Category: Blog

Moving with a pet is easy when you follow these simple tips.

Residential moves are tough as is, but add a pet to the mix and things can get extra complicated. Ease the burden by following these simple tips:

1. Keep Your Pet Away from the Home while Moving

If possible, ask a friend to host your pet while you’re busy moving. With the door constantly wide open, the moving process will present your pet with numerous opportunities to make a run for it. If you can’t find another environment for your pet, set aside one empty, quiet room — and keep the door shut.

2. Use a Familiar Crate or Kennel

The transition of moving can be traumatic for pets, but familiar objects and settings help. Get your pet used to his or her crate or kennel in advance. If you don’t yet have a kennel and must buy a new one, line the floor with your pet’s favorite towel or blanket.

3. Maintain Some Semblance of Routine

Chaos is normal during a move, but you can handle it better than your pets. Try your best to maintain typical feeding and walking times during your move and especially after you reach your new location.

4. Spend Some Quality Time with Your Pet Once You’re Moved In

Don’t force your pet to spend long stretches of time alone once you settle in. If possible, take a vacation day from work to spend some time around the house with your pet. Make it clear that, while your living arrangements may change, you’re not going anywhere.

5. Don’t Procrastinate

Plan for your pet’s care and transition to your new environment well in advance. The better prepared you are for your move, the easier this transition will be for your four-legged family member.

Residential moves with pets need not be a fiasco. With Nilson Van & Storage in your corner, you can make it through this process quickly and completely stress-free.

These easy budgeting tips will help you save money as you move.

From new job opportunities to a simple change of scenery, many factors prompt residential moves. Often, people move for economic reasons. But while a move might signal a more promising future, the process can be financially painful in and of itself. Follow these simple tips to keep your moving budget in check:

1. Keep Eating at Home

Between a kitchen in transit and the general desire to avoid cooking and dishes, it’s easy to see why so many people in the midst of moving eat most of their meals out. This can add up quickly, however, especially if most meals occur at sit-down restaurants. Keep a small set of cooking supplies at each location so you can whip up meals easily. Plan simple recipes with minimal ingredients.

2. Take Care with Utilities

Not all utility companies are willing to prorate, so as you switch residences, determine which approach will best prevent you from paying double your usual utility bills.

3. Hold a Garage Sale

You probably don’t need all the items in your current home; keep in mind, the more things you move, the costlier it’ll be. Make a small profit from unwanted possessions by holding a garage sale or selling things on eBay.

4. Pack Carefully

Clumsily packed items could see damage during your move, forcing you to purchase replacements upon arrival. Use bubble wrap for fragile items, and select a trustworthy mover known for handling all objects with care.

Implement just one or two of the frugal tactics outlined above, and you’ll save a bundle on your next move. Of course, the easiest way to save is to select the right moving company. Look to Nilson Van & Storage for affordable moving help. Contact us to get started and to request a quote for your upcoming residential move.

Ask the right questions to ensure an easy move abroad.

International moves amplify the already abundant concerns homeowners have when they relocate. As you prepare for your move abroad, be sure to ask these essential questions:

1. How do you determine the cost of the move?

Your mover’s quote may not be entirely accurate, as there remain certain unknowns that you won’t find out until the day of the move. However, the quote should give you a pretty good idea of expected costs. Ask your moving company about the various factors considered when determining the initial quote, and what additional factors go into the final price.

2. What items am I not allowed to bring into my new country?

While your clothes, books, furniture and other belongings will easily make it through customs, certain possessions may not cross customs into various countries. This is especially true for firearms or other assorted weapons. Customs may also bar you from bringing certain plants, animals, or natural resources that could pose a threat to your new habitat.

3. What are my options for insuring my belongings?

An international move is a rigorous ordeal for your possessions. Despite the best of care, certain items might not make it to the intended destination. Safeguard your belongings by evaluating all your moving insurance options beforehand and selecting the coverage that is right for you. The peace of mind of knowing your valuables have adequate protection will be well worth the price.

4. Do you have any options for storage?

It may not be realistic to move all your items into your new living space as soon as you arrive in your new country. Large items sometimes need special arrangements. Be sure to ask about storage options in your new country. You need to have a game plan in case your new abode isn’t as spacious as you initially thought.

Curious as to the role Nilson Van & Storage experts will play in your international move? Contact us today to learn more about our international moving services.

Pack carefully, and your move could be surprisingly easy.

You dread the packing process, but the steps you take now could determine whether you enjoy a simple, stress-free residential move, or a complete fiasco. Follow these packing tips to ensure an efficient move:

1. Find Items to Donate to a Good Cause

This is your big opportunity to downsize. You’re bound to acquire new decor as you decorate post-move, so plan ahead and find unused items to donate before you change your address. You could score a nice tax break as you reduce the number of items you need to move.

2. Label Your Belongings

It may seem like a no-brainer, but organizing and labeling your boxes and containers will make unpacking a breeze. Label items by room; this will eliminate the hassle of digging through dozens of boxes to find bathroom towels or kitchen cutlery. A simple Sharpie marker will do the trick — it’s more permanent than labels, which could fall off during the moving process.

3. Use Similar-Sized Boxes and Containers for Smaller Items

Think of your moving adventure as a giant game of Tetris; by maximizing the space you occupy, you’ll save on shipping costs. It’s easier to load boxes and containers of a similar size into a shipping container or truck. You may need to be more creative with bulky items, however.

4. Bubble Wrap Your Valuables

It’s tempting to haphazardly wrap your expensive glassware in crumpled up newspapers or junk mail. In doing so, you’re not only are you using a flimsy material that doesn’t offer much protection — you’re actually adding to your shipping costs. Bubble wrap is lightweight and provides a comforting cushion for your china or other fragile belongings. Better yet, it’s reusable — if you can resist the urge to pop it!

The right moving company can make all the difference as you seek an efficient residential move. Contact our team at Nilson Van & Storage at your earliest convenience for a quote and to learn more about our moving services.

Looking for tips to make your military relocation easier? The reality is that most military households move about every three years and it never seems to get much easier. A PCS (Permanent Change of Station) move is not the standard. By understanding the differing aspects, you can streamline the move as much as possible.

Understand Weight Allowances

The most unusual aspect of military moves is the weight allowance on the amount of goods covered by the military for household moves. This number depends on the rank of the service member and whether there are dependents. Essentially, anything moved by the military must fall within the weight allowances. This proves to be a challenge for the service member and his/her family, as they have the responsibility of providing an accurate accounting of the weight of their belongings. The only exclusions are items not covered by a military move and pro gear, which have different moving requirements.

Expect and Plan for Uncovered Expenses

You should expect and plan for uncovered out-of-pocket expenses. The fee above and beyond the covered weight limits can add up fast. In addition, you may need to move certain items yourself. This could mean several road trips to the new home or renting a trailer or small truck to move things the military will not carry. Such expenses can add up quickly.

Wait on Orders

To be able to plan your move, you need official orders. You likely know your move date, but until orders arrive, you are stuck unable to complete much-needed details, like buying or renting a home and more. While you wait, do the things you can do, such as tying up loose ends and downsizing your belongings.

Contact our expert team at Nilson Van now to get answers about your military move or to schedule an estimate.

Any move can be a challenge to undertake, but there are major rookie mistakes to avoid when moving out of state. Such moves require more attention to detail than a simple across town move. Know the top mistakes and how to avoid them when you are getting ready for your move across state lines.

Mistake #1: Being Unorganized

Take the time to get thoroughly organized before your move. Schedule movers as early as possible and create a comprehensive list of necessary action items. A calendar or lists organized by week will help keep you on track.

Mistake #2: Not Doing Your Homework

Before choosing a moving company, shop around and compare the different ones serving your area. Ask for references and read reviews on their service. Get estimates from the different companies. For better accuracy, make sure estimates happen with a personal visit. Read all the documents and get clear on any limitations.

You should also invest in insurance coverage for the move. While the movers offer coverage on your belongings, it is typically less than a dollar per pound. You need coverage that will cover the full value of your goods.

Mistake #3: Poor Packing

Before you start packing, you need to know what is okay for your move. Depending upon state regulations, there might be items you cannot move across state lines. In addition, you probably have many things you actually don’t need to move. Tackle this by decluttering and ridding your home of things you don’t need or use. If you choose to pack on your own instead of using professional packers, do some research on how to pack well. Be sure to include sufficient padding and label every box.

Streamline your move by making sure you avoid these mistakes. To learn more about the rookie mistakes to avoid when moving out of state or to set up a time for an estimate, contact our team at Nilson Van now.

A simple three-step process for clearing customs when moving abroad would be a great resource for those moving out of the country – but each country is completely different when it comes to clearing customs. For that reason, it is impossible to give a comprehensive multi-step process that covers every situation. However, we can provide you with guidelines that will expedite the process.

Knowledge Is Power

Before your move, take the time to familiarize yourself with the guidelines for clearing customs in the country to which you are moving. Because each country is different, it is important to do your research. It is also critical to know what items cannot enter that country or which have restrictions on them. This will save you tremendous grief later.

Organization Is Key

Getting organized before your move to a new country is the key to quickly and easily clearing customs. You must label, number and inventory every single box, so that customs can pull it and know exactly what should be in it.

Be Prompt in Contacting Customs

As soon as you arrive at your new country, contacting customs needs to be at the top of your to-do list. Claiming your belongings and getting them cleared will prevent them from possibly winding up in storage, where they will accumulate additional storage/demurrage fees.

The most effective way to handle clearing customs when moving abroad is to have your professional movers guide you. They have the experience and know-how to pave the way. Contact our expert team at Nilson Van now to get more details on the process for clearing customs when moving abroad.

Uncover pro tips to nail your next residential move from those who do it every day.

Whether you are moving for the first or twenty-first time, we have pro tips to help you nail your next residential move. Moving is a pain, but those who repeatedly do it get better at it because they learn something new from challenging experiences. Those who work as professional movers deal with moves every day and can help you get it right.

What to Do One Month or More before Your Next Move

• Schedule your movers/packers as far in advance as possible to ensure the dates you want.
• Invest time in organizing and decluttering. Many of the things in your home go unused from year to year and can be re-homed rather than moved.

Packing Pro Tips

• Make sure drawers that will stay filled during a move have no breakable, spillable, valuable, or sentimental items in them.
• If doing DIY packing, start with the basement, attic or garage and then pack one room at a time.
• If you have professional packers handling your move, be sure to group boxes properly to help things go more efficiently.
• Clearly mark all boxes, and add a special marking to indicate those that should take priority when opening.
• Create a first-night box to carry with you or load last onto the truck. It should include toilet paper, hand soap, towels, some cleaning products, shower curtain, basic hygiene products, disposable plates and cutlery, and snacks.

Bonus Moving Tips

• Know the basics of your new city or town before you get there. Online resources make it easy to discover the favorite pizza place, local grocery stores and more.
• Move the following items yourself: prescription drugs, collections, family photos, important papers, cash, moving documents, and jewelry.

Take the stress out of your next residential move by handing it over to the professionals. Contact our team at Nilson Van today to get a free quote on your move.

Whether your move is across town or the country, the benefits of a full-service mover are tremendous. Just the reduction in stress alone is a major reason to choose full-service movers. But there are other perks to that you will love:

1.The Speed of the Move

When homeowners choose to do a move on their own, it often takes months to completely pack up the house and days to get things in the right place upon arrival at the new house. However, with full-service movers houses get packed up in a day. Everything is carefully labeled and set up at the new home just as fast.

2.Delivery Where You Want It

You can get items delivered to two different locations. If some of your belongings are going to storage or a different location, your movers will use different color tags when packing and deliver the right items to the right places.

3.Unpacking and Set Up

Another of the benefits of full-service movers is that they unpack and set up your home upon arrival at your new address. For busy households it is ideal, saving tremendous amounts of time. You can be up and functional in no time.

4.Safety of Your Belongings

Full-service movers are professionals who can safeguard your belongings as you move from one location to another. A rented moving truck is a huge target for thieves who see them as an opportunity to take advantage of exhausted individuals who may not have taken the proper precautions to secure the vehicle. With full-service movers, you have the bonus of all your goods insured against loss.

5.Save Yourself

Moving is physically hard. Even for those who are in shape, moving can be physically taxing and can lead to injury. By hiring full-service movers, you save wear and tear on your body and your belongings as your move is in the hands of professionals who do such moves on a daily basis.

A move is easily one of the most stressful situations for you. Minimize the stress of moving and enjoy the many other benefits a full-service mover can deliver. Contact our team of expert movers at Nilson Van & Storage now to get a price quote on your upcoming move.

An office relocation requires a lot of preparation and organization. There are many important things to consider, and if you neglect any of them, you may cut your customers off from your business, albeit temporarily. To avoid any interruption in business, we have several tips to help you simplify your office relocation:

1. Designate a few key staff members who will handle the organization of your move. This ensures everyone else can focus on business as usual. With careful organization, no tasks or customers will fall through the cracks.
2. Plan your move during downtime if possible. Pick the slowest time of the week, month or year to minimize disruptions.
3. Communicate with your staff. Ensure they are aware of moving timelines and any new guidelines that apply at the new location.
4. Plan for things to go wrong. What is the backup plan if there are IT issues? Is there a work from home option for at least some of your staff?
5. Pay attention to security. During a move, security of sensitive information can become compromised. Delegate someone to take care of security.
6. Plan for document management and moving of important documents to happen before the actual move date.
7. If your office has an open floor plan, assign a number to each workspace and pre-assign employees to a space. Provide labels for your employees so they can tag all office equipment and boxes with their new workspace number and their last name. Label the workspaces to ensure the movers can deposit and set things up in the correct spots.

These office relocation tips will streamline your efforts as you change spaces. The other way to simplify your office move is to trust it to experienced movers like our team at Nilson Van & Storage. Contact us today to get an estimate on your next office move.