It’s no secret, planning a move can be very stressful and feel overwhelming. There are a lot of moving parts (pun intended) involved, and many decisions to make. One of the most important decisions is choosing the right moving company for your specific type of move. Here are a few of the most important questions that can help you find a professional and legitimate moving company that you are comfortable using..

1. Are they a properly licensed mover?

Do they have a USDOT Number? Determine if the company you are talking to is legitimate. All professional moving companies that operate commercial vehicles transporting passengers or hauling cargo in interstate commerce must be registered with the FMCSA and must have a USDOT Number issued by the United States Department of Transportation. Once they have provided you with their USDOT number, you can look the company up and verify that they are registered and that their license is current HERE

Local Moves – If the moving company you are looking to hire only performs moving services within the same state, then they are regulated by the state they operate in and not the U.S. Department of Transportation. In this case, they would have a state issued license. Please note that each state may have its own rules and regulations governing moves within the state. Check with your state, county or local consumer affairs agency or state moving association if you’re moving to a new location within the same state.

2. How experienced are they?

Do you have the experience with my particular type of move?

Make sure that the moving company you are interested in hiring has the expertise and experience to handle your specific type of move. There are many logistics that go into moving and the more familiar a company is with the many various moving situations and scenarios, the more efficiently the move will go. Be sure to provide as many details to the moving agent so that they can properly assess what will be needed for your move. Some examples are:

• Location is in a heavily populated area with strict parking restrictions. How do you handle these situations?
• Location is a high rise building. Elevator or dock access required. Are they familiar with standard procedures, responsible for communication with the building management and arrangements?
• Interstate moves: Is the mover familiar with the transportation laws of the particular state(s) they will be traveling through?
• Location is not directly accessible by a large truck. Can they accommodate with a contingency plan?
• Are there any buildings in the move that require union movers? Can they meet the requirements?
• Not everything can be moved. Ask what items/materials they will and won’t move. See the post What Mover’s Won’t Move for more details.

3. Are they fully insured?

What kind of liability coverage does your company provide?

Any reliable, professional moving company should have multiple liability coverage options for you to choose from. Properly licensed interstate movers are required to offer two types of liability options: Full Value Protection and Released Value. The full definitions of each type can be found at the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) website.

A quick summary of each type quoted from the site is:

1. Full Value Protection: “Under Full Value Protection, your mover is liable for the replacement value of lost or damaged goods in your entire shipment. This is the more comprehensive plan available for the protection of your belongings….” NOTE: The exact cost for Full Value Protection varies by mover and may be subject to various deductible levels of liability that may reduce your cost. Ask your mover for written details of their Full Value Protection plan.
2. Released Value Protection: “The most economical protection available is Released Value, since it is offered at no additional charge. However, the protection is minimal. Under this option, the mover assumes liability for no more than 60 cents per pound per article. For example, if your mover lost or damaged a 10-pound stereo component valued at $1,000, you would only receive $6.00 in compensation (60 cents x 10 pounds).”

Beyond these two options, many movers also offer the option to purchase insurance from a third-party insurance company

PRO TIP: Some Homeowner’s Insurance policies have built-in coverage, so be sure to check your policy before purchasing third-party additional insurance.

Ask to see proof of insurance. Any legitimate moving company should be able and willing to show you proof their insurance policy if requested to do so.

4. What is their dispute resolution program?

Hopefully your move will be successful and worry-free, but if there is an issue, you want to know that the moving company you hired has an adequate method of resolving disputes. Interstate movers are required to participate in a dispute resolution or arbitration program to address your loss and damage claims. If your mover does not provide you with information on its program, ask for it – movers are required to provide a concise, easy-to-read summary.

5. Understand your estimate

Assuming everything went well with your initial discussion and negotiations with the moving agent at the company you are looking to hire, you will be given a final estimate. Everything from the cost of individual services, fees, scheduling, policies, etc., should be outlined clearly in the estimate. Be sure to read it over carefully, and if you have any questions about any part of the estimate, do not hesitate to inquire about it and have someone from the company explain it to you so that you understand it. This will greatly reduce the chance of any misinterpretations that could lead to unwanted surprises come moving day.

Additional questions to ask

• Make sure you have the best way to contact the company or the moving crew on the day of the move.
• How long does delivery normally take? This will vary depending on move size and logistics.
• Find out what your mover will and will not move.
• What is your cancellation policy?
• Don’t be afraid to ask for references

Did you find these tips useful? Take a look at our full guide. It’s FREE and downloadable!

Moving into a high-rise building can be a daunting experience, with it’s own unique challenges. There are numerous factors to consider, from navigating elevators and loading docks to adhering to building rules and regulations. To ensure a smooth and stress-free transition, careful planning and organization are essential. This comprehensive guide will provide you with the necessary knowledge and strategies to effectively manage your high-rise move.

1. Start Planning Early

Don’t wait until the last minute to start planning your move. Begin by creating a moving checklist and timeline, outlining the tasks and deadlines for each stage of the process. This will help you stay organized and avoid last-minute panic. Working off your checklist, you can track your progress effectively as your move date approaches.

 

2. Decluttering and Downsizing:

Moving into a high-rise apartment often necessitates downsizing. Take this opportunity to declutter your belongings, donating or selling items you no longer need or use. This will not only reduce the amount of stuff you need to move but also declutter your new living space.

• It will make your arrangements with your moving company easier and more accurate, resulting in a smoother move and less chance of miscommunication during and after the move.
• You have a clear picture of exactly how much “stuff ” you really have! This is especially important for people who have lived in the same place for a long time. We often accumulate things and store them in a way that leads us to believe we have much less than we actually do.
• It gives you the opportunity to make decisions about what you need to take and what can be sold, donated or purged before you move. You can save money on your moving expenses by reducing the total number of items to be moved.
• Identify what’s important. Rather than to simply get rid of your items at the last minute, doing an inventory early in the moving process allows you time to consider the items, furniture etc. that may have sentimental value and you aren’t quite ready to part with yet. If the particular item does not make sense to move to the new location, then perhaps some off-site long term storage might be an option to consider.

3. Research Building Policies:

Make your move less stressful by having everything at your fingertips

Familiarize yourself with the building’s moving policies and regulations. High Rise building often have much more rigid rules regarding the use of the building public spaces vs. a single family home or small apartment building. Adhering to these rules will ensure a smoother move and avoid any potential conflicts with building management.

• Confirm if your building requires you to establish a designated moving time with the building management office. Verify the exact date and time that you will be moving and coordinate with your professional moving company if you are using one. Inquire if there are any permits that you or your movers are required to have.
• Elevator Usage: Similarly to booking an established time to move within your building, you may be required to reserve elevator usage. Many buildings will require use of a freight elevator vs. the passenger elevators.
• Parking and loading dock usage: It is imperative to reserve the access to the loading dock if your building has one. If not, there needs to be adequate parking available to park the moving truck(s) in a close and convenient location on the day of the move

3. Moving Supplies and Utility Items

Your professional movers should have all the materials necessary for a High-rise move.

• Protect Common Areas: Protect the building’s common areas, such as hallways and floors, by laying down plywood or protective coverings to prevent damage from furniture or moving equipment.

• Utilize Carts and Dollies: Utilize carts, speeders and dollies to transport boxes and heavy items, minimizing strain and reducing the risk of accidents.

• Protect Elevators:  Most freight elevators are equipped to handle heavier loads and are not finished with delicate materials. If a common elevator is to be used however, it is important to use moving pads, cardboard or other protectant items to protect the interior of the elevator.
• Insurance: Consider opting for the most comprehensive moving insurance to protect against any possible damages. If you are renting and carry a renter’s insurance policy, see what coverage, if any, extends to the act of moving into or from an apartment. If you are hiring a professional moving company, inquire about the various moving insurance options that they offer..

Did you find these tips useful? Take a look at our full guide. It’s FREE and downloadable!

Excited to move into your new home or apartment? We bet you are! Well, except for the unpacking part…  With a little fore thought and strategy, we can help you take the stress out of unpacking so you can enjoy your new residence as quickly as possible. Read on to learn more!

1. Organize BEFORE you move

Most people think about getting their belongings packed away more than what its going to be like at the destination. We wrote earlier about helpful tips on how to plan your move.  and also on specific techniques and tips to help you pack.  One of the best things you can do is to approach your move by first making an inventory of all of your belongings. This not only helps you estimate the time, effort and cost that it will take to move your home, but also gives you clarity and insight as to what all you have in your possession. It will be helpful as you are packing AND when you get to your destination unpacking!

• Approach taking inventory of your home or apartment ONE ROOM AT A TIME. This makes the whole process easier, because it is simplified into smaller tasks, has an order you can check off a list, and allows you to have a better understanding of what and how much is in each room.
• Pro TIP: Take pictures before you break down rooms for packing. This is extremely helpful for TV/entertainment systems with a lot of dives, wiring and connections! Same goes for computer and office setups where technology is involved.
• You can elect to box up and label everything at this time. Labeling and writing on your boxes ensures that you or your movers will know where everything goes once you are at the new destination.
• Put stickers on larger items, furniture and appliances indicating the rooms they came from.
• Make sure to have a separate box of essentials that you can have access to and wont have to fish through hundreds of boxes to find.  These might include, snacks, a roll of toilet paper, a flashlight, a change of clothes, bottled water, prescription drugs etc. or anything you deem as essential.
• Keep your important personal documents together as well and keep them on your person. These would include financial account information, Birth Certificates, Passports, Social Security card, IDs etc.

 

2. Strategy at the destination

Its easy to become overwhelmed when the movers say goodbye and you are knee-deep in boxes but fear not! Take a deep breath and evaluate the situation before randomly going through boxes in different rooms.

• Remember your “Essentials Box”? Locate that and get things stowed away before tackling any rooms.
• Just like the packing at the old place, work systematically room by room one at a time. The bathroom is often a good place to start, followed by the bedrooms. Moving can often mean a long day and having a place to sleep and not having to find your toothbrush makes things a whole lot easier!
• The kitchen can be another place to start, but we recommend just doing the essentials the first day.  Simple utensils, place settings and small appliances. The kitchen usually has a lot of small items and it can be tiring after a long day of moving. Get the basics done and tackle the rest when you are fresh after a cup of coffee tomorrow morning!
• Hook up any major appliances such as refrigerators or oven ranges.
• Evaluate each room. before pulling everything out boxes. Is there adequate space compared to the former room?  Or will you need to make adjustments?  Are there any improvements that need to be done that would be easier now, rather than when everything is and put away and in the way? Examples would be, kitchen cabinet liners, or installing closet organizers.
• PRO TIP: Don’t let needless decision making slow your roll! If you find yourself putting things away and waffling over a particular item (that Disneyworld snow globe your aunt gave you in 2010) you didn’t have the heart to throw away during the pack, put it in a box for questionable items. More on this later.

 

3. The Home Stretch

Thanks to your orderly system, you should have been able to work systematically to unpack the most essential rooms and you place is starting to look a little more like home now!

• If you didn’t complete the entire kitchen yesterday, go ahead and knock it out and put it to bed. Same goes for bedrooms or any of the other priority rooms
• Assemble any furniture pieces that need it, and/or arrange to your liking.  Any large, or heavy pieces that require assembling should be thought about before placing. You can use your ever increasing supply of moving boxes as placeholders to see how the space is used in the room.
• Save the basement, garage and other utility areas for last. They will likely need some extra cleaning beforehand or you may need to add additional organization such as shelving or a storage box system to make everything more efficient.

 

4. What about all this stuff left over?

As you moved through your house or apartment room by room, you undoubtedly have more than a few stray items that just don’t seem to have a place in your new home.  You can set them aside for now, but after a week or two, it’s time to reflect:

• Do I really need this item?
• Did I miss this item in my day-to-day routine?
• Did this item work in my old place, but not really in this on?

If you find that the answer to these questions is largely “NO” then perhaps its time to either donate the item, sell it or put it out to the pasture.  The one thing that you don’t want to do is find yourself storing boxes full of questionable items in the basement or garage of your new house! Now is the time for a clean start!

We hope you enjoyed these tips and find them useful.  If you are planning a move and would like more information, please download our free moving guide below!

Did you find these tips useful? Take a look at our full guide. It’s FREE and downloadable!

A Flowering Business

One of our customers provides a service that provides a sustainable floral arrangement solution to homes and businesses. They deliver non-live plants and flowers to their clients monthly. Each month their clients receive a new refresh of beautiful, zero-maintenance floral arrangements! and they take away the previous arrangements too!

That’s where we come in!

For some of their larger office clients, it often requires them to move hundreds of new floral arrangements and remove the previously installed arrangements. They have a delivery van, but for this level of volume they look to All State Movers to quickly and efficiently box up and transport these arrangements. See how we help them manage the larger deliveries with our professional moving services.

1. The Plants

Our client offers an amazing variety of artificial plants to choose from. They really knock it out of the park when it comes to sustainability vs. live plants. Some of the benefits that their customers receive from using their services are:

• Great Value: Big visual impact, small outlay.
• Monthly Refresh: New design every month
• No Contracts: Flexible billing and personalized service.
• Water Free: Zero maintenance, no spills.
• Allergy Free: Lifelike beauty, no pollens or perfumes.
• Mess Free: Always look fresh, no wilting, bugs or flies.
• Antimicrobial: Sanitized regularly for long-lasting protection.

2. Packing Up

We started at their storage facility, safely packing and boxing up the individual arrangements. Everything is internally secured, and protected from damage during transport.

3. Loading The Truck

After the arrangements are secure, we have to load up the truck. Luckily the boxes are uniform and we can fit everything in nice and tight so nothing moves around, reducing the chance of any damage!

5. Finishing The Job

Once the packing and loading was done, we made the delivery to their client and as part of their agreement had to bring back the previous month’s arrangements. That meant about 600 more arrangements to unbox, put away and also break down all the boxes.  It’s all in a days work! We love being able to help our customers with their larger jobs!

About All State Movers Inc.

At All State Movers, we specialize in Residential and Commercial Interstate moves and long distance moving services. Our expert team members will take care of all your needs every step of the way, from point A to point B, anywhere in the country.

Moving can be overwhelming, especially when crossing state lines. We always consider how this transition can affect you. All State Movers provides all of our customers with a personalized moving experience, to fit your own special needs and priorities. We will always go the extra mile to make your move as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Not only can we provide you with moving solutions to fit almost any circumstances, we also include FREE 30 Day Storage with every long distance moving job.  Our storage warehouse facilities are conveniently located right in Lincolnwood, IL. just minutes away from Chicago. Get in touch with us to talk about your move!

Let us share some tips with you! Take a look at our full guide. It’s FREE and downloadable!

Moving day is always a hectic affair! As you plan for your move, here are some tips on how to prepare your pets for the big day. Simple steps can help keep your pet’s safe and secure and also keep everybody’s stress levels down!

1. Collars and ID tags

On the day of the move, make sure that your pet is wearing a reliable collar and ID with CURRENT telephone and contact information. Moves can often be chaotic, with lots of people moving in and out of your house or apartment. Pets can easily become frightened, panic and run out of an open door. You may also want to consider having your pet microchipped. In the event that their collar is lost, they can be ID’d at a veterinarian or equipped animal shelter.

*Note: If your pet is not accustomed to wearing a collar, it is a good idea to introduce them to it well before your move and get them used to wearing one.

2. Let The Movers Know About Your Pets

Always inform members of your moving crew, what kind of animals and how many there are in the house so they can be aware and mindful during the moving process. Let them know ahead of time if there are any special instructions related to your pets.

3. Day Of The Move

It is best if you are able to secure your pets in their pet crate and/or ideally closed room of your house or apartment until you are ready to leave with them. There will be plenty of strange and loud noises, strange people and smells that can frighten your animals and cause them stress and risk their attempting to flee.

4. How To Transport

Small dogs, cats, rabbits and other small should be kept in a secure, well-ventilated pet carrier. Larger dogs should always be leashed to prevent the risk that they get spooked and try to run away. NEVER transport ANY PET in an open truck bed, storage area of a moving van, or car trunk.

5. Moving Long-Distance

Make sure you identify pet-friendly hotels along your trip route, and reserve rooms ahead of time. For a list of pet-friendly hotels, see www.petswelcome.com or www.pet-friendly-hotels.net. If your pet is prone to car sickness or has extreme anxiety being in a moving vehicle, talk to your veterinarian well before your moving date for recommendations and possible medication prescriptions.

6. Breaks and Pit Stops

Plan on allowing for adequate potty breaks, water and food for your pet along your journey. Keep dogs leashed at all times during your roadside rest stops.

Did you find these tips useful? Take a look at our full guide. It’s FREE and downloadable!

Moving is a time consuming effort with lots of variables. We take a look at 5 good reasons why hiring professionals to pack up your things may be a worthwhile investment.

1. It will save you time

The bottom line is that packing can take a lot of time. How much will depend on the size of your home or apartment and how many items you have, however it will still add up to a lot of extra time that might be better spent taking care of other moving-related tasks. There will be additional cost involved for a professional packing, but you can decide if that amount is worth paying if it means you don’t have to take additional days off of work, or have a schedule that would make it extremely stressful to have to make time to pack everything yourself.

2. Convenience

Professionals can usually pack everything in a single day in most cases. In addition to taking less time, the added bonus is that you will not have to pack things away weeks in advance as you would if you were packing everything yourself. You can live comfortably with all your home essentials at your disposal right up until the day the movers come to pack everything up. With the many things that need to get done when you are planning for a move, this can be a huge advantage.

3. Assurance

Professionals will take a survey of your belongings prior to the move. This allows them to not only get a very accurate estimate of the cost of the move in general, but also helps them and you identify items that may need extra care or special packing methods to best ensure they are transported safely.

4. Quality and Care

When you hire a professional mover to perform the packing of your belongings, you can rest easy knowing that proper packing and materials will be used. A professional will make sure that furniture items are all disassembled correctly and items such as paintings, glassware and breakables are packed the right way and with the most protective safeguards in place. They will have experience and knowledge of how to efficiently and safely prepare fragile and valuable items for transport.

5. Flexibility

It doesn’t necessarily have to be “All or Nothing” Most professional movers offer packing services for specialty items such as breakables, antiques, mirrors etc. that you might not feel confident that you could pack up properly. You could elect to pack a majority of you personal belongings, such as clothings, books, and non-breakables, but leave the complicated and delicate stuff to the pros. Inquire with your local mover and they can send someone out to review the items with you and provide a quote for a partial pack.

Packing for a big move doesn’t have to be pain, as long as you approach it in a thoughtful organized manner. Below you will find five of the best tried and true tips to help you pack smarter and safer.

1. LABEL EVERYTHING

Label all boxes, bags and large items, indicating not only the room from which they came from, but also the CONTENTS of what’s inside each box. This will make life much easier when you are unpacking, or just need to quickly locate a specific item.

2. PACKING ONE ROOM AT A TIME

Try to pack up each room completely before moving on to another one. It can be overwhelming and often inefficient if you are trying to pack up the whole house, jumping from room to room. BONUS TIP : When you get to your destination follow the same, one room at a time approach to unpack.

3. HOW TO PACK FRAGILE ITEMS

For fragile items like glass or dishware wrap each one individually with packing paper or bubble wrap.
Stack dishes vertically instead of all on top of each other horizontally. Then fill in the spaces between with padding.
Make sure to completely fill all the voids in the boxes with packing paper or bubble wrap to avoid crushed / caved in boxes.

4. PACKING PERSONAL AND IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

Organize and keep all important documents on your person. These would include financial account information, Birth Certificates, Passports, Social Security card, IDs etc.

BONUS TIP: Did you know that there are certain hazardous materials and items that moving companies are prohibited from moving? See the list below.

Find these tips useful? Take a look at our full guide. It’s FREE and downloadable!

When you are making preparations to move, it’s important to understand what kinds of items that most moving companies will not or are reluctant to move.

Reputable moving companies have high standards and prioritize safety for both their employees welfare as well as the safety of their customer’s belongings. For this reason, there are a variety of things that are restricted.

The following is a compilation of the main categories of items that most movers will not agree to move or ship as well as some that can be moved, but often are better off being transported personally.

Remember that these are general guidelines and each individual moving company has their own list of what is allowed and not allowed. If you have any items that you feel might be questionable, and are wondering if they can be moved, it’s always a good idea to talk directly to your moving company BEFORE the job is booked and find out if they will or will not move the item in question. This will eliminate any guesswork and also an unwanted surprise when the movers show up on moving day!

1. Hazardous Materials

Safety is always paramount for a reputable professional moving company and it is necessary to restrict certain items in order to protect their employees as well as the customer’s cargo. There are also often state laws in place that prohibit the transportation of certain types of items too, so be sure to check with your moving company if you have any items that may be considered hazardous.

These items may include:

• Aerosol Cans
• Ammonia
• Ammunition
• Car Batteries
• Charcoal/Lighter Fluid
• Chemistry Sets
• Cleaning Solvents
• Darkroom Chemicals
• Fertilizer
• Fire Extinguishers
• Fireworks
• Fuels/Oils
• Household Batteries

• Kerosene
• Liquid Bleach
• Loaded Guns
• Matches
• Nail Polish
• Paint Thinners
• Paints/Varnishes
• Pesticides
• Poisons
• Pool Chemicals
• Propane Tanks
• Sterno Fuel
• Weed Killer

2. Perishables

Perishable food can can spoil quickly, exposing everything in the truck to foul odors, mold growth and often a mess when unpacking. People are often surprised that house plants are often found on the “won’t move “list.  If they are allowed it will be for moves 150 miles or less and if moving state-to-state there may be additional restrictions that vary by state depending on the type of plant. Talk to you mover about the specific plants you intend to move.

Perishable items not allowed include:

• Plants
• Food without Adequate Preservation
• Frozen Food
• Open or Half-Used Foods
• Produce
• Refrigerated Foods

3. Live Animals

Thinking about having the movers transport your pet snake?
Sorry, Mr. Slithers will have to travel with you, or have other arrangements made for him. There are professional pet movers that specialize in the safe transportation of live animals if personal vehicle or air travel is not an option.

Moving companies will not move your pets or live animals simply because there is too much risk involved. The interior air conditions of a moving van can be very bad and the temperatures can reach life threatening extremes.

4. Personal and Important Items and Documents

While these items aren’t a danger like hazardous or perishable items, many moving companies will not move irreplaceable items such as photographs, one-of-a-kind documents, valuables items etc. because the inherent risk is too great. Plan on moving any items that you deem important or irreplaceable yourself and mitigate any doubts with the items in your possession and under your care.

These items may include:

• Address Books
• Airline Tickets
• Car Titles
• Cash
• Cell Phones
• Checkbooks
• Computer Data Files/Backups
• Family Photographs/Photo Albums
• Financial Documents (Stocks, Bonds, CDs, IRAs, Deeds, Tax Records)

• Home Videos
• Insurance Policies
• Jewelry and Furs
• Keys (Car, Furniture, New Home)
• Laptop Computers
• Medical/Dental Records
• New Home Documents
• Prescription Medicine
• Professional Files/Research Projects
• School Records

Did you find these tips useful? Take a look at our full guide. It’s FREE and downloadable!

Planning for a move can be a daunting task. There are many variables to consider. We share some easy tips on how to plan for your move in an organized and efficient way.

1. Make an inventory of your things

Many people only do a cursory inspection of their items prior to booking their moving arrangements. Once the packing phase begins, they discover they have a lot more than they originally thought. Taking a realistic inventory of your belongings early in the moving process accomplishes the following:

• 

  It will make your arrangements with your moving company easier and more accurate, resulting in a smoother move and less chance of miscommunication during and after the move.

• You have a clear picture of exactly how much “stuff ” you really have! This is especially important for people who have lived in the same place for a long time. We often accumulate things and store them in a way that leads us to believe we have much less than we actually do.
• It gives you the opportunity to make decisions about what you need to take and what can be sold, donated or purged before you move. You can save money on your moving expenses by reducing the total number of items to be moved.
• Identify what’s important. Rather than to simply get rid of your items at the last minute, doing an inventory early in the moving process allows you time to consider the items, furniture etc. that may have sentimental value and you aren’t quite ready to part with yet. If the particular item does not make sense to move to the new location, then perhaps some off-site long term storage might be an option to consider.

2. Create A Budget

How much can you afford to spend?

Establishing the amount that you are able/willing to spend on your move will inform all the choices involved moving forward. Having the ability to forecast your expenditures ahead of time and understand what to expect can remove some of the uncertainty and stress that comes with a big move.

Based on the moving estimates you receive, you can estimate the costs of the physical move itself: The moving job cost, truck rentals, packing, supplies etc. If you followed the step above and did a thorough inventory, than the estimate that you receive from the moving company should be fairly accurate with no surprises come moving day.

The next major expenses to factor in are travel, transportation and/or hotel costs (if you are moving state-to-state). Also, some businesses help subsidize moves and relocations of their employees, so it’s worth inquiring if your employer offers a similar program.

Potential Moving Expenses

• Cost of hiring professional movers
• Truck rental (if moving yourself)
• Packing supplies: tape, boxes, bins, pads, blankets, etc.
• Travel costs: fuel, lodging, meals (if driving) or cost of transportation: airplane/bus/train tickets
• Long term storage
• Short term storage (if your move-in date doesn’t line up with arrival date)
• Service calls:  Requiring a technician visit to disconnect/connect utilities at old location and new

3. Get Organized!

Make your move less stressful by having everything at your fingertips

• Designate a dedicated folder or binder that you can keep all the research materials – From moving price quotes, to checklists, floorplans, and receipts – Everything that is important and relevant to your move.
• Create a list of important contacts and phone numbers. Having the phone numbers of your mover, local contacts, utility companies, travel services, etc. in one place can be a real time saver. No wasted efforts trying to hunt through your cell phone directory or trying to remember names, and companies. Everything will be accessible.
• FOLLOW THROUGH! Take control and track your tasks as you complete them. We recommend using a checklist that covers the necessary tasks in chronological order from the beginning to the end.

4. Schedule the important tasks

Make yourself a moving day timeline.

Put all important moving tasks on your calendar. Outlining the tasks on a timeline means you won’t be rushing to do them all at once. You will also be able to see clearly what tasks or actions may have dependencies and require the completion of another task before starting.

PRO TIP: Go Big! The calendar app on your phone works great as a daily planner, but sometimes you need to see the forest from the trees. Pick up a large format wall or desk calendar that you can add all the important moving tasks, appointments, deliveries etc. on. You will then be able to see them all in relation to one another. Seeing all the events in the spatial blocks of time can make it much easier to understand how your moving plan is shaping up.

Did you find these tips useful? Take a look at our full guide. It’s FREE and downloadable!

As we all grapple with the challenges of the COVID-19 virus, please know that All State Movers Inc. of Illinois is committed to maintaining safe and healthy conditions for our employees and customers.

As such, we are closely monitoring the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak according to the guidelines and recommendations of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). All of our employees have been made aware of the best practices of sanitation and protocol for avoiding the spread or contraction of disease.

This includes:

1. Mask and face protection worn

2. Proper and frequent washing of hands

3. Sanitation of items and surfaces touched

4. Staying home if sick or ill!

What We Are Doing Differently

We understand that this outbreak is adding extra stress and concerns to everyday life, so we are taking some additional actions that aim to help our customers.

– All of our employees undergo testing every day before they interact with any customers. We ensure a temperature reading and if anyone is exhibiting any symptoms of illness, they are sent home immediately.

– If requested, our movers can wear gloves while they are moving your items. Please talk to one of our professional moving agents for more details.

– We are also happy to conduct a remote estimate over the phone if you have reservations about having someone enter your home.

We appreciate the trust that you place in All State Movers Inc. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and take actions necessary to help keep our employees and customers safe while providing you the best possible moving experience.

 

 

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