Month: July 2015

Moving in the military isn’t as complicated as you think.

Moving in the military really boils down to two things: what you’re allowed to take to your new location and how much the military will pay for you to move to your new location. There’s a difference, so it’s important to work with an experienced company that takes time to go through their policies with you.

Consider the following situations where your belongings might be left behind:

• The military doesn’t mess around with weight restrictions. All military moves are limited by a certain weight limit, and the amount is determined by your military grade and the type of your assignment. Obviously, an E-3 on temporary duty is going to need to bring fewer items from home than someone who’s been on the job for 10 years and is moving an entire family. You can find out your weight restrictions from the moving office at your current base.

What about professional gear? Some of the items you use for work can get pretty heavy, so in select situations, certain officers are able to get 2000 lbs. of extra allowance for moving supplies and training materials directly related to their jobs. Any other overage will be left behind. In certain situations, you can risk your entire shipment being held hostage while you struggle to cover extra fees, so don’t assume you’ll be an exception to the rules. Most likely, you won’t be.

• Neither the US or foreign governments allow just anything to pass their borders. Each country has its own list of items that can’t leave the country, as well as items they don’t want to let in. Reasons vary, but it can be incredibly difficult to cover all of these restrictions. Working with professionals really helps in terms of identifying contraband.
• In addition, regulations and insurance coverage won’t allow certain items to be moved. Living plants, combustible materials, garbage and certain other items aren’t allowed to be packed and shipped commercially. Your moving company can provide you with a list of items you’ll need to ship to your new home.

Request a quote whenever you’re moving in the military. Nilson Van can provide you with an accurate estimate, and they can help you adhere to applicable laws. Click this link or call 803.786.1090 to get your free estimate when you are moving in the military.

Moving internationally takes a distinguished plan of attack.

Moving internationally presents its own challenges, but planned appropriately, you can safely and easily move your belongings from one country to another. Working with experienced movers with their own partners in your intended new location can be of great benefit. This is especially true in areas with many restrictions for what can be moved across borders.

Using these tips, you can ensure your belongings survive your international move:

• Hire professionals to handle the packing. Professional moving companies have many services. Instead of trying to save money by sticking just to moving your belongings, consider having the pros pack for you as well. They have all the necessary supplies on hand, they understand the best way to pack and this will help meet the standards of moving goods out of your home country and into a new one.
• Schedule a quote several weeks in advance. A reputable moving company will ask to see your home before giving out a guaranteed estimate. Otherwise, you’re working with a ballpark figure and those ballparks can change dramatically between a phone call and your moving day. Clean your home, pare down your items and then call the movers of your choice for an estimate. During this visit, you may learn some of your belongings—like that oak dress with rosewood inlay—can’t be moved out of the country, giving you a chance to make arrangements to store it or sell it to someone else.
• Follow the experts’ advice. Experienced moving companies have learned a lot through trial and error. They typically provide you with moving guidelines and a rough schedule. Pay attention to these instructions if you want to receive your goods as soon as possible once you’ve completed your move.

 

If you are moving internationally, click this link or call 803.786.1090 for a free quote from Nilson Van before you get started.

Commercial moves include supplies and equipment you might not know about.

Commercial moves aren’t much like residential moves. There are very few circumstances where you wind up moving the same kinds of belongings from one type of job to another. Even offices that have large, bulky equipment to move, and partitions of the like you’d never see in a traditional home, will have special needs. Cubicles and office furniture can both pose headaches unless you have the right plan of action.

Columbia business owners should consider hiring these jobs out, but if they have to rely on staff, the following tips can make it easy to move cubicles and extra bulky office furniture:

• Provide staffers plenty of sturdy boxes, dunnage, and tape to securely pack all of their items. Packing everything in boxes is an easy way to save time, prevent damage, and stay organized. It also allows you to make the most of your moving vehicle’s space. Don’t leave floor lamps, plastic plants, large light fixtures and similar items loose. Use boxes for everything you want to move to your new location, and make sure your staff labels them appropriately.
• Disassemble all the furniture, and pack pieces together. Use smaller boxes inside larger boxes to store furniture hardware or smaller components like wheels. Large pieces can be packed into larger boxes which are then labeled and taped securely together.
• Remove shelving and desktops from cubicle walls. These pieces should be packed into boxes and clearly labeled by number. A corresponding number should be assigned to each partition of cubicle wall.
• Cubicle walls should be disassembled, beginning with the outermost walls. This helps to keep walls organized. It’s also a more secure method and prevents walls from falling apart and causing damage or injuries.

Click this link or call 803.786.1090 to schedule your future commercial moves with the best company in the business.

Residential moves pose some awkward challenges for novices.

Several common household possessions can make residential moves more difficult than expected. Pictures are just one. Thankfully, the experts at Nilson Van have the following tips for packing these challenging items and making sure they stay safe on your way to a new location.

Follow these five tips for securely packing pictures:

1. Stock up on four-way mirror cartons and paper pads.

No job is done best when performed with the wrong tool, so get the moving supplies made for protecting pictures. Four-way mirror boxes are thinner than standard moving boxes, and come apart in four pieces to fit snugly to any sized picture frame. Paper pads are made of three-layers of paper that are thick enough to provide support while staying affordable. You can also use thin blankets or moving pads for wrapping pictures.

2. Wrap up your framed picture like a holiday present.

Using a paper or moving pad, or a light blanket, lay your picture down, wrap the pad around all the sides and then secure sides and seams with tape.

3. Mark the glass side of the wrapped up picture.

This can easily be done by writing “glass” on the appropriate side of a paper pad or on the tape securing a moving pad or blanket.

4. Put together a four-way carton and lightly fill with dunnage.

Each of the boxes four pieces should be constructed and secured with tape. Make sure to cover the seams. The bottom two pieces should be slid together, with the last two added once the frames are in place. Dunnage, or any type of packing, such as popcorn peanuts, crumpled newsprint or bubble wrap, should be put in each of the four built pieces to cushion the frame.

5. Secure pictures in boxes.

Two frames can be placed in each box, with their backs to each other. If a glass frame must face another picture, be sure to place an extra pad between them. Once placed inside, each top piece of the carton should be slid on carefully. The sides should be adjusted until they fit snugly around the pictures. Finally, tape should be used to secure the shape, including covering all seams. Clearly label each box with the name of the room where you want it unloaded.

Schedule an appointment with Nilson Van for residential moves involving picture frames and other awkward items. Our moving professionals have the supplies and the knowledge needed to pack your possessions quickly, securely and to keep them organized during your move. Click this link or call 803.786.1090 for a free quote for your next residential move.