Seven Brothers Moving

02/19/2022

TIP 6: THE BEST MOVES TAKE TIME, PLANNING, AND BUDGETING—Moving is expensive, even when you are doing most of the work yourself. From the cost of supplies, truck rental, and fuel to the cost of hiring labor, it's important to plan for all the associated costs. Many people choose to rent a U-Haul truck and pack their own belongings and then hire movers to perform the labor of loading and/or unloading. Others prefer full-service from start to finish. They hire a moving company to do all the packing and come with a truck.

The advantage of renting your own truck and doing the packing and preparation yourself is that it’s more economical. You do the basics and the movers do the heavy-lifting. If you’re on a tight budget or it’s a small local move, then a self-move with hired labor may be the way to go.

The advantage of hiring movers for full service is that it takes the stress off of you! If you work full-time, have little children, are older (and wiser), have a bad back, or would just rather relax and let someone else handle the details, then a full-service move may be just the ticket!

Whichever you choose—full service or partial service—set realistic expectations. Depending on the size and scope of your move, it can take anywhere from a few hours to a half or full day. If you want packing service, it’s best to have the packers come on a separate day from the movers. It can be overwhelming to try to get it all done in a single day.

It takes time to disassemble furniture, wrap it securely in furniture blankets and stretch wrap, load everything strategically in the truck, drive across town, unload, unwrap, and re-assemble furniture, placing everything in designated rooms. Add to that the time involved for movers to navigate stairs, carry items down corridors, in some instances wait for elevators, and take things out to the truck. What you thought would be a quick move will take much longer if you want quality service with your moving team handling your belongings with the utmost care.

Determine which service will best meet your needs and budget and then plan accordingly. We can help!

01/09/2022

TIP 5: PACK A “FIRST NIGHT BAG”—Moving is exhausting even under the best of circumstances. To alleviate some of the stress and frustration of the first day or evening in your new place of residence (or at your hotel), pack a bag of things you will need for the following day: toiletries, pajamas, a fresh change of clothing, tablet or laptop, and any daily medications you might need.

You'll want to be set for the first evening and the day after the move without having to frantically look for what you need to wind down the evening or start the morning in your new place. Consider having your favorite pillow and a sleeping bag handy in case your bed won’t be set up for the first night, and don’t forget water and snacks!

04/08/2021

TIP 4: IMPORTANT ITEMS & DOCUMENTS—Place important items into a clear plastic bin, suitcase, back-pack, or specially marked box and put it in your car or the cab of your U-Haul. Things like remote controls, medications, spare keys, cell phones or tablets, and important documents are easily lost in the shuffle when you're moving. Be sure these are set aside where they can quickly be found.

It's not your movers' responsibility to keep track of your special belongings; or if you are moving yourself, it's not up to your family and friends who are helping you move to know where you placed important things. As the saying goes, "If it is to be, it's up to me."

02/15/2021

TIP 3: FRAGILE & SPECIALTY ITEMS—Specialty items need special preparation prior to your move! If you have a large safe, baby grand piano, stringed bass, pool table, gym equipment, non-standard bed, or antiques and art... don't surprise your movers by not disclosing it beforehand. You might be so used to the 300 lb. cement statue of Elvis Presley standing in your entryway that you didn't even think of it; but this is something important that your movers need to know in advance so they can come with the right equipment or supplies.

Be prepared with the manufacturer's instructions or manual for any item out of the ordinary that may need to be disassembled or requires special handling. Movers cannot possibly know how to take apart and put together every model, brand, or style of bed, exercise equipment, or device. We like to think we have superpowers, but unfortunately, we do not!

Consider having a specialty company come out to move your grand piano, grandfather clock, pool table, or 600-pound safe rather than using residential movers who may or may not have the experience or equipment to move such items.

Whether you are hiring a full-service company that does everything from packing to transporting to everything in-between or you are hiring labor-only movers to assist you with your self-move, the more preparations you do in advance the better! Being prepared can save you additional time, money, and frustration.

01/28/2021

TIP 2: APPLIANCES & ELECTRONICS—Prepare your appliances and electronics prior to the movers arriving. Professional movers are not necessarily professional electronics or appliance technicians.

WASHING MACHINE: Be sure to unplug it and drain any standing water that may have collected inside the drum or bottom pan.

DRYER: If your dryer is gas, arrange for the gas company or a plumber to disconnect it. If you feel comfortable doing it yourself, there are instructions and videos online that show you how to safely disconnect your gas appliance.

REFRIGERATOR: Make sure any water pipes are disconnected and that the fridge is empty! You'll need to plan ahead as to how you want to take your chilled and frozen foods to your new home (ice chests, freezer bags, etc.).

TVs AND ELECTRONICS: TVs should be dismounted from the wall before the movers arrive. While some movers will lift a TV off the mounts, most will not remove hardware from the walls or install hardware in your new home. Computers, printers, and game systems should all be disconnected, properly boxed, and ready to go. Remember to keep remotes, wiring, and cords together with your devices.

01/26/2021

Are you planning to move in the coming weeks or months? Prepare for Moving Day with this moving hack:

TIP 1: INVENTORY & ORGANIZING—As you take stock of your furniture and other belongings, set aside items that you want to donate a couple weeks ahead of your move. Arrange for the donation center to come pick up those items (or take them to the charity organization yourself). This will reduce the amount of things you'll need to move, freeing up space in your home (and in your head) so you can better organize everything else you'll be taking to your new home.

09/09/2020

The guys work hard from early morning until early evening, taking special care with your cherished belongings. Tips are welcomed
and appreciated (and it's good etiquette besides)!

Knowing how much to tip movers can be tricky, but you should definitely tip your movers, especially during coronavirus or COVID-19. Be prepared with money during your move with this easy guide to tipping movers.

12/02/2019

Planning a move? Deciding whether to Do-It-Yourself or hire help? Here's a short article in Good Housekeeping Magazine:

Every year, 40 million Americans move, and nearly half do so between May and September. While every move is different, there's no one-size-fits-all outline for orchestrating the process. But we've pulled together some general guidelines to keep in mi...

07/05/2016