Category: Blog

If you have plans for an international move in the New Year, it’s time to get ready now. A move overseas is not something you want to put off until the last minute. There are many details and steps in the process to consider. Perhaps you are putting it off because you feel overwhelmed and aren’t even sure where to begin in the process.

Keep reading for the Beginner’s Guide you need to get on track for a successful move to a new country.

Count the Cost

Relocating is expensive when you are heading across state, so it’s easy to understand how it will be very costly to move overseas. The best plan for managing costs is knowing what to expect and setting aside money where you can in advance.

Obtaining a quote from a professional moving company as early as you can will at least help you to plan for that significant cost upfront. There may be a few other minor unexpected costs involved, but the quote will give you a good idea regarding how much you should plan to spend on moving expenses.

Know What You Can and Cannot Bring with You

Get the details for what the customs in your new country will and will not allow into the country. It is much better to know in advance than to be dealing with the issue at the airport or border.

Make Sure You Have Insurance on Your Belongings

Moving your belongings overseas can be risky. It’s a good idea to insure anything valuable, because it may become damaged during the trip, or you could even experience a loss. If you aren’t sure what kind of insurance to get, contact moving pros you can explore your best options.

Whether you have questions that need answers or you are looking for a company that can help you with your international move in 2019, our team at Nilson Van & Storage is here to help. Connect with us online now for a free quote or for more tips to help your move go as smoothly as possible.

If you are planning a residential move, you likely will pack your car to the max. Even if you are using a moving truck, you may have items you want to put in your car to keep near to you on the trip.

Whether you are just moving to the other side of town or across the U.S., here are the car packing tips you need to make your move as safe and efficient as possible:

Tip #1: Have a Plan

The best plan for moving is always having a plan. If you wait until the last minute and just start throwing items and boxes into vehicles, you will have a genuine mess on your hands. Moving is hectic enough as it is, so make sure you have established a moving plan of action in advance that includes all of the vehicles you will use during the moving process as well as what will go where.

Tip #2: Identify and Protect the Fragile Items

While you may not have a china cabinet (or maybe you do!), certain more fragile items require extra packing materials and care. If you prefer to keep valuables with you in your car during the move, rather than in a separate moving truck or trailer, make a note of these items and plan to put them in the car last so they don’t get smashed or crushed by other heavier items.

Tip #3: Leave the Windows and Mirrors Clear

Being able to see out of your windows and into your side car mirrors and rear-view mirror is essential to safe driving. Even if you are just driving a short distance, it’s important to have a clear view of the road and other drivers on the road or those entering traffic. Plus, it’s illegal to obstruct your view of the road! Resist the urge to pack your car so full that you can’t see to drive safely and legally. If you have more than what you can fit in your car, consider renting a moving truck or hiring the moving pros to handle the move for you.

Whether you are looking for more tips for your residential move or want to make the entire process as easy as possible with professional movers, our team at Nilson Van is here to help. Connect with us online now to get the help you need.

Are you planning on moving with pets? Here’s how to keep them safe and as happy as possible during the move.

One of the top stressors in a pet’s life is a move, but that doesn’t mean you can’t minimize the stress when moving with pets. Your pet is likely a significant part of your world, and the thought of causing it distress can make the process even more worrisome for you and your family.

Signs the move is bothering your pet may include:

• Hiding
• More barking than usual
• Or even lashing out aggressively

It’s time to de-stress the moving process for you and your pet with these tips for your long distance move:

Tip #1: Familiarize the pet to the travel carrier in advance.

Most pets think they know what’s coming when the travel carrier appears. They likely correlate it with stressful vet appointments, which can make them feel fearful. Or, perhaps they’ve never experienced a carrier before and that uncertainty can be even worse. By letting them hop into the carrier with a few treats and toys inside, they can start to feel more comfortable and will associate the carrier with a positive memory instead.

Tip #2: Have a friend or family member help with the pet during the move.

A pet that has to sit in the carrier the entire time the movers are present is going to be very unhappy. Whether barking excessively or acting aggressive, the pet will likely act out in not-so-wonderful ways. Finding a pet sitter, friend or family member who can take the dog on a walk or break-up the time in some way will help to alleviate the pet’s stress—and will likely decrease your guilt too!

For more tips to manage moving with a pet as successfully as possible, connect with our pros at Nilson Van & Storage today. We are here to help you and your family (pets included!) every step of the way.

Imagine how much easier your move could be with the help of a moving calendar. This is what all new homeowners wish they knew before their move.

Looking back on their moves, most new homeowners either are glad they used a moving calendar or wish they would have used one to keep them on track. If you are new homeowner preparing for an upcoming move, you can save yourself some time and hassle by starting the process the right way. Keep reading to learn how to implement a moving calendar to help you streamline and expedite the moving process.

Decide If You Are Going Pro or Alone

It’s important to keep in mind that a professional moving company can take the guesswork out of implementing a moving calendar. When you hire an expert team to help, they will provide you with a detailed moving calendar that will help you to know exactly what you should be doing when to keep the process running optimally.

If you want to come up with the dates yourself, go for it, but make sure you start about two months out from your move. By doing this, you can spread out the packing and make it feel less hectic. You can schedule everything from the day you plan to pack up the closets and out of season clothes to other non-moving-related activities and commitments you will need to be attending. By laying it all out, it will make it easier for you to know where you need to be and how you will be able to accomplish all the tasks on your to-do list.

How to Minimize the Chaos with a Moving Calendar

Let’s face it, moving can get crazy fast, especially if you are doing it yourself rather than utilizing the help of a moving company. Here are some of the other items and tasks you need to include on your to-do list to minimize the chaos in the process:

• Changing over utilities
• Purchasing packing supplies
• Letting all necessary parties know about your address change
• Purging—take as much as possible to thrift stores, so you aren’t packing unnecessary items
• Scheduling the days you plan to pack up different rooms or areas of your house
• Including downtime—yep, you even need to schedule a break or you will burn out quickly!

Whether you need more tips to create your moving calendar or think it might be a good idea to let the moving pros take it from here, contact our team at Nilson Van & Storage now. Connect with us online or call 800-845-2682.

Ready to rock your upcoming residential move? It’s all about the organization. These tips should help you make your move as efficient and pain-free as possible.

Whether you are feeling overwhelmed or excited about your upcoming residential move, one thing is certain—ready or not, it’s coming. Time is of the essence, and the most important thing you can do to prepare is getting organized. Not having a moving plan in place will leave you feeling frustrated and you are more likely to forget important steps.

Never fear. These top two organizational tips will help you get your ducks (and boxes) in a row, so you can feel good about your move:

Tip #1: Start Packing Now

Procrastination is the mover’s worst enemy, and it’s a tricky beast. You may think you are putting off the pain by waiting until the last minute to pack, but it really just leaves the concern weighing on your mind and makes the process much more difficult later.

Instead of waiting, start as soon as you can. Start packing up unnecessary items, such as:

• Home decor and display items that you don’t need in daily life
• Out of season clothes and shoes
• Items in storage and things you have stuffed in closets that you are not currently using

The earlier you can start packing, the less you will have to worry about in the final days of the move.

Tip #2: Purge, Purge, Purge

Now is the time to throw out the items you are no longer using. There’s no need to move items that have been sitting in a box since your last move. A good rule of thumb is if you haven’t used an item in two years, it’s time to give it away. Haul items away to a thrift store or charity that can use them. The less unnecessary stuff you have to load in boxes to move, the better.

Need some help with organization before your residential move? Maybe it’s time to call on the moving experts at Nilson Van & Storage. We can help to make the entire moving process as hassle-free as possible for you. Connect with us online now for a moving quote.

Consider this moving out checklist for your office relocation.

Planning for office relocation can be an overwhelming time. You may be trying to keep your business running as usual, but there’s still so much to do to get everything organized and packed properly. Even your staff may feel the strain, which can affect both their productivity and morale.

Make the moving process as smooth and stress-free as possible with this simple office relocation checklist:

• Get your office staff on board by holding a “moving meeting.” Share a relocation master schedule and go over the dates on which important steps in the moving process will take place.
• Let employees know exactly what you expect of them and what they can expect during the process.
• Assign moving leaders or supervisors in each department.
• Conduct an audit of staff keys and inventory the existing furniture, equipment and electronics.
• Get quotes from moving companies to find the right professional moving team to meet your budget and needs.
• Let any suppliers and vendors know about your move and provide them with your new address.
• Mail out moving notices to your clients/customers, banks, credit cards and accounts, professional organizations, utility companies, insurance companies, subscription services, and anyone else who needs to know about your move.
• If necessary, reserve office building elevators and/or loading docks for your moving day.
• Create a color-coded system for office furniture and equipment; this is a step the moving company can handle for you.
• Arrange for a cleaning service to clean-up the office once you are completely out of the space.

This basic checklist is a smart place to begin for making your office relocation as streamlined as possible. For a more detailed checklist and to get a moving company working for you that has experience in office relocations, connect with our team at Nilson Van & Storage now.

Is it possible to decrease your moving costs? Learn tips from the pros on how to minimize your expenditures.

Moving costs can set you back a few months financially if you don’t look into ways to cut back when possible. Whether you rack up credit card debt during the move or use up your savings, trying to bounce back after such an expensive time can be difficult; this is especially true as you consider the costs of getting established at your new place.

Consider these three strategies to help you keep your moving costs low:

#1: Get Free Boxes for Packing Some Items

While certain items will require special boxes for safe and secure packing, you should be able to get plenty of boxes for free to pack your non-delicate items. Go to grocery stores and ask if they have any boxes in the back you can take off their hands. You can also post on social media through public posts or local Swap Shops to see if people in your area have boxes available from a recent move.

#2: Hire a Professional Moving Company

Yes, this may seem like an expensive option at first glance, but when you think about the money an expert moving job can save you, you’ll understand why it’s a good strategy:

• Avoid having to replace furniture, appliances, electronics and other delicate items—a professional moving team knows exactly how to pack and handle these items safely.
• No need to take days off from work to pack every single item in your house when you can let the moving team do the job for you.
• Find the best route to take on your moving trip; it’s amazing how much gas and mileage you can waste on the wrong route or high traffic times. An expert moving company will help you to find the most affordable route.