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Showing posts from 2017

Moving for Work: What Questions Should You Ask Before You Take the Job?

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Moving for work is an exciting way to relocate to a new city or town, while also embarking on a new job. But before you accept an offer and pack up your life, there are a lot of things to consider about your potential role, benefits, the company culture and whether a  relocation package  is part of your employer’s offer. To help you out during this time, we’re sharing some questions you should ask your potential employer and yourself before you relocate. Check out more below: #1 What are the in’s and out’s of my role? An exciting part of the early stages of talking with a company is getting to better know about your potential new role. Since this job will be in another state or even another country, use your interview process wisely by researching the company beforehand and having a list of questions and/or concerns ready to discuss as soon as your phone interview begins. As you get to know more about the role, ask about your tasks, day-to-day, who you report to, how ...

Should You Use Salt or Sand on an Icy Driveway?

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Taking a spill on your icy driveway is bad enough when you’re carrying your car keys. So imagine wiping out while carrying a dresser full of clothes. Scary scenario, for us  and  for our movers. (And one reason people prefer to move in summer.) If the forecast for your move date calls for moisture and freezing temps, you might be thinking:  Should I cover my front walk and driveway with salt or sand?  Here we’re going to tell you all you need to know to keep everyone and everything around you safe. What to do first. The best defense is a good offense. If it snows the night before your move, it almost goes without saying that the first thing you’ll want to do is  grab a shovel and get to work clearing the area . If you live where temperatures can remain below freezing for days on end (if not weeks—hello, Minnesota!), then you’ll understand the importance of shoveling your driveway  before all that snow gets packed down and turns to ice . Yes, we t...

Moving box comparison: choosing the right boxes for your move:

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How many moving boxes do I need? The days leading up to moving day come with plenty of stressors — the last thing you want to add is worry about whether you have enough of the right size moving boxes to safely pack up your home. U-Pack ®  can help. We’ll assist you with figuring out the right size boxes for your move and help estimate how many you need. Then, you can order online and we’ll ship them to you for free, to arrive in approximately 1-3 business days. Take a look at standard moving box sizes, what they’ll typically hold and ways to get a good deal on buying moving boxes of any size.  Standard moving box sizes When moving across country, using boxes that are made for moving is a must-do. They’re built to add extra protection for household goods. These  moving boxes come in all sizes — small through extra-large. The variety of sizes you’ll need depends on the shape, dimensions and weight of the item(s) being packed into them. Professionals recommend k...

How to Be Mindful When Moving to a New Home:

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“Moving is a great opportunity to practice mindfulness meditation: to focus our attention without judgment, on the here and now. It can free our mind from thoughts of loss for the places we left, or fears about the future. With a to-do list that keeps growing, we might think we are too busy for this, but being mindful can actually help us be more productive and alert.” —  Kiran Prasad , author of “A Mindful Move: Feel at Home Again.” Keep only what you need, use or love when decluttering your home. Holding on to items just because of their ties to another place can keep you stuck in the past. Pause for a moment if you are overwhelmed by your to-do list. Take a moment to notice some basic sensations, like the ebb and flow of your breath, or the feeling of your feet on the ground. When you arrive at your new home, cultivate gratitude. Look for the positive aspects of your new surroundings, and try not to romanticize the home you are leaving behind. Repeat the affirmation ...

Nine questions to ask your landlord before moving in:

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There’s a lot on your mind when you’re preparing for a move, from what day you can move in to when you’ll receive your keys, where the moving truck can park, and more. To ensure you’re as prepared as possible, and have as many moving day details to make it a stress-free and efficient day, it’s important to ask your landlord these nine questions ahead of time. #1 What day can I move in? It’s best to check with your landlord about what day you’re able to move in. That way, you are both on the same page and you can schedule professional movers ahead of time. It’s recommended to reach out and  book your movers  as soon as possible, even as early as one month out from the date you’d like to move. #2 What will you do to prepare the unit before I move in? Most landlords clean and re-paint in between tenants. We recommend finding out what your landlord plans on doing ahead of time, so you know what condition the place will be in when you move in. #3 Were the locks chang...

Moving Checklist:

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he Ultimate Moving Checklist Don’t let a big move cause stress — stay on track with this step-by-step moving checklist. Designed to help you know what to do before, during and after a move, this helpful guide is an easy way to stay organized. We recommend printing it and keeping it on-hand throughout your entire move.   2 months before Research.  Start researching your new community, and look for housing, schools and childcare. Knowing where the best opportunities are can help you find the perfect area for your family. Collect records.  Compile medical and dental records, and arrange to have school and veterinarian records transferred to your new location. Gather copies of legal and financial documents, and create a move file to keep track of quotes, receipts and other important information. Get quotes.  Collect estimates from moving companies, and create a moving budget. 6 weeks before Inventory items.  Plan how you will move valuables and dif...

End of Summer Moving Tips:

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Moving at the end of the summertime can be stressful, but with these moving tips, it doesn’t have to be. Many families try to move in their new home before school starts. Have a Plan One of the most important moving tips is to have a plan. Every person in the household should have their own responsibilities. Designate every person in the household to one area in the house that they’re responsible for packing, organizing, and cleaning. Throw Away Clutter It’s a good time to get rid of clutter. If throwing away clutter isn’t an option, donate it to charity. Think about what you really need and what you don’t need while you’re packing. Think About Your Pets If you have pets, you’ll need to attend to their needs before you start packing, organizing and cleaning. First, you’ll need to update their identification tags. Next, you should consider keeping them in a kennel until the move is completed. Moving can be stressful for pets too. Lastly, be sure that you have everything...

How to use plastic wrap for moving?

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There are many simple tools that come handy when the process of moving is involved. Plastic wrap is one of them. You can make use of both the household plastic wrap and the professional-level moving wrap, commonly used by professional movers. The reason plastic wrap are so popular with movers is that it does not leave any sticky residue or destroy the paint in any way on your furniture. Here are the basic ways you can use plastic wrap to make your move simpler: Prevent leakage of water or any liquid from bottles It is really disturbing to find that all the liquid in your bottle is leaked all over the other luggage when you arrive at your new place. You might decide not to carry any liquid at all. It is difficult though as you have so many important liquid components that you use in your day-to-day life. These liquids might include lens solution, body lotion, shampoo and conditioner etc. The smarter option is to make your bottle leak proof! You can get the caps from your b...