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.

Eye These Trending Chicago Neighborhoods During Your Next Move

Chicago is full of great neighborhoods. If you're relocating to the windy city or you're just looking to move to a new neighborhood, you should know which ones are hot right now. Here's a look at some of the trending Chicago neighborhoods to consider next time you move.

Ukrainian Village

Full of dive bars, modern restaurants and old Ukrainian delis, this neighborhood is one of the hottest right now. It's a West Side neighborhood and people are moving here en masse.

In January of 2016, Ukrainian Village was ranked as the hottest neighborhood in the entire country by Redfin. It used to be just the center of the Ukrainian community, but it has become so much more.

Bridgeport

Filled with a diverse mix of residents, Bridgeport is an older neighborhood with plenty of charm. It's known for the bakeries and bars, such as Maria's Packaged Goods and Community Bar. Historically, it’s an Irish-American area, but has become one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city.

A study done by DePaul University in 2008 showed Bridgeport as one of the top diverse areas in the entire city. It has also been the birthplace of five different Chicago mayors.

Near West Side

A Fulton Market District neighborhood, Near West Side is one of the best for foodies. Moving here will put you within walking distance or a short cab ride from some of the hottest restaurants, such as Au Cheval and Girl & the Goat. The neighborhood is also home to The Aviary cocktail lounge, which is one of the best you'll find in the area.

Uptown

Known for the live music venues and art deco, Uptown Chicago is one of the hottest places to live. It's full of great restaurants, found just blocks from the Aragon Ballroom and provides all types of history.

Riviera Theater is found nearby, which has been a music venue since the 1980s. It was once a movie theater and dates all the way back to 1917. This is also the neighborhood where you'll find Al Capone’s old hangout Green Mill.

Pilsen

An artistic community with plenty to offer, Pilsen is known for the Mexican street food. It's a Lower West Side neighborhood with a Hispanic influence throughout. The Chicago Art District is also found here with plenty of galleries to export and public art is found all throughout Pilsen.

River North

This neighborhood used to be a slum until the art galleries took over. It has been transformed into one of the finest areas in town with plenty of galleries and commercial buildings throughout. You'll find the Trump Tower here, along with many other skyscrapers. It’s also home to many celebrities and athletes.

Other top Chicago neighborhoods to consider include:

• Wicker Park

• Bucktown

• Gold Coast

• Hyde Park

• Lakeview

• Roscoe Village

• Streeterville

Chicago is a city full of diverse neighborhoods and something for just about anybody. Moving to the city provides a wide variety of options including these trending Chicago neighborhoods.

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.

How to Store Your Car in Chicago During the Winter

Moving to Chicago may be necessary for a new job opportunity. If you're planning to relocate to Chicago or you recently moved to the city, you may be concerned about how you will handle storing your car for the winter. This is especially true if you own a convertible or a sports car you don't plan to drive again until spring. Storing your car during the Chicago winter might seem tricky, but there are plenty of options available to you. Here are a few of the best ways to handle this situation after moving to Chicago.

A Heated Storage Garage

Many storage companies throughout the Chicago area offer heated storage for vehicles. Sometimes, this is referred to as "climate-controlled" storage and it's the best choice for those looking to store a convertible or a sports car.

Some of the fluids in a vehicle can freeze during Chicago winters. However, if you choose a heated garage for storage, you won't have to worry as much.

Covered Parking

If there is any possibility you will drive the vehicle during the winter, covered parking may be a better option for you. While your vehicle won't be protected from the cold, it will be protected from the snow and ice. You will need to winterize the vehicle by checking the fluids and flushing any fluids that could freeze.

Specialty Sports Car Storage

Some companies throughout Chicago offer storage for sports cars, such as Ferrari’s. They may offer in and out services to allow you to drive your vehicle whenever you want. Another big plus of a specialty storage company is the battery tender service and other mechanical services they may offer.

This type of car storage in Chicago won't be inexpensive and can run as much as $250 per month or more. However, you will usually have options to make sure your vehicle remains in good, running condition all throughout the winter. You won't have to worry about a dead battery come spring if you choose the right specialty storage company.

Outside Parking

Of course, you can always park your vehicle in a long-term outside parking facility. This will be the least expensive of the car storage options and will probably require a good car cover, along with full winterizing of the vehicle. However, if your budget is tight, outside parking may be the right solution.

A Private/Friend's Garage

Many Chicago residents will rent out garage space of their own for winter car storage. If you can find a good place near where you live, this may be a good option. Of course, it's even better if the private garage happens to be owned by someone you know.

While there are plenty of options for car storage during the winter in Chicago, some of the best options fill up fast. It's important to make sure your vehicle is winterized if it won't be stored in a heated garage. Make sure you go through all of the steps to winterize your vehicle or you may discover major issues come spring.

Winter Moving Services

How to Label Your Moving Boxes Like a Pro

Even the most organized person can quickly become disorganized during moving. Residential moving is one of the most chaotic and stressful times in most people's lives. However, proper labeling of your moving boxes will help to ensure it's a less stressful process. With a smart labeling system, you will make unpacking much easier and there will actually be a system to loading and unloading the truck.  It's best to start the labeling process as you start packing. Here are a few tips to help you label your moving boxes like a pro.

Get the Right Labeling Tools

You need more than just a sharpie to label your boxes. The best type of labeling system requires markers in a variety of colors. Make sure they are good quality markers, as you don't want one to go out halfway through the process.

Quality markers won't be the cheapest on the shelves. Make sure they come from a brand you can trust and you get at least five different colors. It's also best to use permanent, waterproof markers for labeling moving boxes.

Along with the markers, you should get colored tape matching the colors of your markers. While most of the packing tape you will use will be clear, a roll of each color will help with your labeling process. If you are using our Chicago Green Moving Boxes, use masking tape and mark where the boxes need to go. We can supply most of these items here and here.

Use a Color Coding System

Now that you have your markers and your colored tape, it's time to put together your system. Choose a color for each of the major rooms, such as green for the kitchen, red for the family/living room, blue for the bedroom, orange for the bathroom(s) and yellow for the dining room. You can assign the colors to any room you want, as long as it makes sense for you.

Now, as you pack up each room, use the marker with the corresponding color to write on each box. Write the room name in large, capital letters one each box. Then, list out the items in the box in smaller print.

You will also want to use the colored tape on each box. Just one strip on the top or on the side of the box will be enough. It just provides another easy way to recognize the color for the room.

Let Your Movers Know About Your System

When the movers arrive to pick up your items, have a sheet of paper printed out with each color and what it means. If they don't know your system, they won't be able to put the boxes in the right place when they arrive at your new home. Giving this sheet to the movers before they pack up the truck will allow them to better load the truck, as well.

Using a color coded labeling system will take the guesswork out of unpacking. You'll be able to easily spot an out-of-place box and your movers will know where the boxes go before they arrive.

It's also important to make sure you tape over or black out any old markings if you're reusing boxes. When you write the description of what's in the box, you should be as specific as possible, as well. This will help with your own confusion as you start unpacking.