Moving Guru Blog

Taking Inventory of Your Stuff

Posted on November 9, 2011 by Devie Lin

Over the years, people acquire a lot of stuff.  Much of this stuff ends up in closet corners, the back of drawers and on garage floors, unused, unneeded and forgotten.

Well, when you’re going to move, this stuff is going to emerge, and you’re going to need to do something with it.

To avoid ending up finding this stuff on moving day and wondering what you’re going to do with it, be proactive.  Take an inventory of your possessions.  Roam your house with a notepad and list what you have.  Once you do that, you can decide which possessions you need and which you don’t, then plan accordingly.

To learn more about how to inventory your stuff and what you’ll need to consider, check out our latest article, Listing Your Possessions.

Posted in Difficult Things to Move, DIY Moves, Types of Moves | 1 Comment

Moving at Night

Posted on November 6, 2011 by Devie Lin

Ideally, you would move during the day, when light is ample and the weather is warmer.  However, the ideal isn’t always reality.  If you have to work during the days or if you can’t get an afternoon open for one reason or another, a night time move might be your only option.

If you have to move at night, take the necessary precautions to ensure that you don’t hurt yourself or damage any of your possessions.

1. Turn on the lights – all lights in any room should be turned on.  This will help brighten other area without lights.

2. Use floodlights – buy a floodlight or two and using it to brighten dark areas, like the space between your front door and driveway.

3. Take it slow – don’t rush and step deliberately, especially if it’s cold out, as there might be ice on the ground that you can’t see in the dark.

To learn more about the different times you can move, check out our article: Picking a Moving Date.

Posted in Moving Safety | 1 Comment

Exploring the Places Between the Old and New

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Devie Lin

There isn’t a more refreshing way to move to your new home than by taking a good-old, scenery-soaked, Americana-drenched road trip.

A road trip allows you to observe the changes in landscape, towns and people between your old home and new one.  It can give you a better idea of where you are moving to, and it’s a good way to experience our country, from the trivial, like the Rocket Man in Illinois, to the grandiose, like the Grand Canyon.

You can stop to see anything you want on your road trip, but there are some basics tips for road trip planning that you should always follow:

  • Make hotel/motel reservations – shooting from the hip is often a good thing on a road trip, but always have a bed ready for you when the day is done.  Sleeping in the car as semis thunder by is not fun.
  • Hide your valuables – if you’re moving, you might have some important things packed in the car with you.  Keep them hidden, keep the doors locked, and move your valuables to your hotel room at night.
  • Get your car checked before leaving – even if your car has been riding great of late, bring it in for a tune up just to make sure you don’t end up waiting for Triple A a few miles outside of nowhere.
  • Pack light snacks – you’re going to be in the car… sitting… a lot.  Eating light will keep you from feeling sluggish and uncomfortable as the miles slide by.
  • Contact places before visiting – if there’s an attraction that you want to check out, call it and make sure they’re open before taking that fifty mile detour.

Above all, roll down the windows, let your hair wave wildly in the wind and enjoy the simple pleasures of the open road.

Posted in DIY Moves, Types of Moves | Leave a comment

Avoid Tranquilizing Your Pet on a Flight

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Devie Lin

Many people pay movers to transport their belongings across the country then fly to their new homes.  Flying can save dozens of hours and hundreds of dollars for long journeys.  But what does a person do with Mittens the cat on the flight?

Flying with a dog or cat can be a real pain, especially when the pet is easily excited.  A barking dog or panicked cat can add a lot of stress to an owner’s trip.  However, many pet advocates, including the , advise against tranquilizing pets when flying because of its dangerous side effects:

  • Tranquilizers can make breathing more difficult for many pets, a problem that becomes enhanced in the thin air of a plane’s cargo section.
  • Tranquilizers can affect a pet’s heartbeat, which can lead to problems in a stressful environment or in extreme temperatures.
  • Tranquilizers make it difficult for pets to retain their balance, which can lead to them tumbling about in turbulence.

If you really believe you need to tranquilize your pet, talk to your veterinarian first.  For more tips on how to move with your pets, check out our new pets article, Moving with Pets.

Posted in Children & Pets | Leave a comment

Happy Halloween & Exploring Your Neighborhood

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Devie Lin

It’s Halloween today.  Whatever your Halloween plans are, your experience will depend heavily on the neighborhood you live in.  Will you have to buy Halloween candy for trick-or-treaters? Are you going to be the only one decorating on your block? Will you feel comfortable letting your kids roam the streets?  Will you have a place to go to sport your fancy costume?

There’s no way to answer these questions based on a lease, an address, or a landlord or realtor’s word.  If you’re moving, the only way to make sure that you end up living in a comfortable and safe neighborhood is to check it out yourself.  Cruise the streets, hit up the stores and restaurants you would expect to frequent, and talk to your soon-to-be neighbors.

If you can’t physically explore out your new neighborhood, use the Internet.  Check the local police station’s website for crime rates and locations; read the local newspaper; “roam” the streets on Google Street View; and use sites like Yelp to see what’s around you and what others think of it.

Take the time to check out your new home so that your decision to move there doesn’t end up haunting you on Halloween or any other day of the year.

Posted in Apartment and House Hunting, Settling into Your New Home | Leave a comment

What Type of Move Is Best?

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Devie Lin

After where to move, deciding how to move will be your biggest moving decision.  The type of move you make determines so many things, including how much you pay, how many hours you spend moving, and what your general moving experience is like.

Take, for instance, the differences between these possible moving experiences:

  • We rented a haul and our friends helped us load our furniture.
  • We paid a company to move our stuff and flew.
  • I threw everything in my car and moved to my new place the same day.
  • I pulled out my back while moving my mattress and our trailer got a flat tire on the highway.

The possibilities for your move are endless, but they will all depend on what type of move you decide to make.  Will you pay for professional mover, or will you do it yourself?  Will you sell all your furniture and throw your clothes and TV in your car, or will you load everything into a trailer?

Check out our recent article that will help you figure out the right type of move for you, so you can begin to plan your move and ultimately avoid a frustrating, tiring experience.

Posted in Moving Companies, Types of Moves | Leave a comment

Changing Your Address

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Devie Lin

Trust us, when you move, your mail won’t on the top of your mind. You’ll be thinking about plenty of other things instead, such as saying bye to friends, planning your drive, and deciding whether to drag your fifteen-year-old dresser with you to your new home.
However, if you don’t forward your mail before you move, you risk losing important bills and letters. It can take over two weeks to officially change your address, and waiting to change it until you’re in your new place could mean missing weeks worth of mail.
If you’re wondering how to forward mail to your new address, look no further than our latest article, “Filing A Change of Address”. There, you will learn how to file a change of address form with the postal service.
You will also learn about other people who you should notify of your new address, because wouldn’t it be a shame if the headphones you buy online in a few months end up at your old doorstep?

Posted in Getting Utilities, Settling into Your New Home | Leave a comment

Get Ready for Some Moving Deals!

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Devie Lin

Summer is coming to a close, and with it the nation’s moving season.  According to U.S. Census data, roughly 60% of all moves in the U.S. occur between June and October.

There are many reasons for the influx of moving trucks on our nation’s highways in the summertime.  First, it’s moving time for college students and families with children because most schools start in late August and early September.

Second, the weather is generally a lot nicer.  Summer and fall temperatures beat driving long distances in the snow and moving furniture in sub-freezing temperatures.

Third, because many people move into places during the summer, many one-year leases end in the summer, meaning apartments and housing rentals open up at a higher frequency then.

However, just because summer is the best time to move for many, it is also the most expensive time to move.  In the off season, you can find much cheaper moving rates because companies are looking for business.  Keep your eyes open: you might have to wear long johns during your upcoming move, but you could save a couple hundred dollars in the process. – Get a moving estimate now

Posted in Money-Saving Tips | Leave a comment

Welcome to MovingGuru.com’s Official Blog

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Devie Lin

MovingGuru.com is a service dedicated to making your next move as smooth as possible.  At no cost to you, we provide you with comprehensive tools and services to help you move, including a moving checklist, actual quotes from moving companies and links to moving resources.  However, the moving industry is constantly changing; there’s a lot to talk about, and we simply can’t fit it all on our site.

In order to provide you with the latest information, we’re launching our blog, MovingGuru.com/blog/.  Here you’ll find the up-to-date moving news and trends, candid advice and personal experiences from our staff, important updates from our website, and cost-cutting ideas that can save you bundles on your next move.

Check back soon!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment