A Professional Timeline for Your Upcoming Move

Setting the timeline for your next move is very important. If you wait until the last minute to handle everything, you may miss some of the most important steps. In addition, procrastinating during a move will only cause more stress. Here's a professional timeline you can customize to fit your specific residential moving needs.

10 Weeks Out

When you reach about ten weeks from your moving date, it's time to start getting things organized and make some decisions. This is a good time to look into local moving companies, especially if you're considering hiring the company to pack, move and unpack your things. Check out our reviews at The Professionals and let us know as soon as you're ready!

8 Weeks Out

At the eight-week mark, you will need to think about buying your packing materials. The Professionals will be able to help you with all of your supplies, including boxes for specialty items, such as flat screen TVs. If you're considering a garage/moving sale, this is the time to schedule the dates and get everything ready for it. Perhaps you should checkout The Chicago GreenBox and see if using their green, plastic moving totes would help keep your possessions clean and out of harms' way.

Chicago Green Boxes

6 Weeks Out

When you're about six weeks away from moving, it's time to let the school your children attend know, unless they will attend the same school after the move. You want to get all the copies of your children's school records and look into enrollment at the new schools. This is also a good time to book your moving appointment with us, and also get all of your medical records, if you're moving away from your current doctor.

4 Weeks Out

If you're about four weeks from your moving date, it's a great time to start packing anything you won't need for the next four weeks. Pack things down to just the essentials so that you can get as much packed ahead of time as possible. You can also notify the utility companies and your landlord, at this time. If you have a specific clause in your lease about notifying your landlord, make sure you check this plenty early. Some require 60 days notification, but most just ask for 30 days.

2 Weeks Out

At the two-week mark, it's time to get a plan together for groceries and food for the next few weeks. It's also a good time to have your car serviced, if you're moving long distance. You may also need to transfer insurance and pack as much as possible, as you don't want to be packing on moving day.

1 Week Out

At the one week mark, hopefully, you're just about all packed up. This is a good tie to confirm with your us and anything else having to do with your move. You can also pack an overnight bag with some essentials you will need when you first get into your new place.

The Day Before

Moving day is tomorrow and it's time to get your important documents together and anything else going with you on moving day. It's also a great time to do a final sweep of your home and make sure you didn't forget anything.

Moving Day

When moving day arrives, work with your movers to make sure everything safely makes it into the truck. You can also make a final sweep, if necessary. There are plenty of things you need to do before moving day shows up. Use this moving timeline to create your own timeline based on your specific needs.

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3 Ways to Take Care of Your Movers

Professional movers will take care of you by moving your things from one place to another. While they are working, there are some ways you can take care of them and some things you should know for moving day. Here's a look at three ways you can take care of your movers and a few things they wish you knew.

Offer a Beverage

Movers work hard and they appreciate it when you offer a sports drink, water or soda. If it's a hot day and it's going to be a long one for them, make sure to stock up on water or sports drinks to help keep your movers hydrated. However, it's not a good idea to ever offer any type of alcoholic beverage to movers. Most companies frown upon this.

Stay out of Their Way

It's okay to help with some things, but for the most part, you want to stay out of the way of your movers. This will take care of them in the best way possible by providing safety. If you get in the way, it could cause issues, which may prevent the movers from being able to do their job safely.

When you hire full time movers, you should let them do their job. They are trained professionals and know how to take care of your things.

Tip Them

Be prepared to tip your movers. This is probably the best way you can take care of them and the best way to thank them. You can find plenty of information on how much to tip your movers ahead of time. Make sure you have cash ready to go and give it to each mover individually or the foreman in front of the rest of the movers.

How to Help Your Movers

A Few Things Movers Wish You Knew

Making moving day easier on movers doesn't have to be difficult. Here are a few things you can do, which they wish you knew about.

Finish Packing

Before the movers arrive, it's best to be done packing. If you're still packing, they cannot do their job as efficiently as they would like.

Use a Clear Labeling System

A labeling system makes it easy for movers to load and unload the truck. Make sure you use a clear labeling system and let the movers know the system when they arrive.

Find out Where the Movers can Park the Truck

Before movers arrive, you should know where they can park the truck. The last thing they need is to be told they have to move it in the middle of moving. In addition, you'll end up paying for extra time if they have to figure out where to park and it takes forever.

Empty Drawers, Desks and Armoires

There's nothing worse than picking up a piece of furniture and watching a full drawer fall out scattering items everywhere. It's best to empty drawers and armoires before the movers arrive.

Don't Leave your Movers

While it's important to stay out of the way, movers appreciate it when you're easy to find. If they have questions or need clarification, they shouldn't have to hunt you down.

Moving day can be less stressful and you can take better care of your movers with the tips above.

What is the Proper Way to Pack Silverware and Plates?

The kitchen is one of the most used areas of any home. It's where you'll find all your silverware and plates, which need to be packed when it's time to move. Here are a few tips to help with packing these items before the residential movers show up.

Start Early

You can switch over to paper plates and plastic silverware for the final weeks or days before you move. This will not only allow you to pack your silverware and plates early, but will also eliminate some, if not all, of the dishes you'd have to do. You'll need that extra time for the move, anyway.

Get the Right Supplies

When you're packing, one of the most important things you can do is get the right supplies together. For packing silverware and plates, you'll need plenty of bubble wrap, cardboard dividers and medium-sized boxes. You'll also need plenty of packing tape and the right color marker for labeling the boxes.

Packing Plates

Packing up your plates isn't as easy as just throwing them in a box with some padding. If you pack them the wrong way, they are more likely to break, even if the box isn't moved around much.

The best way to pack plates is to put bubble wrap or packing paper at the bottom of the box. You will also want to wrap each plate in packing paper or bubble wrap. Then, wrap three plates into a bundle and use packing tape to hold them together.

Make sure you pack the plates on their edges. If you pack plates one on top of each other, they are more likely to break. It's also a good idea to put a horizontal cardboard divider at the top of the box to create a level base. After you're done, make sure to label the box as fragile.

Packing Silverware

Packing silverware isn't exactly straightforward either. You should wrap the pieces in newsprint or plastic wrap to keep your pieces from tarnishing. If you have a silverware chest, you want to fill the voids in the chest with packing paper to keep the pieces from moving. You can also wrap the chest in a large towel to ensure it’s fully protected.

Packing Other Kitchen Items

Along with silverware and plates, you may need to pack pots and pans, glassware and appliances. Each of these should be packed in a specific way.

• Pots and Pans - Pack pots and pans by size with the largest filled with smaller pots. Use packing paper to separate each one and place the set upside down on packing paper inside the box.

• Glassware - The best way to pack glassware is to wrap it in packing paper or bubble wrap. Then, put each piece in a divided box specifically created for glassware.

• Appliances - Appliances should be wrapped in packing paper or bubbles wrap and put into boxes separately. It's not a good idea to pack multiple appliances in one large box.

There are several things in your kitchen you will need to pack. Make sure you do it right or you could end up with broken or damaged items. If you want to make sure your items are fully protected, hire a professional moving company to handle the packing.

What goes into an Estimate for Moving?

When you get an online estimate or an in-person estimate for moving from one place to another, it's nice to know what goes into it. There are several factors used to determine the total cost for your move. Here's a look at some of the major factors used in a moving estimate.

Your New and Old Addresses

The address you will have your belongings picked up at and the address where they will be dropped off is where the moving estimate starts. Good moving companies will ask for this information before they move forward with anything else. The more details you provider, the more accurate your quote will be, as well.

For example, if you're just moving from one apartment to another, the addresses are great, but knowing what floor the apartments are on is even more helpful. You may also need to inform the moving company if you have things at a second address needing picked up along the way.

The Amount/Size of the Things Needing Moved

Along with the location your stuff is going from and to, the amount of things and the size of the things you have will also be factored into the moving estimate. If you have a grand piano and a large pool table needing moved, along with regular household belongings, your moving estimate will likely be higher due to those large items. Again, the more details you can give a moving company about the things you want moved, the more accurate your quote will be.

The Time of Year You Want to Move

In Chicago, moving in the winter may have a different cost compared to moving in the summer. Just like any industry, moving has peak times and off-peak times. If you move during a peak time of year, it will likely cost you more because many others are also moving during this time of year.

Often, in Chicago, the peak moving times are in the spring and fall when school is starting and ending. However, you may run into other peak times, depending on what is going on and when you plan to move.

Factors Making Your Move Less or More Expensive

While the main three things going into your estimate are the locations, your things and the time of year you move, there are other factors that will affect the price. Here are a few things you should understand when it comes to a moving estimate.

Labor

The number of actual movers required to get your belongings from point A to point B is a huge factor in how much it will cost for your overall move. For example, if you have a heavy piano needing moved, it may require a third mover for safety reasons. Without a heavy item, the moving may be able to be done by two movers, which won't cost as much.

Time

The number of hours spent on the actual job also factors into the overall cost. If the move is estimated to take only 3 hours, it won't cost as much as a move estimated to take 6 hours.

Distance

Long distance moves cost more than in-town moves. If you're just moving a few miles across town, it won't cost as much as moving the same belongings outside of the city.

Understanding what goes into a moving estimate is necessary. Not only will the estimate make more sense to you, but it will also help you compare one company to another.

Long Distance Moving

How Much Does it Cost to Move Fine Art?

Moving fine art isn't the same as moving a couch or another large item. It's fragile, may be very valuable and needs to be moved properly. Since this type of item is rather unique, it cannot be lumped into the moving estimate with all the other items. Fine art, such as paintings, sculptures, collector's items, chandeliers, statues and pictures requires a professional moving company capable of moving the type of item you own. The cost may vary widely, depending on the item or items you need moved. Here are some of the considerations a professional moving company will make when quoting a price for moving fine art.

The Value of the Art

If you plan to insure the fine art during the move, the value will make a big difference in the price. You may need to pay for an appraisal before the item is moved to ensure its value is correct. More valuable pieces are more expensive to move simply because they will cost more to replace if damaged or lost.

The Size of the Art

Size is another huge factor. It's not going to be the same price to move a simple 24" x 36" painting compared to a 300-pound statue. The larger the item is, the more you can expect to pay to have it moved, especially if the larger size means more weight.

With heavier items, moving companies may need to bring out special equipment or staff an additional mover to ensure the move is handled properly. This will cost more and just one extra mover can up the hourly rate by $75 or more per hour.

Moving Fine Art

How Fragile is the Art

Fragile art requires special packing materials and a specific strategy for moving. For example, if you have a highly valuable chandelier you need moved made of crystal, it will probably cost more than moving a painting. The chandelier may be large, oddly shaped and incredibly fragile, while the painting can simply be crated and moved.

If you own very fragile fine art, you should expect the cost of moving it to be much higher compared to moving a handful of valuable paintings. While all fine art must be handled with care, fragile items require an even higher level of care.

Benefit of Hiring a Professional to Move Fine Art

While it's very hard to narrow down even a simple price range for moving fine art, there are several benefits to hiring a professional moving company to handle your fine art. The benefits include:

• Safety - Professional movers know what they are doing and you will no longer be risking yourself when moving.

• Less chance of Damage - With a professional moving company, your fine art will be packed properly leaving the chances of damage at slim to none.

• Saves you Time - You no longer have to spend the time tracking down the right materials and packing the art yourself.

• Affordable - Usually, the cost of moving fine art is far more affordable than trying to handle it yourself.

The cost of moving fine art will vary widely, depending on what needs to be moved. Just as art can be very subjective, so can the estimate for moving it. If you need to move fine art, it's best to get an estimate from a professional moving company specializing in fine art moving.