Month: January 2015

Which storage should you choose when you’re moving in the military?

When you’re moving in the military, you often find yourself juggling last-minute transitions overseas. It’s not always practical—or cost effective—to take your possessions with you. Oftentimes, it makes more sense to store most of your possessions while you spend a year or two in another country. The right storage facility can make all the difference, so how do you choose one without having to do tons of research?

Here is a list of characteristics you will want your military storage facility to have:

They have the storage units you need.

It’s fairly easy to estimate the type of locker you’ll need based on the size of your home and whether you own many items. A full five-bedroom house, for instance, typically needs a locker that’s 10-feet by 30-feet. A one-bedroom apartment would generally require a 5-foot by 15-foot unit. Renting one unit instead of several smaller ones is a good idea because it cuts down on expenses per square foot.

They’re not open to the public.

Some storage facilities are owned by the company that moves your items, and the only people allowed on the property are employees. This greatly reduces your risks of a break-in or of a commercial storage facility accidentally putting your items up for auction. They’re often better packed and organized too, meaning you run less risk of loss or storage damage.

They offer specialty services.

If you’re storing sensitive electronics or musical instruments while you’re moving in the military, you can look for a storage facility that offers extra options, like temperature control. These units provide better protection for all your goods and will ensure all your gadgets will work fine once you get back home.

The next time you’re moving in the military, contact Nilson Van online, or give us a call toll-free at 844-668-3721. We’ll protect your property while you’re keeping us safe here at home.

How can you save money while moving internationally?

Moving internationally can be a huge investment, but how large the investment is really depends on the company you hire. Unlike moving companies looking to shift your belongings across state lines, international quotes often vary widely in price. What makes the difference might surprise you. There are ways to save money during an international move, though it all comes down to being selective with professional services.

Transportation Partners

Transporting your goods from one country to another can mean crossing oceans. Different movers work with their own ship and air transport companies, as well as partners in your new location who move goods from docks to your new home. These partners can make all the difference in whether or not your goods make it in one piece. Unfortunately, no matter how good moving companies are within our own country, they may not be reliable or affordable international moving choices given their partner networks.

Storage Facilities

Moving to other countries frequently means your possessions will wind up in storage for several weeks or longer. Governments take care to inspect shipments for contraband and to assess fees for moving certain goods inside their borders. Often, this is done to promote the sale of domestic goods, but people moving get caught up in the paperwork. You’ll be charged storage fees during this time. The cost very well depends on the type of storage you need. For instance, are you satisfied with a secure facility or do you also need one with temperature control? Storage can be one of the easiest elements of a moving contract to negotiate, and it’s one of the easiest places to save.

Moving, Storing or Buying New

There will always be those who feel selling your possessions or storing them at home when moving internationally is the best course of action, but having familiar items around you will help you stave off homesickness and actually make it easier for you to adjust. With affordable options like Nilson Van, there’s no reason to make that sacrifice, though paring down your items is actually another easy way to save.

If you’re moving internationally, don’t sacrifice everything you own. Call 803-786-1090 or request a free quote from Nilson Van, and start the next phase of your life out on the right foot.

Why do commercial moves pose such a risk to electronics? How to protect your equipment during business relocations.

Commercial moves involve many types of electronic equipment, and it’s common for certain items to be damaged or lost during business relocations. It’s easy to protect your business items when you’re prepared.

Safely and securely pack your electronics using the following tips:

• Gather Your Supplies – Besides just having boxes and packing tape on hand, you will need a few extras to make sure your electronics make it to their new location in one piece. Anti-static bubble wrap ensures no amount of bouncing will break your equipment, while moving blankets are often needed for larger pieces, like professional copies and printers. Zip and Velcro ties will help keep your cords separated while tags can help them stay organized.
• Remove Your Accessories – CDs, disk drives, and other components can be damaged or cause damage during a move. Remove them, wrap them, and then pack them in the same box as their accompanying equipment.
• Wrap Your Cords – When possible, remove your cords, wrap them and secure them with a Velcro or zip tie. Once labeled, you can place them alongside their corresponding electronics.
• Pack Everything in a Box – If it’s small enough, put every piece of equipment you’re packing in a box. Heavier items should be placed at the bottom with lighter accessories or similar items placed near the top. Especially large pieces of equipment can be wrapped in blankets and placed on dollies or moving pallets.
• Use the Right Equipment for Loading – Moving companies have endless gadgets at their disposal, so take advantage of them. Use dollies, straps, wooden crates, moving blankets, and most importantly, professional help. Commercial moves are rarely best left up to your employees.

When planning for commercial moves, protect your electronics by getting an expert’s assistance. Request a free quote today from Nilson Van – or call us toll-free at 844.668.3721.

What do you need to do to adequately plan residential moves?

Residential moves often take longer than expected without a detailed plan in place. Nilson Van helps you pull things together in record time, but you’ll still need several days to get your supplies, packing, and transportation in line. The following time frame is perfect as a common sense schedule for anyone looking to move to a new home, whether across the country or across town:

Eight Weeks to Go

The most important task to handle during residential moves is finding a new residence. Find a new house or apartment in your new locale. If you can’t do the search in person, working with a realtor can help. At the same time, you can start preparing your own home for sale or rent, or you can put in notice to your landlords.

Six Weeks to Go

Unless you’re moving in the dead of winter, you want to pick your movers at least a month in advance. That means leaving enough time to get estimates—real estimates. Getting a quote over the phone is worthless. Inviting someone to walk through your home, however, can result in a written estimate with a guarantee.

Four Weeks to Go

Begin preparing your home for packing. Deep clean room by room, and arrange your items in ways that keeps them accessible. If you’ll be packing yourself, now is the perfect time to start. Otherwise, just simplifying the organization of your things can help a lot.

Two Weeks to Go

Arrange for the cancelation of your utilities, your mail, and other services, as well as setting up dates for connection at your new address.

One Week to Go

Double-check your schedule with someone at your moving company. Make sure you know what services you’re ordering, how much time they’ll need to get the job done and what time of day they will be starting. If you’ve made any big changes since your initial estimate, you may want to ask them back for a second look.

The Night Before Your Move

If you’ve hired packing services, all you need to do is make sure you have a bag filled with essential clothing, toiletries, and important documents ready to take with you on the drive to your new home. Also, group your items together in sensible groups to make moving your things easier for the company.

The next day, all you have to do is meet with them and make sure they have the appropriate address ready to go, and leave a contact number where they can reach you in case a problem arises. It should take roughly 7 – 8 hours for professionals to completely pack a 3-bedroom home.

For help in planning residential moves in South Carolina, get in touch with the experts. Call toll-free 800.845.2682, or contact Nilson Van today to get your new life started.