Month: May 2017

Making plans for moving in the military? Get inside pointers for military moves from experienced movers.

Military families face moving in the military again and again, so much so that they can often give pointers to the average family to help streamline the process. However, new military families or those who haven’t moved in a long time may need some tips. With military moves, whether you choose to orchestrate the move yourself or let the military handle it, the upside is that you can rely on professional movers. That takes a huge stress off you.

Here are some tips to help streamline your upcoming military move:

• Typically, you get plenty of notice that a PCS or permanent change of station is coming. As soon as you learn of your orders, it’s time to purge. Even if your last move was as recently as two or three years ago, there is likely an abundance of stuff that you can get rid of to make the move easier and more efficient.
• Don’t pack. The professional movers will open up your boxes and repack them. This is to ensure all items have proper protection, as the moving company has liability coverage on everything they pack.
• Clearly label anything you do not want packed or place it all in a “safe” place. Packers will pack everything. So make sure you have necessary items pulled aside before their arrival.
• Have a first-day box that travels with you, not the movers. Include items you will need as soon as you arrive at your new home — toilet paper, snacks, towels, shower curtain, hygiene items, disposable plates and cutlery, snacks and more.
• Make things easier upon arrival at your new home by marking boxes with colorful duct tape to designate the room the box should go to when carried in. Further categorize boxes with a marking that reminds you which boxes you should open first.
• Be very organized about your move. Keep all your documents and notes in one central location. Call to schedule utility disconnections and hook ups at the new location early. If you have school-aged children, know what you need for school registration and have those documents readily available. Do some research on your new town to get a feel for the area.
• Know the additional restrictions that apply to military moves overseas, so you don’t encounter surprises.

Get more information on moving in the military from the experts at Nilson Van & Storage by visiting us online.

As you plan for your residential move, it’s important to take steps to protect your furniture and appliances from the bumps, scratches and damage that can happen during transport. At Nilson Van, we’ve heard some horror stories about moves gone bad when items were vulnerable during the move and suffered damages — sometimes irreparable.

Let’s cover a few of the important steps you can take to ensure your belongings stay safe on the trip to your new location:

• First and foremost, the most important step you can take to keep your furniture and appliances safe is to hire professional movers. Movers have the training and experience to handle even larger items. They know how to prepare them for transport and deliver them safely. Working with friends, family, or other people without professional experience in residential moves can be a costly mistake.
• Unplug appliances at least 24 hours before the moving day. This will give them time to drain if necessary. If you neglect this step, you could have a major mess on your hands.
• Secure appliance and furniture drawers, shelves, racks and cords. Leaving these items loose can cause problems on moving day. You can use tape, ropes, bungee cords or plastic wrap to make sure everything is tight and secure.
• Acquire the right supplies. Make sure you have boxes of all sizes, bubble wrap, tape, blankets and other cushions to move larger items. Keep in mind it can be a hassle to track down these items on your own. But when you hire the right moving company, they’ll bring these packing items with them.

No one wants to have to replace furniture and appliances after a move. Moving is expensive enough as it is! By taking the necessary precautions, you can get everything to your destination in one piece, so you can make your new place a home as quickly as possible.

Contact our expert moving team at Nilson Van today for help getting your furniture and appliances ready for your residential move.

When it comes to moving, few tasks are as complicated as the international move . Packing up your belongings and moving to another country involves a lot of research and planning. One major cause for confusion is figuring out which items will need to clear customs when you arrive in your new country.

Here’s a quick guide from the pros at Nilson Van to help you get some clarification on what to expect to clear customs:

5 Steps to Get Through Customs Successfully

First, you will need to secure an estimate or quote for your move, and then select your moving company with experience in international moves. This step is important, because once you have your mover lined up, they will be able to guide you through the process and help you with clearing customs when the time comes.

• Find out the duties and taxes for which you will be responsible for going through customs; make sure you have the most recent list, because they often change without notice.
• Inquire about the customs clearance office or company with which you will be working at your destination. Call them in advance with questions to ensure there are no surprises.
• Each country’s customs process is different, so don’t assume if you have navigated it in one destination you will be fine for another.
• If you are bringing pets, you will typically need to show proof they have a microchip.
• Each country has a list of commonly restricted items. Check with your destination to make sure you aren’t trying to bring any items on the list.

Let Nilson Van Guide You Successfully Through Customs

You will want to have our team of international move experts on your side as you prepare to clear customs. We know the ins and outs of the process and will help you to learn everything you need to know about the customs in your destination country. Visit us online today to get your free quote.

Oh, the office relocation — it’s a mixture of excitement, chaos, and stress — potentially a whole lot of stress if you haven’t planned properly. But our pro moving team at Nilson Van is here to help you get organized for the big move. Our decades of experience have shown us that if you fine-tune your moving checklist and have the right movers in place, you will be able to eliminate most of the stress and chaos, and focus instead on the excitement.

Let’s take a look at three important items you need to have on your office relocation checklist.

A Moving Timeline

To ensure everyone in your office is on the same page, it’s important to provide a packing and moving timeline for your staff. Provide a document that includes the dates they will need to pack up their belongings and prepare their computers and desks, as well as the final date they will be working in the existing office. By keeping them in the loop and outlining the expectations you have for their participation in the move, you will avoid confusion and chaos.

Wrap Up the Desks

An easy way to secure desks and filing cabinets, including the items inside them, is to wrap them up with plastic wrap. If they can lock, do that first, but using the wrap provides another layer of security. It’s much easier to do the “wrap-up” than it is to have each employee unload their desks and cabinets into large boxes.

Use a Labeling System

Another great way to stay organized is to use a consistent labeling system on each piece of furniture and equipment. The labels will correlate with the doors at the new office location, so there is no confusion as to where each piece will go.

Get Your Office Relocation Right with Nilson Van

Let us put our seven decades of moving experience to work for you. Contact Nilson Van today to get a quote for your office relocation. Visit us online or call 800-845-2682.

A military relocation can be a stressful time. But when you have the right moving company working for you, it can make the difference between smooth sailing and a chaotic, frustrating transition. There are certain things to watch for as you consider different moving companies to facilitate your move. Here are the top considerations.

Does the Company Specialize in Military Moves?

A military relocation isn’t the same as any other type of move. Look for companies that list military relocations as part of their specialized services. Check their website and online reviews to see if they have the information available to show they know what they are talking about when it comes to moving in the military.

Does the Company Hire Experienced and Trained Movers?

While the company may sound great on paper, it’s important to know they hire professional movers who have the proper experience, training and background checks. The last thing you will want to worry about is sketchy or inexperienced movers. Don’t be afraid to ask the company about the individuals who will be providing the moving service and what their background information and training include.

Does the Company Have Good Communication and Customer Service?

You should be able to tell as soon as you connect with a moving company whether they will have the communication style and customer service to meet your expectations. Ask questions and request timelines. Make sure the company seems competent before you sign any paperwork hiring them for the job.

Our Expert Movers at Nilson Van Are Ready for Your Military Relocation

In your search for the best movers around, we know you will discover you can get the best of the best at Nilson Van. We have been helping members of our military move for more than seventy years. That’s a long time, and we have many satisfied military clients to prove it.

Visit us online today to learn more about the benefits of choosing Nilson Van for your next military relocation