There’s no doubt that moving can take some adjusting. Relocating to a brand new destination can mean building new relationships, getting plugged into a new community, starting new jobs and the list goes on. Tackling this can seem like a daunting task. Can you imagine moving 14 times in 20 years?

“Within my 20 year career in the military, we moved around 14 times,” said Kevin Myers, Wheaton World Wide Moving’s Director of Military Services. “Before settling down in Indiana my wife and two sons became quite familiar with the moving process.”

Kevin and his wife Traci, Senior Move Manager, have worked a combined total of 19 years at Wheaton World Wide Moving. Before joining the van line, Kevin, Traci and their two sons, now 25 and 28, grew very accustom to life on the move as a military family.

Of course, it only made sense for them to work for a moving company after being required to move multiple times in the military. Having such a perspective allows them to empathize with many of the customers. In this blog they offer insights only seen by those who have experienced both sides of a military move.

Talk to your kids

“I can remember one year in specific where we had to tell the boys that they were changing schools over Christmas break,” Traci said.. “It wasn’t always that short of notice, but there were times when we had to transition within a very short amount of time.”

There are certainly challenges that can arise with raising kids in the military. Traci offers some positive tips.

“It was different with our boys having to be uprooted and changing schools so frequently,” Traci said. “But I think they grew in ways we couldn’t imagine. They were able to handle change and adapt quite well to their surroundings. A lot of kids never get to experience that kind of change.”

The Myers’ made a special effort to connect ahead of time with the teachers on the bases to which they were relocating. Opening the communication for their children’s needs from the beginning made for a smoother transition.

They viewed frequent changes and relocating as a means of bringing their family closer together. The Myers’ depended a lot on one another during the moves and were able to come out stronger.

Plan

It comes down to how proactive you are with your move,” Kevin said. “If the military is going to give you choices on where to move or tells you ahead of time, you have time to make arrangements to figure out details. Generally, I liked to start getting a feel for where they were moving us three months in advance. Then we began to research the location. If you are able to, planning can go a long way.”

Utilizing resources

“There are several resources the military provided that we utilized,” Kevin said. “There are intra-moving pamphlets, self-counseling Defense Personal Property System (DPS) programs all available by simply logging into a Web site. This will help give perspective on what the movers responsibility entail versus members responsibility.  The more involved you are, the less stressful the move will be.”

The military offers a great sense of community. Reach out to new neighbors in the area to lean on for support. They are some of the few people who fully understand the changes through which you are going.

Make a special effort to stay connected to past friends. Create a ‘group message’ on Facebook to where you can easily post updates to your current location and happenings. Or send out a yearly letter to friends with simple updates and contact information.

From the mover’s perspective:

“The more questions the local moving agents can answer, the better,” Kevin said. “The whole process will be much smoother if questions are asked upfront. If everyone is actively engaged and playing their part, the better the move.”

From the military perspective:

Take initiative to communicate with your movers about specific instruction given by the military,” Kevin said. “For example, certain items need to be disassembled. Be proactive in addressing such details.”

Minimize packing time

Most moms can understand the pressure of maintaining a clean house. But have you ever gone through a base inspection – they are serious about their cleaning!

“We tried to plan ahead so we could minimize our pack time,” Traci said. “We would tape off rooms that did not need to be packed to avoid confusion. Once packers got done with one room, we would get a head start on cleaning for the base inspection. We did the cleaning ourselves until our last move, when we rewarded ourselves by hiring it done.”

It’s easy to get burnt out on packing, especially when you are doing it so frequently. Create a plan around your packing process so that you are able to reward yourself after. You can potentially spend a lot of time packing when you are moving with the military, keep it to a minimum if you are able to!

 

 

 

Tagged in: Military Moves

If you are a homemaker or a keen gardener who is planning a big move, then you would most probably want to take some of your houseplants and garden plants with you. Before you contact your corporate moving and freight services provider, you must first read this article. By doing so, you will know about the most important things to remember during your relocation.

Plants are not always given the highest importance when moving. Truth is, most of the time, they are put in the moving truck at the very last minute. This makes them very exposed to damage and trauma. So if you love your plants, then you should not simply toss them in the truck of your Beaumont movers. You must try to make the move as fast and painless for them as possible.

You must keep in mind that there are moving and freight services providers that do not include plants in their insurance policies. Because of this, you must make sure to take some extra care of them. To know about the rules and restrictions of your chosen Beaumont movers on moving plants locally or internationally, it is best to ask them first hand, so you can be as prepared as you need to be.

A careful homemaker and gardener would know that plants need to be assessed weeks before the big move. This assessment involves proper pruning, feeding, and administration of pest control treatments. By doing this, you will help your plants get in tip-top shape before your residential and corporate moving company comes in to pick them up.

You also need to decide on how you will transport your plants. Many Beaumont movers would suggest that you purchase very sturdy boxes, which you must line with plastic. You also have to check the condition of your pots to make sure that they don’t have cracks in any way. This is important if you want to make sure that they won’t break apart during transport. You also have the option to transfer them into plastic pots, which are capable to sustaining more force. Finally, your pots should be just the right size, so your plants won’t move about and get more damage.

If you would ask your residential and corporate moving company about the best time to dig up your plants, they would almost always say that you should do it on the day of your move. This is another way to minimize damage and trauma on the plants. In case you don’t want to leave your old lot empty, then you can simply take cuttings with you instead. To prepare them for pickup, you can place them inside a bag that is lined with damp paper or cotton wool.

Another thing to keep in mind is to ensure that your plants are not water-logged. Once you’ve packed them into your boxes, inform your moving and freight services provider that these boxes contain plants. On the day of your move, you must also remember not to tie the plastic covers too tightly, because your plants still need some room and air to breathe.

A group of professional local movers is essential for anyone who has to move their big- or medium-sized office from one location to another. And it’s not just the same as simply hiring the same group or company that helped you pack up and transfer the stuff you own at home.

After all, there are many differences between corporate moving and residential transfers. While companies may offer the same services needed for both kinds of moves, office moves are usually heavier and harder.

For example, you may need to have expensive equipment transferred, such as computers, photocopying machines, and other electronics. These obviously require special handling or custom packaging. Some may even have to be disassembled, and so you would need to get a specialist to do the job.

That’s just the start. Even small offices can amass huge volumes of paperwork. These require not just another batch of boxes, but must be carefully packed to ensure they stay organized and protected from water damage.

And you all need for them to be transferred smoothly, safely, and on time to ensure that your office is set up within schedule.

That’s just the first consideration when choosing local movers. You should also consider the cost, which can vary from company to company due to many factors. For starters, some may charge an hourly rate for their movers, while some would base their fees on the volume or weight of the shipment. There might be even hidden fees or surcharges, such as a night differential or overtime rates for evening or weekend moves.

Of course, you can’t forget about insurance, either. No matter how good your local movers are, you cannot go without it, especially when it comes to acts of god or accidents. So you have to double-check whether the company you hired offers it and what the coverage is. And that insurance clause should not just be about physical damage, loss, or theft. You should also ask about provisions on lost data on electronic equipment, liabilities (if ever they damage the office you left behind or transferred to), and so on.

As such, you need to pick a corporate moving company with a good track record such as Idyllwild Movers. They are one of the top names that facilities managers will give you if you ask them for referrals. And they have also the right services to address all your needs for the big move, especially when judged against the criteria enumerated above.

Even if you consult testimonials for this corporate moving company, it’s mostly positive.

Of course, by getting this company, you won’t need to deal with all aspects of the move anymore. Especially since it can be very stressful. Idyllwild Movers has a moves consultant to iron out the small but important details for you, before and after your goods have been transferred.

So armed with all these information, it’s clear that Idyllwild Movers is the best choice for corporate moving in your area. You won’t need to look for other options for your office move again.

Moving internationally is, in many ways, different and more complicated from simply moving to a different town. This is why most people find it an intimidating task to do. The good news is, moving internationally can actually be an easy thing to accomplish. This is possible by doing a lot of efficient planning and by seeking the help of experts in the field. Truth is, when you hire a company that offers Moving & Storage services for international relocation, you can leave most of the responsibilities to them. This fact often makes international moving a lot easier than local moving.

There are a bunch things to consider when picking a mover. If it is your company that requires you to relocate, then you won’t have to worry much, because your company is probably already paying a mover and corporate storage provider for you. If the move is a more personal decision, then you must hire a Moving & Storage services provider as soon as possible. However, you must avoid moving companies that do not boast international experience. This requirement is very important if you want your possessions to arrive at your destination as safely and quickly as possible. Among the Joshua Tree Movers you can trust is Desert Moving Company & Storage.

After looking for a Moving & Storage services provider, it is now time to pack. International moves, in fact, require careful planning and execution in terms of packing. Remember that your package will be traveling in a moving vehicle, and it will also be subject to inspection at the Customs. If you should, you may approach your mover or corporate storage provider to ask them for tried-and-tested techniques in packing. Some Joshua Tree Movers even offer export wrapping, which gives added protection and typically applies to freight moves.

Knowing what to bring is just as important as deciding on what items to leave behind. For one, if you’re coming back after a few months, it is best to just keep household appliances in residential or corporate storage, then simply rent or buy new ones in your destination. However, if your international move is more permanent, then you may want to take everything with you. If this is the case, then you must research on the restrictions and fees applicable in the country you’re headed to.

There are various other options that you will be offered with once you plan an international move with Joshua Tree Movers. For example, if you are in Europe and transferring from one country to another, your package may be carried by a single vehicle. But if the route is too long, you might also be using an air or sea freight service that is tied with your mover.

If you want to pay less, it goes without saying that it is best to take only what you really need. Most quotes for international moving are based on the volume or weight of the load. However, do not expect the initial quote to be the final rate, because this is merely an estimate. Just to be sure, ask your Moving & Storage services company if their rates already cover taxes, documentation fees, port/airport charges, customs clearance, and similar charges.

Whether it involves residential storage or commercial moving, not all companies are the same. While many offer comprehensive services, like our Twentynine Palms movers, some also offer affordable moving assistance, but with limited resources. It’s important to plan ahead and exert necessary effort in figuring out the right mover to go with before it’s too late and you’re left with a big mess or too many expenses. To find the right moving company for your needs, check out these simple tips:

1. Get several estimates from several moving companies.

Do your research and approach more than one residential and commercial moving company to get a couple of estimates for comparison. Remember that the cheapest estimate is not always the option to go with. Go through your list and check out the resources and extent of services involved. Some companies will attract you with low rates to get a contract only to surprise you with additional charges conveniently before they remove your belongings from their truck. If possible, get a binding and final quote.

2. Ask for and verify the mover’s operating license.

Ensure that you’ll be entrusting your belongings to moving and relocation companies that are duly certified with an operating license. For interstate moves, verify a Twentynine Palms mover’s or any city mover’s license by logging on to protectyourmove.gov. For movers within a state, verify with the local consumer affairs agency.

3. Make sure the mover has insurance and you’re duly covered.

Not all moves turn out perfectly. Unfortunately, on rare occasions, damage to furniture or other belongings occur during transport. The local mover’s insurance should cover this. Study the policy and the limits of the coverage carefully. Ask questions and make sure you understand everything before taking up the contract.

4. Review the moving company’s track record.

It’s always a good thing to check previous moving projects that have been taken up by your local or international movers. Ask for references from the mover or the residential storage company and follow through on their list to check prior customer experience. You can also verify with the local consumer protection agency to see a history of complaints. Keep in mind that negative reports may vary, depending on each case, and you can also check how those complaints were handled.

5. Report disputes to authorities.

If you encounter any problems with the moving company, ask for assistance from them first as they may address matters efficiently first. However, if the company does not respond positively to your moving or relocation concerns, you can always file a complaint with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or by calling 1-800-832-5660. If those matters or problems occur during international moving of your household goods or vehicles, you may contact the Federal Maritime Commission.

For more helpful guidelines on commercial moving and residential storage, give our Twentynine Palms movers a call and ask for assistance on your relocation needs. We’d be glad to provide you with all the right information to make your move hassle-free.