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The Ultimate Guide to Plan Your Move

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Moving can feel daunting — you have to contact multiple moving companies, schedule several estimates to find the best mover, and manage the packing and migration of everything you own. That said, you can make your move a lot easier with a few simple tricks that organize and help you prep your move ahead of the big day. Read on, or download our printable checklist to get started.

Plan your move week by week

The Ultimate Guide to Plan Your Move - Ponny Express Moving Company Boston

8 weeks before moving day: Schedule your movers

If you’re moving across state lines, chances are you’ll be working with a van line, which contract with local movers to transport your possessions from one place to another.

Even if you’re moving within a state, or within a city, van lines are a good place to start looking for a local moving company — it guarantees that they have at one point registered with the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the van line has vetted them

That said, you’ll still want to do a quick background check of a local mover before scheduling an in-home estimate to make sure they don’t have any red flags. Thankfully, the DOT makes it easy. You can use the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) search tool to see what complaints a company has had in the last five years, and their safe driving track-record.

To-do:

  • Find local agents associated with top van lines
  • Schedule at least three in-home estimates and ask:
    • How and when the pickup and delivery of your goods will occur
    • For contact information for before, during, and after the move
    • What happens if an item is damaged during the move
    • If the mover has a dispute settlement program
  • Compare the whole package — prices and services — before deciding on a mover

6 weeks before moving day: Start downsizing

Moving gives you the opportunity see which belongings you want to bring to your new home, and which you want to leave behind. You’ll want to know the measurements for each room in your new home so you can plan out how — and whether — your existing furniture will fit. If you’re traveling long-distance, you might also consider leaving some of your furniture behind and buying replacements at your destination. Moving estimates take into account weight and volume, so it might be less expensive to sell and replace your furniture than to take it with you — and it’s a good opportunity to upgrade to a new TV or mattress.

You’ll also want to be circumspect about what consumables you bring into your home. Since you’ll need to pack and move any extra supplies, hold off on the Costco-sized package of paper towels. Similarly, start using up your frozen food and pantry items so you won’t have to figure out how to transport ice cream or haul soup cans to your new home.

To-do:

  • Measure out your new space
  • Determine what furniture you want to keep
  • Sell or donate goods
  • Start emptying the pantry
  • Plan meals to use up perishable items

4 weeks before moving day: Create an inventory and start packing

Now that you’re in the middle of sorting through which belongings you want to pack and which ones you want to sell or donate, you’re ready to start building your inventory list. Having a complete list of all of your books, DVDs, and dishes will not only help you track whether all of your boxes have made it through the move (and which ones might be missing), but will also come in handy if you ever need to submit a homeowners insurance claim for damaged or lost goods.

As you prepare to pack up all of your smaller items, you might want to make use of a packing calculator to estimate how many boxes you need. We like Home Depot’s moving calculator — which asks specifics about the types of rooms you’re trying to pack up.

To-do:

  • Estimate the number of boxes you need
  • Assess whether you want any specialty boxes:
    • Wardrobe boxes
    • Dishware boxes
    • Picture frame boxes
    • TV boxes
  • Don’t forget to grab:
    • Tape
    • Permanent markers
    • Packing paper
    • Bubble wrap
    • Sandwich bags

2 weeks before moving day: Finalize the paperwork

As you get closer to your move-out date, you’ll want to note where your incoming bills and mail are coming from, and update your address with each company. Additionally, you can update your address with the United States Post Office (USPS) to help catch any mail that slipped through your updating efforts.

It can take up to two weeks to process a change of address form through USPS, so you’ll want to give them a heads-up ahead of your actual move-out date. Once filled out, they’ll forward your mail from your old address to your new one for six months — where hopefully you’ll have notified all of your companies, or you can renew the mail-forwarding service for another six months.

This is also a good time to start canceling or transferring your subscriptions — whether a meal delivery service or magazine subscription — and figuring out what steps you need to take to set up utilities at your new place while closing down those at your old one.

To-do:

  • Notify jobs, subscriptions, and billing companies of your new address
  • Fill out a change of address form at the post office
  • Transfer prescriptions to a new pharmacy
  • Transfer or set up service with local utilities:
    • Electricity
    • Water
    • Sewage
    • Trash
    • Internet

1 week before moving day: Finish packing

Even when hiring movers, your actual moving day will be quite busy, so it’s good to make sure your house is as move-ready ahead of time as possible. Try to have everything packed except for your daily necessities and what supplies you’ll need as soon as you get to your new home. Setting aside a specifically-marked “open first” box means you won’t have to open several boxes just to find towels or silverware for your first days in the new home.

Now’s also a good time to finish up last steps in disassembling or cleaning any major appliances you’re taking with you. Research the best way to move each appliance whether it’s your lawnmower (involving removing hazardous liquid and securing the blades) or your refrigerator (which needs to air-dry for at least 24 hours after you’ve defrosted and cleaned it). If there’s any furniture which can be disassembled ahead of moving day, you can save time by doing it now, and placing the smaller parts into labeled zip-lock bags.

If you’re moving into an apartment, you’ll also want to call ahead to see if you can reserve an elevator to help you move. Some buildings require a reservation in order to use an elevator (even if you are moving onto the 30th floor). If you have a reservation, you also won’t have to compete with other residents to use the elevator — making your move in as quick and stair-free as possible.

To-do:

  • Pack an “open first” box with a days-worth of essentials
  • Photograph assembled electronics before packing
  • Disassemble furniture
  • Prepare appliances for moving
  • Confirm what your movers will and won’t move
  • Set aside cleaning supplies for moving day
  • If necessary, reserve an elevator or acquire a parking permit in your building

The day of your move

Moving day will be busy, as you’ll be finishing some last-minute packing, answering questions and directing the movers, and cleaning up your home. Make sure to keep your “open first” box separate from the rest of your possessions, as well as any important documents, records, valuables, and moving paperwork. If you’re driving to your new location, you’ll want to keep these with you, or explain to your movers how you want your antique furniture handled.

This is also your time to follow the movers as they do their own inventory of your household goods. They’ll note exactly what is going onto the truck, as well as the condition of your furniture and possessions. It’s important to be on the same page, so that if damages occur during transit, you have a written record of what dings were already present in your furniture, and which need to be reimbursed by your moving company’s protection policy.

To-do:

  • Be present and available the whole day to help the movers
  • Accompany the movers as they inventory your belongings
  • Take pictures of any existing damage
  • Carefully read all documents before signing them
  • Keep the bill of lading until your goods are delivered, the charges are paid, and any claims are settled

Save money with Pony Express Moving Services. Lower prices than traditional moving companies and you don’t have to drive! Free moving quotes.

Load a Moving Truck Like the Pros

Load a Moving Truck Like the Pros - Pony Express Moving Services

Want to know how to load a moving truck the professional way?

Yes, there are an infinite number of ways to pack a moving truck. Much of it is common sense. But the purpose of this blog post is to provide some serious step-by-step guidelines to load a moving truck properly. The information you need to know is segmented into three parts: general guidelines for packing furniture and the equipment you’ll need; packing specific furniture pieces; and step-by-step packing the truck.

General Guidelines

  • Safety first! Any moving truck you rent will have a ramp and you need to make sure it’s fully engaged, clean of debris and dry, and covered with non-stick matting if necessary
  • During the loading process, ensure the weight of all items is distributed evenly from front to back and side to side
  • The truck should be loaded in layers, each self-contained and independently secured. The goal of any layer is to avoid hitting or rubbing into an adjacent layer
  • All furniture should have blanket pads draped over exposed surfaces. The majority of damage done to items is by them rubbing against each other during transport. For added protection, use Plastic wrap in addition to blankets for fragile or hard to move items
  • If your truck is too big for your items, ensure each piece of furniture is strapped independently to the back or side wall of the truck with blanket pads protecting exposed surface areas.

Packing specific furniture pieces

The following items have been singled out as the common household pieces that require special attention.

  • Aquariums should be emptied with pads placed inside and out and then stretch wrapped. Place them on top of a box
  • Bed frames should be strapped toward the back of the truck
  • Chairs should have legs individually wrapped or bubble taped before wrapping the entire chair
  • Couches should be loaded on top of a blanket pad, on the floor of a truck, with the feet faced toward the side wall and the back faces out to protect incoming items
  • Drawers should be loaded faced toward the side wall to ensure they do not fall out during transport. All loose drawers should be secured with rubber bands
  • Grandfather clocks. Remove weights from inside the clock. Wrap and label pendulums. Wrap the clock in plastic or blanket pads
  • Hide-A-Beds should be secured using a strap so the metal insert doesn’t prop open during transport
  • Metal should not be loaded close to furniture as it has the potential to tear through plastic wrap during transport
  • Mirrors and glass should be wrapped and put between the mattress and box spring and strapped in
  • Wooden furniture should be wrapped well with plastic wrap, paying close attention to the edges and sides. This is especially important for cherry oak wood!
  • Rugs should be rolled up and taped
  • TV’s should be wrapped and faced against a box and strapped. Flat screen TVs should never sit sideways or on their backs.

How to load a moving truck

  • Your boxes will be your first layer, stacked high against the back wall of the truck to maximize space. Load the heaviest boxes on the bottom. Stack vertically with the lightest, most fragile on top
  • Lay a blanket pad on the floor and load mattresses and box springs next. Stand them vertically. Loose glass pieces should be placed in between (as per above). Strap to the side wall. This, with your boxes is the first layer
  • Next, lay another blanket pad on the floor and load couches vertically with feet toward the side wall, pillows removed. Secure each couch by straps to the side wall. Pillows can fill the empty space. Furniture pieces, such as dressers can be placed in between with blanket pads draped over.
  • The next layer is more furniture, covered in pads and/or plastic and secured to the side wall when complete
  • Appliances and wardrobe boxes are loaded last and will be the first items off the truck.

Ensure you close the back of the truck properly, replace the ramp securely and push safety pins into place. Happy Moving!

Save money with Pony Express Moving Services. Lower prices than traditional moving companies and you don’t have to drive! Free moving quotes.

Spring Moving Benefits

Spring Moving Benefits - Pony Express Moving ServicesSpring forward and fall back may be a daylight savings time expression, but I like to think it applies quite nicely to moving. Of the tens of millions of people who move in North America each year, many have no choice as to when they move. Real estate, family, and work all join in to play a role in dictating the timeliness of a move. However, for those of you who are at liberty to make this transition as stress-free as possible, consider the luxury of this: spring forward so you are settled to enjoy the fabulous summer weather and a well-deserved vacation, then fall back into relaxing routine in the autumn. Sounds good?

Here are Pony Express Moving Services ‘s best reasons why a Spring moving makes great sense:

  1. Weather can greatly impact the success of a move. In springtime most regions of the country experience fairweather days. Hefting heavy boxes on hot days, or wintery cold ones, is not fun!
  2. Availability of moving companies is likely to be better. The summer time is traditionally thought to be a great time to move, which means moving companies may be busier, right? Get a head start and book early!
  3. Kids are still in school so if you need their help, spring break could be an ideal time to move. On the other hand, if you want the kids otherwise preoccupied, school days are ideal. Spring is a win-win!
  4. Settle in to your new home in time for summer entertaining and holidays. Why give up your down time during the summer to facilitate a move when you can take care of the hard work first? Your housewarming party can be out on your new deck! And you won’t miss out on holiday time.
  5. New beginnings are irresistible and that’s what spring’s all about. Need I say more?

 

Save money with Pony Express Spring Moving Services. Lower prices than traditional moving companies and you don’t have to drive! Free moving quotes.

Reasons To Hire A Professional Mover

Moving to a new home is both emotionally and physically stressful. The decision to either hire a professional mover or do it yourself is always a debate. Should you hire a group of professionals to do your moving for you?

Let’s take a look at their advantages:

1. Packing: Leave it to the professional mover

Packing alone accounts for approximately one quarter of your moving expense. Yes, that’s a significant number. Let’s do a quick cost benefit analysis: if you pack your stuff yourself, you may actually end up spending more.

First, you will probably use more cartons or boxes than required. Second, your fragile belongings may get damaged due to insufficient packing, so you end up incurring heavy costs. On the other hand, professional movers are trained to pack efficiently and do it quicker. What could take you weeks may take them only a few days.

Reasons to Hire A Professional Mover2. Know-how of the locality

Professional moving companies are very thorough in running local area checks. Understanding the routes and the neighborhood is essential so that your belongings can be safely dispatched and transported.

3. Your belongings are safe and insured

Let’s face it. Your hired help are professionals who are more experienced than you are. The safety of your belongings is of paramount concern to them. Your personal belongings are insured. This will provide you peace of mind. These professionals use heavy-duty wrap for all furniture and plastic covers to avoid damage and to seal your stuff from dirt and dust.

4. Use of the right equipment

A do-it-yourself approach is fine. Unfortunately, a borrowed truck from a buddy does not come with the right equipment to move your stuff safely – another reason you’d want to hire professional help. They come with the right gadgets that make moving simpler.

Your professional mover will use hoisting straps, two wheel, four wheel or appliance dollies, ramps and custom built trucks with air ride cushions to transport your belongings in a safe and secure manner. So whether it is moving an L-shaped couch out of your door or dismantling your furniture, your hired band of help will figure it all out for you.

5. Straight forward estimates

Ideally, there are no hidden costs when you hire professional movers. Their charges are estimates of the distance or the kind of service or storage you opt for. Since this is a local move, the distance cost will be relatively lower. These movers will discuss moving and service cost prior to when the moving begins.

6. Friendly customer service

Being trained professionals, these movers, in addition to providing you with the necessary services, also possess an impeccable customer service rating. Easy to approach, they provide suggestions and solutions to your moving problems. So if you want things done differently or require their opinion, feel free to voice it out.

7. Flexible storage facilities

Let’s say that you need to reach your final destination later than planned. Your professional movers will provide you with storage facilities with overnight, short-term or long-term storage options. Additional charges are applied, of course, but your belongings are in a safe vault under protection from theft, loss or damage.

The advantages of hiring a professional moving company may outweigh the do-it-yourself approach. It is also less stressful and poses a lesser health hazard. So put your reservations aside, and hire a professional mover for the job.

Save money with Pony Express Moving Services. Lower prices than traditional moving companies and you don’t have to drive! Free moving quotes.

What To Expect When Hiring Professional Movers

What To Expect When Hiring Professional MoversReady to move but not sure what to expect when hiring professional movers?

Whether you’re moving between neighborhoods or across states, the process seems chaotic. Even after you hire professional movers, you may feel uneasy about the big day.

Have no fear!

We’re here to help. Moving doesn’t have to be a hassle. Hiring professional movers should take the stress out of your move, not add to it.

Let’s dig into what you should expect when you hire a moving service.

Before Hiring Professional Movers: What You Need To Know

Before hiring professional movers you’ll need to know when you’re going to move. Most movers will ask for a 4-week to a 6-week window of time.

To ease your process, and guarantee your safety while you move, come up with a plan. A great place to start is a checklist of the things you need to do to prepare yourself and your family. This will keep you on track for the weeks leading up to your move.

Whether you are planning a local or long distance move, professional movers are here to provide you with a stress-free move that stays on your schedule.

Before You Move

Your moving day will be here before you know it. After you make your checklist, you’re ready to start packing.

Depending on whether you’ve hired a full-service moving company you may need to pack your items yourself.

Pack your items in boxes beforehand. Tape these boxes closed. Leave them in the room in which you packed them.

Label each box with the name of this room and a few key items.

If you have hired full-service movers, they will handle this packing for you.

What To Expect On The Day Of Your Move

You’ve made your list. You’ve followed it for weeks, anticipating the big day.

Now what?

Your moving service will let you know far in advance when they will arrive at your home. Make sure you leave room in front of your home for the moving truck to park.

Failure to do so could result in an extra “long carry” fee.

Once they show up, you should identify the operator of the truck. Often, he supervises the crew. Consider him your go to guy when you have questions.

Your day should pan out something like the following steps.

The Walk-Through

Your movers will conduct a short walk-through of your home to produce a written inventory of goods. They will assess the condition of every item in your home. Next, they will assign each item an inventory number.

This list helps to ensure everything arrives at your new home in the condition it left your old home. It guards against false damage claims made on previous damage.

You should agree with this assessment. Check that no item is missing from the list.

Request a copy of the written inventory.

Determining Best Practices

Expect for the movers to determine the order in which to load the truck.

Your moving service will determine in which room to start and how to best fit items into the truck.

Set aside anything you don’t want to enter the truck such as flammables, personal items, breakable items or high-value pieces.

Movers Prepare Entrance and Set-Up Ramps

Next, your movers will safeguard your home for the loading process. They’ll use blankets and padding to protect your carpet, stairways, hallways and floors. They’ll mark any hidden stairs within your home.

Your moving team will also safeguard the outside of your home. They’ll mark off any hidden steps or broken sidewalks.

Your moving company will come prepared with all necessary tools like carrying straps, carpet protectors, shrinkwrap, and rope.

Techniques For Loading

Movers will disassemble each piece like dresser mirrors and beds. They’ll wrap every item in padding.

Your moving company loads the truck from floor to roof. This will resemble a puzzle, so don’t worry if you catch a glimpse of your things stacked on top of each other.

To prevent your items from shifting, movers will arrange pieces for the tightest possible fit within the truck. Sometimes this involves taking items from other rooms and placing them together. You will tell your movers exactly where you want your items placed in your new home.

You will tell your movers exactly where you want your items placed in your new home.

If you let your movers know ahead of the time they can usually arrange to take your old or unwanted items off your hands. Professional movers may donate these items to local bay area charities or dispose of them.

Before Heading To Your New Home

Once packed tightly, your items are ready to move to your new home.

Remember that driver we spoke about in the beginning? He’ll present you with a bill that lays out all of the conditions of your move.

This includes your estimate and expected date of delivery. You will need to sign off on this bill.

Your movers are responsible for removing all tools, padding, boxes and anything else they brought into your home. No garbage should be left behind.

Make sure you have a contact number for your movers and that they have clear directions to your new home.

At Your New Home

You’ve made it!

Consider having two people at your new place. One will oversee the inventory checklist, marking off and inspecting all delivered items. The other can assist your movers by letting them know where things go in your new home.

If you find an item damaged during your move after the fact, it’s okay. You can always file a complaint with your movers after they leave.

You’re Ready To Hire A Professional Moving Service!

The excitement of moving to a new home should outweigh the emotional or physical stress.

Knowing what to expect with professional movers eases stress. The more prepared you are beforehand, the faster and smoother the process of moving.

City To City Moving Tips

City To City Moving Tips

There can be plenty of reasons why you’re contemplating a house move right now. There will probably be one major reason to trigger the household move (like the end of a lease or a new job offer out of town, for example), and sometimes that main culprit may be accompanied by a number of smaller yet still significant reasons (like dissatisfaction with your current job or problems in your personal relationships).

But whatever the primary cause for the big change ahead of you, the final result is that you’re moving to another city soon and you still need to get ready for the Big day. And by getting ready, you should understand completing a ton of important tasks if you wish to have a successful move.

As you will find out soon enough, careful planning and meticulous preparation are everything when it comes to city to city moving – EVERYTHING! Don’t leave anything to chance but organize your time perfectly and make your new city move one for the books.City To City Moving

City to city movers: why you need the pros

Whether it’s voluntary or largely circumstantial, the decision to move to another city is the very first thing in a long line of pre-move jobs that you will be tackling one by one. A good job offer in another city is reason enough to get you to start packing up your stuff, as is the irresistible desire to follow your heart after having met someone special in another part of the country. What matters right now is that the day of your move is approaching fast and you will need to figure out a relocation strategy that will actually work.

The thing is that you will need the right approach to handle the house move because city to city moving is not to be underestimated. The question to answer here is whether or not you will resort to the services of professional new city movers. And if it turns out that you do, you should follow the logical steps of finding and hiring a city to city moving company that will be 1) agreeable to your moving budget, 2) responsive to your individual relocation needs, and 3) showing professional attitude toward the entire moving process.

Here are the some reasons you can end up making that first crucial contact with the moving experts:

Time. Do you have to move out of your place fast, and if yes, just how fast? Lack of sufficient time to prepare properly for moving out is one of the common reasons why people choose to go with a professional moving company. The so-called emergency moves or short notice moves cannot be usually handled by non-professionals simply because the latter have not been trained to pack, protect, carry, and load heavy, large and awkwardly-shaped household items around the clock. When you do something on a daily basis, you tend to get good at it, don’t you? The majority of city to city moving companies know just how to keep a very high level of efficiency throughout the move by maintaining unrivaled speed and safety at the same time.

Safety. The safety of your possessions and your own health should be a big concern – something to seriously think about before moving from city to city. Safety is especially crucial during the packing stage where fragile and easily breakable items could get damaged or ruined forever unless they are professionally packed and adequately protected. Also, if you own things that are extremely valuable /antique furniture/ or exceptionally difficult to transport /a piano or a pool table/, then you won’t have much of a choice but to hire experts who know what they are doing. Risking irreparable damage to your prized items or risking your own health cannot possibly justify your informed(?) decision not to contact city to city movers.

Affordability. Moving locally to a place located just a short distance away from your current home, or moving within the same town or city, is usually a prerequisite for organizing an affordable self-move. However, if you plan to move to another city hundreds or thousands of miles away, then it’s good to remember that the right way to go is to hire city to city moving services. The numerous hidden costs of self-moves will prove, once again, that sometimes it’s much better to trust professionals than to risk your time, money, and health only to make a pointless statement.

The cost of moving from city to city

Without a doubt, you will be very interested in knowing the cost of moving from city to city before the arrival of moving day. This is so because

  • you will want to know if you have enough money saved to cover the moving costs in the first place,
  • you will want to exert control over the move-related expenses by creating and adhering to a relocation budget, and
  • you will want to avoid any unpleasant surprises when it’s time to pay for the services of your new city movers.

Be mindful that trying to guess by yourself how much the new city move will cost you simply won’t work. With the exception of the move distance that remains a constant value even if you wish it weren’t so, there’s no possible way for you learn how much all the stuff you’re moving will weigh, let alone how much you will be charged for the additional service of packing.

Failed attempts at guessing the cost of city to city moving can only lead to unmet expectations and general disappointment. Instead, complete the cost calculation the right way: first, know what factors will influence the final moving price, and then learn your own relocation cost with a good level of accuracy.

  • Due to the future transportation costs, the distance between the two cities will influence the final bill. You can’t expect little or no difference in the cost when moving from New York City to Salt Lake City on one hand, and when moving from New York City to Boston on the other one. After all, the difference is around 2000 miles!. But it’s also true that you won’t be able to do anything about the move distance so you don’t have to really worry about it.
  • Your city to city moving company will charge you for the overall weight of your items for moving unless you’re moving locally, in which case you will be charged by the hour. After all of your household items have been loaded into the moving truck, your items will be weighed at a licensed weigh station and you will be informed of the precise weight of the stuff you’re tasking with you.
  • What and how many extra services you request will affect greatly the cost of moving from one city to another. Just think about packing – the job that takes the most time to complete – and you should be able to understand why each additional service will burden your set moving budget even more. Even if you haven’t asked for some of those extra services, they may be needed for the successful completion of your new city move.

In any case, because of the excess of question marks surrounding the new city moving rates, the only way to know how much you will pay in advance is to get a Free Quote online or call Pony Express at 617-983-8700 .

Four Moving Tips You Should Remember

You’ve just rented or bought your new place and are ready to start the next chapter of your life. You can see the finish line, and it’s almost there! Now you just have to cross it. With so many different aspects involved with moving, it’s easy to forget about something here or there. These bits of advice will help ensure that your moving day is a smooth one, void of any unnecessary last-minute headaches and heartbreaks.

1. Removing heavy and fragile items from dressers

four-moving-tips-you-should-rememberIt’s the day before the move, and you still haven’t finished packing. Putting away the dishes are taking way longer than you expected. But at long last, you think that you’ve finally finished packing up your whole house. You breathe a sigh of relief, as you pour yourself a glass of celebratory wine. You walk around your place one last time, and notice a dresser in the corner, full of stuff. You are too tired to care, and figure that it can be moved as is.

What you didn’t realize is that your dresser doesn’t like change. Its frame and legs are not used to moving around, especially with drawers full of odds and ends. The move finishes and there is only one casualty- that poor dresser, along with all the broken items inside. Now that late night judgment call is all you can think about. Items need to be replaced or repaired, and that time you saved last night, is coming back to haunt you.

This is a frustrating moment that could have easily been avoided. If it is a lightweight dresser, remove everything before the move. It is simply not worth the risk. For sturdier dressers, it is usually fine to leave items like clothing inside, while fragile items should always be removed.

2. Make sure there is a parking spot available for the moving truck at BOTH locations.

four-moving-tips-you-should-remember-parkingIt’s the morning of the move, and the moving company calls you to say they’re on the way. They ask you where they can park their big truck, and that’s when panic sets in. You dash outside, only to find cars lining the streets as far as the eye can see. The closest parking spot is 2 blocks away, and you sheepishly inform the movers of the situation. They let you know that this move will now need to go late into the night, and cost triple the amount that you had anticipated.

Reserving a parking spot at both locations is essential for an efficient move. The onus is on the customer to provide parking for the moving truck. Any parking tickets incurred are also the responsibility of the customer, so by securing parking spaces at both locations, you will not have to incur any additional fees/fines. It will make for a shorter and easier move.

3. Reserving elevators

The movers have arrived, and they enter your apartment. They lift and carry your couch to the hallway. One of the movers presses the button for the elevator, and then waits 2 minutes for one to come. The doors open, and there are 6 people and a dog crammed together, with no chance of even getting a lamp in there.

If you live in an apartment building or high-rise condo, you will need to reserve an elevator, and coordinate the times with your moving company. Buildings usually equip and protect the service elevator with padding/blankets before the start of the move, and most places will not even allow you to move without reserving one. Many buildings also require a “Certificate Of Insurance” from the moving company. This COI usually needs to be received before the day of the move. To obtain a copy, it’s as easy as requesting one from the moving company via email or fax.

4. Label boxes, according to each room

You did it! The move is complete, the movers have left, and now you’re alone in your new place with all your possessions. But then you look around the house, and there are boxes everywhere. You open the first box in the living room, and see that it’s full of dishes. You go to the kitchen, and find out that those boxes are full of blankets and clothing. As tired as you are, you realize that this move isn’t close to being done.

To help alleviate this problem, there is a simple process that can be done while packing – labeling each box as it is packed. By doing this, your movers will be able to place the labelled boxes in their desired room. The last thing you want to do on moving day is to spend unnecessary hours dedicated to finding items all over the house, and then having to place them where they belong. A simple label on each box will make it that much easier to set your new place up and have it feeling like home in no time. The movers will also be able to figure out the safest way to stack the boxes on the moving truck. Writing “fragile” on boxes of delicate items will also let the movers know how to stack the boxes, thereby preventing your 100lb weights from resting on top of your antique china set.

As stressful as moving can be, there are simple steps you can take to ensure your move goes as seamlessly as possible. A little preparation goes a long way, and in this case, it will save you time and money- something we can all get behind. Contact Us if you need any help moving.

 

Reasons You Should Always Hire Moving Company

Hire Moving Company

I dread moving. Every part of it. From the packing, to the lifting, to the unloading, to the sifting; moving is on my list of least favorite things to do right next to “have ingrown toenail surgery.”

Reasons You Should Always Hire Moving CompanyThankfully, now that I’m in my 30s and have a little more disposable income, I can afford to hire movers when I need them — and it’s money very well spent. If you’re not a convert yet, you should be. Here are six reasons you should always hire moving company.
1. There’s Less Chance You’ll End Up in the Hospital

I have one disastrous image in my head when I think about moving accidents, and it’s that huge piano free-falling from a high story of a tall building — and splat! It’s a totally valid nightmare in New York City, which is why I bump into lampposts all the time; I’m always anxiously looking up. Outside of killing somebody else with your ill-preparedness and overall negligence, you can hurt yourself pretty badly when you don’t know what you’re doing.

Moving heavy items like sofas, beds, and furniture is awkward, requires either multiple people or the right equipment, and it needs to be done twice — moving out of one home and moving into another, explains John Bodrozic, co-founder of HomeZada, a digital home platform for the homeowner lifecycle. “Hiring a professional mover eliminates the potential for injury.”
2. Your Friends and Family Won’t Regret Knowing You

One word: pivot!

If you’re a “Friends” fan you know what that means, and if you’re not, well, you should look up the clip on YouTube so you don’t annoy and alienate your friends on moving day like Ross did.

“No matter how much they say they will help, friends and family hate helping you move because it’s tiring and stressful,” Bodrozic says. “Keep your friends and family happy by just inviting them over for the housewarming party, not the moving bit.”
3. You’ll Free Up Time for Other Important Moving Day Issues

There’s a lot more that needs to be done on moving day besides the actual moving. Perhaps you need to set up cable and utility service, maybe you need to get a new driver’s license, or your time might be better spent readying the new place by making it move-in friendly. Professional movers can free up a huge chunk of time by taking that burden off your back — literally — so you can concentrate on other important tasks and exercise efficiency.

“Moving yourself will take you a lot more time,” says Bodrozic. “Having a company come in and do it for you with the right truck, the right hand tools, and the right resources gets the job done much more quickly.”
4. Movers Will Have All the Right Equipment

You know what’s worse than having to move your entire bedroom set down four flights of stairs? Realizing that you don’t have the IKEA-issued Allen wrench you need to dismantle the darn thing. Forget about breaking your back; that aneurysm you’re about to have will probably kill you first. But not if your superhero movers and personal saviors are on the job.

“Professional movers will size the contents and have the right sized truck and other hand tools to move equipment,” Bodrozic says. “Oftentimes, people who do it themselves will rent a smaller truck requiring more trips, and they forget about various hand tools are other things that make it much easier to move.”

5. All Your Valuables Are Insured With Professional Movers

I don’t trust myself with moving my own valuables. I don’t put all my faith in the movers either, but I’m at least comforted that if they break it, they buy it. On the other hand, if I break it, I throw a fit and cuss at inanimate objects.

“Let’s face it, if you drop your TV, you can’t exactly collect from yourself,” “Licensed and professional moving companies offer various coverage options to insure your goods against damage. In shopping around and checking out reputable companies, it’s always important to ask what your options are for insurance as a consumer.”

I’ll take the gold package, please, and I’ll totally understand if some of my out-of-date appliances bounce off the concrete until they’re unrecognizable.
6. It Can Potentially Save You Money in the Long Run

The major hesitation of hiring movers, of course, is the cost. I’m always telling you that should cut corners where you can — and, granted, hiring movers is definitely not one of life’s necessities — but you may save money by letting a few jacked-up dudes do the heavy lifting.

“Despite the initial price tag on a professional move, you could end up saving yourself time and money — yes, money — when you hire professionals,”  “Oftentimes we underestimate the costs of moving on our own: the rush that can result in breakage, injury, or loss of items; the refreshments and dinner for friendly helpers; the time this job carves out of your day. We forget about all the tools and equipment that are needed, how much gas for a moving truck costs, and, most importantly, whether or not we are insured if something goes wrong.”

Source

Moving with Kids Tips

Moving with Kids – Fun and Less Stressful for You and Your Kids

Moving with Kids

Moving is a stressful process with or without children. If you and your family are moving, here are some tips to make for an easy transition and less stress on moving day. Making your kids a part of the move is important to making a smooth transition into your new home as a family.

Assign Tasks

You may be thinking your kids will only cause you chaos during the moving process, but think of ways they can help. This will keep them occupied and will help you get more done. Make moving day easier by assigning tasks to your kids. Make sure the tasks are age appropriate. The added responsibility will keep them focused and busy. No one knows your kids better than you do, so assign them things they can handle.

Make Moving with Kids Fun

Turn packing into a game to make things more interesting. Turn sorting clothes or stuffed animals into basketball. Use I-Spy and Hide and Seek to cross things off your packing list. On moving day play energetic music that your kids like so everyone stays upbeat and excited. Make a playlist or CD that is a mix of everyone’s favorite music.

Keep Favorite toys or Items in a Special Place

Give your kids 2 minutes to pick out the most important things they can’t live without. The items they collect will give you a good idea of what is important to them. Pack these items in a special suitcase or overnight bag so your kids can have the security of knowing their most prized possessions are safe and accessible. You can also let them pack their favorite toys in a special box and let them color on the cardboard to personalize it.

Keep Snacks and Water Handy for Everyone

Everyone gets a little cranky when they’re hungry. Moving with kids is strenuous and takes a lot out of everyone. Make sure you and your kids are staying hydrated and fed with easy things like granola bars or trail mix.

At Pony Express we are committed to helping you with a smooth transition into your new home. For questions about packing and moving services in your area, contact us today at 617-983-8700

 

Pony Express Moving Services is ProMover Certified

Our latest accomplishment is achieving ProMover Certified !

ProMover Certified Moving Company in Boston, MA

What it means to be ProMover Certified :

“The ProMover program takes the worry and the hassle out of moving by helping consumers identify quality professional movers who subscribe to our goals and by providing them with information and assistance with everything from finding a mover, to getting an estimate and packing tips, to understanding valuation and insurance…

The ProMoverSM logo represents nationally recognized, industry-wide standards of conduct for professional movers. It builds on and enhances your company’s and/or van line’s brand identity as an ethical, professional business. All ProMovers are subject to annual review to ensure they continue to meet program requirements.

Intrastate ProMover programs are an opportunity for state associations to operate an established, nationally recognized certification program that serves their members and provides a competitive edge in the local marketplace. The ProMover logo represents nationally recognized, industry-wide standards of conduct for professional movers; it builds on and enhances a company’s brand identity as an ethical, professional business.” From the ProMover Website

Established in 1997 Pony Express was founded by moving industry veterans who believe that every customer deserves the highest level of professional and friendly service.

Our mission statement: Pony Express was founded on the idea that moving does not have to be unpleasant, and that it can and should be a non-stressful, agreeable experience.

You should hire a company you feel comfortable with, a company you can trust and have confidence in. We are dedicated to making you feel at ease, making your move go safely and smoothly, no matter the conditions. We do this by personalizing each move to fit the needs of each client. Our crews are made up of like-able, experienced, confident personnel, not some moving robots with the personality of a brick wall.

If you are interested in hiring Pony Express for your next move, call us for a quote or to set up a meeting 617-983-8700 or contact us online