Month: April 2017

To have a smooth moving day you need to start preparing weeks in advance. As a parent, you’ve already got plenty of practice at multitasking, however, you’ll need to decide how you will take care of your young ones on moving day. Think about whether or not you’ll be able to look after the kids while you’re managing moving day tasks. You’ll be sorting through your belongings, speaking with the professional movers, packing final boxes, cleaning, and putting together your new home.

Though you may think you can handle it all, your children’s safety is obviously the number one priority on moving day. If you’re unable to watch your children closely or take care of them accordingly, then you’ll want to seek additional help.

Knowing that a reliable person you can count on will be there for moving day will give you peace of mind because it will free you of that worry. Be sure to ask a neighbor, relative, or reliable babysitter ahead of time to come watch your children. Knowing that the kids are well taken care of on moving day will allow you to focus solely on moving day tasks, which will make the day go smoother for everyone!

Reasons to hire a babysitter for moving day

1. If you’ve chosen to hire a reliable babysitter for moving day, preferably one that’s already worked for your family, then your children’s daily routine won’t be interrupted. Keep in mind that though your children may be of a young age, they’re still feeling the effects of moving day. Though they might not directly be affected by it while it’s happening, they will feel the flurry of activity and take notice. Having a babysitter there will keep your child focused on just that: being a kid.
2. You might want to consider hiring a babysitter a couple of days in advance. During the last minute packing and arranging, your babysitter can look after your children while you handle the last-minute tasks, phone calls, professional mover instructions, and organizing that needs to be completed.
3. Having a babysitter on moving day to keep your kids busy and out of trouble is key for moving day. If you’re the only one watching your children, you’ll probably have constant interruptions and will be faced with thousands of questions regarding the tasks at hand.
4. Another great reason to hire a babysitter for moving day is because he or she will keep your kids engaged in fun activities. This will allow your children the much-needed opportunity to burn off some steam so they’ll sleep soundly that first night.
5. This one’s probably the most obvious reason, but it’s important to prevent anyone from getting hurt on moving day, especially your kids. If they’re running around on a day when your belongings will be set in places where they’re not usually placed, your kids could get hurt. If you’ve hired professional residential movers to assist you, it’s best to keep the kids away from the workers who will be in and out loading up boxes, furniture, and the like.

Moving day is a busy, confusing, and stressful day. Between the professional movers, your family, and the flurry of boxes being put on the truck, the whirlwind of activity is enough to make your head spin. As humans, we’re a little bit better equipped to deal with this rush of activity than our furry friends are. To help your pet deal with the stress of moving, here are some tips to keep them safe, limit their stress, and feel comfortable in your new home.

Make small changes in your pet’s routine prior to moving day. Weeks prior to moving day, start to make small changes daily. This means changing your pet’s routine in small ways. Try moving the food dish to a new location one day. Perhaps the next day, take them for a walk at an alternate time or to on a different path. These small changes will help your pet become aware that things are different but they will eventually get used to the changes with a small amount of fuss.

Keep your pet in a designated area. When moving day arrives, place your pet in the bathroom or large closet and tape a “Do Not Enter” sign on the door. This will tell your residential movers that they should not enter the room, which will prevent disturbing your pet. Moving day will be somewhat disruptive and confusing, so you’re going to want to make sure your pet is safe, secure, and as comfortable as possible.

Assign your pet a moving day buddy. If possible, have a neighbor, relative, or friend spend time with your pet on moving day to ensure he or she doesn’t escape in all the confusion. The last thing you want to do is leave your pet in your old space, so give someone the task of watching over them. This will be good for the pet as well as it will help reduce anxiety. If your pet’s buddy has the space to play, then they’ll burn off some energy before getting to your new home, which will help them settle in faster.

Keep pictures of your pet on hand. Hopefully this doesn’t happen, but it’s sometimes best to plan for the worst case scenario. Keep photos of your pet handy should they get away during the confusion of packing. Pictures will help identify your lost pet and are much easier to find when they’re set out versus all tucked away in a box.

Moving day is stressful enough on humans, let alone on pets that don’t really understand what’s happening. Keep your moving day positive and stress-free by designating a special space for your pet, such as the bathroom, while your professional movers get everything on the truck. Remember to work up to moving day by making small changes in your pet’s routine along the way, and to assign a moving day buddy to your pet.

Moving to Iowa on a winter maybe a cheap option, but this is something you should think twice, especially with snowstorm frequently visiting this area.

What to expect during an Iowa Winter Storm?

So how does an Iowa winter storm look like? It is often characterized by rain with snow and occasional sleet. This makes it easier for vehicles to drive on the road. As a result, your moving day may be moved to a different date.

Due to this, it is important to know the policy of your moving company in Iowa for situations like this. Will they be willing to postpone to move? If so will there be additional charges if you move it to a different date?

Be clear with this and put it into writing.

As for your new home, it is also best to discuss this matter with your real estate agent or landlord. Since you can’t move out because of the storm, whoever would wish to occupy your place will also find it difficult, if not impossible to move it. What options would you be given should this issue arise.

Create a travel route

If it’s not possible to move your transfer to a different date, then the next best solution for you to make is to find the safest route. Check if the highways are open and if these areas are safe for travel.

Write emergency phone numbers and websites and place it in your wallet so you can easily ask for help should you be stranded somewhere along the road. Better yet, look for a location where you can stay overnight in case you do need to stop.

Ensure your car is well maintained

Your most trusted while on the road to your new home in Iowa would be your car. So guarantee that is in good condition before you hit the road by checking the following:

– Are all the fluids topped up?

– Are the tires and breaks working well?

– Is the engine in good condition?

Bring an extra gas can with you, kitty litter, or a windshield fluid. Pack a good snow shovel and emergency blanket should you need this while on the road.

Do you have other winter tips to share with other movers? Be happy to share it with us.

So you’ve finally done it: you’ve made the decision to move across the country. Perhaps you landed the dream job you’ve always wanted, you’ve been accepted to your first choice university, or you’re ready to get out of your home state. Regardless of the reason, no doubt you’ve realized that moving across the country is no small feat. Between the worries, planning, and constant phone calls you’ll be making with family members and movers, you’re probably already feeling overwhelmed. Now comes the difficulty of actually packing and moving.

What You Can do to Prepare

In an effort to feel like you’re making progress, you may be tempted to start packing right away. In reality, your first task should be to clean, organize, and de-clutter. As you’re about to discover, moving out of state or across the country takes more time and money than simply switching neighborhoods. This is why it’s crucial you take the time to donate, sell, or give away any items you no longer want. After all, there’s no point in paying to move junk you no longer use, right? Keep in mind that this de-cluttering process should take you about two months, so be sure to leave a wide space of time between making the decision to move and the actual moving day. Below are three ways to help you get started:

Step 1: Clean your heart out

If you’re like most American adults, you’ve most likely avoided spring cleaning for a couple years now. In an effort to make things easier on yourself, allow time to clean, dust, and put your belongings away. Though this seems like it would slow you down, it actually makes the moving process easier because you’ll be able to take inventory and find what you need quicker than when everything was cluttered.

Step 2: Part with items you no longer need

In addition to throwing out the trash, be prepared to part with items you no longer need. Do you have old college textbooks you haven’t cracked open since before graduation? Do you have clothing you no longer wear? Donate them! The less extra items you have to pack, the better off you are. Take your unwanted items to Goodwill and get a tax write-off or have a yard sale and use the extra cash for moving expenses.

Step 3: Get help packing

In order to alleviate some of the burdens that come with moving, consider hiring a professional mover. In addition to doing the moving for you, residential movers will help you pack your items properly, including your antiques and fragile items. While you’re still in the organization phase, call a professional mover or two and schedule a consultation with each of them. A good, professional mover will take the time to come to your home and give you an estimate for your cross-country move. Once you’ve compared movers, discuss your game plan with your mover. As a team of professionals, they’ll have the best ideas for making moving day easy but they’ll also be willing to discuss your wants and requests. Don’t be shy in letting them know what you expect and what you need help with.