What You Don't Know about Moving Your Game Console

You never hear horror stories about how difficult it is too move optical disk drives such as DVD players, Blu-Ray players, CD Roms, or even game consoles. The fact is they aren’t terribly bulky or heavy, so on moving day, they tend not to be focused on. The concern is usually focused on heavy items like pianos, or refrigerators or mahogany furniture. During packing time, things like ceramic figurines, expensive china, and hoity toity wine glasses take center stage.

The newer and more sophisticated an optical drive is, the more expensive it is, and yes, sadly, the more fragile it tends to be. Optical drives use a laser to read information off a disk, the size of the disk has not changed since Optical media technology was first introduced to the mass market in the early eighties. What has changed, is the amount of data that can be written on to optical media. Today’s Sony PS3 game disks store up to thousands of times more information than the CDs of the eighties. The problem with that is that the laser used to read them has to be that much smaller, and it is thus that much more sensitive, fragile, and easier to throw out of whack.

When moving ODDs it’s best to use a lot of packing material. The ideal situation of course would be to have the original packaging the appliance came in, but if not, a double layer of bubble wrap will do the trick. Your moving company will have all the material you need. Put the appliance in a box that is just the right size for a snug fit. If you’re getting replacement value coverage, your game consoles and Blu-Ray player should probably be individually declared. Taking the time to make sure your optical drives are moved with care will maximize their service life, your money, and the enjoyment you get from them.

What Sort of Mover are You?

In my years as a professional mover, and as someone who has personally had to relocate a lot, I’ve observed that most people who need to move fall into two definite mindsets. Unfortunately neither one is a particularly constructive mindset with which to approach a move. What strikes me as strange is that these two mindsets occur even among those who have already decided to hire professional movers.

The first kind of movers are the “obsessers”, these are the folks who make the already daunting task of moving seem downright insurmountable. They think up every possible thing that can go wrong, and then spend hours just obsessing over every detail. Most of the obsessing is done vocally, and little time is actually spent doing something about their concerns, which range from the number of breakables they will be moving, to whether or not their huge antique beds can be carried safely down stairs. On moving day, the stress they put themselves under peaks, as they haven’t really done much to address their concerns other than to rant about them.

The second kind are the procrastinators, this group is a bit more common, they hate the idea of moving so much that they put off scheduling it, or even thinking about it, till the very last second. On moving day, they are disorganized and even distant. They seem to just want to go to sleep and wake up in their new homes with everything unpacked. Procrastinators are also unduly stressed during a move, because due to their lack of cooperation things don’t go as smoothly as they could.

Ideal moving customers book in advance, they have faith in their movers and the moving equipment movers bring to the table. They know what they want and need, and they communicate. On moving day, things go smoothly, and they are not unduly stressed, what’s more they are quite satisfied with the outcome. In the end they understand that they have to cooperate to ensure they get a totally satisfying experience.

When in Doubt, Count it Out

It's not unusual to come face-to-face with something of a quandary when organizing the packing checklist. Often, when we're rummaging through the corners of the house that we'd almost forgotten about, we find things which have some sentimental connection that's hard to break. The trouble is that it might not be something that we'd even seen for a few years, let alone something that we haven't used in a while.

About two years ago, I came across one client who had an old 3-in-1 stereo system. You know the one; a Sharp that had a tape player, radio dial and a record player on top. The client hadn't used it for almost 10 years but had left standing on a table in the corner of the livingin room. It had literally become part of the furniture, even though it had no practical use anymore. So, when it came to him moving out to occupy a smaller apartment (he had recently retired at the time), he wanted to bring the stereo with him.

That mightn't seem like much of a problem, but the truth is he hadn't any use for the stereo and was moving to a place that had less room than he was used to. So, the question is why not get rid of it.

When you think about it, moving home is a chance to shed the excess elements of your possessions - that is, the items that you no longer use, need or want. Sometimes it can be difficult to let go but prioritizing is hugely important for two reasons: firstly, it lightens the load (by more than you'd think too!); and secondly, it can help alleviate the cost of moving but raising a little extra cash through a garage sale.

Thousands of people that we at Sage have helped to move home (and office too!) have met with the same predicament. They have something they want to bring but they know deep down that they should really just let it go. Our advice to our client two years ago was to let the silver stereo go, but in fact he didn't. He found a place for it amongst his boxes and took it with him. That's fine. It was his choice, but for others getting rid of such a useless item would be the preferred decision.

Just consider what we told him at the time: when in doubt, count it out. Basically, if you really need to think about whether to bring an item or not, then it probably means you don't want to keep it.

If It Seems Too Good to be True, It Is

Who doesn’t want to buy an item or hire a service at the best price possible? Whenever possible, we try save money whenever we can. That’s why stores and shopping malls are the most crowded during sales, the larger the advertised discount, the more likely a sale is to attract customers. If you don’t like paying a lot of money for things as inexpensive as clothes you will certainly want to scrape the bottom of the barrel for the best possible deal when hiring movers.

While it’s a great idea to look for bargains, you can always wind up overdoing it, and in over-prioritizing a low price, you could end up with something of such low quality that the deal turns out to be lousy rather than good. This danger is far more real when it comes to hiring a moving company.

Moving is both a relatively expensive and rather complicated process. Because it is such a large expense, you will always want to talk to and receive quotes from as many movers as possible before making you choice. In moving, as well as with any other complicated and expensive undertaking, the quoted price is derived from adding several costs, in moving these would be things like manpower, distance, packing materials, insurance etc.

When picking a moving company, make sure all the relevant costs are listed and priced individually. Sadly, it is the practice of some less than reputable companies to quote very low prices, by excluding certain items. They then add the items on moving day, often doubling the original quotation. To protect yourself against such practices, look at each quote you get carefully, and remember: If it seems too good to be true, it is.

Don't Neglect Your Paperwork

Paperwork is something that all of us hate to have to do. It's the nature of things, I guess. We'd all (well, most of us) prefer to be active rather than sticking our head in a mountain of forms and files and ticking the boxes or answering the questions. But despite our dislike of it, it is often important and when it comes to moving homes, it is vital that all of your moving documents are in order.

But what are the documents that you have to have in order when moving or preparing to move home? There are three principal documents: a written estimate; the order of service; and the bill of lading.

It has been said before that the estimate is of huge importance, so much so that you must get it in writing. This stands to reason as this document states the estimated cost of moving your things, so to avoid any misunderstanding, having the figure written down is vital. Remember, if it is not a binding estimate, the figure can be changed if the weight of the load is less than was actually estimated.

The second document, the order of service, is a clear statement of agreement between you and the moving company. It puts in writing the fact that the company has agreed to move your belongings and that you have agreed that they are the sole company responsible for the move. So, no third parties can be hired.

Last, and most important, is the Bill of Lading which states in far greater detail the agreement between you and the moving company. It identifies the time and date of the move, the destination address and the overall cost of the move. It is a binding agreement so it is important that you read the Bill of Lading carefully before signing it.

These are just three documents that are very important when it comes to making a move. It might all seem very obvious, and it may even seem a little unnecessary, but over the years, I've noticed that it's those who take documentation with a pinch of salt that tend to get the headaches later.

So, my advice is, don't neglect your paperwork and your paperwork won't neglect you!

Why Replacement Value Coverage Makes Sense

I’m surprised that in this day and age, a lot of people still assume that hiring movers automatically means that the movers can be held liable for whatever items are damaged or lost. In fact most people who get their moves insured with us, something we call mover's valuation, are not really aware of the difference between true value and replacement value coverage. Moving can be and most often is, a logistically complicated process with thousands of variables and things that can go wrong. Certainly in cases where movers are hired, this is the case.

Professional movers are the right people for the job, and because moving is a business where customer satisfaction is everything. For our part, we do the very best we can to see to it that nothing is lost or broken. Because of all the variables involved though, if you want your movers to be held responsible for your cargo, and in particular your more expensive items, it does cost extra.

When you get mover’s valuation, you should always insist on replacement value coverage, especially for expensive items; the alternative “declared value” coverage just doesn’t cut it for things like LCD TVs, Blu-Ray players or high end sound systems. Under declared value coverage, you “declare” the value of your expensive items, the catch is that your movers need to agree on the value you declare, otherwise there is no deal. Under replacement value, your movers will compensate you, not based on the depreciated value of whatever it is you lose, but on the full cost of replacing it with an identical item or something similar. It’s never fun losing good stuff during a move, but you can save yourself a lot of grief with the right coverage.

Out of the Closet, Into the Box

It seems strange to me that so many people who are moving home worry so much about their closets. I know that 'closet space' is generally one of the major selling points when buying a new home, but why is it such a source of concern when you are actually moving out? Is it because most people have so many things hidden deep inside theirs that they fear what they might find? Or is it that the idea of folding, wrapping and packing so much stuff - from shoes to winter coats - gives them a headache before they've started doing anything?

Having seen my fair share of moves, movers and moving equipment, I have to admit that the task of packing away the items that are generally found in a closet has never been easier. The reason is, quite simply, the range of equipment that you can get these days. Not least amongst them is the 'wardrobe box', otherwise known as the closet box.

In case you've never come across this simple, logical and ingenious invention before, the wardrobe (closet) box is a large, upright box that effectively mimics the role of a closet. There is even a bar stretching between two sides to allow you to hang your clothing in the box. This means that you can simply transfer the clothes, already on hangers, from the closet to the wardrobe box. It can all be done within 10 minutes (if everything in your closet is already pretty much organized of course), though it is still important to detail everything in a checklist.

You might think that the facility itself is rather flimsy since it's made out of cardboard but it is re-enforced to protect its contents. Of course, that's one of the key pluses. It's also much easier to organize your packing, since all that you need to do is transfer the things form the closet to the box, then write the closet location (eg: 'Joan's room closet', or 'hallway closet') on its side.

Times may be changing but they are also getting a lot easier, especially in the moving business, thanks to the invention of practical items that makes simple what used to be time-consuming. Getting your wardrobe onto the truck - by that I mean your clothes, shoes and such - in one box used to not be a simple thing but it is extremely manageable these days. Here at Sage, we offer an extensive range of packing equipment and we highly recommend the closet box.

So, never mind the lengthy discussions on how to avoid tackling the closet until the last moment, or those hours of moaning that it's a complete packing headache. It's a lot easier than you might have thought, so the job can be done now!

Store It, don’t Lose It

I had a friend who almost missed out on a great property, it’s a good thing he asked about storage first. A lot of people are under the mistaken option that storage is expensive, and that it would just be better to get rid of stuff that you don’t really need. A friend of mine who recently moved had a rather special, if perhaps not unique problem: He wanted to buy a property three states away, and he wanted to build a house on it. The home he was moving from was a rental, and he really couldn’t afford to hold on to it while building his new house.

The plan was to buy the lot, move to a small place near the new house, then move into the new house once enough of it was built. The problem was that there wouldn’t be enough space for all his families’ furniture at a place small enough for them to afford. A lot of their furniture was rather pricey and very tasteful, and he and his wife really couldn’t imagine letting go of it. Not wanting to give up on the dream property though, my friend asked about storage, and was pleasantly surprised at what he found. Storage prices turned out to be a fraction of what he would have needed to pay to hold on to his old rented home. It makes sense: At a storage facility, items can be stored to maximize space, so they can be made to fit into a much smaller and thus more affordable space. It will certainly beat having to refurnish a home, especially if you have already grown attached to the stuff you own.

Booking Movers? Time is Everything!

When it comes to preparing for a move, there is no secret to the fact that you need enough time to get everything ready. It stands to reason since you'll have a house-full of things to wrap and pack. But, in the midst of all the boxes and bubble-wrap, don't lose sight of the other obligations that you have to make the move happen.

If you have already moved at some time in the past, then you will already know what I'm talking about. The packing is just part of it; it's the tip of the iceberg. This is why I've often described moving as something of a military operation!

I'd prefer not to have it to admit, but there are plenty of times during my time with Sage when prospective clients have simply contacted us too late to secure a booking. You'd be surprised how many people put booking a moving company near the end of their list of tasks to do - usually slotted between notifying their post office of a change of their address, and booking catering for that farewell party they'll have with friends!

The fact is, you need to give yourself plenty of time to find the right movers. There are two main reasons for this: there are a lot of cowboys out there that you'll need to avoid; but also, moving companies are generally busy all year round.

We'll look at the pitfalls of movers-searching another time, but as regards booking movers you need to keep in mind that moving is not really a seasonal business. Certainly, there are some periods of the year that are busier than others (summer vs winter, for example) but for all moving companies the window of availability is limited. Usually, companies have their fleet booked at least two weeks in advance, though don't be surprised if it's two months!

Basically, you should be beginning to look for movers when you're beginning to draw up your packing checklists. That should be around 8 weeks before your move, but certainly no later than 6 weeks.

There is little point in actually booking before you know the exact date of your move, but you should have a shortlist by then all ready. Remember, the movers must come out to see the load they will transport and then calculate an estimate. You should have three or more estimates to consider before making a decision.

All of this means that you have not time to procrastinate, so finding someone to transport your possessions needs to be one of the first things that you do.

As for those who call us too late, we have no option to advise them to either contact another company or change the date of their move. The latter is usually the least possible option, though sometimes they do. But it's a sticky situation for them, so it's best to avoid getting into the same one yourself.

Believe me, when booking movers, time is of the essence!

Moving the Finer Things in Life

It can be surprising the things that people want to move when switching homes or offices, but the longer that you are involved in the moving business the less shocked you get. I remember one client including a picket fencing on his itinerary! He explained that it was from his boyhood home in Virginia and he wanted to make use of it now that he was moving his family from an apartment to a house with a garden.

In any case, the point to my wanderings is that these days, a moving company of note will be flexible and experienced enough to move practically anything. However, it's true that fine art is amongst the most precious items that you'll find movers handling, and it is not something that every one of them are willing to undertake. The principal reason why is not particularly big news; it's the insurance cost to cover anything going wrong.

The truth is that moving art of any description requires some logic and a little extra care. While your regular items of furniture need to be protected against the possibility of scratch or bump, but paintings (for example), need protection against much more - air, damp, temperature etc. This is where expertise comes in to play, with the knowledge of how to protect your art from the elements.

So, what is the difference between accomplished art movers and those that you don't want to invest such trust in. Basically, it comes down to equipment. For example, can the mover's truck temperature be regulated to humidity level reduced? Or, can do the movers have special-fibre jackets which can protect the pieces effectively?

Also, does the mover's truck have the necessary suspension mechanism to provide the smoothest journey. Sometimes, no matter how well wrapped up a painting is, vibrations from the road can damage its frame.

When it comes to choosing a moving company to move your finer things in life, such as top quality art work, then the question above are a good set to go by.

Knowing your Weigh In Options

There is a tendency for people to believe that to have their possessions moved is a long and difficult thing, filled with complicated criteria to be met - but that's not completely true.

For some newcomers to the moving experience, the official weigh-in is one of the most confusing things, since most would believe that a price is agreed when calculating the estimate and that is that.

The weigh-in itself takes place at an officially recognised weigh-station that is strictly controlled by government legislation. The whole exercise is designed to calculate the true weight of the load to be moved. This is done by weighing the empty moving truck, loading it up and then weighing it again. The difference is the weight of the load.

How valuable this information is all depends on the estimate that was agreed; namely, was it a binding or non-binding estimate? If it was binding then the weigh-in hasn't much meaning other than to confirm to you that the deal was a good one, but if it was non-binding then it can potentially save you move money.

An estimated price is calculated based on the dollar-per-pound weight of the total load to be moved, and it is possible that the weight can be over-calculated at the time that the moving company rep is estimating your load. So, at the weigh-in you could find yourself facing a bill that will be less than what you had expected to pay.

What's even better is that if the true weight is more than that estimated, you won't face any increase is price. The weigh-in can lead to a reduction in cost, but a moving company is not permitted to increase their price if their estimate is incorrect to their disadvantage.

In case you're wondering, the average weight of contents of a three-bedroom house is about 8,000 lbs, while a two-bedroom apartment is around half of that. Weights can vary, of course, as can the dollar-per-pound rate.

Just remember, the weigh-in can prove to be a fully worthwhile exercise, particularly if is saves your some more cash!

Organized Unpacking Saves Time

I've mentioned before about the importance of making sure that you have things organized for your move. It might have escaped my attention, though, to mention that things need to be organized fully at both ends of the move. That's right, moving out is one half of the job!

Knowing where everything will go and how to unpack them safely is just as important as locating everything and packing them into the boxes. Many people will take a fairly relaxed view of this when moving home, which is understandable. Usually, they're just happy to get everything into their new place and after the stress of checking, packing and double-checking everything, they opt to relax for a few days before dealing with the next burden.

However, this doesn't apply with commercial moves. Commercial moves need to be the smoothest operations that involve the absolute minimum in delay. The reason, of course, is money. Office moves usually involve a temporary shut-down of some or all of a company's services and departments. The longer the shut-down the more money the company can loose.

That's why having a perfectly organized unpacking schedule is highly advisable. But how can you do this? Well, there are a few pointers that you could take:

1. Have an accurate checklist ready at the destination, so that everything coming off the truck is accounted for in the quickest time.

2. At the packing stage, make sure to label boxes accurately. Don't just writes 'PCs' on the side; write 'PCs at Pod 1', or maybe the name of the employee who uses it 'Jenny's PC, Pod 1'. This way allows you to make a visual checklist (office map).

3. Forget about a central drop-off point. Get the moving team to bring the boxes to their actual locations; again a visual checklist is perfect for this.

4. It might help considerably, if the office furniture is the first to be unpacked and reassembled. It could help the movers to identify the correct location for everything. Otherwise, handing them a clear map of the office as it will look is the best option.

While it's worth handing the moving organizing job to a small group of employees to co-ordinate everything, you might also want to consider using a moving consultant. This sort of service is available from most moving companies; we at Sage certainly have one!

Speed in doing anything requires a lot of planning so it's best to get it done - especially if it is your office that you're moving.

Knowing What you Can't Store

An interesting story was relayed to me the other day.

A client of another company had taken the self-storage option because he had a large number of things that he didn't need to move with him straight away. That makes perfect sense but the problem was that amongst the items were some gardening equipment, which included a hedge trimmer (the type run on gasoline).

When he moved his things into his storage space, one of the staff members at the facility lifted the hedge trimmer and heard some of the remaining gasoline sloshing around in the tank. "I'm sorry sir," he said, "but we can't accept this item. You'll have to remove all of the remaining gas inside."

He became a bit annoyed and argued that it was already inside the machine, and not in a can on the floor so it was perfectly safe. The staff member disagreed and the argument continued for quite sometime until finally the storage company called the police to calm the situation down.

The point to this story is that the staff member was completely within his rights to insist that the tank of the hedge trimmer be emptied. The simple fact is that it's against the law for storage companies - either self-storage facilities or the storage departments of moving companies - to store any type of flammable items. In fact, there is a lengthy list of illegal items, which I'll include at the end of his piece.

The reason is pretty simple: safety. It doesn't take much for an accident to happen. If the trimmer was to fall, or the fuel to leak then it could cause all kinds of problems, the least of which would be the smell of fuel all over your possessions. A fire could not only destroy your things, but also destroy or damage others' if the blaze should spread. It's simply too dangerous.

The list of items not permitted to be stored includes not just flammable liquids, but also acids and narcotics and radio-active substances (but I'm sure you won't have any of those!). In any case, here is a brief list:

Gasoline
Acid
Lighter fluid
Aerosols
Car batteries
Pesticides
Paint
Propane/Oxygen/Kerosene tanks
Ammunition/Weapons
Explosives
Toxic waste
Narcotics
Perishable food
and
Animals or plants

When you look at the list, it all makes logical sense but don't be surprised if a staff member of a moving and storage company tells you suddenly that something is amiss. Co-operate with them as it is the safety of your possessions as well as the facility itself that is at stake.

When Its Fragile Take Extra Care

We all have a habit of thinking to ourselves "it'll never happen to me". I know because that was my attitude when I first started to drive my Dad's car on the streets, not just in our own neighborhood. Sure as snow is white, I had an accident (minor, no broken limbs) and my Dad gave me that "I told you so" look.

It really isn't an interesting story. I was looking for an empty parking space and neglected to keep an eye on cars that were reversing out of taken parking spaces. I was very sure of myself up until then but afterward I took a lot more care.

Anyway, the point is that you can never rule out the chance of something going wrong, and when you're moving house or office, that fact is all the more important to consider. That's why, when preparing your possessions for the move, you really do need to take the utmost care and pack them properly.

Strangely, some of the most fragile items are amongst the most poorly packed. Perhaps there is a little confusion over how best to wrap and protect them. I'm talking about things like glass fruit bowls, your Waterford Crystal glasses and pitchers, your China tea set and things like that. So, here's a brief guide to how best to prepare your fragile items for the move.

1. Bowls, glasses and cups often fall victim to their designs. Basically, they have all got hollows that can crack if they are not supported properly. It doesn't take much, just stuff the centres with paper or line it with cardboard (though this is trickier) or with styrofoam pieces cut to fit.

2. Second, wrap each item in a set separately; don't stick three or four glasses together.

3. Third, take care when stacking them in boxes; don't put any unnecessary weight on the top, and make sure there is plenty of packing between the items.

4. For bigger items, like mirrors, get generous with bubble-wrap. Put it all around the mirror and make sure that the corners of the mirror frame (or the furthest points if its round or oval) are properly cushioned too. You can do this with cardboard pieces or styrofoam taped securely.

5. For heirlooms or antiques, the same principals of bubble-wrap generosity and frame/edge protection stand. You may wish to consider transporting your heirloom yourself though, especially if it is of extreme value to you.

We hate to see disasters strike but sometimes they happen. At Sage, we know from our vast experience that the only thing you can do is be prepared, as much as possible at least. So, don't take risks! Spend the extra time providing extra protection to your fragile items. It'll worth it, believe me!

How Safe is Storage Anyway?

It's understandable for someone to have concerns about something before they actually have all the details. When you are buying a car, don't you examine the doors and the hinges and look under the hood? Don't you kick the tires to check if they are soft? And when the salesman tells you about the special deals that are available "for this week only", don't you take time to wonder where the catch is?

Yes, it's completely natural, which is why when I was interrogated by a client recently about the level of security that storage facilities really offer, I didn't take it badly. The gentleman was clearly entitled and I was happy to pass on all the information that I could.

He was moving to the west coast and his belongings were going to be transported quite some distance. It meant a short-term storage period at around the midway point, of two nights. He could understand why but he was concerned about losing items that were "important, not expensive", as he put it.

So what type of security should you be looking for? Well first of all, it's worth keeping in mind the fact that without good security a storage facility just isn't going to stay in business. It's only logical then that the facility will put everything they can into making it as secure as possible.

Second, the days of seeing old padlocks on metal latches are long gone. Modern facilities can have electronic keys and digital codes on the doors, as well as technology to adjust the storage environment (the air temperature, for example).

Third, facilities usually have guards on duty 24 hours a day. They carry out regular patrols to make sure everything is okay. There are also CCTV cameras that can record everything that happens.

Basically, storage facilities should be as safe as Fort Knox, though with a significantly smaller military presence!

At Sage, of course, we've been keeping our clients' belongings safe for years. We take security extremely seriously and, as such, guard what we are storing as if it was our own. I guess that's why we've had so many satisfied customers.

This particular client seemed at ease when we had finished our conversation, and of course, his move went smoothly with nothing missing when his things arrived in San Diego!

Who Turned Off The Lights!?

It sounds like the plot to a comedy movie, like 'Home Alone'. You forget something when everyone is already out of the house and on the road but you just can't put your finger on it until much later, then panic sets in when it is remembered. You've forgotten to turn off the utilities and you know there'll be an unnecessary bill coming with your name on it.

Home Alone saw the family's youngest being left behind to fend for himself, with hilarious consequences. It was a nice movie with plenty of laughs but if you've left the electricity on, or even gas boiler or water heater on, then it's certain you won't be laughing. If you're moving a few blocks away, it's an inconvenience, but if your moving a state away or a few hundred miles, then it can be a real problem. That's why including utilities matters on your checklists is useful.

The thing is that it's very easy to get lost in the wrapping and packing of moving, and forget the extra things that need to be looked after. That's why to see it included on a list can help you to take care of it.

There are two key things to remember: Contact and Timing.

You need to make contact with all of your utility service providers in plenty of time - usually around a month before the actual move. You'll need to give them the exact date you want your service to be cut off, and a final bill will need to be forwarded to your new address. You might also need to arrange to have your utilities turned on at your new address.

Timing is vital because you don't want your electricity or water services turned off three days before your move. Remember, you're going to want that last cup of coffee or last lunch in your former home before finally leaving. That's why you tell your service providers to cut their services off at, say, midnight on the final day. This gives you some room to manoeuvre should there be a delay of any sort.

I haven't actually come across a client that forgot to turn off all of the utilities yet. Generally, the guys working at the Sage Customer Service desks make a point of reminding them that it is one of the things that need to be done. However, it does happen - and understandably so.

Still, if you are moving home (or even office), don't be caught when someone asks: "Who turned off the lights?"

Gym Equipment: No pain, Serious Gain

Maybe we are still only getting the winter cold out of our systems, but there is no getting away from the fact that spring is here and summer is on its way. It means there will be a lot of outdoor activity in our lives again soon. Well, yours probably as I've found myself getting lazier as I've gotten older.

But it reminds me that a lot of people moving enjoy active lives, and they usually have gym or fitness equipment. In my time at Sage, we have moved thousands of clients who included gym equipment on their checklists. Of course, that's no problem for us, but there are some factors you might not be aware of which can guard against accidents while moving.

The chief problem with moving gym or fitness equipment is not the weight (and they can be very heavy) or the space (and they can be very cumbersome), but their proper packing away. It isn't strange for people to forget to disassemble their machines properly, leaving a loose wire hanging or unsecured weights that can fall onto someone's foot.

That did happen to a colleague of mine; three toes were broken and he was out of work for about a month. Thankfully, the proper insurance policies were in place here and so there was no real fall-out but it's still an unwanted (and painful) event. It's always best to be safe rather than sorry. So, keep in mind these three things as you pack your home gym equipment for your move.

1. Disassemble your machines carefully: be more clinical than with any other item. Don't rush it, be methodical and you'll pack safely.

2. Tie away all the loose ends: cords and wires can draw-back and hit you, causing some real damage. When they are packed away, make sure they are not going to unfurl while being loaded so use plenty of duck tape to secure them.

3. Make sure the boxes used are strong enough: You don't want the boxes tearing. If you're using the equipment's original box, then use tape to secure the corners and seals - even if the box still looks new.

Basically, be extra careful when moving your fitness equipment. It can save you and your moving team a lot of trouble - even a life!

A Pet's Best Moving Buddy is its Owner

It may seem a little negative to say, but I have been asked many times about pets and whether or not it is a good idea to get a moving company to take care of that task. The answer to the question is simply 'No'. There are good reasons for this, all of which any pet owner, I'm sure, would completely agree with.

I'm not a pet owner myself but I grew up around enough dogs and cats to know that the key to understanding any pet is in accepting it too has emotions and so can be made to feel scared, unwanted and lost. These are all feelings that can depress your pet and with that can come illness or distress. So, it's only logical that the last place you should put your pet is in the back of a dark moving truck, surrounded by the rest of your possessions.

The health of your pet is hugely important and we at Sage know that the responsibilities connected with transporting a pet are serious. Depending on the distance of the move, and therefore the time it takes to complete the journey, a pet would have to be fed and watered and looked after. That is why it is best to keep the pet with its owner.

The best advice that I can give is to bring your pet with you when you travel to your new home. If your pet is small, like a terrier or a cat, then you can place it in a carry-cage and secure it to the back seat of your car. If your pet is larger, then a trailer can be hired to make the journey. If you have a longer distance to travel, where you'll have to travel by plane, for example, then you should consult the regulations of the airline you are travelling with.

What is important is that your pet makes the transition as smoothly and as healthily as possible. So, keep him or her close and keep a close eye too. That's the best way to move a pet.

Making the College Move Easier

Alright, so this is a bit early but for most of you the prospect of moving to your college campus (or moving your son or daughter to one) is already on your mind. Admittedly, it has been a while since I was at college but I remember the headache my mother suffered in trying to get everything packed for my college move, and that my father had in trying to squeeze everything into our family car. I realize now how using a moving company would have made things so much easier, especially with the type of specialized services that are available now.

Of course, this is around 15 years ago, when my sister was listening to the Spice Girls and I was eager for the freedom of living away from home! Back then, practically everyone moved by family car. As for myself, well, my father, mother and little sister all travelled to Chicago (where my college was) with me, and made a weekend of it.

The trouble is that there was very little room in the car for any passengers and most of the things that I wanted to bring had to be left behind because of the lack of space in the car, not in my dorm room.

Today, there are a number of affordable options available to anyone making that move to college, thanks to the expansion of services being offered by reputable moving companies. Firstly, you can hire movers to transport all of your possessions; and secondly, you can hire a trailer from a moving company and move yourself.

The first option involves a truck but one of smaller capacity that usual to suit your needs, since it isn't a full house move that is being done. It is still worth making checklists since it is the same process as a home move and you'll still want to check that everything is packed, loaded and reaches its destination undamaged.

The second option allows you to move with your family, just as I did so long ago but without the cramped conditions. Trailers should be able to accommodate a full college load, unless you want to bring your bed and bedroom furniture too! In that case, you should choose option one!

Just remember, moving all of the comforts of your home bedroom to college may not be possible if your dorm room is too small, so be sure to check the space that is available to you. Still, your college move doesn't need to be as uncomfortable as it was for me!

Busting the Long-distance Moving Myth

Some believe that moving long-distance is a headache that almost isn't worth having. Why? Because of claims that it's hard to find a good moving company to do it, you pay top dollar and there are always delays. Well, that's not necessarily true so I thought I'd take the opportunity provided by this blog to set the record straight.

Firstly, not being able to find a good moving company comes down to the fact that the search wasn't very detailed. Some movers don't have the resources and shouldn't have been considered at all while others (like Sage) are well equipt to provide a reliable service.

Secondly, saying you 'pay top dollar' gives a false impression. Increased distance lengthens time taken, which increases work hours - it's very logical. Increased work hours means increased cost but only reasonably so. In the modern moving industry, with the concerted effort being made by responsible companies, everything is accountable and above board.

Lastly, there is some logic to the claim that there are delays but the idea that your possessions arrive days later than agreed is false. That myth is fueled by the fact that long-distance moves that take two or more days usually involve two different crews - one to reach a half-way depot, and the other to finish the delivery. This can sometimes require the overnight or 24-hour storage of your things.

If you are moving from Maryland to Texas, for example, a move which involves more than 2,000 miles of road, crew members are unlikely to want to make the complete journey, so they deliver to a mid-point depot and return to Maryland. The next day, a new crew loads up and delivers your possessions to your new home in Dallas.

Usually, these are logistical aspects that you never need to worry about if you hire a moving consultant to look after everything (as my colleague 'Nomad' pointed out below). These are practical and cost effective solutions to logistical problems that need not cost you a fortune.

So, the myth that long-distance moves involve a lot of unnecessary trouble is an urban legend. Just speak to your moving company and they will clear any doubts you might have. We'd certainly be happy to!

So, Where Do You Start?

It's not an unusual question to be asked; in fact, it's completely understandable. If you have a home or even an apartment, there is always some concern over where you start in preparing for the move to your new home. There is, after all, a lot to get done - organizing every item that you have, wrapping them, packing them and then getting them onto the moving truck.

The best advice that we at Sage can give you is to get started as early as possible. In fact, as soon as you know that you will be moving, you should start to compile the moving checklists that famously make the whole moving experience so much easier.

I've been asked many times about which checklist is the most important and if they are really that great. I always reply that they are all important and that if they are compiled properly, they are very effective. The thing is not to go overboard; remember they should help you not confuse you or stress you out!

One time, we were shocked to find one client with 18 checklists on a clipboard when we arrived to load up. She had individual checklists for each room (including the back yard) for both the house the family was leaving and the house they were moving into! Obviously, she was very stressed.

There should be one main checklist comprising all your possessions, but with four or five check-boxes - wrap, pack, load-up, unload, condition. You can easily segregate each room on the list so there is no need to make checklist after checklist.

However, it is a good idea to checklist even the non-packing aspects (utilities closure etc) and on a separate list. Also, try to structure things by stages. The first one should detail absolutely everything in your home, even things that you're not moving, then the second can detail what is being moved.

Which brings me back to the original question. Where do you start? Start with a cup of coffee, some good music, a pen and paper and then draw up a careful, stress-free, room-by-room plan on what needs to be done. Just don't leave it until the last moment; six or eight weeks before moving day is fine!

Don’t Compare Apples and Oranges When Picking a Mover

In this day and age, we’re all looking to save a buck whenever we can. When it comes to picking the right movers for your move though, simply getting the lowest offer you come across in not a very wise thing to do.  The moving industry is a big one and not all the companies that are regarded as moving companies offer the same services. 

Before you even begin to look for a moving company you should decide on what services you need first.  Do you want a company that will just let you rent a truck?  Do you want a full service moving company that will handle loading and unloading as well?  Do you want packing to be included in the services?  Will you require temporary storage or on road storage?  “You haul” companies offer only a driver and a truck, some not even a driver.  Full service moving companies usually offer a minimum of loading unloading and hauling, they will not be open to just renting you a truck. 

 The right company for your needs should be able to satisfy all your requirements, no less, but just as importantly no more.  If you are just moving ordinary cargo a few miles away, you don’t want to hire a specialty items moving or a long distance moving company, as they may charge more than you really need to pay.  The bottom line is that before accepting offers, make sure that the companies you are talking to offer the same things.

Taking the Storage Option

One of the things I like about working in the moving industry is the fact that we help people. At a basic level, we help our clients to move their possessions but many times we help them when they're stuck with difficult decisions.

About a year ago, one lady was stuck over moving all of her belongings from her home to a new apartment. She was an elderly lady with her family grown up and living elsewhere, and she and her husband had decided to sell their home of 35 years to move to a more manageable place. The problem was they had gathered so much stuff over those 35 years that there wasn't enough room in their apartment for it all. So, what to do?

The answer to the problem is storage and there are two avenues you can take in this regard: you can either find a self-storage facility or avail of storage services provided by your moving company.

At Sage, we see storage as a vital service for those clients who need space to leave items before finally finding a place for them or finally deciding what to do with them. In the meantime, the items are kept safe in facilities that are not only secure but air-conditioned and temperature-controlled to prevent mould and damp causing damage.

The elderly lady had boxes and boxes of memories that she wasn't ready to let go of (her children's old toys and books and other things of sentimental value). By leaving them in storage, she and her husband could concentrate on actually moving and settling in before turning their attention to other things.

She took the option to store with us and after a few months moved her things out again. She was smiling when I saw her then, so she must have been happy with how things had worked out - which was a bonus for me!

How Important is Moving Insurance?

I don't have an anecdote for you this time, unfortunately. I was just reminded of the issue of moving insurance when I was chatting with a client just last week and thought I'd bring it up with you all. He was impressed with the options available to him. He wondered if high-value possessions were common place in this industry. I told him they aren't unusual but taking out protection is wise for anything you value, even if it has just a sentimental value.

There are three main types of insurance policies available to you from a moving company, though not all movers will offer good deals. For most people, Replacement Value Coverage works best because if, for example, their TV is damaged, then they can simply get a new TV of a similar style or value. It's a clean swap.

However, if you are moving something of great value then Declared Value Coverage is ideal. Generally, there is a bit of negotiating done before an agreed figure is struck, but once it has been then the compensation sum is set. It's great for people who include a valuable piece of artwork, an expensive musical instrument or even antique furniture on the itinerary.

No-one likes to admit it but accidents can happen at any time so, as one of the country's leading moving companies, we would urge all of you to get insurance for your move.

By the way, our client took out Basic Liability Coverage, which involves agreeing a dollar-per-pound value of the total load transported. He told me he had nothing of any great value and wasn't moving very far so he was confident nothing would go wrong. Nothing did!

Simplifying your Office Move

There is hardly an office in this day and age that doesn’t depend heavily on computers and computer networks. Often those networks are mission critical, and they cannot be “down” for more than one or two hours at a time. This presents problems when an office and all the communication equipment in it, needs to be relocated. What really strikes me as strange though; is that most offices choose to call in professional movers only after all the logistics have been mapped out and all that needs to be done is to load the equipment in question and take it to where it needs to go.

What a lot of people don’t seem to realize is that professional moving companies don’t just pack, load and haul. The byword in the moving industry is convenience, more than anything; that is what professional movers aim to deliver. Part of the convenience we offer is in helping out with whatever logistical concerns you might have with your move. Would it be easier to break your move up into a few smaller moves? Are you downsizing your office? Will you need storage space? There are a lot of options that are available to you that you probably don’t even know about. If you have a move that is unusually complicated, it is best that you let you movers in on it as early as you can, how much help they can actually give you will surprise you.

The Convenience of Relocation Consulting

There are a lot of reasons people don’t like moving, but if you don’t want to go into them one by one, the simple fact is that people don’t like to move because it is inconvenient. That is why people hire professional movers to do their moving for them. The fact that there are so many movers in business shows just how willing people are to spend money to be relieved of the inconvenience of moving. What people don’t seem to realize is that movers offer far more services than were available not too long ago, and those services are additional conveniences.

Most people for instance aren’t really aware of what relocation consulting is. I once had a customer who moved states, explain to me the horrible inconvenience he had finding suitable home in Charlotte North Carolina, after his company assigned him there. He had to sacrifice several weekends and even a few work days just scouring the area for a good house. He was shocked to learn that we could have actually helped him out in that department, and that he should have contacted us earlier. He actually called us after he had found a place at great personal expense and inconvenience.

Relocation consultants are networked with realty firms in most states. With just a few phone calls, they can find a number of options based on whatever specifications you give them. If you ever need to move states, you should ask about relocation consulting from day one. You can click here to chat with one now

Moving Pianos with Salt and Time!

It won't come as any surprise to learn that we movers tend not to like winter weather. Driving conditions are bad, traffic is extra slow and loading up is a little more challenging - especially large items of furniture.

Pianos, for example, can be difficult to move at the best of times but I remember on one occasion having particular difficulty because of the amount of snow and ice that was on the steps and pathway from the residence to the truck. We'd had a few skids when carrying boxes and we were not looking forward to moving a piano over the same ground.

Anyway, we reckoned we could lay the path and steps with cardboard to take away the risk. We were about to rip up some old boxes when our client, an old gentleman, told us to take a break and have some coffee. It was very kind of him so, how could we refuse! He served us up and then disappeared for 5 or 6 minutes, and when he returned he chatted away with us until we'd finished.

When it was time to get back at it, maybe after 20 minutes, I went for the cardboard again, but our client said "don't bother". When we stepped outside, the ice was already melting all the way down to the truck. He said, "a little time and a lot of salt, that's all you need". He had scattered salt over the ice while we drank our coffee. That gentleman saved us a lot of bother.

Yes, You Can Move Your Plants

It never really occurred to me why people don’t normally move plants. I like house and garden plants as much as the next guy, but I suppose like most people, to me plants are just things that sort of fade into the background. During the many times I have personally had to move in my life, it never occurred to me to take what plants we had along. We simply left them in the flats we were leaving and told our landlords that we had done so.

I was quite moved though when on a move I had chosen to ride “shotgun” on, I saw as rather nice elderly woman saying almost tearful goodbyes the plants she was leaving behind. I then thought to ask her why she wasn’t taking her plants along, she responded that she didn’t think they’d be allowed. I asked her if she meant they were not allowed in the apartment she was relocating to. She responded that she didn’t think movers moved plants. When I asked her why she thought that, she sort of took a while to respond, but she finally said that they were too fragile and bulky. I simply smiled and told her that for local moves, there were no issues with moving reasonably sized plants, which her's were.

If you feel any sort of attachment to any of your houseplants, or if you just think that movers simply don’t move houseplants, think again. Plants actually move better than a lot of items that are regularly moved, remember that these are living organisms capable of regenerating when they are damaged, and they are adapted to life exposed to the elements. Your plants are tougher and easier to move than you think.

Check Out Your Moving Company!

Last month, I moved for the second time in three years and I wasn't looking forward to it. My previous experience was something of a disaster and the thought of having to deal with a moving company again for my move from Germantown MD to Manassas VA made my skin crawl.

Back in September 2006, I had to move apartment suddenly because of work. It was all a rush so I took the first quote that sounded like a deal. I should have known better though! My friends advised me to use the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA) and Better Business Bureau (BBB) if I had any doubts, since they both detailed the good and bad moving businesses out there. My mistake was that I never even checked either site out so the company that I'd hired ended up being less reliable than I'd expected!

Of course, they didn't arrive on the agreed moving day and gave a list of excuses when I called them. Eventually, a friend hired a trailer from another company and we moved everything in a few runs (thanks Jess!) but the experience has stung since.

This time though, I did things right. I didn't need to check AMSA or the BBB because I used Sage Moving & Storage - a company I know are thoroughly professional from start to finish - but I did make sure that everything was organized in plenty of time before the move.

Still, if there is one piece of advice I can give you, it is this: check out moving companies on the AMSA and the BBB sites before ever hiring one. You'll weed out the bad options quickly and find the truly good ones. Trust me, I'm speaking from experience here!

The Truth about Moving Refrigerators

I was told that one of the most compelling reasons to hire good DC movers is because they have the muscle and the equipment to carry, load and haul your refrigerator upright.  The first time I moved a refrigerator, nobody even told me that I shouldn’t have moved the refrigerator on its side, and because it was the convenient way to get it on the pickup, that’s exactly how I moved it.  A couple of months later, when the rather ancient, hand-me-down, reconditioned refrigerator conked out, I assumed it was simply age.  

After seven moves though, and a lot of valid and not so valid insights on the subject, I now know that it is essential that a refrigerator be moved upright.  To do so is really quite hard, you need the proper tools which only a good DC moving company will have. 

The reason you need to move a refrigerator upright is that the oil in the compressor will drain out into an overflow tube if you tip it over to the wrong side.  The right side depends on the make and model, so to be safe, it’s best not to tip it at all.  The tube is vertical when the refrigerator is tipped, but elevated and horizontal while it is upright; which means that it is quick to drain when tipped, but slow to return even after it is set upright again.  No oil means no lubrication for the compressor’s moving parts, and a drastic shortening of its service life.  DC movers know how to move refrigerators and other fragile “moveables”.  The best thing really is to leave the moving to them. 

There's a Trick to It

Within a four year period, I moved seven times.  The first five were experiences I'd rather forget if I could.  Those first few times, I decided it would be simpler to not hire professional DC movers.  We were able to cram everything into the back of a pickup the first two times, but by the third move it was different, my wife and I had better jobs and we'd started to accumulate more stuff.  The third and fourth moves were "back-throwingly" awful; the fifth was an absolute nightmare.  

After the debacle that was the fifth move, I had an epiphany: On a visit with my grandmother, who was partially paralyzed, she had a new caregiver, a Filipina girl who couldn't have weighed more than 95 pounds.  My grandmother is a big-boned 5'7 woman.  I have a hard time helping her get around, and I'm 6'1 and close to 200 pounds.   I thought, there was no way this girl could do it once, let alone on a regular basis.  To my surprise she did it many times during the visit with no trouble at all.  Finally, I asked her: "How do you do it?"  She smiled and said, "There's a trick to it."  

Shortly after, I moved a sixth time, and this time, on the theory that there must be a trick to it, I hired a DC moving company.  From the get go they impressed me, I practically salivated over their moving equipment it would have been nice to have had that stuff on the first five disasters.  The way they carried stuff around so effortlessly was just as impressive.  I felt less anxiety about my TV being dropped down the stairs than if I’d carried it myself.    

From then on I decided:  I’ll never move without DC movers.

Sage is Going Green!

The transportation industry is notorious for wreaking havoc on the environment, and Sage is ready to do it's part to protect our planet for generations to come.  We have some major green warriors in our offices that are relentless about pushing forward their agenda, so things are starting to change around Sage.  Stay tuned for press releases on our new initiatives, and take a  look at our "going green" page on our DC Moving Company web page to learn what's already been approved by management for 2010.

Welcome to Sage's New Blog!

Okay, so this is overdue, but we've started a blog, and it's time to share with you some of our hard-earned insights into the world of moving & storage.  Everyone knows moving is stressful, and nobody likes to relocate.  It's tough, it's daunting, and it's usually a pain in the neck.  That's why we're here to take the stress out of your more and show you a better way to approach your relocation process.

In this blog we will share with you tips, tricks, and general knowledge that will help you plan and prepare for your move.  We'll show you what common mistakes you should avoid, and what simple steps you can take to increase your chances of success for having a simple and easy move.

Got questions?  Ask away!  We're here to help you.