Month: November 2015

Tracking shipments is easy when you’re moving in the military.

One of the big fears involved with moving in the military is the risk of losing your belongings. Starting over in a new town is hard enough without having a bare home to contend with. Fortunately, lost shipments are a rarity when you deal with an experienced moving company.

Here are just a few ways to keep track of your possessions when you’re on the road:

• Get those digits. Once you leave your home, you’ll need a way to keep in touch with your moving team. Make sure you have the phone number for your moving van’s driver along with the company’s main line. If there are any delays—such as traffic, construction or auto problems—you can be in direct contact with the people who need to stay in-the-know.
• Have a local contact. If possible, have someone at your new home able to act as your representative. Military families sometimes run into trouble when their shipments arrive before they do. If there’s no one to let your movers into your home or sign off on your delivery, the driver may take your belongings back to the company warehouse for short-term storage. This can cause significant delays.
• Talk with your moving company. In the event of a missed shipment, you shouldn’t worry about your items being lost. Call your moving company’s direct line. Each shipment—and each load placed into storage—is carefully tracked. While you may not be able to get real-time GPS coordinates for your belongings, your moving company should have no trouble giving you a rough estimation of where your household items are or how long it may take to deliver them to your home.

Nilson Van helps families moving in the military who are located in SC, and select areas in NC and Georgia. Click this link or call 803-786-1090 (local) or 800-845-2682 (toll free) to schedule a move or ask more about Nilson Van’s tracking features for families moving in the military.

Moving internationally goes smoothly if you take time to be prepared.

Moving internationally can be a complicated endeavor. You’re sure to have problems if you don’t take time to plan. Hiring an experienced moving company is another essential to ensure your belongings arrive intact at your new address.

Follow this checklist when getting ready for an international move:

90 Days Out

• If you’re a homeowner, talk with a realtor about selling or renting your current property.
• Request quotes from moving companies experienced in international moves.
• Get your paperwork in order. Have copies of your IDs, birth certificates, social security cards, passports and tax returns securely scanned and stored for easy retrieval.
• Talk with your children’s school on how to handle transfers.

60 Days Out

• Start listing items you intend to sell before you move.
• Schedule medical checkups with doctors, dentists and optometrists, and request copies of your records.
• Deliver changes of address to family, friends, and business contacts.
• Order stops on any contract services you won’t be using while you’re away, such as cable or mobile phones.
• Set up online access to your banking features or find suitable alternatives.

30 Days Out

• Pack everything you won’t need for your last month in the states.
• Get all the paperwork for your moving company organized and turned in.
• Order stops on your utilities.
• Pay all of your outstanding bills.
• Plan your going away parties.

7 Days Out

• Ready suitcases with essentials capable of lasting at least a month.
• Double-check all shipping and moving information. Secure delivery dates when possible. Make sure you have everyone’s contact information and a method for getting in touch when necessary.

Moving Day

• Go through your home one last time for anything left behind.
• Say your final goodbyes to friends and family, and start off on your new journey.

Nilson Van assists individuals, families and companies who are moving internationally. Take advantage of our experience and overseas partnerships. Moving internationally can be a complicated endeavor. You’re sure to have problems if you don’t take time to plan. Hiring an experienced moving company is another essential to ensure your belongings arrive intact at your new address. Follow this checklist when getting ready for an international move: 90 Days Out •If you’re a homeowner, talk with a realtor about selling or renting your current property. •Request quotes from moving companies experienced in international moves. •Get your paperwork in order. Have copies of your IDs, birth certificates, social security cards, passports and tax returns securely scanned and stored for easy retrieval. •Talk with your children’s school on how to handle transfers. 60 Days Out •Start listing items you intend to sell before you move. •Schedule medical checkups with doctors, dentists and optometrists, and request copies of your records. •Deliver changes of address to family, friends, and business contacts. •Order stops on any contract services you won’t be using while you’re away, such as cable or mobile phones. •Set up online access to your banking features or find suitable alternatives. 30 Days Out •Pack everything you won’t need for your last month in the states. •Get all the paperwork for your moving company organized and turned in. •Order stops on your utilities. •Pay all of your outstanding bills. •Plan your going away parties. 7 Days Out •Ready suitcases with essentials capable of lasting at least a month. •Double-check all shipping and moving information. Secure delivery dates when possible. Make sure you have everyone’s contact information and a method for getting in touch when necessary. Moving Day •Go through your home one last time for anything left behind. •Say your final goodbyes to friends and family, and start off on your new journey. Nilson Van assists individuals, families and companies who are moving internationally. Take advantage of our experience and overseas partnerships.

Click this link or give us a call at 803-223-9736 (local) or 844-668-3721 (toll free) for a free quote for moving internationally today.

Business relocations are especially tricky when warehouses are involved.

Business relocations sometimes involve moving warehouses. Chances are, this job is going to be much more complicated than you assume. Nilson Van is experienced in these types of jobs, and we’ve devised a system for making them go as fast and stress-free as possible.

Feel free to follow our simplified warehouse moving checklist:

1. Assess your new warehouse space. The building code for your current location could be much different than the area you’re moving to. Make sure you work with a local builder on what will be needed to successfully occupy the space and start operations. Everything from modifying your storage areas to installing adequate sprinkling systems and establishing appropriate routes for egress could cause delays and major expenses.
2. Decide which equipment and inventory to take. A move is an excellent time to clean house. You may wind up saving by selling off older equipment in your current location and buying new units near your new facility.
3. Schedule enough manpower during the process. Work could take double the time and effort as you’re shifting locations. You’ll need to beef up everything from third-party services to management providers until your move is complete.
4. Keep your customers up-to-date. Ensuring your clients have your new address is one of the most important parts of successfully moving to a new warehouse. You really want to go the extra mile, and give each of your active accounts personalized attention so payments, orders, and shipments aren’t lost in the shuffle.

If you’re located in South Carolina, or select North Carolina or Georgia locales, Nilson Van will lend expertise to your business relocations. Take advantage of our seamless planning protocols by clicking this link or calling 803-223-9736 (local) or 844-668-3721 (toll-free) to get your free quote for business relocations today.

Learn the etiquette involved with residential moves, and schedule your date without any stress.

Don’t let questions on etiquette stand in the way of scheduling professional services for your residential moves. They provide too many benefits to ignore. If you have any questions, feel free to ask the experts for their opinion. Nilson Van can address your concerns, so there won’t be any stress involved in scheduling your services.

Here are the most common moving etiquette questions answered by the pros:

Should I tip my professional movers?

In the United States, customers often tip service professionals of all kind, whether they are cutting your hair, serving you drinks or delivering your luggage to your room. Your tip is a reward for good to stellar performance and should only be forgone in the event of bad service. Tipping rates for movers vary widely depending on location and the effort involved in your move, however, rates should start at $20 per person. Feel free to ask about regular tipping rates when you set your dates.

What should I do with odds and ends on moving day?

Homeowners sometimes have a selection of loose items waiting for movers on moving day. Forgotten or odd-shaped items, like plastic plants or floor lamps, should always be in boxes or wrapped in moving blankets to prevent loss or damage. Moving companies offer packing services if you need help. If not, having extra boxes, tape and packing materials on hand on moving day can really pay off.

Should I offer my movers food and drinks?

While not a necessity, offering your movers cold water is often much appreciated. Regardless of what time of the year you’ll be moving, your workers will be sweating heavily. They’ll need to stay hydrated in order to keep up their energy. If you would like to offer them food, keep this in mind: foods are best kept to healthy snacks and hors-d’oeuvres, as movers likely won’t have the time to enjoy a meal. Select foods that will sit light on the stomach and be easy on digestive tracks.

Hiring help for residential moves is generally worth more than homeowners assume. It’s perfectly acceptable to reward them with tips, as well as cold water, to show you’re grateful for their help.

Click this link to schedule movers who are worth the extra effort by contacting Nilson Van in advance of your residential moves. Visit us online or call 803-223-9736 (local) 844-668-3721 (toll-free) to make your appointment today.