Thursday, July 9, 2015

3 Reasons You’ll Love Moving to Nashville, TN

moving to nashville
No matter what time of year you’re planning to relocate, Nashville can provide a lot of fun and enjoyment for you and your family. Tennessee is one of the best states to live in, since you can enjoy lots of good music, take in the natural scenery and experience some great culinary. If you’re planning on relocating to Nashville, Unpakt has a few reasons for moving that will help you finalize your relocation plans.
The Southern Atmosphere
Even though Nashville is technically a big city and has lots to offer in terms of live entertainment, food and shopping, you’ll find that the atmosphere is quite Southern. Strangers are likely to smile and say hello, and professionals are pleasant and personable. The city is proud if its innovative advances in the areas of technology and medical care, but people are still especially cordial. The moving company who help you get all your belongings will likely wish you well in the city and be very helpful.
The Live Music
After the local movers Nashville, TN has to offer have helped you get all your belongings into your new place, you may be motivated to head out for a little live music. The city is widely known for being the hub of country music, but you can easily hear Americana, R&B and pop music in the city at various venues as well. Whether you want to attend the latest open mic at a bar or want to purchase tickets to the Nashville Symphony, the city is sure to appeal to your musical tastes.
The Variety of Dining Options
The city is known for its traditional Southern flare, but you can also find a wealth of culinary options if you’re in search of a tasty adventure. Hattie B’s the home of Nashville Hot Chicken, is the place to be if you love dishes like fried chicken, collard greens, Mac and cheese and baked beans. If you’re in the mood for an innovative meal, restaurants like City House and Husk will likely satisfy your cravings.
These are just a few of the reasons Tennessee’s capital can prove to be a great move for you and your family. Now that you know some of the activities that are at your disposal, chances are it won’t take long for you to view the city as your new home.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

How to Move Without Going Bankrupt:

people moving furniture
Buying or renting a new home is expensive enough — between the security deposit or down payment, first and last month's rent, and the cost of movers, it's easy to wonder how anyone can afford it.
But everyone has to move at one time or another. So we asked for some budget-friendly moving tips from a few of the top financial experts at Manilla.com, the award-winning, free and secure service that lets you manage your bills and accounts in one place online and via mobile apps. Here's what they said.
1. Lighten the load.
Get rid of stuff! Packing up and moving is so much easier when you have less stuff. The best part? You might be able to earn some extra cash in the process, said Linda Descano, women and money expert from Citibank's Women & Co.
"Take your upcoming move as an opportunity to make a little extra spending money when you're decluttering your home," Descano said. "As you start packing up, think about the usefulness of each item, whether it's a piece of clothing that's been hiding in the back of your closet, or a kitchen gadget that's been sitting in your garage since your wedding day."
If it's the latter, Descano said, it's time to toss it. Put it in the "sell" pile and, before you move, sell it at a garage sale or on an auction site, such as eBay.
2. Ask a professional.
A professional mover can quickly point out to you easy ways to save money on your moving endeavor, says Sam Burgoon of financial website CreditSeason.com. "Ask a local mover for tips on how to pack items more efficiently to avoid damage and save time," Sam said, adding that it's important to consider using shrink-wrap or even disassembling items to save space and money.
3. Don't break your existing lease.
If you're currently renting and your lease hasn't ended, avoid breaking it early, says Adrian Nazari, CEO of credit and loan website CreditSesame.com. "There are many financial consequences of breaking your lease," he said, "from losing your deposit, to having to pay rent for the months remaining on the lease after you move out. If you can wait to move until your lease is up, it can save you a lot of money."
4. Explore the tax benefits of your move.
If you're moving more than 50 miles away, save your receipts for a tax deduction, Nazari said, adding that there are a few restrictions to keep in mind. For starters, your reason for moving must be related to your job, and accepting that job would have had to increase your commute by more than 50 miles if you had decided not to move. Another requirement, Nazari said, is that you must be employed full-time for at least 39 weeks during the 12 months after you move, and it must be true that your employer is not covering your moving expenses.
5. Don't settle.
Shop around when you're moving, because you'll regret it if you don't, said Brandhyze Stanley, editor of frugal-living website Frugal-Nomics.com. "Moving is not the time to make yourself settle on a place you don't absolutely love," Stanley said. "Yes, we have to be realistic with our expectations, but you don't want to have to funnel tons of money into a place in an attempt to fix it up and make repairs to make it look like your ideal home."

Monday, April 20, 2015

You Just Moved. Now What?

Allied

The hardest part is over. You've packed up your entire house and had it delivered to your new place. But after the moving truck leaves and the dust settles, you’re left with an unfinished home-and a LOT of boxes. So what do you do first?
1.  You want your new place to be safe and secure—start with the locks. If the previous residents or owners did not change the locks, make sure to do this first. And if the garage has a code, don’t forget to reset that, too! You can rest easier knowing that no one has the keys to your new place except you.
2.  Next, tackle the most important boxes first. Unpacking every room of your house will take a huge amount of your time, so make sure that you start with the most important rooms first—namely, the kitchen, bathroom(s) and the bedroom essentials. That way, you have everything you absolutely need ready to go while you take time to unpack everything else.
3.  Once you have those set up, make sure that you have all of your utilities in place. Test out your internet, electric, heat, etc. to make sure that everything is ready to go.
4.  Don’t forget to register your vehicle(s) if you’ve moved states, provinces or countries! Taking care of this ASAP will help you avoid hassles later down the road.
5.  Enjoy your new home!
For all of your relocation needs, call the premiere household moving company in Seattle—Pacific Movers! We can help you with every step of the moving process to make it quick and stress-free. Give us a call to get started or fill out our easy online form for your FREE quote!

Monday, April 13, 2015

12 Terrific Moving Tips When You're Moving Your Home:

  • AphroChic: The 3 Color Choices You Must Make in Every Room of Your Home - Housedecorin

Make a list.
Write everything down! You'll thank yourself later. Before you pack even one box, create a simple record keeping system. Create a computer-printed list of numbers with a space to write the contents. Or have a spiral-bound notebook for the job. You'll place a number on EVERY box you pack and list the contents on your list. Don't put the list down unless it's in a place you'll call Packing Central. This is where you'll find your labels, marking pens, box tape, and other supplies. When describing the box contents, be specific -- "A-D files" is better than "files", and "Tulip dishes" rather than "misc. kitchen".
Have plenty of supplies.
Don't make me say this twice-- you'll need LOTS of boxes--probably more boxes than you think, and having enough boxes will make your life easier! (If you buy your boxes from a moving company, you can always return unused boxes for a refund.



If you got them free from the grocery, just toss any leftovers.) Have about 10 boxes set aside to use for last minute items on moving day, such as bedding, clothing, and cleaning supplies. You'll need strong plastic packing tape to close up the boxes securely. Use unprinted newsprint (newspaper can stain your items) or packing paper or bubble wrap to wrap and cushion household good. Again, you'll need lots more supplies than you think, so get extra so the packing can go smoothly. Return any unused supplies after the truck is packed.
Utilize wardrobe boxes.
These tall boxes are perfect for bulky, lightweight items such as comforters, pillows, and blankets, as well as clothes that need to remain hanging. Call your mover to ask the width of the wardrobe boxes they'll be bringing. Then measure the clothes in your closets (including coat closets) to see how many wardrobe boxes you'll need. You can also use them for closet storage boxes, shoe boxes, and other bulky items such as fabric bolts, large baskets, or gift wrap tubes.
Don't make the boxes too heavy to lift, however. One mover told the story of someone who put a bowling ball in a wardrobe box! When the box was lifted off the truck the bottom gave way, sending the bowling ball on a wild ride down the ramp, across the street to the gutter, then down a hill where it finally came to rest in a roadside ditch. (Is that a strike or a spare?)
Strategize wardrobe box use.
Moving companies will be happy to deliver boxes ahead of your moving day. Or if you're doing the move yourself, get things organized as early as possible. A few days before your move, fill some sturdy handled shopping bags with bulky closet items such as shoes, sweaters, belts, and jeans. On moving day, fill the bottom of the wardrobe boxes with some of the shopping bags, then add your hanging clothing. Pack hanging items tightly so things won't move around and fall off of hangers. Finally, cover the shoulders of your clothes (a dry cleaning bag works well), then add a few purses or sweaters on top. You'll have fewer boxes, and closet items remain together. Also, the shopping bags will make it easier to retrieve your belongings from the bottoms of a tall wardrobe box.
Color coordinate.
Designate a color for each room in the new home, such as yellow for kitchen, orange for dining room, etc. Apply colored stickers on the box near the box number. In your new home. Put a matching sticker on the door to each room. The movers will know where to put everything when they arrive at the destination. It's also helpful to post a big sign on the wall in the room where you want boxes stacked, ("Boxes here please") to keep them out of furniture and traffic areas.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Moving In With Your Boyfriend – Your Ultimate Checklist With Tips:


  • Prepare for moving in with boyfriend


A move is a great new experience that can be tough and stressful to handle but after it happens there’s a new page in our lives we are looking forward to turning, right? And relocating with your boyfriend is a step that makes the move even more exciting than it already is. You probably already imagine what life will be like after the move – spending time with someone special for you, supporting and helping each other out. But how to make moving in with your boyfriend easier and what to expect when you move in with your boyfriend? It will be difficult to predict everything, especially if you are relocating with a guy for the first time. Although every relationship is different and unique, there are a few things to know before moving in with your boyfriend that are universal. What are they? Here is the checklist that will help you take a decision about what you need to know before you move in with your boyfriend to your new home.

Tips On Moving In With Your Boyfriend

Work out your goals together. Before moving in with your boyfriend, talk with him about what both of you expect from your relationship. For example, what if one of you wants to have children and the other one doesn’t at all, can a compromise be made and who will be the one to make it? What is important for you in a relationship? Do you want to get married? What if you do and your boyfriend doesn’t? Discuss how both of you see the relationship because if after 6 months or one year of living together you find out you want totally different things in life, then you may both end up disappointed. Talk about what both of you want and if your vision about your future together matches, then proceed to our next tip!

Is he the one for you? Ask yourself the questions in this article.
Are you certain that this is exactly what you want? Do you really know enough about him to take this decision? If you’ve only had a few dates, how will you know that he really is the guy for you? Are you feeling comfortable with him? Do you get along generally? Ask yourself about how you feel about your boyfriend. Before taking the decision to move in with him, make sure that you know enough about him and you are ready to say “yes” when the moment comes. Knowing you have a common vision about your life together is great, but is that sufficient?
Take your time to get used to each other’s presence and your new life in general. It is one thing to be dating and visiting each other at home and a totally different thing to live together. Even though you are still his lady, you will be expected to take a certain amount of responsibility for the home, the chores to be done and your relationship. Living together could work out if both of you do your part for it.
Make an agreement about the chores to be done after moving in to your new apartment or house. Even though it may sound like something difficult to discuss, it shouldn’t stop you from bringing up the matter. It does not go without saying who does what in a common home, so talk it through. You could make a list and set the duties for each one of you like paying bills, taking the garbage out, cooking, cleaning, etc. You could distribute some tasks, share some things and take turns or agree to do some things together. It is all up to both of you.

  • Living with your boyfriend


In order to organize your move together, get a few quotes and arrange to help each other, if you can.
Sharing responsibilities means taking decisions together so make an agreement what what is important for each one of you and communicate it with the other person. In this way you are giving each other an opportunity to get used to each other’s way of life, habits, interests, etc. and know what is really important for the other person. If, for instance, Thursday evening is your cocktail evening with your girlfriends and that is important for you to have and keep, or you go to sports classes Sunday afternoon and you want to keep up with them, let him know. And encourage him to do the same. Being open about your needs will give you the opportunity to continue doing the things you actually like. Suppressing yourself and what is important for you will not work out in the long run because in the end it will make you miserable and you will wish to change that or end the relationship. Avoiding this stepping stone from the beginning is a good start of your common life together.
Be ready to see that he is not perfect. Every person has their not so good sides and just like you, he’s not ideal. Be patient with him and encourage him to treat you the same way. We all have the right to be ourselves after all, don’t we? If there is something that you want, be upfront about it and say it, most guys don’t take hints and appreciate it if a girl is straightforward. When you say what you want, you give a chance to your boyfriend to make you happy, and he surely wants that for you, doesn’t he?
Organize the relocation. Choose a neighborhood and a place together, a home, that both of you like, and plan the move. You may hire one moving company to do the move and help each other with the relocation process. He can help you with heavy things like furniture and you can help him wrap things in packing paper, for example. Also, agree on what will each one of you bring. You don’t need two toasters and two coffee machines, right? Optimize your luggage before the relocation. Get a quote to find out about the cost of your move.


  • Move in with boyfriend


Friday, January 30, 2015

Tips on Tipping Your Movers:

  • Tip with Cash


Consumers put a lot of faith in professional movers, which is why good ones are as prized as a competent and fair mechanic. As a customer, you are entrusting all of your possessions, prized and otherwise, to people you may not even have been introduced to before they started taking your stuff and loading it into a truck.
Although movers are considered part of the service trade, there is usually a lot more riding on their job performance than, say, a waitress or someone who cuts your hair. If the waitress drops your rye toast, she can quickly get you a new order and, hey, your hair will grow out.
If a mover, however, does a poor job packing, drops your family heirloom or drags your furniture across the wood floor, there is a lot more at stake. Besides, there are few people in the service industry that work as hard as movers.
Perhaps because consumers rely so much on a mover doing a good job that they don't consider them as a service professional. But they are and proper etiquette requires that they be treated as such. This means it is proper to offer a tip, whether it is cash at the end of the day or you buying the crew lunch or even both.
As with any other service provider, you would base your "tip" on job performance – a bad attitude and indifferent work habits would hardly be considered tip worthy. If, however, you think your crew was attentive, helpful and professional, then give what you believe is fair.
Movers usually don't expect a tip but is appreciated when given. More than anything, it's a sign that you recognized their effort and thought it worthy. You may think you're paying a small fortune to the moving company, but what trickles down to the guys actually lugging your stuff won't have them driving home in a Beamer.
Moving is a stressful life event overloaded with thousands of small details that need attention. One of those is how to treat the crew moving your life's belongings, so here's a quick reference that should keep the guys happy and moving:
  • Moving is hard, back-breaking work so it would only be common decency to have cold bottled water, soda or sport drinks on hand.
  • Some people prefer to buy the crew lunch in lieu of a tip and this is perfectly fine. Some do both. It's whatever you are comfortable with. If you do offer to buy the crew lunch, make sure to ask if they have a preference as to food choice. Many people think, "Oh, we'll get some pizza," so you can imagine how much pizza these guys might have had that month.
  • You will hear varying advice on how much to tip. Percentages don't really work as they do in restaurant work. The difference between a $2,000 full-truck move and a $20,000 full-truck move is likely the distance the moving van travels, not how much time it took to load the vehicle. Basically, if it's a half-day (4 hours) move, $10 per person is considered appropriate. If it's a full-day move (8 hours), then $20 is the consensus. If you have a lot of heavy furniture, narrow or winding stairs, a steep lot, etc., you should consider adding to the amount. If the crew works 12 hours to get your belongings packed, figure $40 as fair.
  • A tip about tips from movers themselves: Don’t give the lump some to the foreman or driver. Give each worker their tip. First, it shows that you recognize and appreciate their individual efforts. Second, there are some unscrupulous foremen, who will keep the entire amount for themselves.
  • Avoid giving the guys beer at the end of the day. It's a bit stereotypical and most legitimate moving companies have rules against drinking on the job. It also opens liability issues. Make the tip cash and the movers can spend it how they wish.
  • Move tips

Monday, November 17, 2014

5 ways to keep your sense of humor when moving:

couple laughing moving

Everyone agrees that moving isn't easy. Studies say moving is one of the hardest things we have to go through in life. And while some people seem to take it in stride and even shine at relocating, I've talked to more than a few people who seem to have barely survived a move.
I've moved so many times that I've mastered the art of the move, particularly the part where you hang onto your sense of humor and learn to laugh instead of cry at the moving madness.
Here are five tactics you can use and abuse during your next move, to keep a smile on your face and a laugh on your lips when the boxes and bubble wrap become too much.

1. Every move needs a jester. It may as well be you.

Your neighbors are draping your front porch in black, your kids are threatening to run away from home because you’re ruining their lives, and it’s up to you to convince everyone that moving is awesome! This is an adventure! “Lucky you!” I’d yell after my kids, ignoring the daggers coming from their eyes.
When things get tough, start laughing and your family will follow suit.
When the box with the entire contents of their bedroom closet would go MIA, when we’d unpack to discover that the 72-ounce bottle of conditioner had broken open and saturated nine sets of sheets, when the first day of school arrives and you don’t have any shoes, if you don’t lead the laughter, no one will.
man clown nose

2. The Law of Opposites: Because if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry

During my most traumatic moves, I made up my own Law of Opposites. The more stressful my move got, the more goofy I’d get. Until, when Comcast tells me they need a 72-hour window to get us nine channels, instead of busting a vein, I’d make myself take a breath and just laugh. Forcing yourself to laugh through a tense moment will get you through the roughest spots and before you know it, you've come out on the other side - watching your favorite sitcom.

3. Hang with the happy people

Staying positive and keeping your sense of humor during a move requires a flat-out refusal to let others bring you down. When your move starts to get edgy, be careful who surrounds you. Avoid people with negative attitudes, neighbors who start to tear up every time you talk about your move date, and anyone who doesn't have a sense of humor.
Keep farewells and going-away parties positive affairs, and if anyone starts to drone on about all the things you’ll miss, pop his helium balloon.
girl funny nose glasses

4. Mantras and maxims

Moving is much like a competitive sport. So take a tip from athletes and others who need a jolt of inspiration and find cartoons, funny YouTube videos, quotes, and anything that will lift your spirits and improve your mood.
Keep a reminder on your desktop, put a sign on your nightstand or headboard, whatever it takes. However you choose to remind yourself that “this, too, shall pass” and “we’ll laugh about this someday,” keep reminding yourself that you’ll get through this move intact.

5. The old standby: Picture everyone naked

Not much explanation needed, here. It works for public speaking anxiety, it could work for moving stress. Note: Don’t tell your Realtor. We could get into trouble.