Moving

Eco-Friendly Moving Tips

Moving is not an activity generally known for considering the environment during the process. This article brings you some eco-friendly moving tips, to help you start thinking about the environment.

You can get recycled boxes, but the truck alone emits plenty of carbon into the atmosphere. Also the labor leads to wasting lots of materials and generating trash. Now consider the fact that the average American will move more than 10 times in a lifetime. this means we all end up impacting the environment significantly.

Fortunately, there’s more you can do now than ever before to get your emissions closer to zero. Thanks to the rise of eco-friendly moving services. Plus, if you plan ahead, you’ll make an even stronger impact. Do the world and your wallet a favor and start planning ahead now!

Planning ahead reduces impact

If you’re like most people, chances are you’ve experienced it.

A trip is around the corner. The thought of packing keeps slipping your mind until the night before. Quickly, you hurry and throw the clothes into your luggage. Fly off to your destination only to realize that you forgot half the things you wanted to take with you.

Packing for the big move at the last minute is much like this, but even more extreme. You’ll notice things that you haven’t seen or thought of since the last time you moved. So don’t wait until the day of the move to think about how to pack all this other stuff.

By starting a few weeks early, you give yourself enough time to get rid of the things that would simply take up space. Be realistic with this choice; if you haven’t worn that shirt in the last five years. It’s worth donating it to someone who will wear it. Have a yard sale for unwanted valuables,. Donate the rest to a charity. Not only will you spend less time on the move, but fewer items means using less fuel on the ride.

Look for containers you already have

Look inside your home first to look for containers you already have to help with an eco-friendly move. Grab the cardboard boxes that carried your Costco groceries. Use suitcases to store clothes, and use sandwich bags for smaller sundries. Other items you can look for include:

Plastic bins
Dresser drawers
Reusable grocery bags
Duffel bags and gym bags

In other words, if you have something in your home that can fit smaller items inside, fill it as much as you can before packing it away. You’ll save plenty of space if you pack the clothes in the dresser drawers. Or fill the items from under your sink into the garbage container. The more you can pack items within each other, the fewer boxes you will need.

Store boxes that you get throughout the year

We’d never suggest shopping online specifically to stock up on cardboard boxes. But if you’re going to make the orders anyway, set a place where you can store them for the next time you move.

Whether you know when the move is coming or you otherwise anticipate having to move again in the next few years. Keep the boxes whenever you make an online order. Formed boxes take up a lot of space. So break them down carefully and store them in a plastic box in the basement or garage. You can also put them under your bed if these other storage options are not feasible. They’ll be easy to form back into a box shape when it’s time to move. All you need is some packing tape.

If you must buy boxes, order them used

An eco-friendly move means you avoid buying brand new materials until there’s no other choice. This is especially true with cardboard boxes.

If you haven’t been able to get enough used boxes from other sources on your own, see if anyone you know has any they can loan you. Call up family members, friends, local grocery stores. Also head to retail stores to see if there are boxes you can have for free.

If that’s still not enough boxes, or if you come up short, look on sites like Freecycle or Craigslist. See if anyone else in your neighborhood or city is giving away boxes for free. Other websites sell or give away boxes that have flaws and cannot be used for manufacturing but still work well enough for moving.

Continue to reach out, and you’ll find plenty of opportunities to stock up on used boxes for an eco-friendly move.

Be creative when protecting packed items

Other packing materials, such as the ones used to protect your items when on the move, aren’t as easy to find used. Although there are special collection points that recycle these types of materials. They’re not always conveniently located and many people simply throw out the materials anyway. That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck, though.

Before buying new packing materials that you’ll either have to drive out to recycle or end up throwing out, look again inside your home for items that you can re-purpose. For example, comforters, linens, towels. Also thick clothes all can wrap around fragile items to protect them in the truck.

If that’s not enough, then you can move on to newspaper. This is a long-used packing material that you can easily recycle in your normal weekly bin. If you do find yourself wanting to acquire the plastic packing materials, be sure to know exactly where to recycle them in the future for reuse.

Donate excess items you no longer need

There’s hardly any better chance to get rid of items you no longer need or use than a few weeks before moving away.

As you organize your plan for the move, start sorting your items into Keep and Toss piles. Once this is done, divide the Toss pile into three sub-piles: Donate, Recycle, and Trash. The goal is to have as small a trash pile as possible. You shouldn’t put anything here unless it’s impossible to donate or recycle it.

The donation pile can go to numerous charities, like Veterans for America, Goodwill, local animal shelters, libraries, and schools. Everything in the recycling pile should be processed correctly. For example, electronics have a specific method of recycling that precludes tossing it with your regular recycling.

Keep the kitchen stuff out for a while

It may seem intuitive to start packing up the kitchen first because it’s so difficult to sort through. However, once all the utensils and dishes are packed away, you’ll end up with no choice but to buy, use, and throw out plastic utensils, cups, and plates. Instead, keep just enough kitchen items out to help keep yourself fed throughout the move. An eco-friendly move won’t be so eco-friendly if you use brand new plastics along the way.

Seek out a green moving company for an eco-friendly move

The governor of California recently revealed a plan to revolutionize how cargo travels across the huge state. Aiming to bring the industry down to a zero-emissions standard. If one of the largest states in the country can ship its cargo without emitting carbon into the atmosphere, certainly this is something that your average homeowner could achieve as well.

Eco-friendly transportation is crucial to a green move. As more companies realize the impact they’re having on the environment, they look to adopt a zero-to-low-emissions approach. You’ll find more and more moving services

Long-distance movers have the additional option of saving even more by sharing trucks with other movers. A compartmentalized truck separates everyone’s belongings. However, transports many at once via consolidated shipping. Since there is one truck for multiple moves, this makes consolidated shipping an excellent way to reduce your carbon footprint during the move.

Likewise, you can also use trains to ship your items across the country for less strain on the environment.

If possible, make a single trip with your move

The longer the engine runs, the more carbon the truck emits. In other words, plan your move so you make as few trips as possible back and forth between locations.

Avoid small trips to and from the two homes and instead focus on sending off as many items as you can manage in a single trip and day. If you intend to move some of the items yourself, fit as much as you can into your vehicle rather than making small deliveries. Simply put, the fewer trips you need to make, the less gas will burn away into the atmosphere and leave a larger footprint.

Box-n-Go Storage & Moving Company is your one stop shop for everything moving. We have a full supply of moving boxes, which we can deliver to you, so that you do not have to drive to the store. Box-n-Go offers portable self-storage that comes to you, so that you do not have to make multiple trips to storage facility. We can also arrange for the moving labor, if this is what you are looking for. All you need to do is to call us at 1-877-269-6461 or receive an online quote.

How To Move to a New State

Moving to a different state is a complicated and stressful undertaking. One that requires plenty of planning. The last thing you want to do is forget to do something. End up having your life left in limbo until you can get everything settled. For that reason, it’s a good idea to create a list of all of the things you have to do to complete the move. These suggestions can help you fill out that list. So the likelihood of forgetting an important task is reduced.

Packing Everything Yourself When Move to a New State

If you’re packing everything up by yourself, it’s important to make a list as you go. You should keep a master inventory along with listing the contents of each box. This will help you easily located items you may need later. This will also make it easier to get the right boxes to their assigned rooms in the new home. Be sure to set aside a change of clothes, toiletries, and other items you might need during the move.

Before you start packing, decide what you will be taking with you. You can save money by following the $20 rule. It simply means getting rid of anything that can be replaced for under $20. This will save you space regardless if you rent a van or hire movers. Space is always at a premium. If you can eliminate enough items, you may even be able to make do with a smaller van.

Finally, consider hiring movers to help you pack. Professional movers know how to package antiques and furniture. It is required to make sure they’ll be protected from damage caused by shifting in the moving truck. Additionally, letting movers pack everything up for you will free up a great deal of time. You can use that time to deal with the other items on your list.

Update Your Contact Information

Before you hit the road, you’ll want to ensure you make the necessary changes of address. This is especially important in dealing with government agencies and banks. However there are many other businesses and organizations that should be notified. A good idea is to save all of your postal mail and email for the preceding two to three months. This will help you identify which organizations need to be notified of your change of address.

As a back-up plan, it’s also a good idea to submit a change of address with the U.S. post office. You should file your change of address with the post office two weeks before you plan to move. It does take time for the change to be processed. While certain types of mail will only be forwarded for 60 days, most mail will be forwarded for up to one year.

Another concern to address prior to your move is obtaining your new driver’s license. Each state has different requirements in this regard. Be sure you find out the requirements for switching over to your new state by contacting that state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. You may need to go through the full process of taking an exam and road test, depending on the rules of that state.

Typically, you have 90 days to switch your vehicle registration over to your new state. However, state laws also vary in this respect. So changing your registration as soon as possible is recommended. This can help ensure you’re legally authorized to drive in your new state, so you can avoid legal entanglements as you adjust to your new city.

When Moving to a New State, Contact Your Insurance Providers First

In general terms, many of the big insurance companies are authorized to operate in multiple states. However you should still contact your insurers to verify that they can cover you in your new state. While insurance companies are licensed across state lines, the same is not always true for individual agents. At the very least, you should be prepared to find a new agent in your new state. Your new agent will be aware of laws in that state that regulate the types of coverage you will need to meet minimum requirements.

While most people do take the time to deal with auto insurance in this regard, it may also be necessary to have other types of insurance that can be carried with you. This goes for life insurance policies and health insurance. If you’re renting, you may need a new renters insurance policy. Or, if you have bought a home, you may need to start a homeowners insurance policy for your new home.

Learn About Taxes

Another detail about moving to a new state to consider is how the state taxes will affect you. First there are the income taxes to consider. While your federal income taxes should remain unaffected by your move, you may have to file income tax returns for two different states. Of course, this will depend upon the time of year you move. And on when you return to work after the move. In any case, your tax preparer can help you file the returns you will need to submit at the end of the year.

As you register your motor vehicle, you may also have to pay a sales tax on it. Even though you already own the vehicle, you’ll need to pay a sales tax to the state in which you’ll be residing. This is a fee that’s separate and in addition to your registration fee. The amount you will have to pay will be based upon the year and model of your vehicle,. However, most states have a limit on how much you’ll need to pay.

Moving to a New State – Finding Your New Home

Will you be renting or buying? In either case, working with a real estate agent in the state to which you’re moving is advisable. An established agent will be familiar with the market in that area, and she will know more about the individual neighborhoods in the market. This will help you find the home you need to meet your needs. So you won’t be left in a bind when you get to your new state.

Even when you work with a real estate agent to find your new home, any number of mishaps can keep you from moving into your new home as planned. For this reason, it may also be wise to rent a self-storage unit in your new city. This way you can unload your moving van promptly upon getting to your new city. Even if your home isn’t quite ready. The storage unit may also be useful if you find that your new home is smaller than expected. You may need the extra space until you adjust to your new home and your new community.

Hiring professionals to help you complete a long-distance move isn’t always necessary, but it can be helpful. In addition to packing and the physical move, there are dozens of other details that will need to be ironed out. Handling it all by yourself, while also caring for the kids and pets, can create a nearly impossible situation. However, hiring professionals to help with a few tasks can help you make your move a little less stressful.

Box-n-Go for All Your Moving Needs

Here at Box-n-Go we understand how stressful the moving can get. this is why we offer multiple options for your move. If you are moving long distance, to another state, the best option is to us our mobile storage containers. You can load them your self, or we can have them loaded for you.

moving to a new state — Moving to a New State

Usually, if you move yourself, you think of renting a truck. Most do-it-yourself rental truck services are exceedingly expensive. Especially once you figure in the time needed to get the truck rental, pack your belongings into the truck, drive to a new location, unpack your belongings to your new apartment or house. Also do not forget the need to fill up the gas and return truck rental back. By the time you pay for miles, gas, insurance, logging, extra labor costs and learn how to drive a big truck you will see that Box-n-Go self-storage and moving option is quite easy, competitive and extremely convenient.

Additionally, the rental trucks are much more difficult to load/unload being so high off the ground—carrying furniture and boxes up and down a ramp all day can make for a very stressful and dangerous move. Box-n-Go mobile storage provides simpler option weather you need move locally or nationwide.

Box-n-go Long Distance Moving Advantages

you do not have to drive a big truck
you do not have to pack/unpack twice
no need to pay for gas and insurance
convenient ground level loading
competitive pricing on storage and moving
your furniture and belongings will be housed inside a breathable units and stored in a high security warehouse

Please do not hesitate to call us at 1-877-269-6461. We will be happy to provide you with a firm quote for your needs.

How to Move or Pack with an Aging-Elderly Parent

We all get to that point in life when we need to downsize and live in a place suited to our needs. This can be a particularly difficult transition, though. Moving an elderly parent is not easy. No one wants to lose their home and possessions due to declining health and the ability to take care of themselves.

When this happens to your parents, you have to help them. You will go through a unique experience that almost everyone moving their parent goes through. There may be stubbornness, frustration (on both ends), and even some fond memories. Before you get in over your head, here are some tips to help you move and pack your elderly parents.

Moving an Elderly Parent – Know When to Move

There is a lot of discussion as to when it’s time for your parents to move into an assisted living facility. Many people stay self-sufficient (or at least appear that way), and others have health conditions that make the change mandatory. If you’re not entirely sure if it’s time, here are some things to consider:

– Has your parent injured themselves or fallen recently?
– Do your parents have trouble maintaining their home and keeping it clean?
– Are your parents able to keep themselves clean?
– Do your parents get confused easily or show signs of dementia?
– Are your parents in bad health?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, than it’s a good time to start thinking about assisted living.

Make it Sound Good

To make your parents excited about the move, you really have to have a positive perspective about the place they will be moving to. Highlight all of the positive attributes of their new home. Many places offer social advantages, help cleaning, no cooking, and trips to the places that your parents will want to go. When you make the new home sound amazing, they may actually start to believe it, too.

Moving an Elderly Parent – Be Understanding

Going into this next part of life is extremely difficult, and you need to be understanding of this when you talk to your parents. Be patient. Speak in an understanding tone without being condescending. Also, be willing to listen. As we get older, it can feel like no one listens to us anymore. Do your best to make them feel heard.

Let Them Make Decisions

Part of allowing your elderly parents to feel heard is to let them make decisions. Ask their opinion. It is their life, after all.
Sometimes, the decisions need a little guiding. For those of us with children, think about asking your child if they want to take a shower before or after story time. Sure, they thought they had a choice in the matter, but, in reality, they were being told that they have to take a bath. You can use this same method when it comes to helping your parents make difficult decisions. If they don’t want to go to any assisted living facility, give them options to let them feel like they are at least picking which one they will go to.

Moving an Elderly Parent – Managing the Stuff

Getting an elderly parent to throw out their possessions is absolutely impossible! Here are a couple of tips specifically for this part of the process.

1. Give stuff to the people that they love. Or sell it.

Your loved one worked their entire life for the items that they have. They don’t want these items to go unused. One of the best ways to make them feel better about getting rid of their stuff is to give it to someone they love. If it goes to a child, grandchild, cousin, or friend, they feel like their item was put to good use.
If no one needs or wants the items that can’t come with, try selling the stuff! Run a garage sale or a yard sale. If a family member or friend can’t use it, at least you might be able to make some money from it.

2. Put it in storage

Your parents won’t be able to get rid of all of their stuff before moving. For that reason, it’s a good idea to get a storage unit for the things that they still want but don’t have room for anymore.

Before buying a storage unit, take an inventory of everything you will have in there to help you pick the right size unit. You’ll also have to consider if any of the items need to be stored in a special way. Books, paintings, and other collectables may have certain temperature or humidity requirements when stored to maintain their value.

3. Force them to throw away the garbage

Some of our parents hold onto stuff that is broken or stained. They may think that they will eventually fix it and use it again. The fact of the matter is that probably isn’t true. It’s a good idea to be realistic and just throw out the things that you can’t donate to charity because it’s not in good enough condition.

Moving an Elderly Parent – Do the Work

Elderly parents aren’t especially strong. They won’t be able to do a lot of the packing and moving themselves. For that reason, step up to help by moving the important things and taking control when the movers come.

If possible, it’s a good idea to complete the move without your parents around. While it is their stuff, they might be more in the way of the movers than anything else. Get clear instructions on what should be packed and how it should be packed. Hopefully, you can take their place during the move.

Follow-Up

One of the most important parts of moving your elderly parents is what happens after the fact. Be sure to check in on them after the move to ensure that they are settling in okay. It will also help your parents get more accustomed to the new place if they see someone familiar on a regular basis. Call and check in as often as possible and be sure to always meet up for the holidays.

The golden years are a time for someone to relax and be as comfortable as possible. There may be some downsides to this part of life, but it’s best to respect it the way it deserves to be respected.

Your parents will need help during this time. However, you may get frustrated when your help is greeted with stubbornness. Do your best to understand what your parents are going through and help make them the most comfortable life possible. You want your parents to enjoy their old age. Listen to what they want and do your best to provide it. Just throw out the unnecessary stuff along the way.

Box-n-Go – A Wealth of Storage Options in One

While there might be many moving and storage solutions to choose from, temporary self-storage remains one of the most flexible, convenient and affordable options. It’s a storage solution that revolves around you that is completely tailored to suit your needs and which puts you in total control of your storage. Choose whether your container moves with you or remains stored in a safe and secure storage facility. Subsequently, your keepsakes get transported upon your request.

At Box-n-Go, we offer temporary storage solutions you need when and where you need it, without the fuss often associated with storage companies. Our storage units are secure and where you need them for easy access. Make moving a breeze. Call Box-n-Go today for more of our temporary storage solutions. Take advantage of our load once, unload once storage innovation.

Money & Time-Saving Tips for Moving Your Business

Moving your business is an all-consuming experience. Regardless of whether you’re moving personally or professionally. For business owners gearing up for the latter. A successful move is as much about securing the right location as it is about properly preparing everything for the move. As you get ready to move into your new office, consider the following best practices:

Moving Your Business – Donate Old Office Equipment

There’s nothing like the added dead weight of old office equipment to further complicate a move. As you ready your office equipment for the move, first decide what stays and goes. If you have outdated printers, computers, phones, copiers, and furniture, it’s time to leave all that behind.

Save space, time, and money by taking these unwanted items and donating or selling them. Since these older models are finding a new home, you’ll have a lot more space in the moving van for everything you do need in your new office. Additionally, you can arrange for any new equipment and furniture to be delivered to your new location—it’s a win-win.

Start Packing ASAP

Far too often, moves are complicated by an impending deadline. With the rush to move out of an old office at the last minute, anyone would succumb to the anxiety of such a high-stress situation. Avoid this sort of issue by starting to pack as soon as you know you need to move into a new office space.

Whether you’ve been planning to move for years or you have to move at a month’s notice, you need to make every day leading up to your move count. While the act of packing itself is fairly simple, in reality, it is incredibly tedious. With all the sorting, labeling, and packing up required during a move, giving yourself as much as a month or two in advance to pack is a great way to stay ahead of schedule.

Moving Your Business – Schedule a Moving Company

Moving an office is a larger scale move than going from one apartment to another. Even if you’re attempting to keep this move as minimal as possible. It’s in your best interest to hire a moving company. While there are some preparations like packing and labeling that can be done on one’s own, moving all the heavy equipment and fragile items from your old office to the new location is best left to the professionals.

What’s more, with a moving company, you can take advantage of their insurance policy. These policies cover your items in the event that anything is broken or damaged in the care of the movers. When hiring a moving company for your move, be sure to schedule them well in advance. The best moving companies are always busy, months in advance (especially in the busiest seasons).

Number and Label All Boxes

When in a rush to get through the packing process. It can be tempting to stuff everything into the nearest cardboard box and load it on the truck. Though this pack-and-go method may seem more efficient, it will lead to further confusion when you arrive at your new office.

As you pack each box be sure to label them and number them. Labeling the boxes will help you figure out where every box goes in the new space while the numbers allow you to keep track of everything to prevent you from losing anything throughout the move. Moreover, labeling and numbering the boxes and having an inventory handy makes it easy to hold the moving company accountable in the event that anything is lost.

Carefully Pack All Computer Cables

Packing up and actually moving is only half of the battle. The true challenge for many comes during the process of unpacking. Depending on how well all items you pack your items before the move, you may find that unpacking goes simply or it quickly becomes the most complex part of the move.

Make things easy for yourself by packing your computer cables, electronics, and anything with long wires very carefully. Put these items in zip-locked bags to keep everything from becoming tangled or damaged. Additionally, make sure these bags are clearly marked so you are able to unite them with the proper electronics when you unpack.

Moving Your Business – Pack Monitors and Computers Separately

Avoid the unnecessary damaging of your most fragile equipment by packing them separately. With your computer monitors, be sure to keep these precious items wrapped individually inside bubble wrap or thick moving blankets. As you pack these, take care to keep tape off the monitor itself.

Wrap the rest of the computer in heavy blankets and avoid stacking them on top of each other. In addition to protecting this hardware, be sure to backup all data on a regular basis so that you have several copies of it before your move.

Read Instructions for Complex Equipment

Equipment like mini-fridges, printers, and copiers often come with specific instructions to guarantee a safe move. Do your best to read through each item’s manuals before attempting to move them. While these devices may seem as though they’d travel well in a box with a few sheets of bubble wrap, you may not realize that they may become damaged internally during the move. Instead, stick to the instructions and pack each item accordingly.

Write out a Checklist

Think you’ve taken care of everything? Think again. Even if you try to be as thorough as possible, without a checklist, you’ll likely forget a few key things. As you gear up for your move, make sure you have a workable checklist. One that includes everything you need to do, what has been done already, and what is left to do. Additionally, have a list handy with all the supplies you’ll need as well as a plan for unpacking.

Moving Your Business – Update All Contact Information

As much as packing, moving, and unpacking is a major part of the moving process, so is making an update to all your contact information. In order to actually ensure you still have a business to run when you move to a new location, don’t forget to alert clients and customers to the fact that you’re relocating.

While this may seem like an obvious detail, with the business of moving, it’s easy to forget to update all your business’ contact information. Make it a point to change your address, phone number, and any other contact information in all directories—both online and in person. Additionally, make sure any clients with scheduled appointments are aware of all the pertinent details regarding the office move.

The best way to guarantee a stress-free move is to do as much preparation as possible. With the aforementioned tips, you’ll be able to make moving day that much more stress-free.

Moving Your Business – Self-Storage Units Help Small Business Owners

It is known that for small businesses, any expense must be well-balanced. Wherever you can save money, go for it. But have you ever thought of saving cash by ordering a storage unit?

If not, learn that this solution can serve not only during the move, but also as:

Document archive
Showroom for a home-based business
Inventory stash

If you’ve been racking your brains to find a attractive solution for your expanding business, it’s time you take into account storage warehouses. This way, you can wait until you find the best space for a new office, all while growing in a cost-effective manner.

When you take a traditional storage one of the big issues is a tiresome commute with all your items to the site. When you do not own a truck all that becomes even more of a hassle with multiple trips or expensive hire charges. With the help of mobile units by Box-n-Go, you can manage to get the job done easily. They bring the containers to your business location. You fill them up and they will take them to a safe facility. They offer easy payment schedules to ensure your invoicing is managed with the minimum of fuss. Business storing and moving with Box-n-go is very simple. Just call 877-269-6461 and they will take care of the rest.

How to Talk to Your Kids About Moving

Whether or not to move is a tough decision. Telling your kids that you are moving can also be very tough. How to talk to kids about moving? There are a number of things that you can do to ensure that things go well as you break the news to your kids. Before telling your kids that you are moving, make sure that you are in an environment where there are as few distractions as possible. Make sure that there are no items around that might distract your children. Do not break the news to your children in front of other people where it can be an embarrassing ordeal for them.

When to tell your kids you are moving

You should only tell your children that you are moving once you’ve made the final decision to move. Do not going to say, “We are going to move,” if no serious decisions or actions have been made. It is without a doubt that your children will most likely have some level of strong feelings about moving. There is a pretty good chance that your children may have negative emotions. Including resentment, sadness, fear and anger.

How to help avoid negative emotions

To help quell these negative emotions, there are various things that you can do. For example, be understanding about their feelings—do not make fun of them or scold them for feeling negative emotions. Make them feel reassured that there is a high level of validity to their feelings. Also, do not dismiss any fears or questions that they may have.

Children can feel anxious and upset from the feelings of instability that result from moving. This is why you should fill them in on all of the information that they need to know about the big move. Tell them the truth as much as possible and do not lie.

For example, tell your children where you are moving. It can be quite angst-provoking to not know where one is going to move to. Be very specific about the details of the place that you are moving to. If you need to, crack open a map and point out where the new town is going to be, and where it is in relation to the old town.

How to tell when you are moving

Another vital piece of information is when you are moving. This piece of information provides another speck of stability that gives children their bearings. Provide a timeline to your children. This way that they have a time frame to refer to in their minds. If your children know when the big move is going to happen, they will have enough time to tie up loose ends in their lives. Do not think that your children’s lives are any less important just because they are so many years younger than you.

How to explain why you are moving

You should also explain the reason for why you are moving. The reason can be anything—a job, a desire for a change of pace on the part of the parents. The need to live in a nicer neighborhood. A divorce, the need to take care of relatives or anything else. A good way to make the news brighter is to tell your children about why they should be excited about the move. There are a number of reasons why your children should be excited. Perhaps the neighborhood is safer or cleaner, or perhaps it is more bustling and stimulating.

Another good way to make breaking the news to your children easier is to involve them in the moving process. Give them important tasks so that they feel some level of pride and stability in these seemingly unstable and changing times. You can assign them to various tasks such as painting walls, picking out décor and sorting through boxes of donations.

Giving your children a sense of purpose will help them get over the fact that they are moving away. Away from a place that they may feel attached to and/or have a lot of roots in.

How to teach your kids to stay in touch

Talk to your children about how they can stay in touch with the friends that they have made in their old neighborhood. Nowadays, the internet makes it easy for people to stay in touch via social media and email. If your new home is within a reasonable driving distance from your old home, tell your children that it is possible to drive back to visit old friends.

You should also tell your children about how they will have positive social experiences and make new friends in the new neighborhood. How you will help them to achieve those things. Various things that you can do for your child include enrolling them in different types of camps and recreation programs, sending them to local classes, putting them on local sports teams and joining institutions.

How to talk to kids about moving – Do not make a big deal out of it

As you tell your children about the fact that you are moving, do not act overly dramatic or make a huge deal of it. Tell them calmly and respectfully. Do not speak down to them in a condescending manner, yell at them or taunt them.

Tell your children the specific details of what has to be done for the move. For example, if you are going to downsize and plan on moving to a much smaller living space, you may need to tell your child that he/she has to give up a number of his/her possessions.

Different circumstances surround every major move that people make. As you speak to your children about moving, keep these circumstances in mind. The surrounding circumstances of the situation affect what you should say and what you shouldn’t say.

For example, if the circumstances include a situation that can be emotionally charged such as a divorce, be choosy about the words that you say so that you do not upset your children. If it involves financial insecurity, you may also want to be careful with how you explain things to you children.

How to talk to kids about moving – Do some research

The situation can be about a lot more than just moving, and this can make the situation more stressful and possibly even heartbreaking for your child. So, this is why you should also put some consideration into what you say and how you say it. To help your children in the transition from one place to another, do some research about things that may improve your child’s life or make him/her feel better. For example, put actual effort into researching what activities your children can do in their new neighborhood.

These are the things that you should do as you partake in the task of telling your children about a big move. Be understanding of the high probability that your children will have strong feelings about moving. As the adult it is your job to act mature, honest and transparent to your children in such a sensitive situation.

Choose the right company for your move

Does not matter which movers and packers you choose, it’s important to keep the end goal in mind. Regardless how difficult the process may be, or how much help you need to employ, the ultimate goal is to end up settled in your new home with the least amount of stress possible. Different people will have different opinions about how to accomplish that, so it’s important to go with the movers you think will suit you best, not necessarily what has served other people well in the past.

The mobile storage units provided by Box-n-Go Storage make moving with kids easy, straightforward and cost-effective. We deliver the units at your doorstep and thus save you time for packing. Box-n-Go also has team of movers and packers providing people with flawless service for years.

How to talk to kids about moving – Follow the box tips below to ensure success when packing:

Always ensure you use good quality boxes from a moving supplier when packing storage containers. Used boxes from the supermarket are seldom strong enough and are likely to fail over time.
It is a common mistake to not fill boxes correctly. A half full box is liable to collapse when stacked so it could easily damage your possessions. Conversely if a box is over packed it will not stack correctly and will also collapse.
You can save yourself a lot of time if you clearly label all boxes when packing your containers. This is vital so you can easily access your goods while they are in temporary storage. You can have access, too, if you eventually have them returned.

Beware of the weight of items when packing

Be wary of the weight of boxes when packing them. You need to keep the packed weight at a comfortable weight for lifting and carrying. No more than 35 pounds is recommended. You can control weight by packing heavy items like books in smaller boxes. Clothing is always bulky and troublesome to store. We store it hanging to minimize creasing and damage. Wardrobe boxes designed for this purpose are a wise investment.

Box-n-Go is always ready to help. Call us at 1-877-269-6467. Our Los Angeles self storage and moving experts are standing by to assist you with any aspects of your move.

How Much Should I Tip Movers?

Professional movers are an asset when it comes to planning a smooth and stress-free move. Not only can you depend upon them to help you pack up your house. But you can also trust them to show up on time and help load all of those boxes on to the truck. Once you have found the ideal company to handle your moving needs, your thoughts naturally turn to making sure that you do everything right on moving day.

Tipping is a generally accepted practice. It is a way for showing appreciation to anyone in the service industry. And your movers are among some of the hardest working people that you will ever meet. As you get ready for your upcoming move, you can use this guide to know how. Also when to tip your movers for a job well done.

Is Tipping the Movers Required?

Tips are always considered to be an extra amount of money that is paid as a gratuity to movers. While it may seem strange to pay additional money on top of your contracted moving fees, the truth is that your movers still deserve a token of your appreciation. Tipping is never required. Professional movers will never hang around after the job is done waiting for you to flash some cash. However, they may think that you were unsatisfied with their service if you fail to tip. Even a small tip lets them know that you are happy with the assistance they gave you during the move. Any mover will accept your tip graciously since it means that they earned your appreciation.

What Factors Influence the Amount I Tip?

Every move is different, which is why there is not a standard amount to tip. Instead, you need to carefully consider the circumstances surrounding your move as well as the effort put forth by the movers. For instance, a complicated move, such as one that involves transporting valuable art or antiques, should clearly involve a slightly larger tip. You may also choose to tip more for long distance moves or ones that occurred in poor weather. After all, even professional movers find that moving boxes in and out of a residence in the rain is hazardous and uncomfortable. But you will never hear them complain. Giving a larger tip for tough circumstances shows that you know they went above and beyond the call of duty.

Is It Ever Okay to Skip the Tip?

You should never feel obligated to tip for bad service. While you should always communicate with the movers during the moving process if you are unhappy, there are some things that should not be ignored. You don’t have to tip your movers if they showed up extremely late. Without an explanation or took excessively long breaks that caused your move to get delayed. You can also skip the tip if the movers were rude or disrespectful to anyone in your household. Some accidents are not always preventable. However, you can choose not to tip if the movers damaged property. Or displayed extreme negligence at the moving site. Giving them extra money after any of these mistakes could reinforce bad behavior.

What Is a Standard Tip for a Mover?

Most service industries receive tips based upon a percentage of the cost for the services. For instance, a 15 to 20 percent tip is common for servers in a restaurant. Movers, however, are tipped differently since there are usually several people performing the same job. There are two main ways that you can tip movers. For a simple move that only takes an hour or two, you can decide beforehand to just tip each member of the crew a specific amount such as $20.

While you can still use the set amount tip with complicated moves, you can also use a specific amount per hour to help make sure that your tip is on par with the amount of time that they spent working. For example, you might pay the movers a tip of $5 an hour. Slightly more if they are performing beyond your expectations.

What If Two Crews Handle the Move?

Sometimes, there are two separate crews that handle the move. This is common with multi-day moves or ones that cover a long distance. In this case, you can always check with the foreman to see how people usually tip. Alternatively, you can tip each crew separately. However adjust the amount to reflect that each person performed half of the services. For multi-day moves, tip the crew at the end of each day just in case someone is not there the next.

When Do I Give the Tip?

Tips are usually given once the job is complete and you have settled the bill with the moving company. However, some people do prefer to hand out a small tip in the beginning to let the movers know that they are serious about tipping for exemplary work. If you are not comfortable doing this, then you can wait until the end. In fact, it is usually best to make sure that they attend to each detail before you pull out your wallet.

How Do I Distribute the Tip?

You should always make sure that your tip is enough that each individual person involved in the move receives a portion of your token of appreciation. In a perfect world, you would be able to hand a lump sum to the head mover to have them pass out, the truth is that you may not be able to trust that the money will be distributed as you wish. Instead, hand each member of the crew their tip individually. This not only makes sure that the money goes to designated recepient, but it also gives you a chance to give each person a genuine statement of thanks.

What Else Can I Do to Show Appreciation?

Some of the nicest things that you can do for movers don’t even involve money. Moving is extremely strenuous both mentally and physically. Your movers will get hot, tired and thirsty. Consider having some cold beverages on hand that the movers can use to refresh themselves as they tire out. You can also order them food for lunch. Serve some snacks to keep everyone in good spirits. Also, be sure to have a bathroom set up with a few basic supplies such as paper towels and hand soap. Those little extra touches go a long way toward keeping spirits high at your moving site.

Tipping the movers is just one of the many things that you can do to show respect for the people that help you with your relocation. While there is no standard rule, understanding how the tipping system works for the moving industry helps you feel good about how you wrap up the final parts of your move.