Managing Moving Madness
I’ve heard that moving, getting married and starting a new job are some of the biggest contributors to stress. If you’re about to take on a move, big or small, this post may help you get through it, without bursting into tears.
Proper Packing
The starting point in any move is packing, and there are right and wrong methods. Things to keep in mind: choose the right box; don’t put all your books in the biggest box you can find, as it will be too heavy. Keep heavy items in small boxes. Fragile items in sturdy boxes, such as dish packs.
Be sure to pad your boxes. Wrap EVERY piece of china, every wine glass. This may seem excessive but you’ll be awfully bummed when you show up in your new house with a box full of broken glass. Newspaper or craft paper make perfectly acceptable wrapping. Make sure to pad the bottom AND the top of EACH box.
Check out our blog and facebook page for more packing tips!
Keep Checklists
Lists will help you stay focused. Make 2 separate lists. The first one should be what you need to do before and during your move. Some examples would be transferring your utilities, changing your address, packing room by room, etc. When your house is covered in boxes, pending repairs, and small to large scale projects, the second list will keep you focused. Make a long list for the big projects, and smaller daily lists. Work through them little by little.
Stay Calm
This one is all mental, and the key to surviving any move. Nothing is going to go perfectly. Sometime your friends will not show up to help move boxes the day they promised. Something may get broken. Patience and a little faith that “this too will pass" will get you through.
Be excited! You are moving into your new home! There will be some bumps along the way, but be patient with yourself and your family. This won’t be easy, but it doesn’t have to be horrible.
Home Show Success!!
Thank you to everyone that came to visit us at the Spring Home Show this past weekend. It was a great success!
Just a little snippet from this past weekend!
Our Sales Team in our Corporate Office
We made the Hartford Courant!!
Move for Hunger
We are so happy to let everyone know that we are now part of the Move for Hunger movement! Move for Hunger is a non-profit organization that works with relocation companies to collect non-perishable food items, and deliver it to food banks all across North America.
Move for Hunger is currently working with over 601 relocation companiesacross 50 states and Canada. They have delivered over 6,029,990 pounds of food to food banks across North America.
Did you know 17 million children in North America go to bed hungry?
When you book your move with us, we will take your unwanted non-perishable foods. Help us reach our goal of donating 300 lbs. of food each year to our local food banks!
What is a Delivery Spread?
Are you moving out of Connecticut? Well then you will want to read through this article! When a sales consultant comes to your home to complete an in-home estimate, they will explain a multitude of information and give you a folder of information for you to read through. One specific topic is your delivery spread. But, what exactly is a delivery spread?
Your sales consultant will give you a set of dates that typically range of 1-14 days for your shipment to arrive at your new home. These dates will be on the Bill of Lading and Estimate for Service. When you sign the Bill of Lading, you agree to the dates in the window and are expected to accept the delivery within those dates. The driver or office will call you 12-24 hours to let you know the planned date of your delivery. You may contact Lippincott at anytime to see if we have the date narrowed down for you.
What causes the shipment to take between 1-14 days to be delivered to your new home? There are many factors that go into determining a delivery spread. The three biggest factors are:
· The distance between your origin and destination
· The time of year
· The weight of your shipment
The further the distance you are moving, usually means the longer the spread. Larger shipments are easier to pin point delivery days. Smaller shipments are a little trickier because they allocate for more loads on the truck. This means a driver may have three or four other families that he has to deliver to or pick up in the same shipment spread. For example: If you are moving from Connecticut to Arizona, the truck with belongings may be stopping in Ohio and New Mexico, before arriving in Arizona with your shipment.
It is imperative that you remain flexible during the delivery spread dates, so you are free to accept the delivery on any of those days. If there are any days in the delivery spread that you will not be able to meet the driver at your destination, always make a backup plan at the time of booking for someone else to meet the driver on those dates. Someone that represents you must be present during the loading and unloading process.
In the rare circumstance your belongings will not be delivered within the delivery spread, Lippincott will do what we can to accommodate you and your family. Our dispatch department will be able to provide you with updates as they occur.
Risks of DIY Moving
Whether you're relocating across the country or have found a new home not too far away, the temptation of do-it-yourself moving always seems reasonable. The two primary reasons people look to bypass the services of moving companies are to save time and money. However, does DIY moving really accomplish these priorities?
Do the potential risks of a variety of other factors outweigh saving yourself a few dollars? Those who are considering a DIY move should take a look at the possible setbacks when it comes to trying to pull off relocating on your own:
Cost
The first thing you should do is reach out to a mover, such as Lippincott Van Lines, and request a quote for a free, no obligation moving estimate. Next, research into all the costs involved in a DIY move. Many times when someone compares the costs of all that is involved with a DIY move they discover that they are going to potentially pay just as much, if not more, to handle their own household goods move than a moving company would charge to do everything for them. Make sure to consider all aspects when comparing, such as such the rental truck, PODS, fuel, lodging, tolls, etc.
Security
You need to ask yourself is whether you really trust yourself to safely handle all your personal belongings. The biggest risk DIY movers face is not having any protection or coverage on their valuables in the unfortunate event that damage or accidents occur. Choosing to move with Lippincott Van Lines, not only provides you with the reassurance that professional movers will be handling all your possessions, but there are valuation options and claims services that explain what you must do and what it will cost to place a value on your shipment. We will provide you with all the necessary information and answer all of your questions.
Experience
If you've never had to endure a big move before, you should be aware of all the various elements that go into this strenuous process. For starters, driving a big moving van or truck around the city with all your valuables in it can be quite an intimidating task. Even the slightest accident while driving a moving truck without coverage could potentially cost you thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses. As for transferring your possessions, inexperienced movers might not know the proper procedures when it comes to loading the truck or making sure your belongings are safe and secure while operating the vehicle. If you're spending hours trying to figure out how to squeeze all your items into the back of a van without scratching any surfaces, are you really saving any time? Don't forget about the daunting task of going up and down flights of stairs, or in and out of a service elevator with your possessions.
Equipment
Unless you're employed with a moving company, odds are you don't own the necessary equipment to get the job done. From checking out the actual moving van to renting everything from loading ramps to appliance dollies, those costs can add up quickly. Opting to go with Lippincott Van Lines means that an experienced team will be equipped with all the items required for a safe and secure move, and will even provide valuables with padding and wrapping to cushion these belongings for a long drive.
Stress
Of course, when it comes to moving on your own, stress is a factor that is practically inevitable. Letting professionals take care of all the hard work and pressure for you can help put your mind at ease during this strenuous time, so you can instead focus on the more important tasks at hand once you arrive at your new home. With Lippincott Van Lines, you can expect the utmost commitment to your move.