Month: February 2018

When preparing for a residential move, it’s easy to get caught up in the big things. So much so that we forget to take care of the little things like turning off utilities at our old homes. Transferring utilities is pretty easy and it’s important, so make sure this task makes it onto your To-Do List.

Transferring utilities gives you the opportunity to choose the best dates for activation and coordinating this with your moving dates is important so you don’t experience a lapse in service. To transfer your utilities, we recommend following these easy steps.

Before you start making arrangements, locate the contact information for your phone, Internet, water, sewer, gas, electric, trash, cable, or satellite companies.

1. Choose your shut-off and activation dates. These dates will be determined by your moving date. A safe bet is to have your utilities shut off the day after you move out of your current space and turned on the day before you move in. This will keep you from moving in the dark!
2. Keep your account numbers handy. Make sure you have copies of your most recent bills or keep track of your account numbers so you can provide them to customer service reps when making phone arrangements.
3. Let your current utility company know you’re moving as soon as possible. The average utility company requires plenty of advance notice that you’re moving. This way, they can make arrangements with their technicians. Try to call at least three weeks ahead of time so you get services on the dates you need them.
4. Pay off any remaining balances. When calling your utility companies, make sure to ask if you have any final balances that need to be paid. Take care of them before your shut-off date to avoid any service disruptions. You should also know that leaving an unpaid balance can impact your credit score.
5. Provide your forwarding address. Most companies will ask for this, but make sure you give each utility company your new address in case they return deposits or send you a final bill.
6. Arrange activation as soon as you can. Speak to your landlord, realtor, or city government about your new utility providers. Then, call them regarding activation at least three weeks in advance. They may require you to complete a credit check or pay deposits so activation can be scheduled.
7. Take a look at your meter before you leave. Now that your items are packed and you’re ready to turn the lights off and head out, check your meters. Write down their levels and take a picture with your phone in case any disputes pop up.
8. Ensure someone is there when services are activated. Arrange for a family member, friend, neighbor, or landlord to be at your new home in case there are questions or issues occur.
9. Examine your fixtures. Once your services are turned on, go through each room and make sure the fixtures and faucets work correctly.

As a locally owned and operated company, White Glove Movers takes pride in helping you with your residential move. We’re happy to help you with the packing, loading, and arranging of your new space. Give us a call today to discuss your moving needs.

Moving across town or across the country can get hairy fast. As one of the most stressful experiences you can go through (not to mention if you’re doing it with a family in-tow), moving is a great opportunity to get all the help you can get your hands on.

Making a move can be thrilling. It gives you a chance to start a new life in a new space, work the job you’ve always wanted, and purge your home of items you no longer need. While these advantages are great, they don’t always make the moving experience a pleasant one.

A good residential move starts with being organized, using the best shipping materials for your items, and turning to others when you need help. That’s why we recommend using these apps that will help you achieve all three of those goals.

Sortly

Sortly’s app is great for staying organized because it keeps track of which boxes contain which items. The app does this by creating and maintaining a full inventory of your household before, during, and after the big move. The only downside is that it’s available on iOS exclusively, but the free version is powerful and offers a lot of features you can make use of.

If you opt for the $4.99 Plus version, the app will sync all data across your devices and create QR code labels for your boxes. For your convenience, it will save your lists in a variety of file formats including .csv and .pdf. As an app that’s rated 4+, we highly recommend it. The best part is that you can cancel your subscription once your move is complete. Pretty cool, huh?

uShip

This app helps you stay connected to the people who are moving your stuff. For example, if you’re looking to move a specific item and you’re not sure who can help you, visit the uShip website where you can post what you need moved as well as your ideal price. Movers will then bid on your project and can ask you questions on the public forum.

If you’re someone who is diligent with your online communications and prefers to skip a lot of dull phone calls, this is a great way to connect with movers.

MoveAdvisor

MoveAdvisor is more accessible since it’s available to iOS, Amazon, and Google users. We recommend this app because it offers you a complete moving package. In fact, the app will track your home inventory, find movers for you, draft a moving timeline, and find free moving quotes for you. The benefits don’t stop there.

The moving timeline gives you the ability to create tasks, check them off when they’re complete, and add additional reminders and actions so you can stress less during your move. The only catch is that the timeline isn’t yet available for iPhone users.

If you look into using MoveAdvisor, you will see that the reviews on GooglePlay are mixed. While the app helps you stay organized and connects you with moving companies, it does tend to crash and their customer service seems to be lacking. If you can look past those cons, we recommend that you give it a try.

White Glove Movers is a professional moving company that’s been helping homeowners like you move since 2004. Though we’re located in Iowa, we specialize in local and cross-country moves. Give us a call today to discuss the moving services you’re looking for and we’d be happy to provide you with a quote.

Are you getting ready to move from a house to a new apartment or condo? Your upcoming move is an exciting new start but it may feel strange or overwhelming if it’s been a while since you moved. When the stress and anxiety start kick in, it’s natural to have second thoughts about whether or not this is the best thing for you. Don’t worry!

Change throws us for a loop but it doesn’t have to be scary. Here are some important things you can expect when moving from a house to an apartment or condo that will help you decide if this is the right kind of move for you.

Get Ready to Downsize

The minimalist movement continues in full swing so people are all about downsizing. A simple search on Pinterest or YouTube will produce thousands of strategies for improving your life by downsizing. You, however, have already decided that downsizing may be the right thing for you. Moving from a house to an apartment or condo requires to you let go of some of your excess belongings. Let’s take a closer look at how this will impact you.

Reduced Space

The biggest change you’ll have to adapt to is a smaller home. Most apartments and condos are designed for efficiency, which means you get less square footage and bedrooms will be smaller. Less square footage means you’ll have to rethink your furniture. For example, that oversized sofa of yours will need to be traded in for a smaller one. This might be a bit depressing at first but the bright side is that you can go shopping and invest in furniture that gives your decor a whole new look.

A Smaller Yard (or Lack Thereof)

If mowing the lawn is therapeutic for you, then you’ll have a big adjustment to make when you move into an apartment or condo. However, if you detest mowing then you can happily watch out your window as the mowers do the job for you. If you lead a busy and professional life, or if you have small children at home, skipping the lawn mowing can be a huge perk.

The best part is that your landscaping will look fabulous all the time and you won’t have to break a sweat. Do you like to garden? Maintain your green thumb with a container garden on your balcony! Remember, you don’t have to give up everything you love just because you’re moving into a smaller space.

Less Storage Space

Before you move, you should do some serious cleaning out. All of those tubs, bins, and totes you have packed with items won’t fit in your new apartment or condo. Comb through every closet, drawer, cupboard, nook, and cranny and let go of what you can live without. If you’re a new renter this is a good opportunity to declutter.

Removing extra baggage around your home is quite liberating, so keep that in mind if you’re hesitating to make a final decision. If you still have a lot of items that you can’t go without consider renting an affordable storage unit where your items will be safe.

Moving from a home to an apartment or condo can be the perfect opportunity to simplify your life. It’s amazing how much “stuff” you can accumulate when you have the space. Downsizing to an apartment or condo is an effective way to ask yourself what you truly need to be happy.

If you’re getting ready to move from a house to an apartment or condo, speak with the professional team at White Glove Movers. We’ve been helping Iowans complete residential moves since 2004 and would love to help you. Give us a call today and we’ll gladly provide you with an estimate.

Are you getting ready to move out of state? Do you know whether your move is officially considered an interstate move?

Knowing all the details about your residential move is critical for having a smooth moving day. One thing you should know is the type of move you’re going to be making. For example, is your move considered an intrastate or interstate move? Do you know the difference? There seems to be some confusion amongst homeowners as to what constitutes interstate and intrastate moves, so today we’re taking time to clear things up.

Understanding the kind of move you will be performing is the first step on the right path. When you start reaching out to moving companies, the first question they will ask you is whether your move is interstate or intrastate. The benefit of knowing the difference is that you’ll be protected against scammers. Knowing the difference between the two will also help you keep track of your rights.

To better understand the difference between the two types of moves, let’s take a closer look.

What exactly is an interstate move?

During an interstate move, you are transporting belongings in and out of state lines, which includes overseas. There are rules laid down by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) that govern interstate moves. Your move is considered an interstate move if the long-distance moving company crosses a state border at any time during the moving process

Are your items being transported by truck, van, or train? Even if the moving vehicle doesn’t cross state lines, your move is still an interstate move if your items cross a state border. One thing you should consider is that long-distance moves usually cost more than local moves, so be prepared for that.

What constitutes an intrastate move?

A move that is completed without crossing a state border is considered an intrastate move. These moves are not regulated by the FMCSA but rules do apply to intrastate moves that do not apply to interstate moves. Did you move to Iowa from another state but now you’re moving to another city in Iowa? Before you move within the State of Iowa, you should familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions of moving since they vary by state.

Local (intrastate) moves often cost less than long-distance ones but moving companies may still charge a long-distance fee depending on the mileage. Before you decide on a licensed moving company, have a conversation about your move type so you’re not surprised by fees you didn’t know about. Knowing your rights and checking on the moving company’s licensing will help you rule out untrustworthy companies. You should also verify if the company you’re considering is licensed to do interstate moves.

Are you getting ready to move to another city or state? White Glove Movers can help you with all of your residential moving needs. We’ve been performing interstate and intrastate moves since 2004. From packing to moving and hauling we do it all. We’d be happy to make the moving process as smooth as possible for you. Call us today to discuss your upcoming move.