Moving Tips from Weleski



Viagra Protect Your Valuables

Whether its value is monetary or sentimental, it’s normal to be paranoid about having to move art. The unusual shapes, weight, and fragility of paintings and sculptures make safely packing them a special challenge. Follow these guidelines to keep them safe and protect their value.
How to Move Paintings and Drawings.
For expensive and large artwork, consider a custom-built crate. The crate can be built around the painting on-site and then disassembled when it reaches its new home. Do not use cling wrap, which can create mold. If you want to wrap the artwork to prevent scratching, use a blanket, silicone release paper, unprinted newspaper, or plain brown paper. Avoid packing multiple paintings in one box or crate, even without frames. They may scratch against each other in transit and damage the paint or canvas. For glass-covered artwork, create an X with masking tape over the glass to prevent it from shattering in case of cracks. If your artwork must go into storage, make sure it’s climate-controlled to prevent damage to the paint. Stick large red FRAGILE labels all over the crate or box.
How to Move Sculptures.
Fill in crevices with foam padding before wrapping the sculpture in a generous layer of bubble wrap. Place foam padding or packing peanuts inside the box on all sides of the sculpture to prevent any movement. Sculptures should be packaged individually to prevent breakage from friction or banging together in the truck. Mark the box as fragile and indicate which side of the sculpture’s box should be facing up with large, red labels on all sides.
When in doubt, call in the experts. At Weleski, we’ve moved every kind of item you can imagine and will treat your valuable artwork with the utmost care. Contact us with questions or to request an estimate today.
How to Pack and Move an Office.
An office move is even more difficult than a home move. Every minute that normal business operations are interrupted by packing and transporting office furniture, money and opportunities go out the window. Whether you work for a large company or work for yourself at home, these tips will help you prepare, stay organized, and stay in business.
Two Months Before Moving.
Make an online calendar pointing out important dates and mapping the entire move on a timeline. If you have employees, share it with them. The more people who know the ins and outs of what’s going on and when, the better. Share important dates with your suppliers and movers, too. If the office is outside your home, notify your property manager that you plan to move and follow their move-out procedures. If you’re in a company with multiple departments, delegate to department heads. Give them the responsibility of communicating important information to their employees and taking care of any special requirements. Get excited! Moving means renewal and change for business. New location, new opportunities. Share your vision for the new location with your employees, partners, and customers. Take inventory of supplies, furniture, electronics, and everything else that’s going with you. Everything that’s being left behind can be donated or sold.
One Month Before Moving.
Documents older than seven years can be shredded or put into storage. Order new stationary and other office supplies featuring your new address. Call utility companies and give them your moving date. Let neighbors know that moving trucks might be temporarily blocking the street. Back up important files digitally on a cloud server. Notify customers that you’re moving and give them your new contact information.
During and After Moving.
Update social media profiles and online directories like Google My Business with your new contact information. Make sure nothing is missing according to your inventory list. Instead of arranging everything exactly like it was in the old office, switch it up and breathe some new life into the décor.
We understand how much work and careful planning goes into an office move. Contact Weleski today for more information or to request an estimate.
How to Coordinate a Move around the Holidays.
Sometimes, you have to move when you have to move. Your lease is up right before Christmas, or there’s a serious problem with your current house right before the New Year, or you’ve decided to pack up and go and can’t wait until spring. While moving during the off-season is more difficult, it can be done. Here’s how to do it without significantly disrupting your life and your enjoyment of the holidays.
Plan Ahead.
If you have the luxury of extra time before the holidays to do important things like gift shopping, decorating, and planning, do it now. Don’t let anyone judge you for thinking about Christmas before Thanksgiving! Once your gifts are already bought and wrapped, you’ll breathe a sigh of relief.
Pack Your Decorations Last.
You don’t have to sacrifice your enjoyment of the season. Leaving up your holiday decorations will cheer you and help you stay in the moment when you’re stressing out about your impending move. On that note, only use decorations that are easy to put up and disassemble.
Use your move as an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Unload nice items that you’re not attached to by giving them as gifts. Most people won’t care that the items are second-hand as long as they’re in good condition and given thoughtfully.
Give Yourself Permission to Say “Sorry, I Can’t”
If you explain your predicament to your family and friends, they will understand if you can’t accept every party invitation, cook a meal for every potluck, or spend a ton of money on every gift. Give the gift of whatever time you can spare, and if you sometimes have to prioritize your move over having fun, there will always be another year.
Contact us today to get an estimate and schedule your move. We’re here to help you!
How to Decorate for the Holidays Before and After Moving.
Yes, it’s true that putting up decorations right before packing up and moving creates more work. If you’re still trying to sell your old house, this too is a reason to keep the walls bare. And, after you’ve just moved into a new home, taking time out of unpacking to decorate for Christmas is probably the last thing on your mind. However, aren’t the holidays all about taking time to slow down and enjoy the little things like cold weather, good food, and time with friends and family?
This doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing situation. Here’s a list of subtle, low-effort decorations that will put you in the holiday spirit without breaking your back once you have to take them down, pack them up, and put them back up in a new home.
1. A Wreath for the Door.
A simple wreath featuring faux evergreen, cedar, or even magnolia, olive tree, or berry arrangements is ridiculously easy to install and remove. You can hang it using command strips or a special wreath hanger that clips to the top of your door. When it comes time to move, just take it down, pad it carefully, and pack it away with your other decorations.
2. Projector Lights.
These mini projectors that cast LED lights all over your house were designed to save time and labor, and they can create an incredible variety of effects to your personal tastes, from twinkling stars, to gently falling snow, to twirling snowflakes. Best of all, if you’re worried about what potential sellers will think of your decorating tastes, you can simply switch it off. All you need to do to install a projector is stick it in your front lawn and connect it to a power source. Packing it up and taking it to your new home is as easy as packing up any small household electronics.
3. Alternatives to a Christmas Tree.
Putting up and taking down a Christmas Tree can be too labor-intensive even for people who plan on staying put in their houses. Instead, try any one of these Christmas tree alternatives. Some of them can be made with objects already in your home that you’re planning to take with you to the new house, like your books. Some can be made and decorated by your kids, like a chalkboard tree.
4. Wrapping Paper.
You can easily pull off these leftover wrapping paper DIYs with the remnants of last Christmas. Line your shelves with white and red, or fill your empty photo frames with squares of paper bearing Santa and holiday tidings. When it’s time to pack, all you have to do is take it down and recycle it, and you can easily do it over again in your new home.
Need more ideas about how to organize your move without missing out on the holidays? We’ve moved thousands of families at all times of the year, so just ask!
How to Make Moving Fun for Kids.
Moving is already stressful. Adding frustrated or bored kids who are trying to cope with change can be a recipe for disaster, but it doesn’t have to be this way. By helping your kids view moving with a positive attitude, they’ll not only have an easier time, but their high spirits and abundant energy can help make moving more fun and pleasant for you, too.
Talk to Them about Moving.
Kids have their own concerns, fears, and questions about moving to a new place. It’s hard for anybody to accept something in which they have no choice or leave behind the familiar, and children are no exception.
Giving them something to look forward to in the new location can ease the transition. Sign them up for a class where they can practice their favorite hobby. Show them pictures of local parks and attractions and promise to take them there once you’re settled in. Get them excited about decorating their new bedroom. The adjustment will take time, but helping them look forward to moving will make a difference.
Turn Packing into a Game.
Are you familiar with the “going on a picnic” game? If not, read the rules of the game. You can easily adapt them to packing boxes. For older kids, challenge them to remember everything that’s going into a box and repeat it back to you before they can add something else. Younger kids who have more trouble with remembering long lists can simply name an item that begins with the first letter of their name. Task your kids with organizing all the items in the house by category. For younger kids, challenge them to find and stack all of their clothing, toys, and books in a pile. Older kids can organize in more detail, separating types and seasons of clothes and grouping things of similar weight and size together. Let your kids decorate the boxes and create elaborate labels using stickers, markers, and crayons. You’ll get a smile on your face with every box you pick up and move as you admire their creative handiwork, and the back of your moving truck will look like an art gallery.
Make the Car Ride Fly By.
Music and car games will sustain your kids for an hour or two, but once boredom sets in you’ll have to endure a never-ending chorus of “Are we there yet?” Making the back seat comfortable with pillows and blankets and loading it with snacks will help keep the crankiness level low. With audio books, children will be able to follow longer stories above their reading level, and they won’t get car sick from reading paper books. Bring sleeping masks and ear plugs along for light sleepers (beware of the choking hazard for younger kids). If you’re lucky enough, your kids might pass part of the time by napping.
Help Kids Settle In.
Give them some independence about how their bedroom is organized. This will make unpacking and putting things away more fun and will motivate them to keep the room neater. With some guidance, let them decide how to decorate their room. On the first night at the new house, bring everyone’s mattress into the living room or another communal area so the whole family can “camp” together. This will make it easier for your children to tolerate new sounds at night. Let the kids get creative with the leftover boxes. They can make rocket ships, castles, masks, and even decorations for their rooms out of cardboard.
Over the last 50 years, Weleski has moved thousands of families with kids. If you have a question about how make moving fun for kids, just ask us!
Where to Get Moving Boxes.
Nothing beats a sturdy, easy-to-stack box for safely moving your belongings. But where do you get moving boxes? Sadly, it often seems like the supply of quality cardboard boxes has suddenly run out the closer you get to your moving date. Don’t resort to throwing your valuables into garbage bags – plan ahead and use these tips to ensure that you have all the clean and durable boxes you need.
Ask Your Friends and Coworkers.
Before you start driving around the neighborhood and diving in dumpsters, the first thing you should do is put out a notice on social media that you’re moving and need supplies. The wider you can cast your social net, the better. The average American moves once every five years. Chances that a friend (or a friend of a friend) just finished unpacking and has boxes to spare are high.
If you work in an office, ask if you can take home empty printer paper boxes. Offer to take the packaging from your coworkers’ Amazon shipments off their hands. Maybe they’ll appreciate you saving them a trip to the recycling bin.
Check Online Listings.
There’s a good chance that somebody on Freecycle or Craigslist is offering all the free boxes you need in your area. All you have to do is look for a listing. Don’t see anything right now? Post your own listing advertising your need with a contact phone number. Wait a week or so for the calls or texts to roll in. All you have to do is pick them up.
Stop By a Recycling Center.
You should ask for permission first, but it’s unlikely that anybody will mind if you take whatever whole boxes you can find from the stacks of cardboard at your local recycling center. After all, reusing materials again and again is even more effective at reducing energy consumption and protecting the environment than recycling!
Visit Area Businesses.
The best quality boxes will come from businesses that deal with shipments of dry, clean goods in a variety of sizes. Try an office supply store, a bookstore, or a pharmacy. You may have more luck at local businesses than at chain stores. You’ll get even luckier if you can figure out how often those stores receive shipments. This is where your network of friends can come in handy. Ask around and one of them might be able to alert you to a recent influx of usable boxes.
Do you need help on your quest for boxes? Just ask us and we’ll give you more detailed information about where to get moving boxes and how to get all the moving supplies you need.
How to Move Electronics.
Other than dishes and glassware, electronics are some of the most fragile items in your home, and they’re often even more complicated to move. Unless they’re covered against damage, breaking them will take a hefty bite out of your wallet, too. Keep them safe on their journey to your new home by following these 10 tips.
7 Tips for Moving into a College Dorm.
For many students, moving into a college dorm room will mark the first time they’ve ever been away from family and old friends for the long term. It’s important to make dorm room surroundings familiar, cozy, and organized. That way they have somewhere to retreat to when school stress wears them out. However, resist the temptation to pack anything and everything you can into a U-Haul. It will only make moving out at the end of the semester a nightmare.
Follow the move-in instructions.
Nearly all colleges and universities provide students with move-in information via mail before their arrival. Read these instructions thoroughly to make sure you understand where to park, what time the doors open, and where and how to check in.
Only pack the essentials.
Leaving home is hard. It’s understandable to want to bring as much of it with you as you can, but it’s not practical! Remember that dorms typically provide basic furniture like beds, desks, and wardrobes. Make a list of what you’ll need within your first two weeks, like bedding, toiletries, casual and dressy shoes (limit yourself to four or five pairs), two weeks’ worth of outfits (including loungewear, athletic clothes, and something formal just in case), laundry essentials, kitchen utensils, and a basic tool kit.
Coordinate with your roommate.
Does your new roomie have an awesome smart TV and a mini fridge that they’ve offered to share? Then don’t bring your own! Save the precious car space and the energy spent carrying them up and down the stairs.
Ship what you can.
Ask if you’ll be able to receive packages on move-in day. If you can, ship bulkier items ahead of your arrival, like mattress pads, pillows and blankets, black-out curtains, and towels. Don’t bother bringing your whole wardrobe – leave seasonal clothing behind so it can be shipped to you later in the year.
Buy it online.
If there’s something you won’t need right away but you’re worried you’ll need it eventually, consider whether you can buy it on Amazon and have it shipped to you at your convenience. Maybe by the time you’re finished moving in you’ll change your mind and save yourself from having to move it out again.
Use storage bins.
Buy organizers and bins ahead of time and pack all your items inside them. That way every item you bring with you will have a home, keeping you clutter-free throughout the semester. Not to mention how much easier it is to carry items in a storage bin with handles and a lid than in a garbage bag or open laundry basket.
Bring some mementos from home.
And by mementos, we don’t mean a bunch of fragile knickknacks, but a few pictures of parents, siblings, family pets, and other loved ones to post on the walls will go a long way in making this new space more welcoming. If you have a comfort object like a childhood stuffed animal or blanket that will make getting to sleep easier, don’t be embarrassed! Your roommate will probably have something too.
Want more tips about moving into a college dorm, or need some help on moving day? Feel free to contact us and ask us a question.
These Are Your 8 Packing Essentials.
You’ve probably seen the typical “I’m moving. Need boxes!” plea on Facebook. Sometimes people come through with boxes left over from their own recent move, but more often adequate packing supplies are scarce and those friends have to resort to hauling their clothes in black garbage bags.
If you’ve decided to do your packing alone, make it easy on yourself and get what you need. Maybe then you can be that friend who comes through for someone else with spare packing supplies. These are the eight packing essentials you can’t move without:
Corrugated cardboard boxes in various sizes. When you pack boxes, avoid making them too heavy for the average person to carry. Large boxes are perfect for lightweight items like bedding, towels, and lampshades. Appliances and toys will fit fine in medium boxes. Finally, he smallest boxes are good for dense, heavy items like books and tools. A dish barrel . This tall, narrow cardboard carton is especially good for containing plates and glassware. Some come with cardboard dividers for your glasses, mugs, and stemware. A wardrobe box . Say goodbye to black garbage bags – this is, hands down, the easiest way to transport your clothes from one closet to another. You don’t even have to take your garments off their hangers; simply hang them on the bar across the top of the box. Flat boxes . There are large, shallow boxes specifically designed to transport flat screen TVs, decorative mirrors, and art. Use them to protect some of your most valuable items. Packing paper . This is one of the most versatile and useful packing tools that people often forget about. Unlike newspaper, packing paper won’t rub ink all over your belongings. It’s perfect for cushioning plates and glasses, and you can rip and crumple it to fit into any sized space or corner to prevent movement and provide extra cushioning. Bubble wrap . It’s lightweight, it provides superior cushioning, and it’s fun to pop when you’re finished moving. Use bubble wrap on your most fragile and precious items, and wrap it around things like wooden furniture legs to prevent chips and scratches. You’re going to be taping like a fiend, so don’t wrestle with a bargain bin packing tape dispenser with a dull blade – get yourself a tape gun and save the time and frustration normally expended on trying to find and peel back the end of the tape after losing track of it for the fifth time. Finally, you’ll need to mark your boxes. You can use a classic black felt tip marker , or you can strive for maximum efficiency by color-coding your labels. Make sure you write your labels on the sides of the boxes so you can still read them after stacking them.
Want more advice about what packing materials to use for your move, or where to get them? Just ask us and we’ll be happy to help you.
How to Have a Garage Sale Before Moving.
Before you pack everything up in boxes and take it to your new home, you can do yourself a big favor by getting rid of the things you no longer need. Unless you are saving an item for someone else, if you haven’t used it in the last 3-5 years, there’s a good chance you never will. A garage sale or yard sale lets you make money, and also helps you save money by reducing the weight of your shipment.
Pick a date (Saturdays are prime) and advertise. There are several ways to get the word out.
You can use social media networks (Nextdoor is ideal) Post/distribute flyers in the neighborhood Put notices out through the local newspaper, church bulletins and bulletin boards.
Publish the starting time and duration (e.g., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.). When you open the garage door at 8 a.m., you’ll likely see a swarm of early birds—be prepared for the rush.
If parking is limited, you might contact your neighbors a few days before your event to ask if they would park their cars in their drives to free up space on the street. If you live on a narrow street or road with no shoulder for parking, assess the capacity for parking in your yard. Designate the parking area with highly visible signs.
Long, counter-height tables are ideal for displaying things. Keep kitchen things, tools, hardware, clothing, knick-knacks, books, etc. grouped together, as in departments. If something you wish to sell isn’t fully functional, note “as is” on the price to acknowledge it may need repair. However, most folks understand that garage sale items, especially in a moving sale, are sold “as is.”
How you price items can have a big impact on your success. In this era of eBay and online shopping, it’s easy to find a market price on just about anything you wish to sell. Remember, your goal is to get rid of things, so make your prices attractive.
Be prepared to consider offers below your asking price. A common mistake is to place a sentimental value on top of a market value. Books, for example, bring only pennies on the dollar, despite the fact that the enjoyment and enlightenment they offer can be immeasurable. If you are having a hard time parting with something, think of the enjoyment it will bring to someone else. A bit of charity in your outlook will serve you well.
If you are unsure of how to price some of your things, denote them with “make offer.” For items of relatively higher value, you may attach a piece of paper for bidders to write an amount they are willing to pay along with their contact info (phone or email) so they can be notified at the close of the sale.
Be aware that garage sales can be prime hunting grounds for sticky fingers and fraudsters. It pays to have several family members and friends on hand to help “mind the store” and keep things from walking off. A Dri-Mark® counterfeit detector pen is a worthwhile expense and can save you the embarrassment of ending up with funny money in your till.
Do you have a tip from your experience with garage sales and moving sales? Leave it in a comment to this post—I know our readers would like to hear from you!