How to Best Utilize Your Time During a Full-Service Move

When you hire movers to do your packing and unpacking, along with loading and transporting your items, it's known as a full-service move. This type of move will save you time, but what do you do with all that time?

There are still several tasks that must be done. From making sure your utilities are turned on at your new home to cleaning up your old home before turning in your keys, you have plenty to do.

If you're planning to hire The Professional Moving Specialists for a full-service move, here are some of the ways you can utilize the time you will gain back.

Create a Moving Inventory

Before the movers arrive to pack up your belongings, you'll want to create a moving inventory. This is a great way to see what you own and to make sure all your items make it to your new home.

An itemized checklist will ensure you know what was packed and what gets unpacked. You want to be very specific with this inventory and consider taking pictures of anything expensive.

Figure Out What You want to Pack

You may not want movers packing every single item you own. Whether you want to pack your most expensive items or you prefer to pack your clothing on your own, make sure you figure this out ahead of time.

If you're moving a long distance, make sure you set aside a change of clothes and other items you may need. Also, consider packing important documents yourself instead of having movers handle these items.

If possible, designate a room or an area clearly marked for the items you will pack. This area can also be designated as the items you will take in your vehicle with you.

Triple Check Everything

Once the movers start to pack up your items and load them into the truck, you can start triple checking everything. Check cabinets, corners, closets, and other areas to ensure you don't leave anything behind. 

Remove Flammable Items from Your Home

Movers will likely not touch anything flammable, hazardous, or corrosive. You want to remove these items and pack them yourself. These items include:

• Batteries

• Cleaning Fluids

• Gasoline

• Kerosene

• Fireworks

• Firearms

• Nail Polish

• Aerosol Cans

• Propane Tanks

• Fertilizer

Make sure these items are separated or disposed of properly before your movers arrive.

Keep the Kids and Pets Busy

While movers are at your home packing up, you want to keep the kids and pets out of their way. You can keep them busy in the back yard or have one parent take the kids and pets to a local playground. 

Not only will keeping them out of the way help movers work faster, but it will also keep your pets and kids safe. If necessary, you can even consider hiring a sitter for the pets or kids during the time the movers are packing up.

Disassemble Ahead of Time

Some movers will disassemble furniture, while others may not. It can save you a little bit of money if you disassemble items before the movers arrive. This is a good use of your time when you hire full-service movers.

There are many things you will still need to do, even when you hire full-service movers. Make sure you fully understand what your residential movers are willing to do for you and what you will still need to handle on your own.

5 Apps to Help You Sell Unwanted Goods During a Move

Residential moving can be stressful, but unloading some of your unwanted items can make the move a bit easier. There's an app for that, of course. In fact, there are several apps with the ability to help you sell your unwanted items. Let's look at five of the top choices.

LetGo

An app with the ability to save you time and help you sell items locally, LetGo provides an excellent platform for selling things. In fact, The Balance Everyday published a list of their 7 Best Local Selling Apps and LetGo was the top choice.

You'll have the ability to list your items in one of many categories ranging from clothing to games to furniture. In addition, you'll get to tag your items and make it easy for buyers to find what you're selling.

The LetGo App is free and can be downloaded for both iPhone and Android.

Facebook Marketplace

Another good app for selling locally is the Facebook Marketplace. Buyers can find your items and you can schedule a time to meet up together for the sale. The app is completely free and can be used on all platforms.

Carousell

According to MoneyPantry, Carousell is the top choice for selling your unwanted items locally before moving. This app is a bit newer than some of the others on the list and it's completely free to list your items. You can join special groups to help sell your items within your community, as well.

Once you've listed your item with the Carousell app, you can easily share the listing through social media channels, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The app is available for both iPhone and Android.

eBay

According to Techlicious, eBay is the bestselling app. With eBay, you can expect to get top dollar for your items, but you should expect to ship your items to the seller once they have completed the purchase.

The eBay app isn't as good for selling items locally as some of the others, but it can be great for selling higher-priced items. With this app, you're likely to get top dollar, but you will need to be willing to ship your items to the buyer.

OffferUp

Another great app for selling your item, OfferUp allows you to easily list and sell just about anything. It's available for both Android and iPhone and it's all about selling locally.

You won't have to ship anything with the OfferUp app and communicating with buyers is really easy. You can even bump your item back to the top of the listings at any time for a fee.

Along with these top five apps to help you sell your unwanted items before a move, there are several other options including:

• Mercari

• CPlus for Craigslist

• VarageSale

• Tradesy

• ThredUP

• Poshmark

• Decluttr

All of these apps offer the ability to sell your items before you move. Whether you're looking to unload a piece of furniture or sell a video game collection, you can use one of these apps to find the right buyer.

What Should I Do Before My Packers Arrive?

You've decided to make moving day much easier and you hired professional packers. Maybe you've never hire someone to pack up your home before and you're not sure how to prepare. There are several things you may want to do before your packers arrive.

Let's look at some of the most important things you should do before packers arrive to box up your home.

Purge

The first thing you should do, and if possible before you hire packers, is purge anything you don't need, want, or desire. Go through all your belongings and get rid of anything you won't need or simply don't want at your new home.

Moving is a great time to take an inventory of what you own and donate, dispose of, recycle, or sell unwanted items. Along with helping you minimize your items and see what you have, purging will also help you save money as you'll have less to pack and move.

Take Out Anything You Prefer to Pack Yourself

You probably have items you don't want someone else handling. Maybe you don't want packers touching your prized jewelry or personal effects. Now is the time to separate all the valuables, mementos, paperwork, and other items you want to pack on your own.

Separate the Fragile

Maybe you have antiques, artwork, or other fragile items you want packers to know about. Before they arrive, separate these items to ensure they understand which items needs to be handled with extra care.

You can place all of these items into one room and label the room as fragile items or you can put them into to corner with a label. However you go about it, make sure you communicate to the packing crew which items are fragile and require special handling.

Create an Item Inventory

An inventory of all your possessions helps to protect you if something is damaged or lost. It will also help you to see what you own and what you may need in your new home. Make sure you take an inventory of all your possessions before the packing crew arrives.

Handle the Items Professional Packers Won't

There are some items professional packers won't pack for you. It's your responsibility to pack up these items or dispose of them and you should do this before the packing crew arrives.

Some of the items you will likely need to handle on your own include:

• Hazardous item - Paint, flammable materials, weapons, chemicals, corrosive items, ammunition, chemicals, oils, etc.

• Perishable Food

• Plants

• Anything else the packers have specifically said they won't pack

There are several things you may want to do before the packing crew arrives. Make sure you speak with them to find out if they require you to do anything specific before they arrive.

In addition to the list above, you may want to clean your home. Often, this is required at move out, anyway, so it may be a good idea to have the home clean when the packing crew arrives. Also, make sure you're a good host to your packers and movers.

Moving to Chicago's Suburbs: What You Should Know About Each Area

Your family is growing, you're ready to move outside the city, and the suburbs are calling you. Chicago suburbs have plenty to offer and moving outside the city provides a great option, but which suburb is right for you?

When it's time to move, The Professional Moving Specialists have you covered. Whether you're moving inside the city or out to one of the top Chicago Suburbs, we're here to help.

Let's look at the North, West, and South Chicago suburbs to help you make the right decision.

Chicago North Suburbs

Offering several great suburbs, Chicago North Suburbs provide plenty of options for all types of residents. Buffalo Grove is one of the most popular options with great schools, plenty of growth, and less traffic.

Those seeking a suburb just three miles outside the city will enjoy living in Glenview. This suburb is technically a village and offers plenty of charm throughout. It's known for high-ranking public schools, good entertainment options, and plenty of things to do throughout.

A few other great Chicago North Suburbs to consider include:

• Northbrook

• Arlington Heights  

• Long Grove

• Evanston

Whether you're moving to one of these northern Chicago suburbs or another one, The Professional Moving Specialists will help you with all your packing, moving, and unpacking needs.

Chicago West Suburbs

Choosing one of the Chicago West Suburbs may just fit with where you want to live. Aurora offers a top choice just outside the metro area of Chicago. It's known as the City of Lights and provides good schools, beautiful architecture, and plenty of employment opportunities in manufacturing and technology.

Another great choice found to the west of the city is Naperville. This suburb is located in the Illinois Technology and Research Corridor making is a great choice for those in the fields of engineering and technology. It has been known as a top suburb in the entire country and provides excellent events, along great public schools.

A few other excellent Chicago West Suburbs to consider include:

• Clarendon Hills

• Wheaton

• Addison

• Batavia

When it's time to move to one of the western Chicago suburbs, you can count on The Professional Moving Specialists to help move your things to your new suburban home.

Chicago South Suburbs

Many great suburbs are located to the south of Chicago. Chicago Heights is one of the top choices with a massive industrial center. This suburb offers great employment opportunities, along with beautiful historic homes and plenty of good schools to consider.

Another excellent choice, especially if you love historic heritage is Crete. This suburb provides plenty of charm with major transportation options offering plenty of access to the city.

Other Chicago South Suburbs to consider include:

• Hazel Crest

• Homewood

• Park Forest

• University Park

No matter which Chicago suburb you're moving to, we will help you with all your packing, transportation, and unpacking needs. Our team of professional movers covers a large number of suburbs. Find a complete list of the Chicago suburbs we provide residential moving service for here.

Tips for Taking Inventory of Your Possessions Before Moving

When it's time to move, understanding what you own is rather helpful. Knowing what you have and what will be moving to your new location with you will help you choose the right size truck, get an accurate quote from a Chicago residential moving company, and ensure all your belongings make it to your new location.

There are so many things to do when moving; taking a full inventory often becomes overlooked. Don't allow this to happen to you as there are too many good reasons to take an inventory of your possessions.

Top 3 Reasons to Inventory Your Belongings When Moving

Before you start packing, you want to take an inventory of all your possessions. Here are three reasons why taking a full inventory is important when moving.

Understand What you Have and What You Need

Moving into a new place often means getting new things to fill the space. An inventory of your possessions will show you what you have and what you need.

More Efficient Packing and Unpacking

With an inventory of everything you own, you'll be able to more efficiently pack your items in the right categories. As long as you label everything properly, unpacking will also become much easier.

For Insurance Purposes

If something happens to your items during the move, you will likely need a moving inventory for the moving company and the insurance company. You want to make sure you check with both companies before moving to find out what they require for your inventory list.

While these three reasons make it easy to see why you should have a moving inventory of your possessions, you'll also be able to get a more accurate moving quote when you can tell the movers exactly what will be going.

A Few Easy Ways to Create Your Moving Inventory

There are several ways to go about creating an inventory and you want to make sure you understand what your moving company and the insurance company will require. Here are three easy ways to create your inventory.

Pen and Paper

The old-fashioned way might work best for you. Simply get a clipboard or notebook and start writing down what you own. You can create categories for different items and include a simple description.

Excel Sheet or Other Spreadsheet

A spreadsheet makes it easy to organize your inventory and save it to your computer. It works much like pen and paper, but you can likely use a program on your phone, tablet, or computer instead of writing it by hand.

Inventory Apps

There are several apps you can add to your smartphone or tablet for inventory creation. One of the best apps is the Home Inventory app, which is available for iOS. This app will help you catalog your belongings from one room to another. It can even help to estimate the weight and cubic footages of your items for movers.

A few alternative apps to choose include:

• Sortly (iOS and Android)

• Nest Egg (iOS)

• Magic Home Inventory (Android)

• Momento Database (iOS, Android, and Desktop)

Any of these apps will make taking a home inventory before you move very easy.

Video/Picture Inventory

Another method, which may be required by your moving company and insurance company, is to take a video or picture inventory. Instead of or in addition to documenting the things you own, you can record video proof or take a picture of everything you own.

No matter the way you go about creating your inventory before you move, this is a vital step you want to take. There are many good reasons listed above for creating a home inventory and your inventory list will provide plenty of benefits.