. So will your partner.

Whether you’re moving to a house with plenty of space or a studio apartment with a tiny bathroom, moving in together presents a fantastic opportunity to take inventory of your stuff and determine what is actually worth keeping. Do you really need those throw pillows from your dorm bedding set in college? Does your partner need to keep his little league trophies? These are the questions you will be discussing when preparing to move in together.

Make this exciting transition as smooth as possible with these packing and consolidating tips from our professional movers here at Moving Forward.

1. Lay the Ground Rules

Before you touch a single thing, sit down with your partner and establish some ground rules. You wouldn’t want to find your partner throwing away your antique coffee table if it meant the world to you. And you wouldn’t want to throw away something sentimental of your partner’s, either.

Decide what you both need in the new place and how flexible you’re willing to be about your belongings. For example, if you currently live in a different town than your partner, and you’re moving into his or her house, then what you bring may be different than if the tables were turned. Make sure both of you are clear on whether this will be an even split of belongings or if one person will be in charge of furniture and the other will be taking care of kitchen appliances, for example.

When you have a set of ground rules, you are much less likely to step on one another’s toes or bring double of the same furniture or appliance.

2. Get Comfortable with Compromise

If this is a new relationship, then this move is most likely your first test at compromise. Understand that sharing a space requires some flexibility from both of you. So while you both have an idea of your dream living room, for example, you dream may clash with your partner’s dream. Ask some of the following questions when compromising:

• What are you willing to part with?
• Are you more excited about the decor or function of our home?
• Do you have a preference for who brings X or Y?
• If you get the furnish the living room, I get to furnish the bedroom.

These ground rules and topics for compromise will be different for you than other couples. When you find yourself negotiating a compromise, make sure each of you feels as if you are winning in some way. This can be difficult if one of you is more assertive than the other. At the end of the day, if each of you feels like they came out on top, the move will go smoothly.
 
3. Determine Your Must-Haves

What makes a home your home? What do you need to bring to your new home no matter what? Maybe it’s your record collection or your heirloom rugs. Whatever it is, make sure you know what the absolute essentials are -- and remember that your partner will also have those absolute essentials.

Here’s where more compromise will come in: some of your essentials may clash with your partner’s essentials. So if you MUST have your antique jazz poster collection hng in the living room, but your partner insists his giant bean bag chair deserves to be in the living room, too, then so be it. If compromising proves difficult, go back to your ground rules. Did you both determine each person could have one sentimental item per room? OK, then that’s the limit, and whatever that sentimental item is -- be it bean bag chair or little league trophy, gets real estate in the shared living space.

4. Consolidate Duplicates

So you both have a coffee table, a TV, and a bookshelf … do you really need both? You most likely won’t need two sofas and two beds, so whose will you take? The best way to determine this is the quality, size, condition and style of each piece of furniture. If your partner has a beautiful leather sofa, it may be time to ditch your hand-me-down sofa with the coffee stains.
But if you have a beautiful bed frame and your partner is still rocking a twin bed, then go with your bed. It all comes down to quality and style. Choose the pieces. 

Do you both have blenders in the same condition? Sell one and keep the other. There’s no compromise to be had there -- unless one of you have a sentimental connection with your blender.

If you are moving into an apartment, it’s also important to keep in mind that the apartment complex may have certain furnishings and appliances. Double check with the landlord before buying an ironing board or bringing your washing machine, for example.

Once you determine your ground rules, learn to compromise, and get rid of duplicate furniture, the rest of the move will be cake! Make sure to follow these simple rules to ensure you have an enjoyable move in experience together.



For more info, give a call to professional Palo Alto Movers at Moving Forward.

The Last-Minute Mover’s Essential Checklist

Outline:
Intro

• Sounds like a fantasy: having 3-6 months to move.
• Reality: sometimes things come up, whether that’s a new job offer, a sick family member, or a sudden shift in the universe -- it’s time to go.
• When you have a month or less to move, use these tips to do it RIGHT.

Make a List

• You may be thinking “I thought this was the list.” This serves a different purpose.
• Spend 20 minutes and jot down every last thing you can think to do for the move. Why? It clears your head of the overwhelm, for one. And two: it helps you visualize and prioritze
• Circle all the stuff that’s urgent
• Circle what’s important
• Now where’s the overlap (urgent and important). Do all of that first.
• Stuff that’s just important (e.g. get new sheets for our bed) that can wait until you get there.

Recruit Everyone

• Friends, family, neighbors, anyone who owes you a favor.
• Pro tip: assign them jobs before they arrive, so you don’t waste time scrambling to put them to work.

Get a Baby Sitter or Pet Sitter

• You’ve got stuff to do, no time to parent / pet parent.
• If your kids aren’t old enough to help get them a babysitter and get them out of the way.

Give Notice

• Set up a meeting with your boss
• Tell all organizations you’re involved in.

Update Your Social Media

• This goes along with giving notice, but tell the world you’re outta here. You’ll save time saying goodbye, save money on a going away party, and probably find out who you’re real friends are.
• If you’re looking for a job, a place to live, or want to know more about your new city, social media is also a great place to ask for recommendations

Search For Your New Home

• If you don’t have a place already, it’s time to start looking. If there;s no time to buy, settle on renting in the same neighborhood until you can find the right house.

Call Credible Professional Movers

• Do not wait a second. It’s likely they are already booked up, but you never know -- someone may cancel. Call professional movers and see if they can accommodate you. 

Sell and Donate As Much As Possible

• No time to pretend you will ever use that juice. Give it to a friend that’s helping you move.
• This is a great opportunity to purge, get serious about it. The less you have, the less you need to pack.

Manage Addresses and Utilities

• Switch addresses: on subscriptions, bills, you name it. Then post on social media for people to DM you for your new address, so your actual friends/family can have it.
• Call utility companies
• Cancel internet

Clean Your Old Place

• Set aside a full weekend to do this. Floors, walls, appliances, all of it.

Don’t Forget to Breathe

• You got this, just stay focused on the essentials, get all the help you can, and have fun -- this is an adventure, after all.

DRAFT:

Wouldn’t it be great if we had more time for things? A whole day to clean the house from top to bottom? Sounds like a dream! An entire week to finally organize your electronic files?  That sounds amazing! Three to six months to plan for a move? No problem! In reality, we are lucky if we can make it out the door with pants on. Life is unpredictable. The world is a fast-paced place. Things come up: a new job offer, a sick family member, a zombie apocalypse.  Suddenly, it’s time to go. How to move out of state in a week? How to move in less than a month?  How to keep your sanity when moving on short notice? If you’re asking yourself these questions, use the following last minute moving tips to help you do it the right way!

1. Make a List
The first thing on this last minute essential moving checklist, is, well, to make a list. Confusing, we know, but this is a very important first step in helping to make it easier to figure out how to move on short notice. Start by jotting down all the things you have to do for your move. This will help you clear your head and make the move seem less daunting. It will also help you to visualize and prioritize all the tasks you have to do before moving. Once you’ve made your list, the next step is to circle all the urgent tasks (notifying your job, calling a moving company, packing your beloved doily collection) and circle all the important tasks (scheduling a turn off date with all of your home services, setting a date for a garage sale, getting your hair done so you look fabulous for your new town/city). Now look at which items are circled AND underlined and do those things first. Items on your list that are labeled important, but not necessarily urgent (getting your nails done, for example) can wait until you get to your new place.

2. Recruit Everyone
Moving on short notice means you’ll need extra help to get everything done on time. So shout out from all the mountain tops in the land that you are looking for help. Tell your friends, your neighbors, your family, your favorite coffee barista, if you must (for some extra side money) that you need help moving pronto. Come moving day, make sure to assign each one of your helpers a specific job BEFORE they arrive so you don’t waste time figuring out who will do what.

3. Get a Baby Sitter or Pet Sitter
This is super important. If you have kids or pets, there’s no way you’ll be able to focus on everything you have to do on moving day without a baby/pet sitter. Granted, if you have kids who are old enough to take care of the younger siblings or the fur baby in your family, take advantage of that. Give them a bump in their allowance to take the kids/dog to the park, movies or arcade so you can focus on moving. If not, spend the money to hire a babysitter.  You’ll be glad you did as you put  the last box in the moving truck at 5 pm instead of midnight.

4. Give Notice
Probably one of the first things on your last minute moving checklist should be to notify the people in your life about your move. One of the hardest things about  how to move for a job quickly, is giving notice to your current boss. Try to give your boss at least two weeks notice (you’ll need may need that recommendation for the future). Not only will you need to notify your job, but don’t forget to tell all other organizations that you are involved with too. Book clubs, charity groups, your Taco Tuesday buddies will all need to know the reason for your sudden absence.  It’s hard to say good-bye, but it’s even harder when you wait until the day before you leave.

5. Update Your Social Media
Social media is a great tool to get the word out fast to a large number of friends and family in a short amount of time. Take the time to write a post on your social media channels expressing your appreciation to all those who have touched your life while there and how much you’ll miss them and hope that you can keep in touch. When you don’t have the time to throw a good-bye party, using social media to say farewell is the next best thing. Social media can also be helpful to ask for recommendations for things like job opportunities, places to live or dog parks in your new city.


6. Search For Your New Home
If you’re having to move on short notice, most likely you won’t have a lot of time to look for a new home so this should definitely be on the “urgent” list of things to do first. Don’t feel rushed to buy a home (which is never a good idea). Instead, rent in a neighborhood where you’d like to buy so you can take the time to find the house that you can call your home.

7. Call Credible Professional Movers
If you are planning on using a moving company, this should be at the very top of your urgent list. Credible professional movers book up fast, but it’s a good idea to try anyway as they always have cancellations. Some moving companies may even be able to squeeze you in if they know that you are in a bind.

8. Sell and Donate As Much As Possible
Yes, we all love Harry Potter, but maybe it’s time you give the gift of that seven book series to someone else. It will just take up room and besides, nowadays, you can find most books on-line. Moving is always a great opportunity to purge yourself of things that are simply cluttering up your life. Plus, the less you have, the less you’ll need to pack and the faster your move will go.

9. Manage Addresses and Utilities
Don’t mess this one up. There is nothing worse than getting that envelope with a pink late payment letter peeking out of the plastic because you forgot to change the address on your credit card. No one wants to wake up in their new home a month later swimming in late fees. Make sure to change your address to your new one for things like credit cards, subscriptions, bills, your Justin Beiber fan club, all of it. Make sure to call the utility company, internet provider, cable service, etc. too get all of that stuff changed over to your new address. God forbid you miss binging the entire new season of Grey’s Anatomy after a long day of moving!

10. Clean Your Old Place
Make sure that you have included cleaning as a part of your moving plan. Once you have moved everything out, set aside a full weekend to clean your old home from top to bottom. Whether you’re cleaning it so you can sell it or to get back your rental deposit, remember to clean the floors, walls, appliances and that one corner that always accumulates giant dust bunnies. You want that place sparkling by the time you’re done.

Don’t Forget to Breathe
Moving is super stressful. Moving on short notice is extra super stressful. As long as you focus on the essentials, get all the help you can and remember that this is an adventure in a new chapter in your life, you’ve got this. Oh yeah, and don’t forget to breathe.



For more info, give San Francisco Movers at Moving Forward a call.

Why Customer Service Matters if You’re a Professional Mover

Outline: 

• Moving is one of the most stressful endeavors a person goes through
• You’re uprooting your life, and it becomes apparent just how messy and challenging that process can be
• When you recruit help to offload some of that stress, you want to partner with a pro moving company that understands what you’re going through and has the right solutions you can trust.
• Here’s why customer service in the moving industry matters.

1. Trust With Personal Property

• People are putting their entire lif in your hands (or the belongings, anyway).
• They need to trust everything will be transported with care. Nothing will be stolen or damaged or lost. Labels that say “fragile” or “this end up” are honored.
• Good customer service helps customers feel comfortable - don’t want to feel like a bunch of strangers are hauling their stuff. Relationships are important
• Examples.

      2. Professionalism Starts with Excellent Customer Service

• Customer service is not just an additional luxury or something you can forget. Your quality of customer service directly impacts you professionalism.
• They are hiring movers for consistency, and if your customer service is consistent and helpful and a positive experience, you will stand out among competitors and provide true value to your customers.

      3. Showcasing Experience and Commitment to Quality

• Customer service is a skill in and of itself, so if your team is good at it, it shows you’re qualified, experienced, and committed to providing a positive experience to customers
• You have knowledge they don’t. Share it. Offering simple solutions and easing stress beyond what you’re being paid for.
• Examples.

    
      4. Prioritizing Customer Needs

• Great customer service means prioritizing customer. Every mover has unique needs, how can you be accomodating?
• While you are the expert on moving, they are the expert on their house/stuff. So developing a habit of intentional listening shows them you heard what their needs are and will help you make sure to address them.
• Examples.

       5. Reputation

• People are vocal when they’re not happy. And now that there are so many platforms for people to express their unhappiness, it is a good move for the sake of your reputation to provide excellent customer service. In fact people are willing to be more flexible if something goes wrong if your customer service rocks.

Takeaway: Professional Movers would do well to pay attention to customer service. It can make or break your customer’s experience.

DRAFT:

Customer Service Makes or Breaks a Moving Experience

Moving is stressful. In fact, it has been proven to be one of the most stressful events that a person goes through in life. Moving is messy. Moving is chaotic. Moving requires people to uproot their lives as they know it.

That’s why it’s so important for those in the Professional moving industry to make customer service a priority. No one wants to be on hold for 15 minutes while their life is in boxes, their job is on hold, and they’re coping with having to say good-bye to close family and friends.

Instead, they want a moving company that is going to be there for them to help them offload some of the stress of moving. Read on for more reasons why customer service in the moving industry is of the utmost importance.

Trust With Personal Property   

Why should someone uprooting their life trust their valuables and personal belongings with a moving company made up of total strangers? They need to know their prized Bob Ross Chia plant will make it in one piece to their home; that their antique Hoover vacuum collection will be handled with care as it is loaded, transported and unloaded to and from the moving truck; or that their children’s blobby, yet precious pottery creations will arrive in tact.

How will they be able to trust that their belongings will be in the best of care? By making customer service a priority. Checking in with them on a regular basis leading up to the move, ensuring them that “fragile” or “this end up” signs are honored by your moving crew, giving them helpful tips that will make things run more smoothly.

This will make them feel like you’re more like a friend than a stranger. Relationships are important in building trust. Make it a priority to build relationships with your clients and in turn, they will trust you with delivering their life from one doorstep to the next.

Professionalism Starts with Excellent Customer Service
Customer services starts with professionalism. What does professionalism in the moving industry mean specifically? From how you answer the phone, to using words like please and thank you, to listening to their questions with an attentive ear can make a huge impact on your clients.

While it’s important to provide your customers with good communication and phone etiquette, that same professionalism should extend its reach to everyone in the company. Movers, installers, truck drivers, and any other personnel with which your customers come in contact should all follow the same code of professional conduct.  Most clients look for movers that are consistent. If your customer service is consistent with providing a positive experience throughout the entire moving process, you will stand out among competitors and provide true value to your customers.

Showcasing Experience and Commitment to Quality
Being polite and professional is only one aspect of customer service. Another aspect is sharing knowledge and experience with clients that will help ease their moving stress. Be a human. If you know from experience that the best way to pack is doing it room by room, starting with the room that is least essential, share that. Give them advice on how to save money on packing materials. Recommend a list of places to donate or sell their unwanted items. These small nuggets of advice will go a long way with customer trust because they’ll know you have their best interests at heart. As a result, they will be more likely to recommend your company to friends and family. 

Prioritizing Customer Needs
Every move is different. Every customer is different. Therefore, you need to customize how you prioritize your customer’s needs by listening very carefully to their problems, roadblocks, even emotions so that you can offer solutions that are right for them.

Do they have kids? Help them figure out the best childcare solution while they move. Do they have plants? Reassure them that your movers will know exactly how to pack them so they are not damaged during the move. Maybe they are just feeling overwhelmed with the move and need to vent. Sometimes just the feeling of being heard can ease your customer’s stress by a lot.

Reputation
Life is imperfect. Accidents happen. Things break, people trip, unexpected potholes exist. However, if you’ve provided excellent customer service from the get-go, your customers may be more willing to work with you when an accident happens. These days there are so many platforms in which people can express if they are unhappy or not.

Yet if you have been helpful from the beginning, people are often more willing to be flexible if something goes wrong. Either way, it’s a good practice to always respond to feedback with the highest professionalism as this shows that you are interested in improving your customer’s experience.

Takeaway
When it comes down to credible moving companies in San Francisco, there’s a lot of competition. Making customer service a priority will not only help your company to stand out, in turn you will make your customers feel like they’re in good hands. No amount of advertising, sales, etc. will beat how you make your customers feel. The bottom line? Customer service is what can make or break your client’s experience.

Tips for Moving When Your Book Collection is Out of Hand

Outline:

Intro:

• Even as media goes digital, one thing we will always want around is a physical book. Sure you may have played around with audio books, but nothing beats a stack of books you can leaf through in your free time.
• Moving? You may look at your library of books you have collected over the years and groan. They’re heavy, they’re fragile, they take up a lot of space.
• Moving books can be daunting, but setting up your bookshelf in your new home -- there’s no better feeling.
• Resist the urge to ditch your books; use these tips to pack and haul your books properly when moving. 

Declutter and Curate

• You likely have books you scavenged from a bargain bin or borrowed from a friend (and never returned). TIme to clear out the books you don’t want/need anymore and find new homes for them.
• It’s an amazing feeling reacquainting yourself with your books -- when you declutter, you know you are only bringing the books that really matter to you.
• Give books to friends (if you’re moving around the holidays - make it part of their holiday gift!)
• Donate to local used bookstores
• Sell them online for a little extra cash.

Take Photos of Your Bookshelves

• If you like your bookshelves, photograph them for memory so you can set them up the same way.
• This saves you time and brain power if you like your books organized a certain way.

Pack in Small Boxes

• Books are heavy, so stick to packing books in small boxes for easier hauling
• Grocery boxes, liquor boxes,
• If all you have is bigger boxes, only fill them part way with books. Fill the rest with lighter things like clothes, linens, etc.
• If you’re not going very far, just use grocery bags or gift bags.

Pack Books Early

• Odds are, you’re not going to need all your books the months leading up to your move. Books can be one of the first things you pack.

Pack Strategically

• If certain books go in specific rooms or you like them grouped together (office books vs kitchen recipe books, for example) then pack them for the right room
• Label boxes so you don’t have to dig around

Make a Couple Books Easily Accessible

• If you’re a big reader, leave the book you’re currently reading and maybe your favorite book easily accessible so you can bring them out and have something familiar handy while you make your new house your home.

Pack Books With Care

• Pack books spines down to ensure they are protected.
• Lay books flat
• Make sure they aren’t arranged to cause bending or warping.

Unpack Books First

• After the essentials are out of the way, unpack your books  to break in your new home and create a familiar, cozy atmosphere
• Books carry a lot of memories, so just unpacking them first can make you feel at home.

DRAFT:

There’s nothing like the feel of the crisp, pulpy paper between your fingers as you turn the page, anxious to learn what comes next in a novel that you can’t seem to put down. Now a days we have e-books, audio books and digital readers, but there’s nothing like a physical book that sits in your lap as you curl up in your favorite comfy chair and sip from a hot cup of tea. As a book collector, you feel proud when you gaze upon your jam-packed shelves filled with best-sellers, obscure paperbacks you bought from garage sales and classic literature that you’ve had since high school. Yet when it comes time to move, suddenly the bookshelf morphs into massive ogre that towers over you. While it may feel daunting to think about how the heck you’re going to move all those books, there is no better feeling than setting up your bookshelf in your new home. Instead of ditching all of your precious books, use these tips that will make packing and hauling your books much easier.

Declutter and Curate
Surely there are book titles that you have outgrown like Jeff Kinney’s “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” or Judy Bloom’s  “Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret;” not to mention, the books you’ve collected along the way that you’ve never even cracked open(like the fourth book of Stephanie Meyer’s “Twilight” series, perhaps?). To keep your moving load a bit lighter, keep books dear to you, but consider disposing the rest by gifting them to friends, selling them on-line or donating them to your local used bookstore or library.

Take Photos of Your Bookshelves
Before you start the chaos of sorting your books into stacks of keep, give, sell, donate, take a picture of your bookshelf. This is a great way to save time and brain power for when you have to arrange your books in your new home. Of course organizing by alphabetization, color coding or dewey decimal system works too.

Pack in Small Boxes
There’s nothing worse for your back than having to lift, carry and set down a huge box of heavy books. Instead of cramming your books into the biggest box possible, use smaller boxes. If all you have are bigger boxes, only fill them part way with books. You can fill the rest of the box with lighter things like clothes, linens and towels.  If you’re not going very far, pack your books in reusable grocery bags or gift bags.

Pack Books Early
The overwhelming thing about moving is the amount of stuff you have accumulated. It’s always easier to start packing bit by bit so that by the time moving day rolls around, you only have to pack your essentials. Books are non-essential items that you can pack early and have one less thing to worry about on your packing list.

Pack Strategically
As you pack your books, it’s a good idea to organize them according to which room they will live in your new home. Be sure to pack all of your cooking and recipe books in a box labeled “kitchen,” all of your “how to” and “Business for Dummies” books in a box labeled “office” and all your reading-for-pleasure books labeled “nook by the fireplace.”

Make a Couple Books Easily Accessible
Take into consideration that there may be some books that you’d like to have readily available during your move. “The Joy of Cooking,” that juicy romance novel you can’t put down and your “yuck-it-up” joke book may be among your go-to collection of books that help get you through stressful situations like, hmmm, moving? 

Pack Books With Care
While books tend to be a hearty breed among other more delicate household items (ie: your purple and pink lava lamp), you should still pack them in such a way to avoid damage. Pack books flat and make sure they are arranged in such a way to prevent bending or warping. If you are moving during a season that is likely to yield precipitation, line the box with plastic to waterproof them.

Unpack Books First
While it’s important to first unpack your essentials, consider unpacking your books next. Books make a house feel like a home by creating a familiar and cozy atmosphere. Plus, books hold a lot of memories, so the simple act of unpacking books will make you feel at home.

Conclusion
In this digital world we live in, tangible things are still what make us feel most at home. Books carry history, memories and enlightenment. They shape our lives over time and that’s why it’s important to handle them with care during the moving process. If you’re ready to move, give the professional Palo Alto Movers at Moving Forward a call for a free quote! Happy reading!

How to Turn Your New House into A Home

Intro

• You have arrived to your new home, you have said goodbye to the professional movers, and you’ve shown your kids which rooms are theirs. But things still feel pretty unfamiliar.
• Turning your new house into a home takes intentional effort and time to make new memories.
•  But there are some small things you can do to encourage those home vibes and start feeling comfortable in your new place.

Open the Windows

•  Out with the old air (and in with the new!)
•  Cleansing the air with Sage is also a great way to start fresh.

Unpack Your Favorites First

• Your favorite throw pillow/blanket
• The heirloom rug from your grandmother’s house
• The vase you bought in Italy.
• Your book collection
• Whatever makes you happy and and has you light up inside when you look at it, bring those at first.

Clean Your Bedding

• Take the time to clean your linens and bedding and make your bed cozy. There’s really nothing like it.

Take Your Time Hanging Art

• Be careful not to buy a bunch of decorations and hang everything immediately. Impulse buys won’t make your house feel like home.
• For the stuff you brought along from the old house: You could hang everything immediately, but taking the time to know the flow of your house and where art should go is a fun process, you get to relive those moments you had when you initially bought it
• Put a few family photos or photos of friends up, but other than that, take your time.

Put Up the Fridge Magnets

• The fridge is the homey-est of places. That’s where you put your wedding invites and vacation magnets and postcards from your traveling aunt. It shows the process and motion of your life. Get that thing decorated and you will feel more at home.

Cook one of your Favorite Recipes

• Fill up your home with the familiar scent of your favorite recipe. Whether that’s a stew or banana bread, a stir fry or a pot roast, break in your kitchen and enjoy as the smells float through your home.

Host a Housewarming Gathering

• Invite a few people over to help bring the friendly energy up. Remember to host this in a way that makes you feel comfortable. Don’t invite 40 people if you’re introverts. If 8 people is your cap, start there, serve food that makes you feel like home, turn on familiar, positive music.

DRAFT:

Ah…. There’s nothing like home sweet home, but how can you  make a new house feel like home? Let’s see...You arrive to your new home, you say goodbye to the professional movers, and you show your kids which rooms are theirs.  Nope. It still feels like an unfamiliar house with a bunch of unpacked boxes, empty cupboards and an echo when you talk out loud. Even your morning routine doesn’t feel the same because you’re having to run around finding your toddler’s favorite sippy cup, your teenager’s bus pass and which box you packed your making-it-work Monday pants.  Turning your new house into a home takes intentional effort and time to make new memories. Yet there are small things you can do in the meantime to make your new house cozier, comfier and homier. Read on for tips on how to make a house a home in the first few weeks after your move. 

Open the Windows

Usually, when you step into a house that’s been empty for a while, you are met with stale, stuffy air. So fling open those windows and let the fresh air in! It’s time to bring in the new and chase out the old! Another great way to freshen up your home is to sage the home. Some believe sage clears negative energy and restless spirits from your home. If you’re thinking that’s a little hocus pocus, consider incense, scented candles or an essential oil diffuser to reinvigorate your home with your favorite scent.

Unpack Your Favorites First

The best way to unpack is to start with your favorite things. When you first move in, you usually don’t have the luxury to take an entire week off from work to unpack. As a result, you’re left with a house full of unpacked boxes that just sit there, unmoving, reminding you everyday that you’re still in limbo. Why not make your house a bit homier by unpacking the things that you love first. Decorate your new home with your favorite throw pillows and that vibrant woven rug you got on your trip to Peru. While you’re at it, dig out a couple of decorative tchotchkes such as the heirloom rug from your grandmother’s house or that gorgeous vase you bought in Italy. Make sure that you have your favorite coffee mug available and your book collection out on display so you can curl up on the sofa for a good read on the weekend before you tackle more unpacking.

Clean Your Bedding

Ever been on a long trip and when you arrive back home, you realize the thing you missed most about being away was sleeping in your own bed? One of the first things you should do when you arrive to your new house is to put fresh, clean linens on your bed, fluff out that billowy comforter and plump up your favorite pillow. Now you can lie back and dream about all the things to look forward to in your new home and in your new life.

Take Your Time Hanging Art

You may feel the impulse to decorate after unpacking and start filling up your blank walls immediately in order to make your house look less empty.  Consider taking the time to get to know the flow of your house before you start decorating as if the world will end tomorrow. This way, you can make better decisions about where all of your photos and art will look best. Decorating should be a fun process where you get to relive precious memories through photos (like that time you took the kids to Disneyland)  and momentos (when you went to France and bought that cute miniature painting of the Eiffel Tower).

While you may get the urge to rush out to Target and clean out their home section, it’s best to resist buying a bunch of new decorations at first.  Impulse buys won’t make your house feel like home, but rather more like a crammed souvenir shop.  Instead, start by putting up a few photos here and there and take your time with the rest.

Put Up the Fridge Magnets

Ah the fridge: a multi-purpose appliance that keeps your food from spoiling while simultaneously acting as a giant display of your past, present and future.  The fridge is where you put photos of cherished memories, affirmation magnets that will help get you through your day and upcoming wedding and baby shower invites.  The refrigerator is an easy spot to get stuff up that will make your home start to feel more familiar.

Cook one of your Favorite Recipes

Remember the days when you would come home to the aroma of your mom or dad’s roasted chicken? The smell would put you immediately at ease after a long, hard day of being a human.  When you move, you sometimes forget how comforting a home cooked meal can be. Enough with the take-out already! Fill up your home with the familiar smells of your favorite recipe. Whether that’s a stew or banana bread, a stir fry or a pot roast, break in your kitchen and let the comforting aromas float through your home.

Host a Housewarming Gathering

There’s something ceremonious about a house-warming party that makes the transition from house to home feel more official.  Invite a few people over to help bring the friendly energy up. Remember to host your party in a way that makes you feel comfortable. If you’re an introvert, don’t invite 40 people over.  Start with a small number, serve easy-to-make home-cooked meal, turn up the positive music and let the good vibes roll!


Conclusion

Moving out of your old house can be overwhelming and tiresome. All you want to do is snap your fingers so you can get settled in a new house instead of having to endure the labor of unpacking.  Unfortunately, life doesn’t work that way, but you can alleviate stress by doing little things to make your new house feel more like a home. When you’re ready to book your move, give Moving Forward San Francisco Movers a call for a FREE quote!

The Essential Self-Care Plan For When You Feel Homesick

Outline:
Intro
Have a Self Care List Handy
Request a Care Package
Stick to a Routine
Explore an Exciting New Spot in Your Area
Call a Friend

Draft:
H1: Smile Away the Homesick Blues With This Essential Homesick Checklist

There’s no right or wrong way to deal with being homesick. First of all, you never know when it’s going to hit, or what will trigger it. You could be walking to your new apartment and remember a great dinner you had with a friend in a hometown eatery. Or you could be waking up one Sunday and miss the ease of walking to your favorite corner market for coffee.

Whatever triggers that homesick feeling, you want to be prepared to combat it and get back on your feet. Use this checklist to be prepared for sudden and emotional yearnings of your hometown.

Have a Self Care List Handy
You know yourself best, so you know what makes you feel cared for and comfortable. Indulging in a bit of self care can help combat those heavy feelings. Take a bath, hit the gym, or grab dinner with a new friend or coworker. Maybe jumping into another world with a good book is your thing. If you don’t have a self care list, we suggest making one so you always have it handy when you’re not sure what to do with yourself. Some suggestions:

• Exercise revs up those feel good endorphins and relieves stress, which can be great when you’re feeling home sick.
• Enjoy a little grooming, whether that’s getting a haircut, getting your nails done, or enjoying a massage of facial.
• Take a nap. Sometimes those gloomy feelings can be turned around with a little shuteye.
• Play with your pet. Hanging out with animals has a way of calming us down and making us feel safe and cared for.

Request a Care Package
Do your parents or loved ones still live back home? Ask them to send you a little care package with some of your favorite items from home. Sometimes all you need is some coffee from your favorite coffee shop or a photo of your old neighborhood in the fall. It’s those little touches that can feel cathartic and healing. Your friends and family would probably be happy to ship you a few things!

Stick to a Routine
Starting over in a new city is a massive transition. At first you can feel like you’re on some sort of strange, stressful vacation. You’re eating out all the time, you don’t know where anything is, and the only places to hang out are bars and eateries. It’s a struggle and it’s isolating. 

One simple thing you can do to combat this fish-out-of-water feeling is to create and stick to a routine. Wake up at the same time, enjoy your coffee or tea in the same spot, take the same commute. The more you move through the same steps, the more comfortable you will feel. You may also get to know others who share a similar routine.

Maybe you will see the same handful of people at the coffee shop in the morning, or the elevator. Maybe you will start to talk to the people who head to the gym in the evenings when you do. Routines have a way of grounding us, take advantage of them.

Call a Friend
If it’s the people you miss more than the place, then contact them! Nothing beats calling a good friend and catching up for an hour or so. Just hearing the sound of their voice can ground you and make you feel right at home. If you live in different time zones, schedule a time that works best for both of you, so nothing feels rushed or inconvenient.

Explore Something New
Sometimes the best remedy to homesickness is to stop thinking about the past and completely immerse yourself in the present. A great way to do that is to explore a new area in your new city. Check out a show with a coworker, or hit up a trivia night and join a team. Hit up a museum or art gallery, or even the local farmers market. You never know what will pique your interest or become your new favorite place to hang out. 

For more help, give call a professional San Francisco Movers at Moving Forward.

How to Get Organized and Create a Home Inventory

OUTLINE:

•     Intro
•     What is a Home Inventory

•         Name of item
•         Estimated value
•         Its condition
•         Location in your home

•     Why You Need a Home Inventory For Your Move
•     When to Create a Home Inventory
•     How to Set Up a Home Inventory

DRAFT:

Keeping track of your belongings is hard enough on a daily basis (How many chapsticks have you lost in the last year? Where are your headphones?). It’s incredibly easy to lose track of belongings, but that is not a game you want to play while you’re moving.

While it may seem silly, it’s actually pretty common to misplace items during your move. You think you packed your skillet, but as you unpack you can’t find it anywhere. Then you find yourself restocking items you either lost, donated, or never actually owned in the first place. 

Moving also has a funny way of revealing how much stuff we accumulate. Do you know exactly what you have, what it’s all worth, and where it belongs in your new home?

A home inventory is incredibly helpful when moving. You can get organized, figure out what you have, and get a fresh perspective on the contents of your home.

Initiating a home inventory list can also trigger a much-needed declutter session. Whether you’re packing on your own or you hiring professional movers to pack and take an inventory of your belongings, creating your own home inventory as a backup and cross-reference tool.

What is a Home Inventory?

A home inventory is a detailed breakdown of each item in your home. A great home inventory allows you to see everything you own, what condition it’s in, how much it’s worth, and where it will live in your new home.

There are several different organizational methods for creating a home inventory sheet. If you prefer to write it down on a sheet of paper, that works as long as it works for you. A popular method is to create a spreadsheet to keep items and their descriptions clean and organized.

Why You Need a Home Inventory For Your Move

If you’re thinking a home inventory list is just another task that will complicate the process, think again. A home inventory list actually makes your move easier.

The purpose of a home inventory is to:

• Protect yourself against theft. When you’re moving, you’re more susceptible to break ins. Creating a home inventory of your belongings before you start packing and making a ruckus can prevent a legal nightmare if someone breaks into your home.

• Prepare for damage or loss. A moving inventory list can also be a lifesaver if there’s a fire, flood, earthquake, or other natural disaster that requires you to deal with insurance and replace your items. Additionally, home inventories can help you navigate replacements and insurance issues with your professional moving company if anything is damaged in transport.

• Make the unpacking experience more convenient. When you know what you have and where it goes, you can basically pack on auto-pilot. A simple color-coding system can help you or the movers unload boxes where they are meant to go in your home.

• Understand the total value of belongings in your home. What is the total contents of your house worth? This can be a fun exercise to see what’s worth keeping for sentimental or monetary value. If you’re unsure what certain valuables are worth, you can hire an appraiser and get a professional opinion. Who knows, you could be sitting on a gold mine!

• Have a backup inventory if something happens. While many professional moving companies provide their own inventory list, it helps to have two inventories to cross-reference. Ultimately, you’re in charge of your belongings, and it will give you peace of mind if you can create your own list and know exactly what you’re looking after.

• Find out what you need and what you can get rid of. Before you create an inventory list, you may realize that you have plenty to get rid of before you document it. A home inventory helps you consider what’s worth keeping and what is good to toss. You will feel 1,000 times lighter when you initiate that home inventory process because you will also be tackling the decluttering process simultaneously.

• Discover what you don’t have. An inventory also helps you see what you’re missing but may need. Thought you had and crockpot? Confused as to where that old living room rug ran off to? Pay attention to the items you thought you had and, in fact, need. “Missing necessary items” is another important section on your list that you can address when you move in.

When to Create a Home Inventory

Give yourself plenty of time to tackle your moving inventory. After all, you have several rooms packed with stuff, so this will take some time. Additionally, you don’t want to rush yourself, because that will lead to more mistakes. If you’re going to create an inventory sheet, do it right.

Start thinking about your inventory list as soon as you decide you’re going to move. YOu don’t even have to put anything on paper yet. You just have to look at your home objectively and see how much stuff you really have.

Then, you can begin decluttering. Get rid of anything that seems like a waste of time to include on your list. The decluttering phase prepares you for the inventory phase. Once all your decluttering is over, you can breathe easy knowing everything in your home is necessary and worth of the list.

How to Set Up a Home Inventory

The great thing about home inventory lists is that you can be as detailed or as minimal as you want with it. An inventory exists to make your life easier. If you’re not the organized type, don’t worry. Use this basic category checklist to create your own home inventory template sheet.

Item Description

Owner (who it belongs to)

Room Location

Category

Condition

Value $

Purchase Date

If you’re looking for a more in-depth, printable home inventory template sheet, you can find dozens at PDFfiller. Allstate has a pretty great one here.

An Organized Home is Easier to Move
Creating a home inventory list offers so many advantages for both you and your professional movers. Once you’re done, you will find that your belongings are more organized, you know where you want them to go, and your movers will easily be able to unload items where you want them.

Still looking for professional Palo Alto Movers here or the greater San Francisco area? Moving Forward is the smart choice. Give us a call today to receive your free quote and learn more about the benefits of working with Moving Forward.

How to Protect and Move Antiques Safely

OUTLINE:
Intro

• Antiques are heirlooms--often sentimental, have family and/or monetary value - breaking them during a move would break your heart.
• Irreplaceable items require mindful packing.
• Plan properly to minimize risk of damage during the move. 
• Avoid this at all costs by being prepared with these tips

Find Out If You’re Covered

• Review moving protection plan with your professional movers. What do they cover, how much, get clear on this so expectations are understood by all.
• Some homeowner’s insurance policies cover antiques

Take Inventory of Your Items

• Sounds like a drag, but it’s totally worth it.
• Know exactly what you have, what it’s worth - take photos of damage and wear and tear so you know exactly what it looks like.
• Document serial numbers, documents, manufacturing marks, etc.

Have Your Antiques Appraised

• Know their value (and have proof of it!) before you move.
• Extremely important if this gets lost of damaged, professional movers know exactly what it was worth and can reimburse based on damage.
• Hire a specialist to have you antiques appraised before you move
• You can also attend a local appraisal day at an auction house, or go to an antique show, if you’re trying to stick to a budget.

Clean Your Antiques

• Check for any necessary cleaning before packing
• Be careful to only use special cleaning products meant for antique furniture. You should be able to find these in your local hardware store or Lowes, Home Depot etc.
• Do NOT use oil or wax on items if they are going into storage - it will soften the finish
• If you don’t know how to clean your antiques, contact a local antique store, auction house, or historical society for details.

Buy the Right Packing Supplies

• Furniture has delicate wood and glass - details that give them character! - don’t add to the damage during the move. Be mindful of the right packing supplies.

• Microfiber cloth
• Packing paper or packing peanuts
• Air-filled plastic wrap
• Glassine (a type of plastic wrap but resistant to air, water, and grease. Available at most craft stores)
• Packing tape
• Corner protectors for art and mirrors
• Boxes, including specialty boxes as need
• Moving blankets
• Furniture pads

Pack With Care

• Label everything: which side is up, which side can go against the way and which sie cannot, note any areas with significant damage that should be handled with care.
• Wrap in thick pads to protect corners
• Wrap all glass with glassine
• Think cushion and support -

• Use corner protectors
• Cushion with bubble wrap or air-filled plastic wrap (wrap it twice!) secure with tape
• Pack in the smallest box possible to minimize wiggle room

Facilitate the Move

• Supervise movers and communicate clearly how antiques should be handled.
• This allows movers to ask questions if necessary

DRAFT:
When it comes to how to move fragile items such as glassware, ceramics and other breakables, it should always be with special care. On the other hand, when it comes to your grandpa’s vintage beer bottle collection, your great grandmother’s heirloom doilies or that giant 19th century mahogany desk that weighs a ton that has been in your family for generations, let’s just say “special care” isn’t going to cut it. For these precious family relics, you’re going to need to handle them with the delicacy of a feather landing on a butterfly’s wing that’s sitting on a dew drop.

Irreplaceable items require mindful packing and proper planning in order to minimize the risk of damage during your move. Read on for packing tips for fragile stuff and how to move antique furniture, family heirlooms and fragile trinkets so that they arrive at your new home all in one piece.

Find Out If You’re Covered
A great place to start in protecting your fragile and valuable items is by giving your moving company a call to find out if they offer a moving protection plan. If they do, you’ll want to know what items they cover and how much they cover should something suffer damage during the move. This is an opportunity to let your movers know about which fragile items need to be handled with special care so that on the day of the move everyone is on the same page.  It’s also a good idea to look over your homeowner’s insurance policy to see if it covers antiques.

Take Inventory of Your Items
Before the movers come, take inventory of your valuable antique items. Though it sounds tedious, it is totally worth in the event that they are damaged, lost or stolen during the move. Take photos of damage and wear and tear so that if anything happens you can differentiate between what was already there and marks or scratches that occurred during the move.  Record and store serial numbers, documents, manufacturing marks or anything else that could help you identify the original value of the item. That way, if something happens, you will have proof of the value to make sure you are compensated accurately.

Have Your Antiques Appraised
Once you have taken a thorough inventory of your antique items, hire a specialist to appraise them before you move. Acquiring an appraisal will help to show the exact value of your items should they get damaged during the move. This will make the process of reimbursement easy for the insurance company, the moving company and, most importantly, you. If it’s not in the budget to hire an appraiser, consider attending an appraisal day at a local auction house or go to an antique show.

Clean Your Antiques
It’s important to clean your antiques before you move so as not to mistake a temporary mark for a permanent scratch. Be sure that you use special cleaning products that are particular to antiques. In other words, Windex is not going to do the trick with your Tiffany stained glass lamp. You should be able to find specialty antique cleaning products at your local Home Depot, Lowe’s or Hardware. DO NOT use oil or wax to clean wood furniture before your move as it will soften the finish and potentially cause permanent damage. If you’re unsure about how to clean your antiques, contact a local antique store, auction house or historical society.

Buy The Right Packing Supplies
If you’re asking yourself, how much bubble wrap do I need, what do I need in the way of packing supplies for framed art and other questions about antique packing and shipping, you may want to think long and hard about exactly what type of packaging you should use for that vanity with the tortoise shell framed mirror. Definitely DO NOT grab last week’s newspaper to pack it, especially if you are planning on moving antiques across country. Different items will require different packaging.  Consider the following packing materials for your antiques:

• Microfiber cloth
• Packing paper or packing peanuts
• Air-filled plastic wrap
• Glassine (a type of plastic wrap but resistant to air, water, and grease. Available at most craft stores)
• Packing tape
• Corner protectors for art and mirrors
• Boxes, including specialty boxes as needed
• Moving blankets
• Furniture pads

Pack With Care
Can you think of anything worse than an antique doll house delivered upside down allowing all its internal miniature pieces to be tossed about during the move? Ugh. Avoid this scenario by properly labeling each box containing a delicate doohickey with directions such as: which side is up, which side should go against the wall and which areas need to be handled with extra care. Consider these other packing precautions for your antiques:

• Include thick pads on the corners of antique furniture, art and mirrors when wrapping and boxing.
• Wrap all glass with glassine
• Cushion and support breakables with bubble wrap or air-filled plastic wrap and be sure to wrap it twice and secure it with tape!
• Pack fragile items in the smallest box possible to minimize wiggle room, which given too much could cause increased potential for breakage.

Facilitate the Move
Once the movers arrive at your home ready to, well, move, take a moment to communicate with them about specific items that will need special care. This will allow movers to ask questions if necessary before they start loading up the truck.

Conclusion
Watching all your belongings get hauled away, hoping they’ll make it to your new home in one piece can be stressful, especially when some of those antique items, if broken, would have your ancestors turning over in their graves. Hopefully, these tips for moving antiques will help keep your ancestors resting in peace.  If you’re asking yourself, do professional movers move antiques? The answer is yes and Moving Forward Sunnyvale is, in fact, the best moving company for antiques!  Let our professional Sunnyvale Movers at Moving Forward handle all your belongings with care. Give us a call today for a FREE quote!

How to Get Organized and Create a Home Inventory

OUTLINE:
Intro
What is a Home Inventory

• Name of item
• Estimated value
• Its condition
• Location in your home

Why You Need a Home Inventory For Your Move
When to Create a Home Inventory
How to Set Up a Home Inventory

DRAFT:

Keeping track of your belongings is hard enough on a daily basis (How many chapsticks have you lost in the last year? Where are your headphones?). It’s incredibly easy to lose track of belongings, but that is not a game you want to play while you’re moving.

While it may seem silly, it’s actually pretty common to misplace items during your move. You think you packed your skillet, but as you unpack you can’t find it anywhere. Then you find yourself restocking items you either lost, donated, or never actually owned in the first place. 

Moving also has a funny way of revealing how much stuff we accumulate. Do you know exactly what you have, what it’s all worth, and where it belongs in your new home?

A home inventory is incredibly helpful when moving. You can get organized, figure out what you have, and get a fresh perspective on the contents of your home.

Initiating a home inventory list can also trigger a much-needed declutter session. Whether you’re packing on your own or you hiring professional movers to pack and take an inventory of your belongings, creating your own home inventory as a backup and cross-reference tool.

What is a Home Inventory?
A home inventory is a detailed breakdown of each item in your home. A great home inventory allows you to see everything you own, what condition it’s in, how much it’s worth, and where it will live in your new home.

There are several different organizational methods for creating a home inventory sheet. If you prefer to write it down on a sheet of paper, that works as long as it works for you. A popular method is to create a spreadsheet to keep items and their descriptions clean and organized.

Why You Need a Home Inventory For Your Move
If you’re thinking a home inventory list is just another task that will complicate the process, think again. A home inventory list actually makes your move easier.

The purpose of a home inventory is to:

• Protect yourself against theft. When you’re moving, you’re more susceptible to break ins. Creating a home inventory of your belongings before you start packing and making a ruckus can prevent a legal nightmare if someone breaks into your home.
• Prepare for damage or loss. A moving inventory list can also be a lifesaver if there’s a fire, flood, earthquake, or other natural disaster that requires you to deal with insurance and replace your items. Additionally, home inventories can help you navigate replacements and insurance issues with your professional moving company if anything is damaged in transport.
• Make the unpacking experience more convenient. When you know what you have and where it goes, you can basically pack on auto-pilot. A simple color-coding system can help you or the movers unload boxes where they are meant to go in your home.
• Understand the total value of belongings in your home. What is the total contents of your house worth? This can be a fun exercise to see what’s worth keeping for sentimental or monetary value. If you’re unsure what certain valuables are worth, you can hire an appraiser and get a professional opinion. Who knows, you could be sitting on a gold mine!
• Have a backup inventory if something happens. While many professional moving companies provide their own inventory list, it helps to have two inventories to cross-reference. Ultimately, you’re in charge of your belongings, and it will give you peace of mind if you can create your own list and know exactly what you’re looking after.
• Find out what you need and what you can get rid of. Before you create an inventory list, you may realize that you have plenty to get rid of before you document it. A home inventory helps you consider what’s worth keeping and what is good to toss. You will feel 1,000 times lighter when you initiate that home inventory process because you will also be tackling the decluttering process simultaneously.
• Discover what you don’t have. An inventory also helps you see what you’re missing but may need. Thought you had and crockpot? Confused as to where that old living room rug ran off to? Pay attention to the items you thought you had and, in fact, need. “Missing necessary items” is another important section on your list that you can address when you move in.

When to Create a Home Inventory
Give yourself plenty of time to tackle your moving inventory. After all, you have several rooms packed with stuff, so this will take some time. Additionally, you don’t want to rush yourself, because that will lead to more mistakes. If you’re going to create an inventory sheet, do it right.

Start thinking about your inventory list as soon as you decide you’re going to move. YOu don’t even have to put anything on paper yet. You just have to look at your home objectively and see how much stuff you really have.

Then, you can begin decluttering. Get rid of anything that seems like a waste of time to include on your list. The decluttering phase prepares you for the inventory phase. Once all your decluttering is over, you can breathe easy knowing everything in your home is necessary and worth of the list.

How to Set Up a Home Inventory
The great thing about home inventory lists is that you can be as detailed or as minimal as you want with it. An inventory exists to make your life easier. If you’re not the organized type, don’t worry. Use this basic category checklist to create your own home inventory template sheet.

Item Description
Owner (who it belongs to)
Room Location
Category
Condition
Value $
Purchase Date

If you’re looking for a more in-depth, printable home inventory template sheet, you can find dozens at PDFfiller. Allstate has a pretty great one here.

An Organized Home is Easier to Move
Creating a home inventory list offers so many advantages for both you and your professional movers. Once you’re done, you will find that your belongings are more organized, you know where you want them to go, and your movers will easily be able to unload items where you want them.

Still looking for professional Palo Alto Movers here or the greater San Francisco area? Moving Forward is the smart choice. Give us a call today to receive your free quote and learn more about the benefits of working with Moving Forward.