Tag Archives: moving

Moving Out of Your College Dorm

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Most moves you undergo in your life come with a lot of preparation time. You have plenty of time to pack, choose your method of transportation, and plan the process. But moves after graduation or for summer vacation often don’t come with the same conveniences.

Whether you need to leave your dorm or apartment at the end of the term or the end of your undergraduate career, leaving your dorm can come with both emotional and logistical complications.

Use the six tips below to simplify the trip away from your school dorm and toward your home or future.

1. Start the Process Early

Between exam preparation and final project completion, you don’t have a lot of time at the end of a school term. And while it might feel like you left most of your belongings at your parents’ or in a storage unit, you may be surprised at how much stuff you have with you when you begin packing.

Start by packing up your seasonal clothing and decorations. Then move on to items you don’t use every day.

2. Clean As You Go

You may dread cleaning checks (and put off completing them until the last possible moment), but they provide good practice for moving out. Make a sincere effort to clean more than you typically do for at least the last month of the term.

As you work on sorting and packing, clean every area you empty. Once you clear the space under your bed, shift it and vacuum thoroughly. When you remove your dishes from the cupboards, wipe the surfaces down.

These small cleaning tasks ensure that you won’t have to spend time complying with cleaning requirements the day before you leave.

3. Sort Your Belongings

Packing can feel intimidating, but it will only feel more so the longer you avoid it. To make the process seem less overwhelming, sort your possessions before you begin to really pack.

You can create more piles as needed, but start with these general categories:

  • Items you’ll use: Think about the clothing, books, and other belongings you actually use when school isn’t in session. Wait to pack these items until you’ve taken care of everything else.
  • Items you need but won’t use: These items may include winter clothes, textbooks, and seasonal decorations. Pack these belongings early to ensure you find a place, such as a storage unit, to keep them. Then you won’t have to drag them around with you.
  • Items you don’t use: What do you own that you never touch? If you can donate or throw out these items, you’ll have less to worry about during your move.

Grouping your belongings as you pack simplifies and streamlines the process, so don’t forget this step.

4. Divide Your Move Into Parts

In addition to separating your possessions according to their use, divide the move itself into multiple events if you can. As you begin to fill boxes, ship them or place them in storage. It’s harder to clean a room full of boxes than an empty dorm space.

If you live near the home you’ll stay at during the off season, take your packed belongings with you when you make visits. Using this method decreases the amount of stuff you have to transport on the last day of the term.

5. Pack With What’s Convenient

While you have to protect breakable items in transit, most of your belongings will survive non-traditional packing materials. Start by collecting the packing supplies you already have, which may include the following:

  • Garbage bags
  • Food boxes and other cardboard containers
  • Laundry baskets or hampers
  • Purses and/or backpacks
  • Suitcases and travel bags

As you pack, use these containers wisely. Wrap fragile items in clothing or household linens and place them in solid containers, like shoe boxes. Pack heavy objects in smaller containers, like purses, to ensure that you and your helpers can easily lift each package.

6. Use Your Resources

Packing for an out-of-dorm move can quickly become frustrating. During each step of the process, remember to take advantage of your resources.

People you know, both on and off campus, may represent your most valuable resources. They can help with any of the following:

  • Heavy lifting: You may have a hard time moving all your possessions out of your dorm room on your own. To simplify the process, enlist the help of athletes you know, your parents or siblings, or your roommates.
  • Packing materials: If you don’t have enough packing materials, ask for help from your dorm mates, resident adviser, roommates or local stores.
  • Transportation: If you don’t have a car of your own, you probably know exactly who does. Stay in these folks’ good graces so you’ll have an easier time of moving your belongings from place to place.

When you enlist the help of family and friends, moving out of your dorm or college apartment becomes an easier process.

You’ll have plenty of things to do in the lead up to graduation or summer vacation. But by following these tips, you can ensure that your trip away from your temporary home goes as smoothly as possible.

Save money with Pony Express Moving Services. Lower prices than traditional moving companies and you don’t have to drive! Request a free quote online.

Keep Your Home Clean and Organized After A Move

Home Clean and Organized After A MoveThe process of moving can seem never-ending. But there’s nothing quite like the feeling of finally getting everything unpacked and settling into your home. Those first few days after unpacking are pretty glorious—everything is in its right place and your space is perfectly clean and uncluttered. The good news is, it’s actually pretty easy to keep it that way.

Embrace small changes first

If you’re generally a bit messy, it may be difficult for you to adopt a tidier and more organized lifestyle. Trying to clean your home from top to bottom at once can be quite overwhelming for you, so you should try to adopt simple habits first. For instance, you can start by simply washing the dishes after your meal every time. Gradually, you can implement other changes until you realize that living in a clean, organized home is much more inspiring and motivating.

Greet change at your front door

When cleaning your home, you should embrace change at your front door – leave your shoes there. You can imagine how much dirt and bacteria you’re bringing inside when you walk around your home in your shoes. So, once you step inside, take off your shoes and leave them by your front door. If you have a lot of shoes, make sure to introduce enough storage units for you and your family members. You can even design a built-in shoe closet next to your entry.

Don’t let clutter rule your life

According to NBC News, one in four Americans actually has a clutter problem. Not only is this making your space smaller, stuffier and more overwhelming, but it’s actually leaving you without a few extra bucks in your wallet. You’d be surprised by how much money you can earn by simply selling your clutter online or organizing a yard sale. Therefore, instead of feeling cramped in your own home and letting clutter take over your life, you should finally free yourself and your space from unnecessary junk and useless items. The best way to declutter your home is to deal with one room at a time. You should throw away anything that you haven’t used in more than a year, put away some items and clothing that you want to donate and set aside those things that you can sell.

Start your morning the organized way

Your bedroom will seem more organized the moment you make your bed in the morning. This will take just a few minutes each morning and you’ll be able to start your day by creating an organized look in your bedroom. Afterwards, your personal sanctuary will seem more relaxing and inspiring, which will have a positive effect on you, as well.

Pay attention to what you breathe in

When cleaning and tidying up their homes, most people consider dusting, mopping, scrubbing and vacuuming without even thinking about the quality of their indoor air. Yet, indoor pollution is a serious issue that can affect your health and your home’s general atmosphere. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to eliminate or at least mitigate this problem in your home. For instance, effective AC units are a key component for creating a healthy, airy atmosphere in homes. Furthermore, proper air conditioning installation is a way of ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of both duct and spit systems in households. Therefore, if you feel that your home needs some fresh air, you should have an AC unit installed by professionals so that you can rest assured that it’s working properly.

Other ways to increase your indoor air quality is to introduce air purifiers and houseplants that will help you remove airborne toxins and allergens. You should also switch to healthy, green cleaning products instead of using those highly toxic ones.

Wash and deep clean

Everything from covers and pillowcases to drapes and area rugs collects dust and allergens in your home every day. Carpets and rugs, in particular, are full of dirt, toxins and other pollutants that can easily spread throughout your space. Therefore, you should wash and deep clean your fabrics, carpets, rugs and other materials on a regular basis. While covers, pillowcases, sheets, cloths, towels and other materials can be easily thrown into the washing machine, rugs and carpets require more effort, so you can just have them professionally cleaned at least twice a year.

Put away after use

Learning to put an item away after using it is a simple habit that will save you a lot of effort. By always keeping each item in its own place, you’ll prevent clutter from building up. You may need to introduce more storage units, but you’ll finally have enough room for everything.

Clean as you go

You probably passed by a blanket thrown over your sofa or a pile of magazines lying on your coffee table countless times. Instead of choosing not to even pay attention to these messy spots, you should tidy them up as soon as you notice them. Every time you pass by a cluttered or dirty area in your home, don’t ignore it, but deal with it immediately. This will save you a lot of trouble later on when you can’t postpone cleaning anymore.

Keeping your home clean, tidy and healthy often entails adopting simple habits that will make both your home and your life more organized.

Save money with Pony Express Moving Assisted Living Home Services. Lower prices than traditional moving companies and you don’t have to drive! Request a free quote online.

Moving Your Loved Ones Into an Assisted Living Home

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Moving Your Loved Ones Into an Assisted Living Home

Moving Your Loved Ones Into an Assisted Living Home

There comes a time in life when you have to make the difficult decision of moving your elderly loved one into an assisted living home. Whether it’s a parent, an aunt, or even a beloved neighbor, it’s a difficult time in both of your lives. Pony Express Moving is here to help you navigate this difficult process and make it as stress-free as possible.

Finding the Right Assisted Living Home

Before anything else, the most important step in this process is finding the right home for your loved one. If they get stuck in an environment that isn’t a good fit, it can be extremely difficult for your loved one to feel comfortable. You must remember that this is their home now – and they need to be able to feel at home. Do your research and know which amenities are important to your loved one. Also, use your best judgment to find a home that has the right atmosphere – is your loved one a young soul that needs to be surrounded by other spirited community members to socialize with, or do they need a more quiet, low-key environment? Know your loved one and do the right research to make sure you find them a home that is right for them.

Downsize, Downsize, Downsize!

If your loved one was previously living in a larger house, they may need to downsize when it comes to their possessions. They may not have room for all of their big pieces of living room furniture or their countless pieces of decor that have been accumulated over the years. Talk with the home you have chosen and find out what furniture they supply, and whether or not you can replace existing furniture with your own. While many homes will come with fully furnished rooms, your loved one might feel more comfortable if they can sleep in their own bed and relax on their own couch.

Regardless of what the home provides, it’s very likely that there will not be enough room for all of your loved one’s possessions. Speak with them and help them pack and prioritize what they want to bring with them, what they want to put into storage, and what they want to sell or donate. It can also be helpful to offer to hold onto some of their things by keeping them in your home – whether on display or in a box in the attic – so your loved one feels like they are still connected to their sentimental items.

Moving Day Priorities

Offer to stay with your loved one all throughout moving day and assist them in dealing with the movers. You should also go with them to their new assisted living home and help them unpack. While the task may seem daunting, it can be crucial to try to fully unpack and decorate on moving day. It may seem like a lot of work, but you want them to have a good initial experience in their new home, and not feel like it is an unwelcoming experience. You want them to feel right at home as soon as possible. If unpacking the entire home in one day isn’t possible, make sure you at least unpack the essentials, like clothing and toiletries, and a few personal items to make the place start feeling homey. If you are able to, you can also let them stay with you in your home for a few days during the process, so that they don’t have to live in the hectic moving environment!

Decorate for Comfort

Even though it’ll take some extra time, you should really make it a priority to decorate as soon as you can. If you can finish everything on the move in day, then that’s amazing! You want to be able to set up a warm, welcoming environment to move into so that your loved one doesn’t feel uncomfortable or even potentially sad. If you can’t manage to finish it all in one day, that’s more than okay… just make sure you make finishing moving in a priority and really get to decorating!

Save money with Pony Express Moving Assisted Living Home Services. Lower prices than traditional moving companies and you don’t have to drive! Request a free quote online.

Should You Move Your Mattress?

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Should You Move Your Mattress?The mattress is one of your most important pieces of furniture since you spend a third of your life in it. When you’re moving, it’s the perfect time to ask yourself whether it’s time to invest in a new mattress or if your old one is worth taking with you. Here are some considerations.

Is it worth the hassle to move the mattress?

Unless your current mattress meets your needs, ask yourself these questions.

  • Is your mattress more than eight years old? If so, it might be close to the end of its lifespan.
  • How comfortable is your old bed? If you wake up achy or toss and turn, those are signs that your mattress might not be a good fit and needs replaced.
  • Is the mattress of good quality? If you have a bargain bed, your moving might be a good time to upgrade your sleep experience.
  • What condition is the mattress? If it’s sagging, indented, ripped, or torn, the move might finish wrecking your bed.
  • Does your bed meet your needs? Perhaps you need a bigger bed or want to upgrade to an adjustable or cool sleeping mattress.

It’s the perfect time to buy a new bed

If you’ve been thinking about a new mattress, there are lots of reasons to buy during your move.

  • Not moving it will reduce your moving costs.
  • If you’re DIY moving, not taking it reduces the hassle.
  • You can have a new bed delivered timed to match your move.
  • You can get white glove delivery for a stress-free move.
  • You’ll start off in your new space with a comfortable sleep experience.

What to do if you decide to buy instead of moving your mattress

One of the most convenient ways to shop for a new mattress is to buy online. You’ll get a better-quality bed for a more affordable price.

  • Before you start shopping, decide what size bed you need.
  • Look past marketing speak and check mattress reviews.
  • Consider whether you want a specialty mattress like an organic bed.
  • Check the time from order to delivery so you know when to buy.
  • If you have access, you might want delivery to the new place a day prior.
  • Buy new sheets and bedding if they need replaced or you’re changing sizes.

Getting rid of your old mattress

Coordinating getting rid of your old mattress requires timing since you don’t want to go without a bed at your old space. There are a few options to dispose of your old bed.

  • Repurpose it – If you have a spare room that needs a bed, use it there.
  • Donate it – Local laws may prevent donating your bed but in some areas, you can.
  • Sell it – If the bed is in decent shape, you might be able to sell it.
  • Give it away – List it on LetGo or Craigslist for free and let someone take it.
  • Recycle it – Look for a local recycle company. More than 80% of a mattress is recyclable.
  • Trash it – Hire someone to haul it away or take it to a landfill.

Tips for moving a mattress

  • When moving a mattress, whether DIY or using a mover, start with a plastic mattress bag to protect it from dirt, stains, and snags. They only cost $5-10.
  • For DIY, get help since mattresses can be ungainly. If you don’t have help, fold it in half and secure with ratchet ties to make it easier and use a furniture dolly.
  • Preferably move it in a closed moving van or truck. Stand it vertically – don’t lie it down and pile stuff on it.
  • Moving a mattress in the back of a truck is the next best thing but be sure to secure it with ratchet ties or well-knotted rope.
  • A car top is the least preferred method and the least secure. It needs to strapped extra-securely.

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

Mistakes to Avoid When Moving Your Stuff Into a Storage Unit

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Storing items during a move can be a balancing act. You’ve got the movers on one hand and the storage facility on the other. Everything has to come together just right or you’ll run into big—and potentially costly—issues. Here’s a look at the top five mistakes people make when moving things into a storage unit and tips on how to do it right.

Mistakes to Avoid When Moving Your Stuff Into a Storage UnitNot Knowing What the Movers Will Bring on Moving Day.

Before renting a storage unit, get a firm answer from the moving company about what type of vehicle the movers will be using. Many companies use moving trucks, while others use everything from a trailer pulled by a pickup truck to an 18-wheeler. Verify the vehicle type then get the dimensions—width, length, height, and weight at maximum capacity.

Not Finding Out Whether the Moving Truck Will Fit.

Now that you know what type of moving vehicle that’ll be used, you need to ensure that it can get into the storage facility and to your unit.

If you’ve ever been to a storage facility, you’ve probably noticed some areas can be a little tight. Storage facilities make money renting out space, so they understandably maximize the number of buildings and units. This can result in tight turns and becomes challenging to navigate, especially for 18-wheelers.

If you find out on moving day that the vehicle won’t fit in the facility, it usually means two things—both of them bad. First, a shuttle truck may have to be used, which costs more money. Second, the movers will be forced to touch everything twice, doubling the chances of something going awry.

When considering your storage options, ask about clearance heights and widths for getting into the facility and to your unit. You’ll also want to find out how trucks access the property and whether there are any load maximums. Use the truck dimensions provided by the movers to figure out whether you’ll have enough space.

Not Giving the Movers Unloading Directions.

Professional movers are the expert unloaders, but you’re the boss on moving day. It’s best to let them know how you want things arranged in the unit before unloading begins.

It’s especially important to speak up if you want to move around and look for certain items later on. This takes some thought and planning before the unit starts getting filled. Aisles will need to be created and boxes will need to be arranged so that all labels are visible. You should direct the movers whether you want furniture to be stacked.

Not Securing Enough Space for Your Stuff.

It can be tricky figuring out how much storage space you need. If your belongings already are organized and boxed up, this is easier to determine. But when in doubt, get advice from the facility. If you cut it too close and your belongings won’t fit, you’ll have two options:

1. Check with the facility about renting a second, smaller unit for the overflow.

2. Return the overflow items to the moving truck and take them to a family member’s garage or friend’s attic.

If you’re not sure everything will fit into your storage unit, line up one of the two options above in advance. Having a backup plan will reduce stress and minimize cost, particularly if the movers are working by the hour.

Visiting the Storage Facility When Everyone Else Is There.

Typically, people move their things into or visit their storage units on the weekends or after work on weekdays. This might be the only time that fits into your schedule, but if you’re paying movers by the hour, you could cut down on the cost by moving during work hours on a weekday when fewer people are around.

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

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.

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.

Moving With Children Tips

Because of the stresses, long list of responsibilities and fatigue that we, as parents, go through when planning for and going through a move, it can be easy to overlook what our children might be going through. Here is a list of important things to consider to make this important transition as stress-free as possible for your school-aged children.

Moving With Children Tips - Pony Express Moving ServicesSocial / Emotional Considerations

Any kind of change can be particularly scary to children, and it is normal for school-aged children to magnify in their minds anything that is even slightly fear-producing.

Therefore, children are often impacted even more than their parents by a move — even though they may not express or overtly show their level of stress or worries on the outside.

Some of the worries and emotions your children could experience during a move include the following:

  • A sense of insecurity and fear about making new friends, or being accepted or liked at the new school.
  • Academic worries related to switching teachers and schools, and encountering new curricula and standards.
  • A sense of loss over leaving current friends, teachers and even their current home and neighborhood.
  • Additional apprehension should the move be associated with life-changing events such as divorce, change-of-job for a parent, financial changes in the family, etc.

More often than adults, children will mask their fears, concerns, anxiety or even depression, sometimes because they themselves are not aware of their underlying emotions or do not want to burden their parents.

So what can you do as a parent to help ensure that your children go through the move with as little stress as possible?

  • Be aware of just how much the move could be affecting your children and encourage them to talk about their feelings and concerns. Do this in a calm, nurturing environment. Maybe plan a “special” dinner with their favorite foods and lead a family discussion Share with them one of your concerns or worries. But then tell them how you worked this out. This will give you the opportunity to draw out their feelings and then help them through their concerns. They will often be tremendously relieved.
  • Make the move fun and give them a sense of control by allowing them to do some planning with you. For example, you can go online together to check out the location of the library closest to your new home, or the closest bicycle shop or specialty stores they like, or the nearby Y or Parks with classes or sports they may want to enroll in. Then make a point of putting on your moving calendar a time that you can go over with your children (if you are moving to someone in close enough proximity) to look over the new places. If you let your children feel that they are a part of the moving process, they will also feel more a sense of excitement over the experience.Take them to the new house or show them pictures of the new house and invite them to participate in the decorating process. Ask them what color paint they would most like for their new bedroom. Offer to buy them a new comforter, and together make some exciting plans for what the new house, and their new bedroom, will look like.
  • Create additional moments of family bonding during the time of the move. As tired as the grown-ups might be, try to sneak in a family game night just before or after the move, go out to the movies, turn the moving boxes into a fort, or turn the packing process into some sort of game. It’s good for them to associate the moving process with something happy and celebratory.

Practical Considerations

Be sure that you have done all the preparatory work necessary to ensure that your children make as seamless a transition into their new schools as possible. If appropriate, find out the summer reading or summer homework for the new school. Speak to your children’s current teachers to determine if there is any information that would be important to impart to your children’s new teachers about their strengths, needs or preferences. Speak with the new school and, if possible, the new teachers to ascertain if your children will need to do any catch-up work so that they are on par with the other children. If necessary, provide them with whatever tutoring or help they need, so that they can be optimally successful and happy at the new school.

Do everything you can to ensure that your children will be able to make friends quickly. Look into enrolling them in local after school classes or leagues. If you attend a house of worship, look into classes and groups your children might enjoy. Try to meet the parents of your children’s new classmates and set up after school playdates.

It is critical to plan ahead for the big day of the move. Here are more tips to plan for your move.

Here are some other things to consider:

  • It is best to have your children stay with a grandparent, family member or trusted good friend on the actual day if someone is local. This will keep them safe and happily engaged.
  • If this is not possible, hire a sitter to spend the day with you, looking after their safety and tending to their needs.
  • Prepare ahead of time ample food and drink. The food should be as non-perishable as possible and easy to eat. Include in your ice chest some of your children’s favorite foods and treats to keep them positive.
  • Prepare ahead of time toys, games and books to keep your children entertained during the long moving process.
  • Your children are going to want to take a nap or relax during the process. It’s a good idea to leave a blanket, pillow, or other comfort items (perhaps their favorite stuffed animals) that they have access to during the day.
  • It is critical to have with you a box of items that you might need in a hurry. Make sure that this box remains in a safe area during the move (the bathtub is a great place to keep important items that stay with you and don’t go on the moving truck). These items should include medicine, Band-Aids, your children’s favorite books, toiletries, and other personal items.
  • Given that the front door of your old and new homes will be open during the move, make certain that your children are kept safe and remain inside the home.
  • Children will often want to play with the moving dollies and cartons that are in the home during the move. Moving boxes can be a great source of fun for children, but they can be hazardous with little children if your little one gets inside. And attempts to speed race on a dolly can also prove treacherous. Be sure to monitor your children’s usage of moving equipment during a move.

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

Moving to Boston

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Moving to Boston has long been synonymous with a new beginning in the New World. Of course, the reasons for moving have changed, but for many expats, their impending move to Boston still marks the beginning of a new life.

Moving to Boston

Even if you only have a general idea of US American history, Boston’s significance during the formative years of the USA is unlikely to have escaped your attention. New England’s largest city — and one of the oldest in the entire country — played a pivotal role in many events leading up to the independence from Britain.

Boston’s Historical Past

Of course, the local residents of Boston proudly preserve and display this heritage. History buffs moving to Boston are bound to have a blast exploring the city and its past! Since its founding, a steady stream of people moving to Boston, enticed by the promises of the New World, caused the city to experience significant growth throughout the 1800s.

The two biggest and most influential groups who started settling in Boston in large numbers were Italian and Irish immigrants in the first half of the 19th century. The influence of both these groups is still very tangible today. The Italian and Irish communities settled down in North End and South Boston, respectively. The residents of these neighborhoods still value their home country’s traditions, which is why e.g. South Boston is home to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

The City of Neighborhoods

When moving to Boston, you have the choice among a multitude of neighborhoods catering to different tastes. Each of these 23 boroughs has its own distinctive atmosphere and demographic profile, earning Boston the nickname “City of Neighborhoods”. Owing to this great variety, there is no single neighborhood that expats moving to Boston prefer. Nonetheless, below you’ll find a short overview of some of Boston’s vibrant neighborhoods which might make your decision a little easier.

Dorchester: Dorchester is the largest and also the most diverse neighborhood in Boston. Residents from Vietnam, Ireland, Cape Verde, and many other countries live together and make the neighborhood one of the most vibrant in the city. The Franklin Park located here offers walking and biking parks as well as numerous picnic areas.

Beacon Hill: This neighborhood is one of the oldest in Boston. Its architecture is reminiscent  of the old colonial times with brick houses and ornate doors. Its location on top of the hill and its historic landmarks makes it one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Boston.

South End: With its proximity to Downtown and the Back Bay, the South End has become one of the most desirable neighborhoods. It is especially popular with young professionals and the gay community. Nonetheless, due to relatively affordable housing and its over 30 parks, more and more families have started to settle in South End.

West Roxbury: Tree-lined streets and single family houses give West Roxbury a suburban feel. The neighborhood is especially desired amongst families because of its youth programs and because you can get to Downtown in 30 minutes and still have a front yard.

Jamaica Plain: “JP”, as locals call it, is one of the most dynamic neighborhoods in Boston. The ethnic diversity, the green spaces and the good connection to Downtown are some of the many reasons why young professionals and families alike love the area.

If you want to know more about one of Boston’s neighborhoods, the homepage of the City Administration offers a detailed breakdown of all 23 of them.

Skyrocketing Rental Prices

Much to the dismay of anyone interested in moving to Boston and, of course, the local population, extensive gentrification has caused rental prices to skyrocket. Today, people looking for homes in the area of the city face fierce competition on the rental market in one of the most expensive cities in the USA. If Boston’s upscale neighborhoods just outside downtown are the only option for you, prepare yourself for extortionate monthly rents. Proximity to the “T”, Boston’s number one mass transit system, is likely to increase your monthly rent even further.

With educational institutions of worldwide renown in and around Boston — such as Harvard University and MIT — the influx of students is considerable, and many opt for off-campus living. Naturally, this makes finding a home when coming to Boston from abroad quite a tricky task. As a general rule, it’s a good idea to jump on the first available housing that appeals to you rather than taking time to shop around.

Timing Is Everything: Moving to Boston

Boston’s rental market is very seasonal. September first is known as the traditional move-in date of the year, as this is the day when many leases start. Being too early or too late will both have the same result: fierce competition has a chance of dashing your hopes of finding a decent place to live when moving to Boston. Usually, Boston’s apartments go on the market about four to six weeks before the lease date.

Your financial plan or budget for your move to Boston should take into account the fairly hefty sum of money you likely will have to pay right before moving in. Apart from demanding the first and last month’s rent up front, some landlords also require you to pay a security deposit. With the rental prices in Boston the way they are, this will almost definitely amount to a considerable sum, so keep this in mind when planning your move to Boston.

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

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