Most people find it necessary to cross borders and move to an entirely new location. For instance, some people living in America may find it necessary to cross the northern border and move to Canada. If you are considering such a relocation, you will need to think about the moving and storage of your belongings aside from the various legal processes involved. Here are some basic things you should know about this kind of a move:

There are six classifications involved for those requesting PR (permanent residency) status for Canada. It is necessary that you find out the classification that would suit your specific needs. Based on those classifications, you will need to fulfill some requirements like point system ranks, language fluency and medical requirements. In addition to that, you will need to consider the legal procedure involved in shipping your belongings across borders. It will be a good idea to consider hiring a moving and storage company to help handle the international shipment of all your belongings in a safe and professional way. When it comes to the moving and storage of your belongings, you won’t face any problems when moving to a different location or a new house within the same country. But when it comes to moving from one country to another, you will need to be very careful about the whole thing. It is advisable that you hire professionals to handle the moving and storage of your belongings, so as to ensure that you don’t loose any items on the way and to ensure that your things are delivered to your new country safely.

Over the years, it has been determined that people usually consider moving from Canada to the US or vise versa for one of the three reasons: money, love and the weather. If you are considering moving because you are finding it difficult to handle the Canadian winters anymore, it is very understandable. However, this will entail a lot more than just the packing, moving and storage of your belongings. It is the same if you are considering moving because you want to earn more money. And when it comes love, if you’ve fallen in love with an American and decide that you want to spend the rest of your life in the states, yep, you’ll still need to undergo a lot more than just packing up your bags and moving.

Unfortunately, every country has rules and regulations which everyone has to abide by. If you want to move to the US and live there, you will need to live by their rules. You will need to carry out a thorough research before you can think of applying. It is advisable that you find out everything you can before you make up your mind about moving. Once you’ve applied and are waiting for the results of your application, it will be a good idea to research the various regions in the country to find one that will be most suited for your lifestyle.

Staying organized day to day while moving can be quite a challenge for most of us, especially when it comes to the entire moving and storage process, things can quickly enter the category of “overwhelming”. If you’re like most of the people moving out there, you may be waiting for your new home to be built or for your house to be sold. That’s where moving and storage can make the transition a lot easier for you and your family. If you are moving around the month of October or December, those Halloween and Christmas decorations probably won’t be needed right away, but other important items like bedding, kitchen utensils and bath supplies will.

In order to stay organized during your move, remember that there are essentially three stages you’ll need to follow:
     Getting organized
     Packing everything the right way
     Stacking everything the right way

First of all, make an inventory list of all your moving and storage items and categorize them into two groups; the high priority items and the low priority items. Make sure you record all belongings with serial numbers, both on the lists and on the boxes. Take note of the things you should keep a check on. For example…

1.    Ensure all utilities and appliances are working at the new home before the moving day arrives.

2.    Then start with the personal essentials first. The first to come in this category should be the toiletries, followed by snacks, drinks and the clothing items. This will give everyone the time to get acclimated and to plan where all the belongings should go.

3.    As the furniture and boxes are being brought into the home, make sure everything goes into the right room so you don’t have to move them later on. If all the boxes are marked appropriately, things will be a whole lot easier and stress free. Plus, it is always better to have the beds placed in the right rooms the very first time.

4.    Unpack the highly utilized rooms first, like bedrooms and bathrooms. That will help get you set up and give you time enough to unpack at a pace that is suitable for all the family members.
Most importantly, remember to switch over all your old contact details to the new home just a few days prior to the move.  In a nutshell, remember to:

Get you address changed at the post office to have your mail forwarded to your new address.

Change the contact details on your insurance, licenses, schools and health cards.

Have your utilities, cable and telephone transferred.
So, whether you need help to keep your new place spic and span or if you need some space for a short time during your move, getting the help of moving and storage services is a great way to  move and store your belongings until you are ready to organize them in your home.

Be sure to contact the moving and storage professionals to help you with the moving process.

I can remember the time I had to move. For the first few months I couldn’t come to terms with the fact that it was time for me to leave my house of 15 years and move into a new home at an entirely new location. I went into a state of denial and tried to look for other ways of evading the move, but all my efforts were futile in the end. Finally it dawned on me that the sooner I accept this reality, the easier it will make the whole moving process for me and my family. But it took me a longer time to realize that it didn’t have to be that bad. Aside from that, I wasn’t even aware of any moving and storage services, which is probably why the whole experience was more miserable for me.

Now, coming to the point, how do you know it’s time to move? Will it be a particular year, season or a set of unexpected circumstances that will lead you to the signs? People have always been pondering over these questions; I know I did. Is there a clear cut answer to when would it be the best time to move? The answer is probably never! The sooner you come to terms with it, the better you will feel about it. However, there are a number of guidelines and benefits you should consider when it’s time for you to pack up and relocate, such as moving and storage facilities and services.

There are several factors that can make it absolutely necessary for you to move. The most common reason why most people need to move is because their job may require them to. Aside from that, if you are uncertain of when to move, the following factors can serve as good signs:

1.    You are planning on starting a family.
If you and your spouse decide that it’s time to start a family, it will probably be the best time for you to consider moving into a new home. Some locations may be ideal for a newlywed couple, but when it comes to having children, you will need to consider relocating if your current location is not appropriate. As far as children are concerned, you will need to move into safer neighborhoods.

2.    Is there something you don’t like about your current location?
Most people consider moving when they are not fully satisfied with their current location. Perhaps you are located far from the main town or maybe the surroundings are kind of sad and depressing? If so, it is sign enough that you should move.

3.    Your children have started going to school.
If your children have started going to school, you will obviously need to move to a location that’s closer to their school.

4.    You need more room.
As your family expands, you will run out of room space, especially because you will need to have more space for your belongings. This will be the right time to consider moving ASAP.

When you finally make your mind up about moving and after you’ve found yourself a new place, the next thing to think about will be the moving and storage services. You can also take some online quizzes to help you decide whether it’s time for you to move.

For most of us, the moving and storage of holiday lights is really one of the most dreaded aspects of the post-holiday period. But even though we hate the light stashing part, we all know that we won’t need to worry about getting new holiday lights the following year again. And when the time comes the following year, we definitely thank our stars for successfully storing those lights.

When it comes to the moving and storage of holiday lights, there are a number of storage ideas you can make good use of. But before packing them away, just make sure that the lights are in working order, so that they are fully functional when you eventually unpack them when you need them. However, if there are any broken lights, frayed chords and other damage that cannot be repaired easily, it is obviously time to get rid of the entire strand. And what does this mean in turn? It means it is time for you to head to a store to buy yourself some new holiday lights or decorations. If it is Christmas season, you are sure to get discounts of as much as 80% off all holiday decors. So, this would be the best time stock up on the LED lights against the following year!

If you generally go by the old-fashioned and traditional method of winding-up your holiday lights around your arms, here’s a good technique you should consider instead: try holding the plug in one hand and bend the arm in an “L” shape. Then use your other arm to wind the strand in a loop around the elbow and all the way up to between your forefinger and thumb, until the entire strand is wrapped neatly around your arm. If you are moving to a new home, you will need to pack the lights with regards to the safe moving and storage of the lights. You can alternatively do this technique in an easier manner to package the lights in a plastic bag.

If you want something a bit more neat this year, try using some of these supplies to help store your lights more easily:

Empty Paper Tubes
You probably have a number empty paper tubes already, why not put them to good use? Try cutting a tiny slit at each end of the tube and thread one end of the light strand through the slit. Keep wrapping the lights around the tube until the entire strand is done. Lastly, simply thread the other end of the strand through the opposite slit made on the tube.

Cardboard Pieces
Packing holiday lights in pieces of cardboard is another good way to store holiday lights for moving and storage purposes. Just like empty paper tubes, you can wrap the light strands around pieces of cardboard to help wind them in a neat manner.

Reels
There are special storage reels that are readily purchasable online. They are specifically used to wind up holiday lights in a tidy and safe way before stashing them until the next year.

Special Moving And Storage Kits
These are special products to substitute for the cardboard options mentioned above. They are kits that allow one to funnel the light strings into plastic bags. Once in the bag, the strands can then be stored for the following year or to make moving from one place to another easier.

If you are moving an office, home, or apartment, you want to make sure to think about the amount of garage storage space you have before the move as compared to what you will have after the move. Many people make the mistake of completely neglecting to calculate the difference in space between the two, leading to a huge set of unnecessary issues. If you know what to expect you can be sure to make the right decisions ahead of time. Use these tips from our moving guru to make sure you get the most out of any space you have!

Measure the Space You Have

Start out by taking measurements before moving an office. You want to know how much space your car takes up, as well as all of those boxes, gadgets and holiday decorations that are collecting dust. You need to know how much square footage your vehicle takes up, and knowing how much cubic footage your other items takes up is essential. Square footage is easy to measure. Just find the length and width of your car and add a two foot clearance on each side. The cubic footage of your items can be a little more difficult. You need length, width, and height, and always play it safe and overestimate how much space you have.

Compare the Space You Have to the Space You Are Getting

Now that you know how much space you need you can take a good look at the new garage. A lot of people overlook this when moving an office. You want to see that, at the very least, you have the same amount of space. The square footage of your car is non-negotiable (unless you plan on parking in the street) but cubic footage can be rearranged completely. If you are lucky enough to be moving into a bigger garage, then you can throw this step and the previous one out the window!

Plan on Rearranging for Maximum Efficiency

When moving an office or home you have the perfect opportunity to take a good look at your storage situation. Plan on becoming more organized by installing shelving and installing hooks. Put things on the wall or hang things from the ceiling if possible (avoid putting things in the way of where the garage door will rest when opened).

Keep Things Out of the Garage

The best thing you can do when moving an office, home, or apartment is get rid of all of the excess that is cluttering your space. See our article on making some cash and saving money on your move for more about this. When you have less junk cluttering your garage it will be easier for you to find what you are looking for. This is even more important if you are going from a larger space to a smaller one. The last thing you want to do is cram everything into a space that makes it impossible to find! Keep these tips in mind and your new garage will be absolutely awesome.

You will probably be working with a locksmith when moving into a new office. Even if the previous tenant or landlord has reported changing the locks, you want to make sure you do it on your own (so long as you aren’t violating some sort of lease). It isn’t unheard of that a new space is visited by old tenants because the locks are still the same. The following questions will help ensure that you are working with a trustworthy locksmith who isn’t going to take advantage of the situation.

When Calling Around for a Locksmith

Make sure you ask each locksmith that you are considering hiring for their license number. It is best to do this before moving an office instead of afterwards, as it can take a while for you to collect all of the information needed. Take the license number provided and go to the BSIS website (which you can find by googling) or call them at 1-800-952-5210. Verify that the locksmith is bonded and insured (ask for documentation before committing to work) and get their state contractor’s licensing information for work over $500 (as it is required).

While it isn’t required nor indicative of a bad contractor, verifying membership in various professional associations (like the Associated Locksmiths of America) can help assure you that you are working with a legitimate locksmith who takes his or her profession seriously. Not only does this help to ensure that the locksmith is going to provide honest and ethical work, but by being a member of an organization it is easier for him or her to stay up to date on industry news. You want to make sure you get a knowledgably contractor when moving an office.

Questions to Ask About Your Quote

Print and use the following checklist to make it easier for you to hire a locksmith when moving an office:

1. What is your locksmith license number?
2. Where is your office located?
3. Is there a travel charge, mileage charge, or fuel surcharge?
4. What is the minimum fee for your services?
5. Could you provide three references from customers you have worked for in the last thirty days?

Use this list of questions when the locksmith arrives:

1. Can I see your pocket license and photo ID?
2. Would you mind if I verified this information with the BSIS website?
3. Can I have my quote in writing before you begin the service?

When Moving an Office, a Locksmith is Often Necessary

Unfortunately, you have to play it safe. The best way to do so is by changing the locks. When moving an office make sure you work with a contractor that can provide fair prices and ethical practices. The best thing to do is get a reference from someone you already know, but that isn’t always possible. Whether you need to hire someone ahead of time or during an emergency, using the provided check lists can help make everything go as smoothly as possible.

Imagine this: you are moving an office and you get to your new location. All of your boxes are clearly labeled and you know exactly what goes where. But as you start unpacking the boxes you realize you can’t recall exactly how you want things set up. Not only that, but you are so disoriented from all of the work involved in the process that you can’t even remember how things used to be set up. Taking a few pictures can make the entire process go much smoother than you ever thought possible.

Be sure to take pictures of the most complicated things when moving an office. Start by looking at the electronics. If you are easily able to determine what goes where you will be able to put it all back together with ease. One of the most tedious parts about moving an office or setting up a new one is setting up your computer. Even if you have a laptop, it can be helpful to take pictures of the different cords and where they connect. Make sure you do this unless you are a real technophile with a knack for setting up your gadgets.

Taking pictures is also helpful when it comes to reassembling furniture. Nothing is worse than moving an office and finding that you no longer have the instructions that came with that desk when you bought it. Trying to put one of these desks back together without the original instructions can be virtually impossible. Be sure to take as many detailed pictures as possible, including where the screws are located. You may also find it handy to take a picture of the way you have your desk arranged so that you can get back to normal as soon as possible.

Another benefit of taking pictures when moving an office is that you will have documented proof of the conditions of your items before packing them and leaving them with the movers. While it is extremely unlikely that your moving company will cause any damage to your belongings, accidents do happen. If you have to file a claim with any insurance company, they will demand proof of the condition of the item before packing it. Having these pictures will make your life a lot easier when dealing with the angry, bitter claim adjuster who doesn’t want to give you any money at all.

Taking pictures provides a great way for you to avoid a lot of the hassles and headaches associated with moving an office. You already have a lot to worry about, including updating your business cards, website, and other stationary, as well as coordinating the move. The last thing you want to deal with when you start unpacking is figuring out how to put everything back together.

Save yourself all of the hassle and trouble and take a lot of pictures. With digital cameras it is the fastest and easiest way to make moving an office simpler than it ever was before.

There are a lot of myths out there about moving, and those who are moving an office have probably heard all of them. We decided to take the time to put together the 8 most frequently cited moving myths in order to set them straight once and for all

Myth 1: When moving an office you have to buy lunch for the guys.

This myth is pretty popular, and it seems that a number of you think that it is important to buy lunch for the movers. While it is a nice gesture, it certainly isn’t necessary, and they sure don’t expect it! Feel free to do it if you want, but just remember that it’s your choice.

Myth 2: Insurance will cover anything broken during the move

Think again! Most insurance policies cover only a portion of what is moved. How this amount is determined varies from one mover to the next, so be sure to get the full skinny on their insurance policy before you get too comfortable.

Myth 3: Boxes are boxes

Feel free to try and carry a heavy load of books in a second hand box that your cousin got from the grocery store for his move last week. Moving boxes are designed to be stronger and stand up to more abuse, protecting your equipment much better.

Myth 4: Labeling boxes doesn’t save time

The little bit of time required to label your boxes clearly when packing them will save you countless hours of frustration when unpacking. Nothing is worse than not being able to find your stapler when moving an office.

Myth 5: I don’t have to pay until everything is unpacked

Since the majority of the “product” is the labor of the movers, there is no way they can force you to pay after they deliver. They can’t repossess the move! You will have to pay before anything is unloaded from the truck, and often before it is loaded.

Myth 6: I have to pack all of my boxes on my own

Wrong! Most moving companies will not only provide the service of packing your boxes, but they are also more than willing to provide all of the supplies, too!

Myth 7: I have to ride along with the guys in the truck

Not only is it unnecessary, but you might even make this group of big, tough guys uncomfortable if you ride along in the truck with them. They would much rather prefer you have your own transportation.

Myth 8: Expect things to end up broken

This is definitely the most common of all moving myths. It is also the least true. You can be sure that a good moving company will take the utmost care with even the sturdiest of your possessions. While accidents do happen, they are uncommon. Your best bet is to work with a moving company that has an established reputation. They are far more motivated to keep all of your belongings in perfect health than you will ever realize.

When moving an office or a home, people often need to get rid of old furniture. Sometimes it’s because a chair or a wardrobe has gotten a little old and battered, sometimes it’s because the bulkier pieces won’t fit into a new office or a new home. Sometimes it’s because the new rental apartment or house comes ready-furnished, and sometimes it’s nothing more than the desire to have more space and reduce clutter. Moving to storage is always an option but it does cost money. There are plenty of reasons to get rid of old furniture – other than leaving a lonely chair on the side of the road!

Happily, there are plenty of ways of doing it too. The classic method is the yard sale. It doesn’t take much effort, just a few posters at local stores and meeting places, and an hour or so of setting-up time. The downside is that if you don’t have a yard, it’s pretty difficult to have a yard sale. Inclement weather can cause all kinds of difficulties for those who do.

The internet gives sellers of second hand goods access to a huge marketplace. Craigslist and eBay are just two of the options- there are dozens more national and international second-hand sales sites, and tens of thousands of more local ones. Most of them don’t charge much, if anything, and payments can be made quickly and easily through services like PayPal.

There are two advantages to selling online rather than holding a yard sale. The first is that you don’t need to let a crowd of strangers onto your property (there is always some degree of security risk) and the second is that a bigger audience usually means higher prices. No matter what you’re selling, there is probably someone out there willing to pay a good price for it. The disadvantages are that you have to arrange delivery, pickup, or postage, and trust the individual at the other end of the deal. You don’t get cash for selling online.

If you’ve got a lot of items to be sold, consignment shops can be an option. In this situation someone else will do the selling and you’ll get an agreed percentage of the proceeds. In most cases that means making less money than you otherwise could, but on the other hand, there is less work involved and the consignee will often take delivery of the items immediately.

The last option is to give away your old furniture. You won’t make any money but you might save some- there is need to pay long distance movers to shift things you’ve gifted to friends and family or otherwise donated. Goodwill and other major charities will often pick up furniture to save donors the trouble of delivering it.

Freecycle is another good option. It’s not so much a charity as an exchange scheme. You join the group, and can both receive notifications of things being given away in your area, and post them yourself. The aim is to reduce waste by transferring things from where they aren’t needed to where they are, as simply as possible.

When it comes to moving an office or a home, one small oversight can quickly blow up into a huge problem. Here are the five biggest moving mistakes ordinary people are likely to make, and how to avoid them:

1. Underestimating the volume of goods to be moved
Figuring out the exact total volume of the items that need to be moved can be tricky. In general it’s a job best left to experts. Good moving companies will send a representative round to your home or apartment for an on-site appraisal before offering an exact quote. Beware of those who offer figures over the phone. You might end up paying a lot more the quoted amount.

Underestimating volumes can also be a problem when moving to storage. There are few things worse than arranging to get heavy furniture and other items to a storage site, unloading, and then realising the only available unit is too small. If in doubt, be generous when estimating the amount of space you’ll need. Having too much is always better than having too little!

2. Not reading the fine print when it comes to insurance
Most reputable long distance movers offer two levels of insurance policy. The standard one may not cover the full cost of expensive items. In fact, it almost certainly won’t. Always read the fine print carefully and asked pointed questions about insurance before hiring movers. Consider the higher level of cover if you’re entrusting any high-value furniture, works of art, or even expensive clothing to any professional moving company.

3. Poor labelling
Labelling boxes carefully may add a little extra time to the packing and moving process but it really is worth it. The time spent making sure each box is clearly marked with the type of contents and the destination room will be more than repaid at the unpacking stage, when informative labels make the job much easier and far more efficient. The right label will also make sure boxes containing fragile items are treated carefully and not stacked under anything heavy.

4. Not allowing enough packing time
Packing, padding, and securing all the belongings in even the smallest apartment can take a surprisingly long time. Hiring professional packers, movers, and even cleaners can help speed the task along, but being unprepared when the moving trucks arrive is never a good idea. Allow plenty of time to get everything squared away well in advance.

5. Estimating rather than measuring
The large wardrobe that fits comfortably in your current bedroom may not be quite as suitable for your new one. Consider the floor plan of the new home (with proper measurements) and make sure there is space for all your furniture. You’ll also have to get it into position. Measure all the biggest items and make sure you’ll be able to get them up the stairs to your new apartment or in the door to your new home. If there is going to be a problem it’s far better to know about it in advance rather than getting a dining table stuck in a tight stairwell!