Professional Mover

Now that you’re committed to the idea of moving to a new home, you’ve no doubt started looking at properties. Perhaps you’ve even narrowed it down to a neighborhood that has a home for sale that meets your requirements. Before you make your official offer, it can be highly beneficial to speak to the current residents of the neighborhood.

The best way to solidify your decision is to take a walk through your prospective neighborhood and speak to your would-be neighbors. They’ll have inside information regarding the goings-on in the community as well as any peculiarities that may occur. Even after you move in, keeping communication going can be valuable as it will allow you to get to know your new neighborhood well.

A good question, however, is what information you should ask your neighbors about. Below are some helpful questions that will help you get to know them and your new surroundings.

1. How is the neighborhood doing?

What are the surrounding businesses like? Are the local services and amenities good and reliable? What are the best resources close to this neighborhood? Are there new developments nearby? Do most people keep up their homes? What’s the personality of the neighborhood?

You’ll be able to answer most of these questions when you spend time there as well as driving around. Since things might not always be as they appear, the residents will know the real deal.

2. Would you say the neighborhood is safe?

Doing a little research before taking the plunge is always a good idea, so don’t be shy about digging around. Take a look at the crime rate and traffic accidents online and at the local police station. Keep in mind, though, that the locals will be able to help you understand what’s really happening.

3. How’s the morning commute?

Chances are most of the places you’ll be visiting on a daily basis are routine, but knowing what to expect on the way to school, work, the bank, the gym, and the doctor’s office is helpful. Current residents will be able to tell you where you can expect traffic jams, construction, and oddly-timed traffic lights.

4. What do you know about his house?

Even though your neighbors aren’t living in the house you’re considering buying, they’ll be able to tell you about the goings-on. All you need to do is ask what they know and they’ll tell you about the people who lived there before, how well the property was treated, if there were any recent accidents (fire, flood, pests), and if anyone has died in the house. Whether or not you’ve fully committed yourself to the home you’re considering, this is all helpful information.

Moving to your new home doesn’t have to be a drag. To get help with the moving process, hire a team that’s experienced with residential moving. White Glove Movers is a locally owned and operated business in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but we help families move all over. Speak with us today regarding your moving needs.

Once you’ve decided to make your residential move a do-it-yourself one, you’ll begin to estimate the costs and potential risks involved. Then, you’ll need to calculate how much work it will take and fully commit yourself to the idea that you’ll be the one taking care of the whole project. Once you’ve accepted the task of managing your move all on your lonesome, you’ll start to really put your decision-making skills to the test. The demand on your time will be significant, so there’s really no point in spinning your wheels for too long.

On your list of moving-related tasks will surely be securing a moving truck. Since the average person doesn’t have an ideal moving vehicle, you’ll probably be renting a moving truck. Finding one is fairly easy since there are several high-quality rental truck companies out there. The challenge is choosing the one that will fit all of your items and your budget.

To help you determine what size moving truck is best for your move, you might want to consider the following:

Selecting the right truck size

It might seem a bit obvious but choosing the right moving truck for your residential move depends on what you’ll be moving and how long it takes to get there. In order to make the correct decision regarding your rental truck, be sure to think about the following things first:

How big is your home?

Obviously, the bigger your home is the more items you’ll be moving out of it. A four-bedroom house will require a larger moving truck than to a two-bedroom apartment, so be mindful of your current space.

How many items are going with you?

Have you been paring down your items as part of your moving preparation? If you’re starting to adopt a more minimalistic lifestyle, or you’re settling into a new smaller space, you’ll want to keep that in mind when booking a truck. On average, a 16-foot moving truck is ideal for relocating a two-bedroom house.

How far are you moving?

Another factor that will determine the size of your moving truck. If your move is local, you can make several trips back and forth, so having a moving truck that will fit everything isn’t a necessity. If your moving is a far one, then you’ll want to go with a larger truck. There’s no point in paying for space you don’t need, so try to have a good gauge of volume when you choose your truck.

To give you a good perspective, here’s a list of common truck sizes:

• 10-12 feet: these trucks can usually haul a studio or a small one-bedroom apartment that don’t have large pieces of furniture or appliances.
• 14 feet: best used for one-bedroom homes and small two-bedroom apartments
• 16-17 feet: good for two-to-three bedroom apartments and homes
• 20-22 feet: ideal for large three-bedroom homes
• 24 feet: the best choice for four-bedroom homes
• 26 feet: perfect for houses with five plus bedrooms

Would you like some help moving your household? Let the professional team at White Glove Movers help you move into your new home.

Packing up and moving your household can be challenging, especially since you run the risk of harming yourself in the process. Common sense and some safety precautions will come in handy for you and your family members during the moving process. However, since many things can change due to reasons that are beyond your control, it can be tempting to try to recoup your lost time by rushing the move.

When we feel rushed we become stressed and frustrated, which can lead to cutting corners. As a result, proper safety precautions may be tossed out the window, which could lead to moving-related injuries.

Since nobody wants to take time to recover from an injury and moving-related injuries are quite common, there are many things we can do to avoid getting them in the first place. Below are some of the most common moving injuries as well as tips for avoiding them.

Back trauma

In our daily routines, many of us lift light objects with just our arms. When moving heavy objects, however, the stress is placed on the back. If the weight of the object you’re moving is more than what your muscles can handle, the chances of sustaining a back injury increase dramatically.

What you can do

The best way to prevent a moving-related back injury is to avoid lifting heavy objects altogether. It’s important that you know your own limits and whether you can handle heavy items. If you’re not deadlifting 220 in the gym, it’s probably best that you avoid picking up the living room Lazyboy.

If you do find yourself moving heavy objects, be sure to lift from the legs, not your back. Try to keep your back as straight as you can so you’re using the strength of your lower limbs for hoisting.

To be completely injury-free, consider hiring a professional residential moving company.

Muscle trauma

Though you’ve been mentally gearing up for moving day, your body hasn’t necessarily been doing the same. You’ve probably been packing non-stop and shifting things around, but you’ll likely be doing a lot of movements your body doesn’t do on a daily basis. Activities such as bending, pulling, lifting, twisting, and pushing can take their toll on the body.

To avoid muscle cramps, strains, and contusions, consider warming up before you start moving your possessions. It might seem silly since you’re not starting a workout or run, but cold muscles are more likely to sustain injuries. Start your moving day with stretching and warming exercises that will warm the body and prepare the muscles for the day ahead.

Additionally, staying hydrated will help. If you need to take a water break or just a break in general, allow yourself to do so.

If you’d like to take the stress out of moving, be sure to speak to the team at White Glove Movers. We’re a locally owned business that focuses on making the moving process as smooth and painless as possible. We’d love to help you with your residential move. Give us a call today to get started.

The kitchen is one of the most important places in your home, if not the most important. For this reason, you should unpack and organize your new kitchen before tackling any of the other rooms in your new home. To help you through this process, we’ve gathered some bits of advice that will make unpacking and organizing your new kitchen easy as pie.

Begin with an assessment

First, consider the major areas in your kitchen such as the stove, sink, fridge, and main counter where your food prep will take place. Then, take a look at your stock list to see what items you’ll be working with the most. Most of the time this list includes pots, pans, knives, cutting boards, silverware, dishes, towels, spices, and more. Those are the items you should unpack first so when it comes time for a meal in between arranging your home, you’re good to go.

Locate all of your kitchen boxes

If you’ve read our blog articles on packing, then you know to label each box. Locate all of the boxes that have your kitchen items and bring them into the new kitchen. If you can’t quite remember what you packed in each one that’s no biggie. Start opening the boxes, sort through them, and take note of what you need to sort and organize. It’s important to do this first instead of opening one box at a time because you’ll be able to tackle an area of the kitchen in one go. Make sense?

Unpack all of your kitchen stuff

Your sink and your stove are the two most used places in your kitchen. Since the sink is first, take a look at the cupboard and drawer space that surrounds it. Note how much storage space you have, what areas are closest to the sink, and at what height they are. Start locating the essential items that you use everyday and place them in the accessible storage spaces. Do this by descending order. For example, cutlery will be used daily, so put it in the drawer to the right of the sink (if you’re right-handed). Put dishtowels and cloths in the drawer below that, and perhaps your recipe books in the third drawer down.

Now that you’ve got your drawers full, use the same method for your cupboard space. Put everyday items such as plates, cups, bowls, and glasses on shelves that are eye level. You use glasses more than plates, so put them in the eye level cupboard closest to the sink. The pieces you use less often can be placed behind everyday items or on higher shelves. If you have a rack or cupboards above the stove, put your pots and pans here for convenience. Make sure to include the lids too.

As far as the cleaning supplies and toxic substances, keep the toxic stuff in higher areas. Young children don’t need access to these items, so they’re best kept high up. Things like soaps, detergents, and other cleaning agents can be stored below the sink.

Do you want some help throughout the moving process? White Glove Movers is here for you. We’re a locally owned company based out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and we enjoy helping homeowners throughout the moving process. Give us a call today to discuss your upcoming move.

While the moving process can be exciting and fun, some of the tasks you’ll come across might not be so. A lot of homeowners have trouble planning and arranging furniture in their new spaces, which can make things frustrating from the beginning. The truth is, deciding on furniture arrangements can take some time because ideally, you should get a sense of the space first. Below are some ideas you can use to make your home both comfortable and functional in every room.

Examine the space

Before you start plopping things down, take a good look at the room. If you can, remove all of the boxes from the room before you start planning. Then, visualize how the space will be used. Each room in your home should be functional in addition to beautiful. Let’s take the living room for instance. Ask yourself if it will be used as more of a family room where you’ll gather and entertain guests? If that’s the case, consider how the furniture can serve dual purposes and arrange it so.

Create rough drafts

There’s no rule that says you need to have the furniture placed in a room right away, so give yourself permission to experiment with drafts. You can create paper replicas and plan it out that way so you’re not constantly moving furniture around. To do this, pick up some plain brown paper from your local office supply store. Then, take the measurements of each piece of furniture so you can trace them onto the paper. Cut out the pieces, label them, and start arranging them on the floor.

Though it might feel like you’re simply spinning your wheels, playing around with furniture arrangement in this way will help you see how big or small a room is. It will also help you discover which pieces don’t fit as well as where the traffic patterns are.

Create a balanced look

No room in your home should have all the furniture shoved to one wall, nor should the pieces be spread out thin. Balancing heavy furniture with lighter objects and pieces is a key in creating balance within the space. Don’t be afraid to use the middle of the space to evoke a sense of depth and interest. Also, take a look at the height of your furniture pieces and create multi-levels. For example, if you have a shorter piece, place a tall one next to it or put a large print on the wall that will elongate the space. You can create balance with color. Consider including a pop of color on your beige sofa or put a colorful wall element next to your black armchair.

If you’d like some help with your upcoming move, reach out to the professional residential movers at White Glove Movers. We specialize in making the moving process an easy one and would love to help you. As a locally owned business in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, we’ll make sure all of your moving needs are taken care of. Call us today.

When you’re getting ready for a move and are working with a residential moving crew, it can be tempting to want to pack everything up and throw it on a moving truck. However, most moving companies will give you a list of items they won’t move. You should also take into consideration that there are some items that are dangerous and should be taken care of before you move.

A good rule of thumb is to always check with your residential movers to make sure you’re not packing and transporting anything that shouldn’t be. If you’re questioning how something should be packed, ask them for their expert opinion as well.

To save you some headaches, below are some categories of items that should be handled with care or not moved at all.

Hazardous items

Dangerous and hazardous items are anything flammable, corrosive, or explosive. They’re not just dangerous for moving, though, they’re actually illegal. If you have things that fit into this category, reach out to your local recycling or pick-up service, fire station, or the closest EPA office. The staff there should be able to provide you with information regarding proper disposal. If you’d hate to see the items go to waste, ask your neighbors or family members if they could use them.

Some residential movers do move hazardous items if they’re packaged up properly. If you have full propane tanks, for example, ask your movers the best way to pack them up or move them. The best thing you can do for your moving company (and yourself) is to avoid any surprises on moving day.

Other examples include:

• Acid
• Pesticides
• Motor oil
• Gasoline
• Lighter fluid
• Fertilizer
• Paint
• Car batteries
• Charcoal
• Matches
• Nail polish and remover
• Ammunition
• Pool chemicals
• Batteries
• Loaded weapons
• Lamp oil
• Propane
• And more

High-dollar and personal items

Homes collect a lot of items that are important to us either because of their emotional or monetary value. The items that would fall into this category would be the ones you can’t live without, you know, the items that you’d grab if your house was on fire.

When you start packing personal items, be sure you want them to be in the moving company’s hands. Take the extra step to make copies of all important documents you have in your possession including identification, insurance records, licenses, etc.

Items you might want to transport yourself:

• Personal documents such as marriage licenses, passports, birth certificates, wills, and insurance papers
• Home videos
• Flight tickets
• Pictures and photo albums
• Financial statements
• Keys for the house, car, safety boxes, and safes
• Deeds
• Tax records
• Check books
• School records

Throughout the moving process, it’s normal to experience anxiety, especially when it comes to selling your current home. You’re probably a bit overwhelmed with research, planning, speaking to your residential movers, and rearranging that the thought of turning your current home upside down seems like too much. Everyone knows how important it is to stage their home. In an attempt to make things easier on you, we’ve gathered some tips and tricks you can use to stage your home so it sells.

Clutter be gone

No potential buyer wants to walk into your open house and see a bunch of stuff everywhere. Clearing away the clutter is one of the most important things you can do when staging your home. To keep this as painless as possible, make a house rule for everyone that requires one item to leave anytime a new item is brought in. Another thing that can make your home look cluttered is having too much furniture. In fact, most professional stagers remove as much as half the home’s furnishings, so get ruthless! Once you do, you’ll find that your home looks much bigger. Now, keep in mind that you don’t have to give up everything, but you should seriously consider what you can and can’t live without.

Fiddle with everything

There’s no rule that says once you put an item somewhere it has to stay there for eternity. Allow yourself to move artwork, furniture, and accessories to different rooms when you get the idea. For instance, if you think about moving the armchair you bought for the living room to the sitting area in your bedroom, do it! Once you start experimenting with placement, you’ll discover what looks more appealing to potential buyers.

Strike a balance

As we said before, when you attack the clutter in your home you don’t have to eliminate everything. Buyers need to visualize their own lives in your current space and having too much around can throw that off. That being said, you don’t want to remove everything in your home. Try to shoot for a balance between clean and lived-in. Think of ways to make your home’s space more appealing such as placing a bowl of farmer’s market produce on the counter or place a vase of fresh flowers on the kitchen table. Such elements will make the space inviting and clean without being too empty.

Now that you have some ideas for staging your home, it’s time to finish the rest of the process. Take some of the stress off of yourself by working with a residential moving company such as White Glove Movers. We specialize in residential moves and would love to make the transition process a smooth one for you. Give us a call today.

You’ve been offered a job in a new city! Perhaps within the same company or maybe a new organization, either way, congrats! Now what? For some, this is an instant yes. For others, there are a few questions that need to be asked.

The most important question comes in two parts – Living arrangements.

Where am I going to live and who is paying for the move?

When you have an offer to move to a new city, you may or may not have done some research about that city. If you have been seeking employment or waiting for your company to open up an opportunity there, then you likely have some knowledge. Use that to your advantage. Hire a realtor and get involved in as many programs as you can. Most importantly, visit a few times before actually moving.

Who is responsible for the expenses?

This is a question that should be asked as part of the negotiation prior to acceptance. Some companies will provide for all of the expenses, while others will split a percentage with you. Others still may offer housing, or provide closing cost fees. Get clear on your options to avoid unexpected expenses.

Cost of living, how will it affect my long-term goals?

This is as vital as relocation fees. If you are moving from the Midwest where the cost of living is low, to one of the coasts, where a house just like yours is four to five times more expensive, everything changes. Reversed, you may feel like you just won the lottery! Be aware of what things will cost you and be sure the pay is enough for you to live and save for your future.

Culture, is this a good match?

Company culture is vital for personal happiness, but so is making sure the culture of a city matches you. Will you be able to find and make friends outside of work. Are there family-friendly events, if that is important to you. Are there things to do and see and experience? Do the vision and mission of the company resonate with you and can you see yourself learning, growing and advancing.

Opportunities for my significant other?

If your partner is moving with you, how easily available are jobs in his/her field? Will your income be enough to support your family until he/she finds a job?

Have you made a pros/cons list?

This may sound silly for some people, but you are making a major change in your life that will have effects for years. Be honest with yourself about why to move, why to stay and how it will affect all aspects from parents to children and friends.

What is the weather like?

You’ve heard that Seattle is the rainiest city and Chicago is the windiest. Weather is an important factor when deciding where to move. If you hate blistering cold winters or can’t stand sweltering heat, be sure to include this on your pro or con list.

Your movers are a talented group of people. They can pivot your furniture around any corner, dismantle the kids’ outdoor playland and even carefully wrap your grandmother’s china. Making everything they touch safe and secure for your new adventure. However, there are some things that any mover should not have in their truck.

Let’s first address chemicals.

If you are an avid gardener and keep fertilizer and weed spraying companies in business, it is not an item to include on the truck. High heat and possible spills make these items less than ideal for your movers to transport. Should the inside of the truck reach extremely high temps, these chemicals are flammable.

Movers contact information

This may seem like a no-brainer, but let’s be honest; notes were written on the desk and the contents of the desk were packed. In the digital age we live in, it is possible to find this information, but do you want to search for it while you’re on the road? Take a photo of the business card, or program the number into your phone. Just do not let it get packed on to the truck.

Tools

While loading the contents of your garage it makes sense to load tools and miscellaneous things we think we won’t need, until we do. Keep a small tool kit with both a Phillips and flat-head screw driver, nails and screws. While doing reassembly of furniture the last thing you want to do is go search the freshly unloaded boxes for the tools you need.

Important documents

What constitutes and important document? Well, birth certificates, social security cards, vehicle titles, insurance documents, passports, medical information and any financial documents. You may keep these items in a safe already and think leaving them in there during transport would keep them, well safe, but let’s not take any chances. Keeping these items in your possession during your move will provide an extra layer of relief. Gathering them all and putting them in their own file in their own box is a good idea.

Food

Perishable items should be transported in a cooler in your own vehicle. Your movers shouldn’t have to be responsible for ensuring those items stay fresh. Dog food too. If your move is cross-country, Fido will want that along the way.

Necessities

Necessities are things like morning routine items, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, etc. This is also clothes, prescriptions, chargers, and devices. We usually think to take our laptops and ipads, but we may inadvertently pack a couple we decide we need when we arrive. And if you get to your destination before your moving truck has, you will certainly be glad you had all of these.

If you’ve been thinking about selling your house, now is the perfect time. Of course, you are wanting it to sell as quickly as possible and receive full asking price, so let’s walk through a few tips to help you do just that!

1. Curb appeal. Simply put, this is the outside appearance –This is vital since it is the first thing a buyer sees when pulling up to your home. You’ll want to make sure the grass is mowed, the siding and windows are clean and maybe plant (or trim) a few flowers or bushes. And let’s not forget the house numbers. They should be easily visible.
2. Clean, clean, clean – You’ve won the buyer over with the front yard, keep the momentum going when they walk in. If you have tile, clean the grout. Make sure the floors are vacuumed or mopped, the windows are clean and the sink is wiped out. Don’t forget the stove!
3. No clutter – This means to pack up anything you do not need. Winter coats in the closet and you are selling in the spring? Pack them away. If your mantel is the keeper of all family photos and your collection of vacation mementos, put them in a box. You want every room in the house to portray as much space as possible. There’s a fine line between the lived-in look and currently living in look.
4. Give your dining room table a little flare – If your table is large, consider a few small clusters of flowers or other table-scape features. You want it to look inviting, not sparse.
5. Rearrange the furniture – Make sure your furniture is as symmetrical as possible, this makes it visually appealing as well as cozy.
6. Neutral colors work best – Your inner artist does amazing things with color, but when it comes to selling your house a potential buyer wants to be able to imagine their own inner artist ability. For some, thinking about repainting over a dark green accent wall could be too much.
7. No toys – While most people understand and probably have children, a new home means new possibilities and if they see a child’s play area or a child’s room can be clean and organized, it might just help them see their own potential.
8. No ‘storage’ rooms – If your office is also your storage room and you walk a fine patch from the door to your desk, it’s time to move things out. You want to show purpose for every room and your home office could be their guest bedroom, they just need to see the space.
9. Pets and their smells – You love your pets, but the people trying to decide to buy your house is not there to be aware of their existence. If you have a cat, be sure the litter is clean and not visible. The carpets should be professionally cleaned as well, especially if there have been any accidents. If it’s possible to replace them, consider it.
10. Outside living – For some people the backyard will sell a house. If you have an outdoor seating area, fire pit or pool, make it look as attractive as you did the inside.

Moving is a great time to sort your belongings and take with you what you know you want and/or need, and leave behind, sell or donate what you don’t. Here are few things to consider, strategize and act upon when packing up your kitchen.

Supplies – Boxes, wrapping, and tape

It’s likely your pots, pans and lids will all be moving with you and you didn’t keep the box they came in. That’s ok, how often can we repack the original packing? Make sure you have large boxes, medium boxes, and small boxes. Large boxes are only for lightweight items such as plastic shelving, utensils, and baking items. Medium boxes are for small appliances like toasters and blenders, pots and pans. Even a few cookbooks. The small boxes are ideal for dishes and other fragile items. The idea is to be able to pack our goods and lift the box while keeping it’s contents safe. This is where wrapping comes in. Bubble wrap is ideal for your stemware while newspaper or other wrap is safe for dishes.

Special Occasion and occasional items

These items are things like crystal and fine china. Vases, mixing bowls and extra towels. Serving plates, cookbooks, and baking supplies. These can be sorted and packed first since the likelihood of a house party where these items are needed is small.

Upper shelves and drawers

Do you have a junk drawer? Maybe that top shelf is a catch-all for those things you are sure what to do with? When cleaning out these areas, a good question to ask yourself is “how long has it been since I used this?” then decide if you really want to keep them or if it might be time to consider a minimalist lifestyle. If you haven’t used something for least six months to a year, don’t move it.

Priority packing

Priority packing means to pack the least used first and top off a box with the items you use often. This will help you to organize your new kitchen when you start to unpack. It’s also a good idea to write more than Kitchen on a box. Write kitchen, baking supplies. Or kitchen, pots, and pans. You will have a better idea of what is inside the box and where those items will go.

Essentials

Essentials are those items you will need to use the week leading up to your move and what you will want to have available the first week you are in your new home. You may not need all of your silverware and dishes or all of your pans, but you might enjoy having a few of each.

When moving we know we must carefully pack our dishes, heirloom pieces and our collections of decorative plates, precious moments figurines or mementos from our travels. We choose sturdier boxes and make sure we have enough newspaper or bubble wrap to ensure the safety of our possessions, but what about things like plants?

Prepping plants for your move

Avoid tipping

Are you moving from one side of town to the other? This only requires a box large enough to comfortably hold a few of your ferns or succulents. You’ll want to make sure not to pack them too tightly, it will make removal difficult, but also to be sure to use an appropriately sized box for the job. If you have several window-sill size plants, find a flat style box. If you have a medium-sized terracotta pot, look for a paper box and be sure to put some extra padding between them.

For taller plants that need to be on their side to move, get some moss to put on the top of the soil. This will help keep the soil in the pot, which is the goal. Next: plastic. Plastic bags large enough to cover the entire pot and go up the stem. A garbage bag works well for this. Tie it around the base of the stem to close it off and load it for transport.

Moving your plants in the winter?

We want to keep our plants from feeling the effects of the cold. Indoor plants can be a little more sensitive and even seconds in the cold could do damage. If you have an attached garage the concern is less, just make sure the garage door is closed and load them in the car. If this isn’t an option, then be sure to wrap your plants. You can use newspaper, plastic or sheets. The idea is to keep the leaves protected and limit the time in the elements.

Long distance move

Moving our plants cross country is a little more involved than just wrapping them and keeping them upright. If your move means spending days in the car, treat them like you would a pet. They need water and consistent a temperature. If it’s possible to take them into your hotel at night, that would be best, otherwise be sure to get them plenty of water during the trip. Extreme heat and cold can be just as damaging as not watering. If you see your plants starting to wilt, check the soil and the temp. Adjust accordingly. If they are left in the car for an hour or more, and it’s hot out, crack the windows and give them water.

If moving to cross-country, it is a good idea to check with your new state’s Department of Natural Resources to make sure you can bring your plant with you. There could be an agricultural or environmental effect of the plant itself or the soil. And because plants are considered perishable, a moving company may not be able to transport your indoor garden.Load your plants last

Load your plants last

Plants are living, breathing things and do not do well if they are the first item loaded and the last item to arrive in the new house. Allow them space to breathe.