Thinking About A Wintertime Move?

As the cold winds come blustering through, it’s not hard to imagine the scene in a few months: snow, ice, and slippery streets. Some people try to plan their moving so they are never caught moving in the cold months. In Chicago, that can be quite difficult since the cold months take up half the year.

The truth is that snow really doesn’t make moving that much more difficult. It’s probably easier than digging your car out of blizzard sized snow banks.

If you are thinking about a wintertime move, your movers will be sure to take extra precaution when moving your possessions, so as not to slip and ruin anything.

Additionally, when you are packing, make sure to wrap things well to protect them from the cold. Especially wooden items that don’t react well to below zero temperatures.

When it comes to your movers, they should take care to drive extra slowly, find the ally and street with the least amount of snow, and be weary of icy patches while carrying belongings in and out of your home.

But there is no reason to plan your life so you aren’t moving in the cold. Instead, focus on how comfortable and cozy you will feel in your new home once you have your belongings put away, and the heat cranked up.

In the meantime, this Chicago moving company is going to try to enjoy whatever warm days we have left.

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How to Pack in 6 Easy Steps

how-to-pack-in-6-easy-stepsWhen it comes time to pack up an old home and move to a new home, most people tend to get overwhelmed.  So, instead of trying to do everything at once, let’s break it down into 6 easy steps:

1. Stay ahead of the game

Instead of waiting until two nights before your big move, start organizing and packing within days of signing your new lease or setting a move-in date.  If you are using a Chicago professional mover, this is the time to start gathering quotes.

2. Don’t be afraid to throw things away

Before you start packing, go through each room drawer by drawer, shelf by shelf, and throw away anything that can’t be given to charity and you’re certain you won’t want in your new home.

3. Make charity piles

We talk about this a lot, but make sure you give as much away to charity as possible.  Here’s a list of places you can donate your belongings in the Chicagoland area.

4. Gather all your at-home moving supplies

There are a ton of moving supplies that live in your home.  Sheets and towels make great padding for breakable items.  Read our blog post for more at-home packing supply inspiration.

5. Start packing

By this point you should have purged your home of everything you don’t want, so packing will be much easier.  Either buy boxes or scavenge them from department stores or grocery store who throw out used boxes.  Make sure to label the boxes and keep rooms together.  Don’t throw kitchen supplies in your bathroom box.  It will only make unpacking more confusing.

6. Keep out computers, clothing, and toiletries

When you get to your new home you are going to want a few things right away.  Whether that is your computer or a change of clothing, make sure to leave a pile aside that the movers won’t take, and you can carry with you.

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5 Remarkable Sights to See in Chicago

5-Remarkable-Sights-to-See-in-ChicagoOnce your Chicago moving company pulls away, if you’re new to the city you may want to check out the best of Chicago. Here are five interesting sights to see in the Chicago area:

1. The Lakeshore Path

One of the best parts of Chicago is that the city is located on the water: a land locked state with beaches and waterfront running paths. It doesn’t get much better than that. The lakefront path goes for miles.  Start at North Avenue Beach and you can walk south to Navy Pier, or north toward Lincoln Park.

2. The Museums

Some people like museums, and some hate them, but if you’re even a little bit indifferent there are some wonderful museums to visit during a cold winter day. Our favorites include the Museum of Science and Industry, the Art Institute, and the Field Museum. Some of the smaller museums, but no less interesting, are the Adler Planetarium and the Shedd Aquarium.

3. The Food

So, food isn’t really a “sight,” but we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that Chicago has some of the best food in the country. If you’re not willing to throw down hundreds of dollars for Alinea or Next, think about trying Longman & Eagle in Logan Square, or Prasino in Wicker Park. There’s also Smoque for the best BBQ in Chicago, and Piece for great pizza.

4. The Beer

Chicago has some great bars with great beers. For a truly memorable experience, hit up Hopleaf in Andersonville for a beer list that will make your eyes pop, and great food to boot. The Map Room in Bucktown is equally as impressive, and you have to head to Goose Island for some of Chicago’s most favorite brews.

5. The Neighborhoods

One of the best parts about Chicago is the distinction of all the neighborhoods. Lincoln Park is upscale and has beautiful old brownstones, while Logan Square has a bit more hipster. Take some time to go through all the neighborhoods and absorb some of their charm. Our favorites are: Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, Andersonville, and Logans Square.

Once the last box is unloaded from your Chicago moving company’s truck, head out to see the sights of this amazing city.

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How to Move AND Be a Friend to the Environment

eco-friendly-movingMoving may not seem like a environmentally harmful activity, but there are things that you can do to make your move more eco-friendly. Here are our best tips:

1. If it’s isn’t trashed, don’t trash it!

While you may not need your old kitchen table anymore, that doesn’t mean someone else might not want it. Instead of throwing it in the garbage, try putting an ad on craigslist to make a few extra bucks, or else donate it to Goodwill or another charity. There is a lot more than just furniture that can be donated or sold. Take are to give away clothing, old cell phones, old computer screens, and more.

2. Re-use boxes

Instead of buying new boxes, save money and the environment by using old boxes found at grocery stores, or even in friends’ basements. You can also try going to earthfriendlymoving.com and rent plastic bins that “rents for just a buck a box a week.”

3. Use green cleaning supplies

One of the more unfortunate side effects of moving is a lot of cleaning — both your old and new homes. Try using green cleaning supplies, or even consider making your own! You will be surprised how easy it is to clean green and it really does make a huge difference for the environment.

4. Recycle your packing materials

If you do buy boxes or packing materials, you can recycle them after the move, or even give them to a fellow mover.

There are many ways to make a smaller impact on the environment when making a move.

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Making the Decision to Move

Making-the-Decision-to-MoveIn most people’s lives there comes a time when they are faced with a decision to either stay in their home or move to a new one. The reasoning can be anything from needing more room (or less room), being offered a new job in a new location, or wanting to be closer to family and friends. There are many factors that go into deciding to move, and more often than not money is a driving factor.

Moving is a major life decision, and there are many questions and factors that need to be thought about.

When making the decision to move, try asking yourself a few of the questions below. It will help to evaluate whether or not your move is a good idea.

1. Are you moving because you want to or is it necessary?

2. Do you and your spouse have jobs in the new city?

3. Are you leaving family and friends behind or moving to be closer to them? Will you have support in your new home?

4. Are there any additional living expenses you haven’t considered in your new city such as taxes or higher home prices?

5. What is the climate like? Do you love winter but are moving to San Diego?

6. What is the education system like in your new home? What effect will taking your kids out of school have on them?

These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to questions you need to consider before planning a big move.

For more questions to consider, click here.

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5 Tips on How To Pack and Move Your Home Office

How-To-Pack-And-Move-Your-Home-OfficeWhen preparing for a move, packing room by room usually leads to an easier unpacking process. However, many people save the worst room for last – the home office with its tangle of wires and stacks of paper. At Manchester Moving, we want you to have the easiest packing experience possible, which is why we’ve put together 5 tips on how to pack your home office in as little time as possible.

1. De-clutter

As with every room in your home, make a pile of things you no longer want or need. Don’t just empty a drawer into a box with the intention of going through it while unpacking. Instead, make a point of clearing away clutter, making your moving and unpacking process easier and lighter.

2. Organize

A home office is probably the one area of the house that needs to most organizational help. When going through your papers and belongings, identify places where you may need extra file folders or labels.  Make a note for yourself and then get organized. It will make setting up your new home much easier.

3. Plan Ahead

If you have large furniture such as a desk or filing system, take measurements and know exactly where the furniture is going to fit in your new home. You will have firm knowledge of what furniture can move with you, and what may need to be disassembled or stay behind.

4. Stay Connected

If it’s important to you and your business to have Internet immediately upon moving, make sure to contact you Internet and cable provider before moving so they can install the services the day you move in.

5. Plan Accordingly

If you know it’s going to take you days to pack your office, don’t start the night before the movers are supposed to show up. You will really want to take your time with your office so you don’t move into your new home totally unorganized and stressed out.

For more tips on moving, check our blog weekly, or take a look at some of our past articles. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook!

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6 Tips for Unpacking After a Move

Tips-for-Unpacking-After-a-MoveIf there’s one thing that is just as important as packing well, it’s unpacking well.

This subject often goes unmentioned in the moving world since many people believe that once their boxes are delivered, the hard work is over. Often, it has just begun.

Make sure to set aside time after the move is complete to unpack right away, rather than dragging it out for months, living with boxes and not knowing where your favorite pair of slippers is hiding.

Here are some tips for how to have the most successful unpacking process as possible:

1. Label during packing

Unpacking will be so much easier if you know what room all your boxes came from and have at least a general idea of what is in them. That way you won’t be wasting time and strength carrying kitchen supplies from the bedroom to the kitchen.

2. Set aside specific unpacking time

Try to move at a time when you can take at least the next day or two to settle into your home, unpack, and organize.

3. Have friends and family help

Instead of asking friends and family to help you move, try asking them to help you unpack!  Putting away dishes, or shelving books isn’t as difficult as moving boxes, and can help the process go much faster.

4. Beware of your back

Nothing will make unpacking more unpleasant than a hurt back. Instead of bending down to lift items out of boxes, try to put the boxes on a counter-height surface that will eliminate constant bending and potentially help save your back.

5. Continually cleanup used packing supplies

The house will feel much more put together and much less cluttered if you take a load of used supplies out to the garbage every hour or two. It will also give you the motivation you need to keep unpacking as you see progress occur, rather than stare unhappily at empty boxes and crumpled newspaper.

6. Don’t be afraid to throw things away

Just because you think you’ve already gone through and purged your belongings before packing doesn’t mean you can’t do it again. When you’re about to put something away in a cabinet and you find yourself thinking you can’t remember why you even bothered to bring it to your new home, put it in a giveaway pile.

Unpacking doesn’t have to be a stressful process. Just follow these tips and you’ll be surprised at how fast your new house starts to feel like a home.

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5 Tips to Help Move a Senior Citizen

5-Tips-to-Help-Move-a-Senior-CitizenOften there comes a point in an older adult’s life when it is no longer safe to live alone. Family members consult, and it is determined that a move to a senior living facility or into a family member’s home is the best course of action.

Moving a senior citizen is usually much more of a team effort than a simple relocation. Many family members are involved, and the senior citizen themselves may be upset and unwilling to participate in the move.

This situation doesn’t need to be painful and difficult. There are steps family members can take to help make the move go smoothly:

Be Sensitive

Make sure to listen to the thoughts and feelings they are expressing during the move. Express sympathy at their feelings, and acknowledge how difficult this move is for them. If they insist on helping with part of the move, let them rather than brush them aside. Allow them to feel like a part of the process.

Set Aside Photos and Personal Objects

The first thing you are going to want to do when setting up the new home or room is put up as many familiar family photos and objects as possible. This will help put your parent or family member at ease much more quickly. Also, if there is a certain bowl or trinket that was always on the bedside table, make sure to have that in a box marked “open first” so you can immediately put it in its new home.

Unpack Together

Going through boxes and finding a new home for their belongings may seem like a job better done quickly and methodically. But, remember you are not the one who is living in the new home. Your parent needs to know where everything is located more than you do. Go through the boxes together and let your parent decide where everything should live. It will not only give ownership to the new room, but will make settling in easier.

Only Bring What is Necessary

Often when moving a senior citizen, you are going from a full house or apartment to a much smaller apartment or room. Try to take as much familiar furniture and bedding with as possible, but also prepare your loved one to part with many cherished belongings. Allow them to choose whenever possible, but also let them say goodbye to possessions they’ve had for decades.

Allow the Memories

Moving is stressful, and it can often seem absolutely necessary to speed the process along to get it over with. However, for the person who is moving, they may need time to say goodbye. Let them linger over pictures found in an old desk drawer, or tell stories about a china pattern they inherited. Listen to their stories, as it will make the process of physically moving much easier.

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Free Moving Supplies That Live in Your Home

Free-Moving-Supplies-That-Live-In-Your-HomeMoving day can often be a total breeze, going by in a flash as your professional movers safely get your belongings from point a to point b. In our opinion, packing can be the real hassle of moving. Finding materials to wrap your breakables in may seem like a pricey endeavor, so that’s why we rounded up a list of materials you can find in your home to help soften the blow.

Here are a few ideas on how to use belongings just laying around to help keep your breakables in one piece:

1. Pantry Supplies

Killing two birds with one stone, using food items such as bagged beans, rice and lentils can help you pack up your kitchen faster and keep items from shifting around boxes. Instead of using crumpled up newspaper, try stuffing a bag of beans in a corner.

2. Pillows

Soft items like pillows, both from your bed and couch, may seem like they just take up way too much room to warrant a box, but will get dirty if just thrown in a truck. Try using them at the top of boxes to keep items in the box protected in case another box is placed on top, or someone accidently sits on a box that should have been marked fragile.

3. Linens

Everyone has a stash of old towels and sheets from college. They’re often used by house guests, but why not use them to wrap breakable items?

4. Winter clothing

Big bulky clothing like sweaters, sweatpants, and scarves can be a great material rolled up and placed in boxes with breakables. Try putting them in between glasses to keep them from clinking together.

5. Plastic grocery store bags

Try using these to wrap glasses and other breakables. It doesn’t provide a ton of padding, but if you place towels and pillows, it will help to cushion the box.

What at home items have you used to pack? Is there anything we’re leaving off the list?

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Packing & Moving: Why Having a Plan is Necessary

Packing & Moving: Why Having a Plan is NecessaryThere are times in life when it is very helpful to have a plan in place. Whether it’s what to buy at the grocery store, or how you’re going to handle a big move, planning is one of life’s most difficult and rewarding tasks.

When it comes to moving, having a plan can be invaluable. Simple tricks like using Post-its and clean packing materials will help to have a low-stress move.

Martha Stewart, the leading lady of organization and calm, published a moving guide when she moved from her home of 35 years. While there are some tips that only apply to a very, very, very small percentage of the population, such as how to pack a chandelier, and how to transport a collection of nineteenth-century mirrors, there are tips that are helpful for everyone.

Here are a few of Martha’s insights that you may find useful:

Use clean and practical packing materials

Martha used a combination of plastic bins, bubble packing materials, tissue paper, packing tape and Post-its to get her belongings in order and packed.

Take care with certain breakable items

She started with small fragile items first such as dishes, china, and glassware. In order to pack them safely, the breakables were put into plastic tubs that were filled with tissue paper, and each item was wrapped in bubble wrap.

Prepare your new home as much as possible before the move

Another one of Martha’s strategies was to have her new home ready and waiting to receive her posessions. This is not always possible for many moves. If you are moving into a home without a day or two to clean it first and get organized, then this trick is not applicable. However, if you do have an opportunity to get into your new home and clean and prepare, things will go smoother.

Martha knew exactly where each piece of furniture was supposed to live, and had a post it on the furniture with the specific location it should be placed.

Know when to forgo packing to save time

Knowing when to take extreme care with her belongings, and when to forgo the elaborate wrapping for time’s sake, Martha moved many of her linens, pots and pats, appliances, sports equipment, and more just by putting them in boxes and bringing them over.

Will any of Martha’s tips help you move? We’d love to hear your moving day plans.

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