Fall Back to Moving Basics

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of wikipedia

You wouldn’t know it by looking at the thermometer in Jacksonville, but it’s officially Fall.  With that in mind, I thought I’d get a jump on the season by falling back to the basics of moving.  During the past few blogs I’ve homed in on some specifics designed to make moving simpler.  Today, I’m going to show you the ABC’s that can make the whole process a lot less stressful.

How to Pack an Essentials Box

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of flickr

When you’re getting ready for a move, most people focus on packing everything up.  What they fail to realize is that unpacking is going to take even longer than packing.  That’s because it’s far easier to cram your belongings into a hundred boxes than it is to sort out and unpack them. Add to this, if you fail to take into consideration your immediate needs the day after a move, you could wind up scurrying around the garage combing through a pile of boxes looking for your dress shoes or the salt and pepper shakers. To help you avoid a panic attack the day after your move, I thought I’d take the time to show you how to pack a couple of essentials boxes that you can easily stow in the trunk of your car.

Better to Sell or Rent Your Home?

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy Public Domain Pictures

Once you’ve made the decision to move, most folks put their existing house or condo on the market.  While this logic makes sense for many homeowners, it isn’t always the best bet for every homeowner.  Not when the option of renting your home can offer so many advantages.

Sure, if you’re leveraged to the max, selling your existing home might be the only way to afford to move into a new one.  However, if your house has a lot of equity, you’re looking for some tax relief, or there’s even a small chance you could wind up moving back to the area in a few years, considering the rental option could be a win/win.  Here’s why:

How to Dress for Moving Success

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of Scott's Discount Movers

You’ve done it.  You’ve packed your belongings, you’ve hired a moving company, and you’ve arranged your busy schedule to be on hand the day of the move.  I suppose you think the task is all but complete, right?  Not so fast, Sparky.   While you can organize and supervise a move, what you can’t control are the ways old Murphy can undermine your best-laid plans.   Murphy’s Law states that anything that can go wrong will, and at the worst possible time.  One of the best ways for Murphy to get his hooks into you is to dress inappropriately come moving day. 

The Day After a Move

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of Scott's Discount Movers

You’ve finally done it.  You have successfully moved into your new home.  After taking a month or more to organize, pack and ship everything you own from one place to another, you probably feel like you need somebody to give you a high five.  Either that or you feel like you need to take a 2-day nap.  Either way, the worst is behind you right?  That depends on how much you moved and how well you organized the sea of boxes that now awaits you.  I hate to break it to you, but you’re not out of the woods yet.

The Party Has Only Just Begun

Going Green When You Move

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of wikimedia

For those of you who have read my blog before, you know that I endeavor to provide my readers with all the tricks of the trade when it comes to managing a move.  After all, there is a hard way and an easy way to perform most moving tasks, right?  Today I am going to tackle a moving topic that while a bit complicated, could prove to be the most environmentally beneficial bit of advice I can give.  That’s right, today I’m going to show you how to go green when you move.

How to Move Your Office Without Losing Your Mind

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of flickr

If you are a business owner like me, then you know from time to time you need to consider moving to a new location.  Whether this is due to expansion of your business, or taking advantage of increased foot traffic, sooner or later most businesses evolve to the point where relocation is a must.  That being said, uprooting a functioning, profitable business doesn’t come without a few warts.  Especially if your business interfaces with customers on a daily basis, moving your business has to be planned carefully if it isn’t going to affect the bottom line.

Moving Day Donations

By Scott Boone

Image from Creative Commons

Since this is the season of giving, I thought I would take the time to walk you through the ins and outs of donating some of your belongings to charity prior to a move.  While donations can be a blessing to the charity receiving them, if you are looking to maximize the benefits in terms of efficiency and tax deductibility, there are a few things you need to be made aware.

Moving Day Turkeys

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of flickr

With Thanksgiving only a day away, I thought I would regale you with a few pet peeves that can all too easily spoil an otherwise flawless movie.  I refer to these as moving day turkeys, and they are a movable feast of infamous blips and blunders. 

How to Move an Aquarium

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Having been a former aquarium owner myself, I thought I would take the time today to tell you the right way and wrong way to move your fish tank.  To start off with, an aquarium is touchy, to begin with since it’s made of glass.  While there are other fragile items that you will no doubt be moving, nothing comes close to the fragility of an aquarium, especially since it won’t exactly be empty when it gets moved.  While you will want to drain the tank 95% of the way, you will need to leave enough water in the bottom of the tank to keep the gravel or other bottom media moist. 

Packing Your Clothing for a Move

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of pexels

In past blogs, I have told you how to move everything from books and plants to workout equipment and patio furniture.  Today, I am going to tell you the proper way to pack your clothes for a move.  I know it sounds all too simple a task to accomplish.  But you would be surprised at how many people manage to do damage or destroy their apparel by error or omission.  So, today’s blog is dedicated to helping you get your duds from Point A to Point B in one piece.

Moving Day Horror Stories

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

Since today is Halloween, I thought I would share with you some of the horror stories I have heard from people who had previously tried to go the DIY moving route. 

10 Things People Forget to Do When Moving

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Even under the best circumstances, moving is a complicated, nerve wracking endeavor that disrupts your family’s routine for months.  Everything from choosing a mover to packing, dealing with kids and pets, to unpacking in your new home can get to you.  What makes it even harder is the fact that since this is something that most families only do a few times in their lives, it is all too easy to forget to do something that could have made the move simpler.  With that in mind, I have taken the time to point out 10 things that many people forget to do when they are moving.

When is a Mover NOT a Mover?

By Scott Boone 

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

Riddle me this, Batman, when is a mover, not a mover at all? When said mover owns no trucks.  Believe it or not, there are companies that advertise online looking to book your next move that fit this description to a tee.  In fact, should you respond to their ad, they will ask all the same questions any mover would ask.  They will give you a quote to move your belongings as would any mover.  They will even send you a contract that promises to move you from Point “A” to Point “B” on a specified date.  Are these entities con artists?  No.  They are what is referred to in the industry as Moving Brokers. 

Boxing Your Books Without Breaking Your Back

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of Pixabay

When it comes to packing, some chores are more difficult than others.  For instance, packing breakables such as glasses and dishes can be a challenge.  So, too, can packing books, although most people don’t realize this until the next day when their back is killing them.  Of course, back strain aside, there is a right way and a wrong way to pack books for shipping.

Packing Your Pets

By Scott Boone

When it comes to moving from Point A to Point B, most of us tend to forget about the tiniest members of the family.  I’m not talking about your children; I’m referring to your pets.  As stressful as it is for the rest of the family to relocate to a new and unfamiliar location, take it from me that your pets can be even more stressed out than you think. 

Doggie See, Doggie Do

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

As ingrained as you are to your surroundings, most animals are hardwired to protect and defend their territory.  It’s built into their genetic code.  Especially if you happen to have any dogs, the act of packing up your home is enough to throw them off their routine.  While they don’t understand what is happening while you begin the arduous task of boxing your belongings for shipping, they can sense that something unusual is afoot.  If you notice your dog is giving you strange looks while you are packing, take care to provide it with a little extra reassurance, or you could wake up to find your carefully packed boxes torn to shreds come morning.  Even worse, some dogs will instinctively soil the area as a way of marking their territory.

How to Avoid Busting Your Moving Budget

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of Scott's Discount Movers

If you have ever moved before, then you know the logistics involved are only slightly less complicated than rocket science.  That’s because moving a home or business is complicated.  Not only do you have to negotiate the slippery slope of packing up all your stuff, but you have to coordinate the transportation of your family, your belongings and your pets while relying on movers you don’t know from Adam.  Make one wrong move, or rely on the wrong moving company and you could very well find yourself out of time and over budget.  During this week’s blog, I will try to provide you with a map that will help you find your way down the treacherous road of moving without breaking the bank.

What Your Mover Won't Move

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of Free Stock Photos

People hire movers to help them relocate their home or business.  As such, there are a great many things the typical homeowner or business owner wishes to transport from Point A to Point B.  This is all well and good, provided that the business or homeowner understands the limitations that professional movers are under.  What I mean by that is there are a number of things that a mover won’t move.  This is due to regulation, jurisdiction or restrictions imposed on moving companies.  Below are a number of reasons you need to talk to your moving company before you sign the contract.

Moving with Children

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of flickr.com

Even in the best of times, moving all your possessions is stressful.  The logistics involved in deciding what to pack and when can take even the steadiest of individuals to the breaking point.  Add to that frustration the patter of tiny feet and tiny hands getting into everything and you can have a recipe for disaster.  You’ve heard the old adage, “Two is company and three is a crowd.”  If you are a family of three or more, let Uncle Scott give you a few words of wisdom when it comes to moving with children. 

How to Organize Your Next Move

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of Scott's Discount Moving

If you have read any of my recent blogs, you are familiar with my advice to plan your move well in advance of moving day.  That being said, what do you do with the ever-swelling sea of boxes that begin to pop up like mushrooms all over your home?  While some people bite the bullet and order a POD, this can necessitate spending an extra $100 or more per month.  But, what if you could get the convenience and extra storage space of a POD without having to spend one red cent?  Would that help make your move more convenient?