The Moving Planner Blog

Did you know that moving is considered one of the major causes of stress? Well it’s not surprising considering the amount of work it involves, the costs that add up, and the time and energy it takes. With summer being the busiest time of year for moving, The Moving Planner Blog would like to offer some tips to make your move a little less stressful.

As soon as your home is sold call your High-Speed-Internet provider to make arrangements of relocating your Internet services as smooth as it can be. Don’t stay days without Internet connection and miss that important email with grandma recipe :) 

What to do?

• Schedule a moving truck one month in advance

• For new homes, schedule a cable installation two-three months in advance

• Try to move in the middle of the week to avoid the hectic weekend

• Use high-quality boxes and be specific when labeling them to make unloading your truck easier and faster at your new home 

When you transfer your existing Internet services to your new home, your High-Speed-Internet provider should be there to help lighten your load. Check if there are any connection fees or any other hidden fees. Relocating High-Speed-Internet service should usually be free of charge. All you have to do is call your High-Speed-Internet provider to tell them you’re moving. They’ll call back to confirm the details and set up an installation time that works for you.

What if things are going wrong?

If your new premises already has a phone line installed, but not Cables, you can use the number allocated to this line, call AOL or other dial-up service provider (you can get free AOL account for 3 months) and they can usually activate the phone line within a few hours, during normal business working hours.

This digital document is came across my eyes. It is an article from San Diego Business Journal, published by CBJ, L.P. on December 4, 2000. The length of the article is 1264 words.  

Murphy’s law couldn’t fit any situation more perfectly than a corporate relocation. No matter how organized, capable or experienced you think you are, things will go wrong. Obviously, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try your hardest to make sure that they don’t. Following are some things that may help ensure you are still employed after the dust clears:

• Realistic Schedule
  • Probably the most critical part of every move is scheduling. It happens all too often when a company tries to create unrealistic schedules; it’s usually not until they get down to the wire that they realize it’s not going to happen.

Source: http://www.amazon.com/Find-Ways-Ahead-Moving-Business/dp/B0008J98ZG/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1204230634&sr=8-15

“Commercial moving is a highly specialized field that requires knowledgeable personnel, state-of-the-art equipment, and advanced technology dedicated to exclusively servicing the transitional needs of businesses…” Read more on http://www.flatrate.com/new-york-commercial-overview.html

Most of us will own at least a couple of houseplants that we want to take with us on the move. Keen gardeners amongst us may also want to take garden plants with us. Plants are probably one of the Top 5 things we don’t think about much during the moving process. After all, we have a lot of bigger things to think about and plants often just get put on to the moving van at the last minute. But they are also very fragile things and get damaged very easily. Even if they survive the move the trauma of the process can kill them off later!

If you’re fond of your plants it’s therefore wise to put some time and effort into making the moving process as quick and painless for them as possible. The majority of moving companies will NOT cover plants in their insurance policies. They’re just too easy to damage. So, you need to take extra care yourself. You also need to bear in mind that certain movers will not carry plants or may have restrictions on those they carry according to your destination. Chances are you won’t be allowed to move any plants internationally. Talk to your movers to see if they have any restrictions.

As gardeners often claim, plants have feelings too! You can move a plant apparently successfully from one house to the next only to see it wither and die a couple of weeks later. To avoid this you need to do some preparations well ahead of your move to get them in peak condition. Firstly, you need to think about how you will transport your plants. Your best option is to get hold of some sturdy boxes - you should line these with plastic ready for your moving day.

Assess all the plants you want to transport a couple of weeks before you move. Prune them, feed them and administer any pest control treatments to get them into peak condition. Think about the pots they’re in - if you’re worried about transporting stone pots, for example, repot the plants into plastic ones. Also, take some time to check that all pots are whole and not cracked. A cracked pot stands more chance of breaking in transit and thus damaging the contents. Make sure that the pots aren’t too big for the actual plant - this can cause them to move about and damage themselves.

On your moving day (or the day before if you’re pushed for time) make sure that none of the plants are water-logged and drain away any excess water. Pack them snugly (but not too tightly) into the boxes you’ve set aside and put some packing in place to hold them firmly. Do tell your movers that these boxes contain plants - although you won’t have any insurance cover they will still take care with the boxes if you ask them to. Plants in large pots should be wrapped in plastic or placed in bags - you can also wrap the actual plant in plastic to avoid damage and to keep the plant together. If you do this be careful to make sure that the plastic is not tied together too tightly - they still need to breathe!

If you’re moving garden plants (in this case it’s always wise to tell the people that are buying your house in advance just to be polite) then the best time to dig them up is on your moving day. This minimizes disruption. You should dig up the plant so that you have a ‘root ball’ at the base. Wrap this in plastic and make sure that the earth in it is not too dry. If you want to move larger climbing type plants it’s wise to tie supports to the stem to avoid them snapping in the moving process. Plants can be quite successfully transported in a dustbin liner that is tied at the top. This will help them retain moisture - although you do need to be careful as this isn’t the sturdiest of solutions and you might want to put the bag in a box for extra security.

If you don’t want to empty your old garden of plants then you can always take cuttings with you instead. Put them in a bag on damp paper or cotton wool. This should keep them going through the move for a few days and you can transplant them when you’re ready.

Once you have packed up your plants for the move and transported them don’t forget them! It’s easy to get caught up with sorting out your new home and getting everything unloaded and unpacked but spare some time to sort your plants out early in the process - it’ll pay off. You don’t need to replant your garden plants straightaway - you probably won’t have time for this. You can just dig a quick hole in your new garden and put them in it. Cover their roots to protect them, give them a quick water if suitable and then you can forget about them for a while until you’re ready to plant them properly. Houseplants don’t have such urgent needs as they’ll still be in their pots but don’t forget about them either. Take them out of their boxes and any wrappings as soon as you can and leave them in a quiet corner while you get on the rest of your unpacking.

If your move will be a long-distance one you might need to think about moving your plants in your car. You’ll be able to manage the moving environment much better than if they are just stuck in the back of a van. This works just as well on short journeys if you’re particularly attached to your plants and you’re worried about the effects moving will have on them.

Your moving plant care doesn’t stop once the move is done. Plants are living things and are sensitive - keep an eye on both house and garden plants for a few weeks after the move and make sure they are well-watered and fed as necessary. Your garden plants may be transplanted into soil that is different to that they are used to and they may need extra help and attention. Give all your plants a bit of tender loving care and they’ll flourish in your new home! 
 

Source : European Kitchens

Once you know you’re moving, you can begin packing your kitchen right away. Start with your rarely used serving dishes, seasonal items and minor appliances. Next, tackle your large serving bowls, tablecloths, and specialty pots and pans. Keep your everyday dishes for the last week before moving. Many people are buying some disposable plates, cups, and utensils for those last few nights when everything is packed away.

Food Items
Use or drop all perishables before moving. Boxed or canned goods should be packed in small boxes. Dispose of any open packages and wrap glass jars to prevent breakage during moving. Don’t risk moving food products during the summer. The inside of a moving van (especially at Florida) can reach 155 degrees.

China & Glassware
Wrap all pieces of tableware china and glassware individually for moving. Old newspapers will do. Extra care will require for Italians or Europeans Glassware which are very delicates. A generous amount of paper padding and cushioning is required for all china and glassware. Label moving cartons with room, contents and “FRAGILE - THIS SIDE UP“.

Larger china and glass plates, platters and other flat pieces are excellent as the lowest layer in a dish pack. Place cushioning material in the bottom of a moving carton. Wrap each piece individually with clean paper, then wrap up to three in a bundle with a double layer of newsprint. Place these bundled items in the moving carton in a row on the edge. Surround each bundle with crushed paper, being careful to leave no voids or unfilled spaces. Add two or three inches of wadded paper on top of the bundle to protect rims and make a level base for the next tier. Horizontal cardboard dividers can be helpful in keeping layers level. Smaller plates, saucers and shallow bowls could make up a second layer. Wrap and pack in the same way as larger items.

Bowls and Odd-shaped Items
Depending on their weight, these might be used for either the bottom or middle layers. Wrap the same way as flat plates. Stand shallow bowls (soup plates, etc.) on edge in the moving carton and deeper ones (such as mixing bowls) nested two or three together, upside down on their rims. Wrap sugar-bowl lids in newsprint, turning them upside down on top of bowls. Then wrap both together in newsprint, followed by a double outer layer. Wrap sugar bowls, cream pitchers, sauce containers, gravy boats, and similar pieces in newsprint and then a double outer wrapping. Place all upright in the moving carton, then top off the layer with wadded newspaper.

Pots & Pans
Pots, pans, and similar items should be wrapped and packed in medium-size moving cartons. Depending on their weight, these might be used for either the bottom or middle layers.

Cups
Even when using a dish pack and cellular dividers, wrap china cups individually first, protecting handles with an extra layer of clean paper. Then, pack cups upside down. If not using cellular dividers, wrap cups individually first in a double layer of paper and place them upside down on rims in a row on an upper layer with all handles facing the same direction. Top off the layer with wadded newsprint.

Silver & Flatware
To protect silver pieces from tarnishing during moving, they should be completely enclosed in newsprint or plastic wrap. Hollow ware including bowls, tea sets, and serving dishes should be wrapped carefully like fragile items and packed like china. Loose flatware may be wrapped individually or in sets, and in paper, clear plastic bags, or small gift boxes that are then secured with tape. Even if silverware is in a chest, consider wrapping the pieces individually and repositioning them in the chest. Or fill all voids in the chest with newsprint to prevent shifting while moving. The chest can be wrapped in a large bath towel. Figurines and Other Delicate Items be sure the items are well protected with plenty of cushioning. Extra care will require for Italians or Europeans Tableware which are very delicates. Wrap first in tissue paper, paper towels, or facial tissue. Then wrap carefully in paper that has been wadded and flattened out. Small mirrors, plaques, and pictures should be wrapped individually in tissue paper with an outer layer of newsprint. A bath towel or small blanket makes an excellent outer wrapping and padding for glass. Place items on edge in a moving carton.

Small Appliances
Items such as clocks, small radios and other small appliances should be wrapped individually and packed in a moving carton cushioned with crushed paper. If their cords disconnect, wrap them in plastic and secure them to the appliance they belong to. Make sure cords are wrapped so as not to scratch or damage items while moving. Steam irons should be emptied of all water, wrapped and placed in the cushioned bottom of a box. You can make cardboard dividers to use between layers by cutting up small book cartons.

Cookbooks
Pack cookbooks of the same general size together, in small book cartons. Pack books either flat, or with the spine touching the bottom of the carton. Do not pack with spine facing upward, as glue can break away from the binder. Expensively bound volumes or those of sentimental value should be individually wrapped before packing.

More info links
New York Movers Organization
Los Angeles Movers Organization

-New York Moving companies are beginning to homogenize considerably in the past few years. Any New Yorker searching online for a moving service will often find the appealing words “flatrate” appear when searching for a top notch, affordable company to relocate them to their new abode. If the name sounds familiar, or more importantly appealing, it’s due entirely to the well-branded service model that changed the way New Yorkers felt, and what they believed about New York movers. This service and pricing model was created by FlatRate Moving, and it’s allowed them to catapult to #1 status in the New York Tri-State area over the last 17 years because their [state-of-the-art]  local storage services, commercial relocation, Rapid delivery, luxury moving services and Eco-friendly Moving, are all priced following one final estimate void of fluctuation or shady last-minute added costs.

The single price that New Yorkers are given at point of final estimate, is the final, flat rate. For this simple yet remarkable pricing system, and consumer satisfaction model, FlatRate Moving and  Moving are Better Business Bureau members, Forbes Enterprise Award Recipients, Best of City Search category winners, and top choice for optimal Moving services in New York City.

Imitation has often been mentioned as a form of flattery, however for FlatRate, the brand name was built on an actual practice, developed to address cynical, dissatisfied customers  had written of New York movers as scam artist. Gaining the faith of jaded New Yorkers and building respect in the industry on a service that continues to own up to it’s name, is something FlatRate Moving has earned. By implementing a rigorous quarterly training program for our movers, crafting an efficient customer service program, or guiding an expert team of Relocation Consultants whose knowledge keeps the urban moving experience, seamless and efficient, FlatRate Moving is the real deal. –You’ll understand if we don’t take kindly to the mimicry of sub-standard counterparts. Ironically, it’s this same industry trickery that has kept us honest, smart and continues to build the FlatRate Moving brand.

The next time you’re ready to get orderly amid spring cleaning, are relocating to new apartment or simply moving furniture pieces from upstairs to downstairs, choose a service that has found its success in exceeding customer satisfaction; experience the authentic FlatRate way. 

When Moving Your SoHo Office, Use A Professional Mover.

Moving your home is stressful; everything has to be packed up and boxed and inventoried, and nothing ever packs the way you’d expect it. At least you can rely on going back to work once the move is taken crare of, secure that, aside from an aching back, and a few days of frantic unpacking, your work life won’t be disrupted.

At least, that’s the way it used to work. If you have a small or home office (SoHo), that security that your move hasn’t disrupted your paychecks isn’t there. In particular, moving your home office runs the risk of a lot of potential disruption to your work-flow, and keeping your clients happy, if you’re not careful.

Now, as a SoHo business owner, you’re indoctrinated into the idea of “do it right, do it yourself”, and probably can think back to moving in and out of dorm rooms and apartments, and have tagged this, mentally, as a “do it yourself” job. Nothing could be further from the truth. Hire a professional, and hire one that has direct experience in moving an office.

Movers with office experience understand the importance of documenting what everything is, and where it went in relation to other boxes. Particularly with movers that do “store and forward” moving, having a paper trail is critical to tracking down anything that went astray or awry. Nothing can be quite as disastrous as discovering, at the end of the move, that two cartons of tax records are missing, because the store and forward place didn’t set them together.

Just as important, a business mover with SoHo experience understands office equipment and palletized goods. Most SoHo offices rely on a few critical pieces of hardware. If you’re an architect, working out of a small office, your $22,000 plotter is a vital critical need. A good mover with SOHO experience will note not only that you have a big, awkward, fragile plotter moving, but they’ll ask for the make and model number so they can research exactly how to pack it and unpack it at the destination.

Speaking of unpacking at the destination, a good mover with SoHo experience will ask you lots of questions about that as well. As someone doing a well prepared move, you should have your floor plans already in place for the destination. Ideally, you’ll even have the utilities turned on by the time you arrive. Go over the floor plan with the movers, and let them know where everything should go when you get there. Large companies planning office moves do this, and it’s an exercise in forethought and planning that will have at least a week, and possibly more, off of the disruption of your professional life and client contacts due to the move.

In particular, knowing where everything goes at the destination makes it easier to figure out what order to load the trucks at, on the point of departure.

One company with an excellent reputation for small office moves is Flat Rate Moving. They’ve done this for decades, and were one of the first companies to specialize in moving home offices, and later small offices. They’ve moved companies ranging from law offices (with more filing cabinets than you care to name) to small home based publishers (with industrial laser printers and a book bindery setup) across the country.

In addition to their experience in moving businesses, Flat Rate understands the need to do staged moves, and to prioritize what moves when and where they know that every hour spent packing or unpacking a box is an hour that you’re not solving a problem for a client. As small business owners themselves, they understand how much that pains you in maintaining your business. An Flat Rate estimator will personally look over your existing office setup, tally up the inventory, ask you what’s the most important, and help you build a priority list, so that what gets packed last gets opened first, to minimize the disruption of your work-flow.

Flat Rate, like any other mover, carries insurance against loss or breakage during the move, and Flat Rate’s movers know exactly how important your office equipment is. They’re also organized, and will make sure that everything is packed, labeled and annotated correctly, using a double-check system, where every item is assigned a label, a contents sheet and a packing number, making sure that you’re good to go when your goods get there to restart your life.

If you’re running a home office, as opposed to a small office, you may want to talk to your mover about the differences between moving your own items, and having them pack up the rest of your house. For one, this can make your entire move tax deductible, if done carefully. For two, it gives you a lot of freedom to focus on what’s important those extra days where the movers are packing up the house could be extra days where you’re generating revenue because you aren’t playing Napoleon with a tape gun in your hand. If you have a business with a high “per day” take, or one that’s deadline driven, completing one more job can more than offset the additional costs of packing up the rest of the house.

Flat Rate movers offers the following timetable for moving your business.

1. Get the floor plan for where you’re moving to, first and foremost. You want to have this two weeks before you start packing boxes, and three or four weeks is better.
2. Build a priority list label each of your filing cabinets from most important to least important. Your office records are the sinews that direct your business’ motions.
3. Inform your clients about the move again, two weeks notice is the minimum, a month is probably better. Make sure that any projects being done for clients are scheduled around the move, and make a list of what projects start at what priority level once you’re relocated.
4. Two weeks before the move, have any maintenance people look over your equipment before it gets packed. Get a “full bill of health” on any equipment, so that if something gets damaged you can assert your claim for insurance purposes.
5. One week before the move, contact your new landlord about getting keys, and getting business essential utilities (telephone and internet) turned on.
6. Five days before the move, wrap up your last client projects. One or more of them will ALWAYS run late make arrangements to handle what you can electronically, from a laptop, during the move. Start packing up your personal belongings five days before the truck arrives, going from least used items to most frequently used items.
7. Make a hotel reservation at your destination. Trust us on this spending a night at the hotel and tackling unpacking when you’re well rested is far better than trying to do the Office Move Death Slog.
8. When you’re unpacking, take the time to check every single box off the master packing list. Any box that looks dinged, open up and check the contents against the master packing list.
9. Once you have bare bones business functionality up again, talk to your clients and let them know you’re ready for them. It’s better to unpack while you’re getting up to speed on your clients issues than to unpack and let them linger good client relationships are built on communications, and the reason you’re hiring a professional mover is so you can focus on client relationships, not packing tape.

Related Posts:

• http://www.themovingplanner.com/moving-planning/moving-your-office
• http://www.themovingplanner.com/moving-planning/how-to-guarantee-prized-items-moving-with-extra-special-care
• http://www.themovingplanner.com/moving-planning/moving-employees-and-employee-benefits
• http://www.themovingplanner.com/moving-planning/countdown-to-moving-day
• http://www.themovingplanner.com/moving-tips/moving-safety-tips
• http://www.themovingplanner.com/luxury-moving/senior-moving
• http://www.themovingplanner.com/moving-planning/moving-protect-yourself-from-moving-fraud
• http://www.themovingplanner.com/moving-planning/renting-a-car-during-your-move
• http://www.themovingplanner.com/moving-stories/a-to-z-moving-planning
• http://www.themovingplanner.com/moving-planning/tips-for-summer-moves
• http://www.themovingplanner.com/storage/moving-your-household-goods-may-need-to-be-stored-temporarily
• http://www.themovingplanner.com/moving-planning/moving-oversized-items
• http://www.themovingplanner.com/moving-tips/moving-and-your-children
• http://www.themovingplanner.com/moving-tips/which-boxes-should-you-use-when-moving
• http://www.themovingplanner.com/moving-planning/moving-plants
• http://www.themovingplanner.com/moving-planning/moving-your-computer

And count down to 2008 :) 

EIGHT WEEKS BEFORE YOU MOVE
Obtain a floor plan of your new residence and decide what household items you want to keep.
Begin an inventory of all household goods.
Solicit estimates from several moving companies.
Contact your insurance agent, and ask them about your homeowners policy to determine whether your possessions are cove when moving.
Establish a file for all moving papers and receipts.
Arrange to transfer child(ren)’s school records.
Choose a mover. 

SIX WEEKS BEFORE YOU MOVE
Begin search for good health-care professionals in your new location.
Fill out post-office change of address cards.
Send your new address to anyone that might need it — insurance agents, credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, friends, relatives, etc.
Clean out closets and dispose of all items that you will not be taking with you.
Hold a moving/garage sale or donate items to charities.
 
FOUR WEEKS BEFORE YOU MOVE
For self moves, reserve a truck or trailer. Obtain necessary moving supplies: boxes, twine, labels, etc. 
Start packing!!
If your mover is doing the packing, arrange for it to be done one or two days before loading begins.
Send furniture, drapes and carpets for repair or cleaning as needed.
Begin to use up overstocks of staple foods.
Gather valuable personal papers that you may need at your destination location, including medical and dental records, school records, birth certificates, etc.
Make travel plans and arrange any motel or other reservations.
 
THREE WEEKS BEFORE YOU MOVE
Arrange to have utilities (gas, electric, phone, cable, water, etc.) disconnected in your present home, and connected at your new home.
Ready car registration and insurance records for transfer.
Notify State Motor Vehicle Bureau of your new address.
Arrange for child care on moving day.
If necessary, reserve apartment elevator for pickup and/or delivery dates.
 
TWO WEEKS BEFORE YOU MOVE
Arrange to move pets.
Check with mover about moving house plants. (Some movers will not move plants.)
Dispose of all items too dangerous to move, including flammable liquids.
If necessary, have your automobile serviced and ready for the trip.
 
ONE WEEK BEFORE YOU MOVE
Transfer all bank accounts.
Cancel newspaper delivery.
Have enough medication to last at least two weeks. Have prescriptions forwarded to a pharmacy at your new destination.
Buy traveler’s checks.
Make arrangements to pay for your move.
Withdraw items and close safety deposit boxes.
 
TWO DAYS BEFORE YOU MOVE
Have mover pack your goods (unless doing it yourself).
Defrost and dry refrigerators and freezers to be moved.
Set aside valuable items to carry with you including jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, vital documents, money and valuable small items.
 
MOVING DAY
Be on hand to answer questions and give directions to movers and stay until they are finished.
Accompany driver for inventory of your household goods.
Complete information on bill of lading and carefully read the document before you sign it.
Make sure you have your copies of the bill of lading and inventory.
Keep the bill of lading until your possessions are delivered, the charges are paid, and any claims are settled.
Before the van leaves, take one final look through the house to make certain nothing has been left behind.
Give the driver directions to your new home.
Notify the driver and the van line where you can be reached during the move.
 
DELIVERY DAY
Be on hand to answer any questions and give directions.
You must pay the driver before your goods can be unloaded. This is a Federal requirement for interstate moves.
Supervise unloading and unpacking.
Check carefully for any damaged or missing items.
Note on the inventory any damaged boxes or obvious damage to unboxed items before you sign anything.
 

HAPPY MOVING!  and Happy 2008

You are ready to move! Your things are packed, you have a smile on your face and everything is looking good. The movers are there. In fact they were early! Everything seems to be going according to plan. You decide to go to Starbucks while the movers are carrying your things out. After all, you’ve earned it! You organized a huge move and you have everything running smoothly. You go to Starbucks and grab yourself something with loads of caffeine in it. As you head back to your soon to be old place, you smile with gratification at how well you’ve handled things. You did it! You rock! When you get back, to your amazement, you discover that the movers have cleared everything out and loaded everything into their truck. Yes! Thanks to your great planning and project management skills, you are on your way to being finished with the move!

The movers follow you to the new place. As they pull up, you think about the unpacking you have to do. You don’t wince a bit. Unpacking is no problem for you because you are the super-mover! You leap tall boxes in a single bound. You can unpack with the best of them. You aren’t worried. You notice that some of the movers seem preoccupied with a few of your boxes. You watch them. Ok. Nothing is wrong you determine from a distance. You go back to thinking about how wonderful you are. As you stand there observing with your satisfied smile, one of your new neighbors comes over to greet you. “Welcome!” You smile, laugh and talk with your new neighbor. You are witty and charming and your new neighbor is impressed. You have had such a pleasant move that you are in an awesome mood.

You wrap up your conversation with your new neighbor and go inside to unpack. The movers bring in the last box. You tip the head guy and they leave. Ahhh, the sweet smell of success! You managed to plan, coordinate and pull of a move without a hitch. You are really something! You decide to start unpacking things in the corner with the most boxes. As you begin unpacking you notice something odd. Some of the boxes seem to be damaged. It looks as if the movers slammed some of the heavier boxes down on top of some lighter weight boxes thereby crushing the smaller boxes. Oh no! What can this mean? What are you going to do? You don’t panic. You are, after all, the super-mover. You open the first box. It had a coffee maker and those goofy coffee cups a friend purchased that you just hated. Guess what? They are all smashed to pieces. Oh no! Caffeine at any time of the day! Now that you can’t have that, what will you do! The temperature starts to rise in your body as you rush to another box. You slice the top open in a hurry almost taking your fingers off. Slow down! You’re breathing heavy as you lift the flap of the box and peer sheepishly inside. Oh my goodness! Everything is broken in this box too. As you scurry from box to box like a squirrel on steroids, your mind is racing. What are you going to do? Who are you going to blame for this mess? How could you have missed this? Well you were outside talking to that darn neighbor! You did go to Starbucks and get that caffeinated something. Maybe that’s when it happened.

As you finish going through the boxes, your smile has faded. You realize now that this Moving company damaged your property. You are angry and upset. You want restitution and you want it now! You grab your camera and start taking pictures of the damage. One plate, two plates, three plates, four. Five plates, six plates, seven plates more. You count the damage like a kid counting in a nursery rhyme. As you count, you try to remember what you just did with that invoice the head moving guy gave you. You finish taking pictures and counting and you remember where you put that piece of paper. You pick the paper up and scan it quickly for the address. You are going over to the office of this Moving company RIGHT NOW to show them the damage they inflicted on your precious belongings. Oh but wait! There is no address! What? No address? Yep, no address!

How can this be? How can there NOT be an address for this business? Now that you think about it, you did just pick them out of the phone book. There was nothing but a banner that said something about great movers and their phone number. There was, however, no street address and no city and state. You take a deep breath. Surely 411 will be able to help! You dial 411 and wait impatiently for an operator to take the line. “Acme Movers please.” The operator responds dryly, “City and state please.” You gasp as you move the phone to your chest. You realize that you don’t even know the city and state of this company. What are you going to do?

This scenario plays out across the world everyday. When you move, you shouldn’t just trust your belongings to anyone. You’ve worked hard for the things you have and your Moving company should reflect that. You need movers you can trust. You need movers with a solid reputation and you need movers that have an actual physical address for their business not just some phone number for you to call. Moving is serious. When you have a problem or when you need to ask questions, you need to be able to do it in person or over the phone. Moving companies with physical offices provide you with some assurance that the business is going to be around tomorrow. And, if something does happen to the company, there is a viable lease paper trail for them that can perhaps allow you to pursue legal remedies against them. Companies with just a phone number can operate out of any place, by any person. You really have no way of knowing what’s going on with a Moving company like that. A lot of people think a SOHO office isn’t important. However, it is very important. Often the location of a business will determine where you have to go to pursue any legal issues. If all you have is a 1-800 number, you may have a hard time legally getting to any money you should receive for damage to your property. Not to mention the fact that a Moving company with a SOHO office provides you with a place to go and scream. Yeah, you can call someone over at the Moving company to scream about your stuff, but, as we all know, caller id is easy to use to screen those pesky unsatisfied customer calls. Once they know your number and that you are dissatisfied, they will probably stop picking up your calls. Now do you think that it’s worth the risk?

When it comes to your important possessions, play it safe. Select a Reputable Moving Company. Make sure the company has references and make sure that you take the time to contact those references. Invest the time to go to the Moving company’s office. How does the office look? Is it well kept? Is it a pigsty? How a business office is maintained can tell you a lot about the company right away. If things are out of order and in disarray, that is probably exactly how that business is managed. Make sure the company offers insurance. Make sure you know their policy on damage to your goods. Never do business with a company that just has a phone number. You may not be able to reach anyone at that number should you require assistance or need help with claims. Don’t just select a company because of the price. Doing that can end up costing you less in the short term, but way more in the long run. Invest in your things and choose the right mover. Your valuables are counting on you.

Nice long distance comment by Shtara Williams.

Moving long distance can be a lot of fun IF YOU PLAN IN ADVANCE. I emphasize that, PLAN IN ADVANCE. That isn’t to say if something unexpected comes up you can’t move immediately, you can, but you should consult those who are out there to help you.

If you do know in advance that a move is coming up and to where the location of that move will be, half the chaos can be avoided and the actual fun of the planning can begin. Is your move going to be permanent? If so, you might get on the computer and do some checking on home values in the new area. Get to know what is on the market there, and don’t forget to do the same for your present local area, assuming you will sell your home here.

Do you plan to pack and move everything yourself, take advantage of one of the state to state truck rentals? If so you are in for a LOT of work, but it can be done. First, start thinking of what you absolutely must keep vs. things you would like to keep but isn’t necessary. The next step is to start separating these things, making a third section of the stuff you don’t want to keep, even if you could. If you would like to make a little extra money, think of a garage sale, otherwise Salvation Army or the Red Cross might be glad to haul off your castoffs; a lot of churches also might like to have things to give to the needy.

The ‘easy’ way is to call one of the coast to coast, or nation to nation movers. They will come in, pack your goods and even store them until the move. You will still have to separate the wanted from the needed and what you don’t want at all. This will leave you free to spend more time house hunting in the new area of the country and to talk to local realtors about your present home.

Kids hate to be pulled away from schools they are comfortable in as well as their friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, etc. Today with our chat rooms and messenger services they NEVER have to be totally pulled away. The kids can chat everyday with their friends and exchange pictures as the school year advances. With the free long distance rates offered by most cell phone companies after 7pm, they can even call their friends in the evenings once the homework is finished,if your move is some states away.

The great thing about today’s world of moving is that old friends are as reachable as they were before the move, regardless of whether the move is across the nation or around the world. As long as you make sure the new home has easy internet access, you are never disconnected from ‘home’.

If you are driving your car to another state, check out the sights to see along the way. For instance, if you are making the move along I40 (Interstate 40) in the USA, and you pass through New Mexico and Arizona on the way to California, or heading east from California, you are going to see some neat things. There is the huge crater in Arizona that was made thousands of years ago when a meteor plunged onto our planet; not too far from the crater is the ORIGINAL London Bridge. It was taken up, brick by brick and reassembled here in the USA, in of all places, the desert. Then, continuing east you will encounter the Painted Desert. Here rocks of all colors reign supreme, a nature-made painting on the canvas of the desert, very close to the Painted Desert is the Petrified Forest. A forest stood in primeval glory until the meteor fell from the sky to make the crater mentioned earlier.

Make a vacation of the move, something that will be remembered as the years pass by. If you are not hauling your own belongings down the interstate, or up the interstate, your main worry right now will be getting to the next motel and what do you want for dinner tonight. If you have chosen to carry everything yourself, then make sure the cold box has enough ice in it, and you’ve got everything waiting for the next Rest Area.

In today’s world we can make a move of thousands of miles and enjoy it all the way. Gone are the months of wagon train torture, gone are the mid-twentieth century’s headaches. Kids crying because they ‘HATE’ this move or their very real fear they might not be liked at the new home. Whether you are moving from some small American town to another six states away, or to a villa north of Madrid, Spain, it can be one of the most memorable journey’s of your life. A joyous journey, one to save dozens of snapshots, thanks to the ‘new’ digital cameras.

Moving can be fun. Make the best of it and enjoy!

Moving house brings with it much stress, stress brings forth perspiration, we then feel uncomfortable, worrying that we do not smell feminine as we should. Yes it may sound a little foolish that one would care to worry about this on such a stressful day yet so many of us do. I know I am always checking my deodorant and perfume on a stressful day. Yes in actual fact, I am so much more aware of my personal freshness than usual.

It’s all about personal hygiene, self pride and simply still wishing to smell like a woman rather than a lumberjack. So what perfume do we choose to choose? Well firstly, may I simply state that statistics have actually found that different aromas can play an important role in our moods and stress levels.

Studies actually found that many scents can have a soothing affect on us, that is why Jasmine, lavender and assorted roses have been introduced to many mental health departments such as the psychiatric wards of hospitals. Is there any wonder then, that we may wish to have a calming scent on our body?

JOVAN WHITE MUSK:

Jovan White Musk is a beautiful perfume, which was launched by The Design House Of Jovan, back in the year 1992. It is a sedate, soft, Oriental style fragrance, which tantalizes the senses gently, with a blend of spice,wood-scent as well as white floral aromas. Lasting all day without being overpowering, it gives a delicate aura to the word perfume.

Jovan leaves a natural musk aroma, with the added blend of floral delicacies. Not at all a heady perfume but a soft subtle blend of sheer femininity. Being so concentrated, it lasts for ages and is so well priced.

Cologne Spray 26 ml $16.77 - $20.00

Cologne Spray 60 ml $21.88 -$36.00

Eau De Cologne Spray 95 ml $25.75-$50

Concentrated Jovan oil $30-$42

BEAUTIFUL:

Another perfume which stays on all day is Beautiful: The name says it all, this is simply a stunning perfume. There’s no other word for it, I received some for a gift and after putting a tiny little bit behind my ears, I asked what it was called. My son said “beautiful” and that’s exactly what it is!

I can’t find a perfume I love more, and I am very fussy indeed. This wonderful womanly scent was launched by the Design house of Estee Lauder back in 1985 and it certainly saw record sales, and still does. It’s popularity has not waned irrespective of its age. Classified as a sharp, floral fragrance which brings the most beautiful gardens to your very doorstep.

Beautiful Perfume incorporates a blend of intoxicating cut flowers such as jasmine, roses, and carnations. Accompanying these scents are the added under tones of various fruity scents such as citrus, peaches, plums, and melons.

What an awesome blend of sensual soothing aromas. These beautiful perfumes will have you forgetting where you are, and thinking you are on a tropical island. Prices range from approximately $15.00 for a mini spray.

I can assure you that these perfumes will not let you down, you will smell so feminine and fresh. If you are searching for a perfume that not only smells heavenly, but works on your senses to calm you, look no further.