Moving Guru Blog

How Going on Vacation Is Like Moving

I just got back from vacation, and you know what?  It’s a lot like moving.  Now, bear with me here…

Sure, it’s not permanent, and it usually doesn’t involve dragging furniture or pianos.  However, going on vacation requires planning, packing, and protecting your stuff, all things we see in a good move.

So, what do you need to do when going on vacation?

Pack batteries – Your cell phone, camera and computer will need charging during your trip.  Don’t forget their cords or batteries.

Bring work essentials – Yes, it’s vacation, but bring your work essentials with you in case something unexpected happens.  If someone from the office gives you a desperate call, it’ll be better to be able to answer them ASAP rather than having to figure out how to get them what they need.

Keep it minimal – Just like having too much stuff can increase the cost of your moving, bringing too much stuff can increase the cost of your vacation in the form of carry-on and bellboy fees.  Also, dragging around 50 pounds of suitcase can be a huge hassle.  Make your life easy: only bring what you need and plan on buying the rest there… get some souvenirs out of it.

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Pet Moving Companies

Pets can put serious cramps into a move. They require a lot of attention and care, especially in a moving situation, and not all loving owners can provide it. That’s where pet movers come into play.

Pet moving companies will move your pet for you by flying or driving them to your new home. They’ll also take care of your pet in the process. However, no company knows your pet like you do. So, you need to make sure they know the important stuff. Here’s a list of things to consider:

  • Medications
  • Particular type of food
  • Idiosyncrasies – Such as bathroom habits, when he/she gets panicked.
  • Favorite toys – If your pet has a comfort toy, make sure the movers have it on hand. This is especially important for dogs.

 

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Transporting Alcohol Across State Lines

Let’s say you have a boss wine collection that you need to move. And let’s also say that you’re moving to a different state. You certainly wouldn’t be unique. Thousands of people transport alcohol across state lines every year.

But what if you get pulled over for speeding and the officer sees your wine collection?  Could moving your wines into that state lead to you getting a ticket… or worse?

Read our article about how to transport alcohol over state lines to get an in-depth answer. Read below for some quick insights.

 

The U.S. Constitution

Let’s start with the Feds.  The 21st amendment U.S. Constitution let us all drink again, but it also said this:

“The transportation or importation into any state, territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.”

Essentially, that made it a Federal crime to violate state laws regarding the transportation of alcohol.  But do any states actually make it illegal to transport alcohol into them?

 

The States

Some states impose criminal penalties for those who transport alcohol across their state lines.

For example, until 2009, it was a misdemeanor in Tennessee to bring any amount of alcohol into the state. SERIOUSLY. (Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-703).  In Pennsylvania, it still is illegal.  (47 P.S. 4-491(11)).

Whether these are archaic laws whose days are numbered or laws put on the books to wring taxes and fees from the public, the point is they’re there.

Now, let’s be real… if you bring a 12-pack with you when you move, nobody is going to care.  How would they even know you brought it into the state? Plus, put it in your trunk, and who’s ever going to see it?

However, if you bring 12 kegs and an entire home bar, we might have a different story. For that, officials might care. So, do check the statutes of the state you’re moving to and any other state you might be passing through.  They might require you to buy a license or get approval from a state board first.  We recommend that you do what they say just to make sure you won’t end up with a big fine, confiscated goods, or even jail time.

 

Moving something more, um, unsavory than alcohol? Learn how to hide embarrassing things from movers.

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How to Hide Embarrassing Stuff from Movers

Do you have things you’d rather keep under wraps? Are you worried about your movers being too familiar with you, even potentially snooping through your things. Read this article for some much needed insight on the matter.

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Why Choose Flat Rate Moving Companies

Some moving companies offer flat rates for moves.  This means you pay one price for the entire move, no contingencies, no add ons, no hourly.

Flat rate moves are good if you have a difficult move to make. Because they involve a set price, it doesn’t matter how long it takes to move your pool table down your stairs. However, if you were paying hourly, then every set back and difficulty would tack on costs to your move.

Conversely, if you have an easy move ahead of you, hourly might be the better choice, because flat rates often incorporate some degree of risk, meaning they’re a bit more expensive.

Learn more about flat rate moves and when they’re best for you.

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How to Use a Pawn Shop to Your Advantage

Pawn shops are unhappy places filled with relics of happier days.  They sell things that people gave up after losing everything on the river, during drug binges, and in times of general desperation.

However, pawns shops can be extremely useful if handled the right way.  Here are the steps to follow to take advantage of the pawn:

The Basics – First things first, you need to understand what pawn shops do.  They give you personal loans in exchange for your possessions.  If you pay off the loan, you get the possessions back.  If not, the pawn shop can sell best price levitra online the possessions.

  1. Use what you don’t really care about – DON’T PAWN YOUR WEDDING RING.  Unless you’re already divorced…
  2. Over-sell its value – Pawn shops know how to value possession, but do your best to make them believe your thing is worth as much as possible.
  3. Negotiate a reasonable loan – Before you sign, understand what the loan is asking you to repay and how.  Is it possible? Get a low interest rate and monthly payments.
  4. Either pay it back or don’t pay at all – The worst thing you can do is pay back half the loan, then fail.  In such a case, you’re out money and the possession.  If you can’t pay the loan back, don’t pay anything at all.  You’ll lose your possession, but that’s it.

For more information, check out out article about pawn shops.

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How to Transport Wine

Wine is the prima donna of alcoholic beverages.  If you treat it wrong, it’s going to sour.  And, unfortunately, there are quite a few ways you can treat a bottle of wine wrongly when moving it.

  • Too much sun – Exposure to sunlight can break down a wine into a tasteless mess.
  • Too much heat – Excessive heat can sour a wine.
  • Too much cold – Would you freeze a quality Merlot?  No.  So don’t do it in your moving truck.
  • Too much shaking – Excessively shaking wine can disturb its flavors.
  • Standing it up – Wine should be kept on its side to keep the cork moist.  Otherwise, air can penetrate the bottle.

Check out our website to learn how to move a wine collection the right way.

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Important Moving Supplies

You’ll definitely need moving boxes, but what else should you buy to coordinate a successful move? People often forget to include bubble wrap, furniture slipcovers, and more on their shopping lists. Read this article for suggestions on where to get them for cheap and how to use them to best protect your possessions during your move.

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Moving a Pool Table

Pool tables are one of the most difficult things to move.  Like pianos and other large furniture, they are heavy, bulky and expensive.  Moving them without taking proper care creates the risk that you’ll break one of the table’s legs… or your own.

If you want to move a pool table safely, hire a moving company, or follow these steps:

Get help – Pool tables weigh somewhere between heavy and super heavy.  Get a few friends on hand to help you lug it to the moving truck.

Use covering – Cover the edges and felt of your pool table with a plastic covering, so they don’t get scratched or dented in transit.

Plan a routeTake measurements of your table and make sure you can fit it through the staircases, halls and doorways of your home en route to your moving truck.  Also, make sure you know buy dosages levitra where to situate it in the moving truck in relation to your bed and other bulky furniture.

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How to Sell Consignment

Consignment selling can be very rewarding. Typically, you consign things that are in good condition, in fashion, and that someone else might want to wear. These articles of clothing, instead of being donated, could make you back a little bit of money when taken to places like Buffalo Exchange, Crossroads, or Plato’s Closet. Furthermore, specific stores also exist for your gently used toys and furniture. With an open mind, consignment selling can offer nearly limitless possibilities!

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