Sacramento Movers Discuss How to Choose a Long Distance Home Mover

A long distance move can be one of the most daunting tasks and can present big life changes in addition to the stress of moving.  There are so many things to consider when planning a long distance move such as finding a new school for the kids, looking for a house and a new job. Then there is packing up every last belonging to be shipped miles and miles away. During this time of change and transition, the last thing you’d want is to end up with an overly-complicated long distance move. Avoid headache and heartbreak by choosing a mover that fits your goals and expectations for the move. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® makes the decision simple with a brief set of guidelines.

Time. The length of time the move will take is one factor to take into consideration when you’re looking for a long distance moving company to help relocate your home. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® offers an expedited long distance moving service which means that the household goods can be transported from Los Angeles to New York in less than a week. Van lines offer a less expensive service however the time frame for delivery of the shipment can range from two weeks to a month or more depending on the company. The reason for this is that the expedited service only puts one customer’s belongings on a truck and transports them from point A to point B.  Meanwhile van lines will load three different customers’ items onto the truck and make several stops, sometimes unloading and re-loading the customers’ items before final delivery.  This indirect route that the van lines take slows down the shipment considerably.

Quality of Service. Another consideration for long distance moves is the movers themselves and the service offered for the price. Some questions you may want to ask the moving service before booking the move are as follows:

• ·         Do the same driver and mover handle the shipment from start to finish or does it change hands?
• ·         Are these drivers and movers background checked, drug tested, and fully trained?
• ·         Will items be taken off the truck and re-loaded multiple times? Each time an item is moved on or off the truck it is that much more likely to break.
• ·         Are trucks traceable by GPS?
• ·         Are trucks locked securely at all times?
• ·         Will you be notified when prior to each weighing of the truck? It is your right and in your best interest to be present at each weighing to ensure the van line does not attempt to manipulate the scales offering them a chance to charge you a higher price.
• ·         What extra charges are associated with the move?

It’s important to ask these questions prior to the move or else you may end up with a mover that consistently “looses” or damages items or even holds customers’ items hostage. Remember to look at the Better Business Bureau for information about the company’s reputation as well as review sites such as Yelp or Angie’s List.

Price. One of the most important factors for consumers that are moving across the country is price. Moving becomes quite costly for long distance moves, often costing somewhere in the thousands of dollars. Keep in mind that when selecting a moving company, you get what you pay for. If you want to pay the cheapest price, you will have to accept the higher risk of damages and loss of property. Additionally you may end up paying more to stay in a hotel at the other end while waiting weeks for your home goods to arrive. In many cases it is worth it to pay a little extra up front for a reliable, expedited service, than to cope with the challenges of using a “cheap” mover.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Sacramento employs a staff of over 40 Full-Time Movers and Drivers, with a fleet of 10 trucks. We have performed home and business moving services in and around the Greater Sacramento area for almost 10 years. Our award winning services include full service moving and packing services and we also sells boxes and packing supplies.

With comments or questions contact Carolyn Durkee, Marketing Coordinator at the Sacramento office of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® at 916-852-7411 or contact us here. 

Sacramento Movers Explain How To Become A Local In A New Town

One of the challenging aspects of moving to a new town is that you now are faced with big changes. You have not only changed homes, you also change social scenes, job markets, sports teams, schools, communities, cultures, economy, and sometimes you may even have a new accent to adjust to. It’s a lot to face and can easily be overwhelming. Here are a few suggestions to help you ease into that new environment and quickly become a local in your new town.

(Photo Credit: Constant Contact)

Get to know the lay of the land. Look at maps, drive around town, and take walks. Once you know your way around, you will not only have an easier time finding places you are looking for but you will also be able to know what areas people are talking about when you engage in conversation. For example when you meet someone and they tell you about an awesome restaurant you have to try, they will often say something like, "it's over on J street right across from the convention center." If you've already taken the time to get to know the area a bit then you will probably have some idea of where that restaurant is.

Get involved in the community. What are your interests? Are you a mom with young kids? If so find a group of other moms with kids around the same age. You and your kids can make new friends. Do you like to volunteer? Then find a local charity and get involved. Are you hoping to get plugged in to the business world? Look up the local chamber of commerce to find out about business resources. Do you value outdoor adventure activities? Find out what is available in the area such as biking, kayaking, or skiing and spend a day doing what you love.

Keep up on the news. It's important to know who's who in the area, including the big names and the big companies that impact the local social scene or economy. These are likely to pop up a lot in conversations and may even have an impact on your day-to-day life in that city. Reading the newspaper will help with that. Another resource to you through the newspaper is you can find out about local events that you may want to participate in.

Support local businesses. Find small mom-n-pop stores in the area and become a regular patron. If you show your face one or twice a week at that little bakery around the corner, sooner or later the staff will learn your name and your order of choice. You may even make new friends or learn a lot about the town just by chatting with small business owners in the area.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Sacramento employs a staff of over 40 Full-Time Movers and Drivers, with a fleet of 10 trucks. We have performed home and business moving services in and around the Greater Sacramento area for almost 10 years. Our award winning services include full service moving and packing services and we also sells boxes and packing supplies.

With comments or questions contact Carolyn Durkee, Marketing Coordinator at the Sacramento office of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK at 916-852-7411 or contact us here. 

Sacramento Movers Explain Binding Versus Non-Binding Estimates

When you begin to research moving companies and request moving quotes, you may hear the words “binding estimate” and “non-binding estimate” and wonder what exactly those terms mean. This is actually a rather important distinction to be aware of when planning a move with a  professional moving company. Here’s a little comparison of the two types of estimates that are given.

Binding Estimate

Most moving companies will conduct an onsite estimate at a customer’s home before scheduling a move with a customer. An onsite estimate is simply when a move consultant walks through your home to take a visual inspection of the items that are being moved to get an accurate idea of the size of truck needed as well as what crew size to send out and give you a range for how long the move should take. The move consultant considers estimated weight of your items and the distance from point A to point B when coming up with the estimate for the move.

Only after conducting an onsite estimate, should a mover provide you with a binding estimate. This estimate will be in writing. If you choose to go with that moving company, then you will be obligated to pay the amount specified in the binding estimate. The advantage of the binding estimate is that you know the upper limit of what you will be required to pay and the mover is also bound to charge you no more than that amount.

Exceptions to binding estimates occur when you add more items to the amount being moved, or when you request more services (additional packing or moving up or down stairs when that was not originally part of the estimate). In cases such as these, the moving company has the right to revise the binding estimate and raise the bill. Be sure to communicate such changes with your mover before the move begins so that they can modify your estimate before you are obligated to pay for their services.

Non-Binding Estimates

Non-binding estimates do not obligate movers to charge you the quoted price. There may be cases in which you must pay more than the non-binding estimate. This estimate is an approximate moving cost based on the mover’s survey of the items being moved. The final cost is not determined until the shipment has been weighed (for long distance movers) or the move is complete (for local moves billed on an hourly rate). One easy clue that you are getting a non-binding estimate from your mover is if the estimate is provided over the phone without a visual inspection of your home having been completed.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Sacramento employs a staff of over 40 Full-Time Movers and Drivers, with a fleet of 10 trucks. We have performed home and business moving services in and around the Greater Sacramento area for almost 10 years. Our award winning services include full service moving and packing services and we also sells boxes and packing supplies.

With comments or questions contact Carolyn Durkee, Marketing Coordinator at the Sacramento office of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK at 916-852-7411 or contact us here. 

Sacramento Movers Suggest Household Fix-Up Projects To Prepare For Winter

If you own a home it is likely to be the largest, most expensive investment you will make and it’s important to keep it in good shape. Fall is well underway and winter fast approaching. This is the best time make a couple small improvements or fix-ups to be sure that the property is not damaged in windy, damp weather. In fact it may be possible to save some money on energy and heating over the winter months by making a few improvements around the house.

(Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens)

Replace light bulbs. This may sound a little silly but the last thing you want to do in the holiday season is rack up the electric bill. Get rid of incandescent light bulbs and replace them with high-efficiency compact fluorescent light bulbs to save energy. Check with your local electricity provider to see if there are rebates available for making the switch. Why do it now? With less natural light and long evenings indoors, lighting is used in the home far more than any other time of year.

Keep the warm air within. Carefully inspect the caulking and seals around window frames to be sure there are no gaps that may let chilly air into the home. Replace weather stripping around doors including garage and side doors. If these steps seem a little more than you can manage, perhaps just install drapes or curtains over each window. That layer of fabric covering a window can do a lot to keep a room warm and cozy.

Check the furnace. When the weather gets cold enough to turn on the heater it’s always a good idea to have a professional come out to inspect the furnace and retune it if necessary. If this simple, routine maintenance is not completed, the heater can end up costing an exorbitant amount. This should be done once a year at the beginning of heater season.

Check the roof. It’s important to check the roof for leaks before you get hit with rain. You may be able to fix any leaky patches yourself but if in doubt, always call a professional. Meanwhile check the instillation in the attic to be sure it is keeping all that warm air under the roof.

Clean the gutter. Get out the ladder and remove any leaves or debris that traps the gutter wells and drain. This afternoon cleanup project will allow water to flow smoothly off the roof without landing in rough puddles along the flower beds or across the front entry way.

Winterize the plumbing. Call out a plumber to winterize any exterior faucets or sprinkler systems. If left without this essential fix, freezing temperatures can cause these to freeze and burst. If all else fails, turn off the water supply to these faucets and drain the hoses of water when you anticipate freezing weather.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Sacramento employs a staff of over 40 Full-Time Movers and Drivers, with a fleet of 10 trucks. We have performed home and business moving services in and around the Greater Sacramento area for almost 10 years. Our award winning services include full service moving and packing services and we also sells boxes and packing supplies.

With comments or questions contact Carolyn Durkee, Marketing Coordinator at the Sacramento office of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK at 916-852-7411 or contact us here. 

Sacramento Movers Says Don’t Let The Bed Bugs Bite

 Although to some it may seem like a funny little night time saying, bed bugs actually do bite and they leave itchy little marks on the skin. These are similar in size, appearance, and itchiness to mosquito bites but often you will notice them in the morning after a night’s sleep. While you may be helpless to ward of these critters in sleep, there are some steps you can take to get rid of or prevent bed bugs from spreading in your home.

Where to find them? Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs do not only live in your bed. Bed bugs will hide during the day, making them hard to spot, but being nocturnal, they will come out to find food (i.e. human or animal blood) during the night. They hide on mattresses, box springs, headboards, behind wall paper and picture frames and on baseboards, carpet, even in electrical outlets. If your home is a little more cluttered, you’re giving these little critters that many more places to hide. Generally cluttered homes are more likely to have bed bug infestation. Look in the places mentioned and keep an eye out for tiny black dots along the edge of your mattress or the crevice between your baseboard and carpet.

How to get rid of them? There are several solutions for getting rid of bed bugs, some more effective than others. One solution would be to call a pest control professional or if you are able to locate the bed bugs yourself, you could try using at-home insecticide treatments.

How to prevent them? Since clutter is a great place for bed bugs to hide, begin with narrowing down the clutter in your home. Whenever you wash your bed sheets, inspect the sheets and the mattress for any small black spots. Vacuum regularly.  Avoid bringing used or second hand furniture into your home and thoroughly clean your suitcases and clothing after traveling in case they may have picked up bed bugs in hotel rooms. When you move, protect your mattresses by using mattress bags. You don’t want to expose your mattress to these critters while moving it in and out of the house or loading it on the moving truck. You can also permanently keep mattresses and sofas in bed bug proof mattress covers available at home improvement stores. These protect from bed bugs, dust mites, and allergy triggers.

Don’t let the bed bugs bite!

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Sacramento employs a staff of over 40 Full-Time Movers and Drivers, with a fleet of 10 trucks. We have performed home and business moving services in and around the Greater Sacramento area for almost 10 years. Our award winning services include full service moving and packing services and we also sells boxes and packing supplies.

With comments or questions contact Carolyn Durkee, Marketing Coordinator at the Sacramento office ofTWO MEN AND A TRUCK at 916-852-7411 or contact us here. 

Sacramento Movers Explain How To Pack A Kitchen Prior To Moving

The kitchen is one of the most challenging rooms to pack. Many people opt to have this room alone packed even if they can’t afford to have the whole house packed by a moving company. Considering how many oddly shaped or fragile items this room has, not to mention the sheer amount of pieces to be packed, it certainly makes sense to hire someone else to do it. However, for those trying to keep costs down or who would just rather do the job themselves, here are some tips for packing up the kitchen before a move.

Start the pack job well before the move day. The more time in advance the better as this will give you the opportunity to carefully pack each item and get extra supplies if necessary. For tips on moving large appliances including the refrigerator check out our blog post on preparing appliances for the move.

Begin with packing items that are not used often such as fine china dishware, stemmed glasses, seasonal or decorative dishes, souvenir mugs, as well as party platters or food warmers. Wrap china and glassware in plain packing paper so that newspaper ink will not bleed onto these delicate items. Thoroughly pad the bottom of the dish pack and put extra stuffing in the corners of the boxes which are the most likely to be smashed in. Place the heavier items toward the bottom of the box using cell dividers to keep dishes in place. Pack glasses and stemware toward the top of the box.

In small moving boxes pack cookbooks with their binding facing up. If you have additional space in this box you can stow away decorative items, coasters, placemats or other miscellaneous items. You can also use small boxes to pack up cooking utensils and kitchen knife sets. Pack away your spices in small moving boxes. You may want to pack oils and spice jars that could spill in individual zip lock baggies to keep everything else in the box clean and dry.

In large or medium size boxes, pack your pots, pans, and small appliances. Wrap each item. Pack the toaster oven, microwave, rice cooker, mixer, and coffee pot. Pots and pans can be wrapped and placed within each other, larger pans at the bottom and smaller ones stacked on top.  You may want to think through ahead of time which items you will need till move day for last minute cooking and leave these aside.

As the last few days approach, begin packing your everyday dishware and utensils. If you want to really make things easier, you may consider getting paper plates and cups to use so that you can pack up your dishes before the last minute. Remember, heavier items at the bottom, lightweight glassware up top.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Sacramento employs a staff of over 40 Full-Time Movers and Drivers, with a fleet of 10 trucks. We have performed home and business moving services in and around the Greater Sacramento area for almost 10 years. Our award winning services include full service moving and packing services and we also sells boxes and packing supplies.

With comments or questions contact Carolyn Durkee, Marketing Coordinator at the Sacramento office of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK at 916-852-7411 or contact us here.