Siracusa Moving & Storage

Protecting Posessions and Family during your move

2012-01-13T13:25:00.000-08:00

Always get at least three estimates. Don't rely on online “moving cost estimators,” If someone only offers to do an estimate over the internet, chances are high you may be getting scammed.
Don’t be fooled by slick websites. Remember that a website can be built in a few days and by anyone with a computer and a few dollars.

Confirm that your mover has operating license on their website (it must be displayed). Every professional interstate moving company is licensed by the U.S. Department of Transportation and has a Motor Carrier Number issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Intrastate movers have varying licensing requirements. To find a reputable intrastate moving company, contact the industry trade association in your state.

Is there a physical address for your mover? A good mover will want to tell you where they are, how to contact them. Check mapquest and google places to see if that address really exist

Check reviews... Professional movers aren't afriad of customer reviews. Check Better Business Bureau to see whether the mover has a high number of customer complaints. Check youtube and other websites for feedback from customers.

Use a certified mover who is a member of the American Moving & Storage Association. To find a local ProMover and to learn more about protecting yourself visit AMSA.

Once a company has all your worldly possessions locked in a truck and you’ve handed over payment for the move, you’ve lost all bargaining power. So beware of companies who require full payment upon booking.

Move Planner - Planning Guide 12 weeks to 1 week before your Move

2011-02-04T13:49:00.000-08:00

Moving Planner Check list

12 weeks before moving

Research and obtain 3 quotes from moving companies and secure a reputable mover

6 Weeks before moving

Contact IRS or your accountant for tax information on moving.
If renting, notify your landlord you’re moving.
Start to inventory and evaluate your possessions
Contact schools, doctors, etc. to obtain copies of personal records.
Use up things you can’t move, like food and cleaning supplies.
Purchase packing supplies

Tissue paper
Packing paper (plain newsprint)
2" packing tape
Masking tape
A utility knife
Scissors
Permanent markers
Professional quality boxes (check with your mover, some companies provide free boxes with your move)

5 Weeks before moving

Make a list of everyone you need to notify that you’re moving
- Insurance companies (Life, House, Health, Auto)
- Local credit bureau and creditors (stores, credit cards, etc.)
- Financial institutions where you have savings, loans, checking accounts or stock.
- Magazines (The postal service provides free change of address cards/e-mail service to send to publishers.
- Church (Obtain necessary records.)
- Cell phone company
Get a change of address kit from the post office or go online to USPS for the online version
Start packing non-essentials

4 Weeks before moving

Make travel plans for your moving trip.
Contact school system at destination for enrollment information.
Establish bank accounts at destination.
Consider any changes you want to make at your new home, i.e. painting rooms, replacing carpets, refinishing hardwood floors.
Create a furniture plan for your new home - on paper lay out where you want your furniture to go. Anything you don't want in your new home, arrange for storage or donate to local charity.

3 Weeks before moving

List and notify utilities of disconnect dates. Record disconnect and reconnect dates somewhere save. Record who you spoke with, when you spoke with them, and the number in case you have to change it.
- Gas/Fuel Oil
- Telephone
- Newspaper
- Water Delivery Services
- Garbage (if private service)
- Laundry Services
- Cable TV/Telephone
Arrange start up of utilities at new home.
Apply for insurance for your new home.
Verify scheduled services with your mover.
Have car serviced for the trip.
Discard household items you are not taking. (Have a garage sale or call a local non-profit for pick-up of unwanted items)
Begin packing each room, leaving the essentials for last. Remember to label the boxes by room.

2 Weeks before moving

Settle any outstanding bills.
Return any borrowed items and library books.
Take pets to the vet for checkup.
Drain oil and gas from power equipment.
If elevator in building, contact management to schedule use.

1 week before moving

Arrange for sitter for children and pets on moving day.
If not taking plants, give away plants to a friend .
Obtain travelers checks for trip expenses.
Defrost your freezer and refrigerator.
Block doors for safety.
Return any cable boxes to the Cable Company
Pack a separate "move kit" for the car. Suggested items you’ll take in the car
- Map of trip (AAA provides trip maps or program GPS with address
- First Aid Kit
- Medicines
- Snacks
- Cooler with refreshments
- Credit cards
- Can Openers
- Cash or Travelers Checks for trip
- Emergency Road Equipment (Tools, flares, flashlight)
- Change of Clothes

Note: When traveling with Children remember to pack some toys, travel games, and favorite stuffed animals or blankets for trip.

Moving Checklist (Critical Dos and Don't's for Moving)

2011-02-04T13:01:00.000-08:00

To insure the safe, efficient movement of your belongings please read and follow the items below. They can make a difference between an good move and a poor one.

PHONE CONTACTS/TRAVEL PLANS:

Make sure that your moving company has all pertinent phone numbers, contact names, etc. so they can reach you if needed before, during, and after your move.

KEEP PHONE CONNECTED:

DO NOT have your phone disconnected the day of pack and/or load. It severely impedes the ability of your moving company to communicate with you on unexpected items that may arise.

TRAVEL PLANS:

DO NOT make travel plans on your packing and/or loading days. Traffic, mechanical or logistical delays can occur – affecting planned completion times.

DINNER/PARTY PLANS:

DO NOT make special dinner and/or party plans for the days of pack and /or load. Again, schedules can change and delays can occur.

BE ONSITE:

It is imperative that you or a designated agent of yours is there on all days of pack, load, and delivery. There are several reasons for this including the protection of both parties, insuring what you want and don’t want moved is adhered to, and insure proper placement of your belongings.

CLEAN OUT KEY APPLIANCES:

This includes refrigerators, freezers, and dishwashers. Your movers will not wash dirty dishes or clean out these items before the move. It is highly suggested that your refrigerator, freezer, and washing machine be cleaned out and drained at least twenty-four (24) hours ahead of time to minimize mold and mildew as well as water damage to your flooring. If these items are being stored, place baking soda in them to inhibit mold and mildew.

CLEAN OUT KEY HIDDEN AREAS:

This refers primarily to attics and crawl spaces. Unless your attic has a fixed stairway (not pull down) and permanent flooring, movers cannot pack/unload attic spaces. For liability reasons, movers WILL NOT perform this service. The same applies for crawl spaces as well.

“SERVICE KEY APPLIANCES”:

For liability reasons, movers cannot dis/reconnect utility lines from your major appliances (i.e. waterlines from your washers/refrigerators; gas lines from dryers, etc.). This also includes stereos, TV’s and computers. This should be completed before move day.

Most movers can arrange for an outside service to perform this for you if you cannot including preparing all appliances for safe movement after they are disconnected. Check with your mover to see if this service can be done.

RESERVE PARKING/CLEAR DRIVEWAY:

Many cities require a special permit (i.e. Washington D.C, New York City, etc.) to park on certain streets. Further, some streets are too congested for a tractor-trailer to park on. It is your responsibility to insure adequate parking for the moving vehicles and accessibility to your residence. This includes reserving elevators in high rises, etc. Ultimately, you will be responsible for any extra charges (i.e. stair or long carries, shuttle service) that arise from limited and/or lack of accessibility for the movers at both origin and destination. BE PREPARED!

SEPARATE ITEMS GOING/NOT GOING:

Select one room or area that items you are taking with you personally (in the car/on the plane) can be placed. Mark that room/space clearly so that packers and/or movers don’t take them. Remember to keep your key items packed in separate boxes or suitcases that you will take with you. Some items to include: a fresh change of clothes, medicines, and car keys.

Need more helpful hints? Visit siracusamoving.com!

Moving - What you Should Know (Your Rights and Responsibilities )

2011-02-04T12:14:00.000-08:00

Moving can be stressful (and expensive!). There are several things that you should know and your mover should be letting you know about these laws. The Federal Carrier Safety Administrations regulations protect consumers on interstate moves and define the rights and responsibilities of consumers and household goods carriers.

"Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" is a booklet prepared by the Federal Motor Carrier and Safety Administration to explain to consumers what they have a right to expect from the mover they hired and what they should do to help ensure that the move is a smooth one.

This booklet must be furnished to you by your mover before you move as stated by Federal Law. Download free copy on Siracusa Moving & Storage's website.

1. Movers must give written estimates.

2. Movers may give binding estimates.

3. Non-binding estimates are not always accurate; actual charges may exceed the estimate.

4. If your mover provides you (or someone representing you) with any partially complete document for your signature, you should verify the document is as complete as possible before signing it. Make sure the document contains all relevant shipping information, except the actual shipment weight and any other information necessary to determine the final charges for all services performed.

5. You may request from your mover the availability of guaranteed pickup and delivery dates.

6. Be sure you understand the mover’s responsibility for loss or damage, and request an explanation of the difference between valuation and actual insurance.

7. You have the right to be present each time your shipment is weighed.

8. You may request a re-weigh of your shipment.

9. If you agree to move under a non-binding estimate, you should confirm with your mover—in writing—the method of payment at delivery as cash, certified check, money order, cashier’s check, or credit card.

10. Movers must offer a dispute settlement program as an alternative means of settling loss or damage claims. Ask your mover for details.

11. You should ask the person you speak to whether he or she works for the actual mover or a household goods broker. A household goods broker only arranges for the transportation. A household goods broker must not represent its self as a mover. A household goods broker does not own trucks of it’s own. The broker is required to find an authorized mover to provide the transportation. You should know that a household goods broker generally has no authority to provide you an estimate on behalf of a specific mover. If a household goods broker provides you an estimate, it may not be binding on the actual mover and you may have to pay the actual charges the mover assesses. A household goods broker is not responsible for loss or damage.

12. You may request complaint information about movers from FMCSA under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). You may be assessed a fee to obtain this information. See 49 CFR Part 7 for the schedule of fees.

13. You should seek estimates from at least three different movers. You should not disclose any information to the different movers about their competitors, as it may affect the accuracy of their estimates.

Making Your "Move-In" Painless & Worry Free

2011-02-04T11:51:00.000-08:00

Take some time and prepare your new home for your move-in.

1. Change your address and notify companies before you move
Filling out a change of address form before you skip town can prevent major hassles like past-due bills, service lapses and even identity theft. Prior to your move, you should also schedule dates to discontinue your utilities, phone, cable and Internet and arrange for these services at your new address. Several new services even let you save time by doing all your utilities hookups online. Visit USPS to change your address online

2. Spruce up your home before moving your belongings in.
It's easier to clean, paint and make other improvements while your home is still empty. Before you haul in your furniture and boxes, vacuum, dust the baseboards, wash the kitchen and bathroom floors, and paint the walls.

Considering refinishing the floors, re-carpeting, knocking down a wall? This is the time to do it, when the house is still empty.

3. Map out your floor plan.
Give your back a break by deciding how you want to arrange your furniture before moving it into the house. The best way to do this is to make newspaper cutouts of the furniture. Measure the dimensions of the item and tape together newspaper pages to match the "footprint" of the furniture. This allows you to easily try out several floor plans without repeatedly reshuffling your furniture.

Make sure your furniture will fit through entry ways and in the spots that you've designated. If not, this may be the time to knock down a wall or open up a doorway into a larger entry way. Before you move in!

4. Have fun and enjoy your new home
See the blog on announcing your move!

Creative Ways to Announce Your Move

2011-02-04T11:49:00.000-08:00

Now that you've settled into your new home, emerge and share the good news with friends and family.

(Need help with wording on your announcements? Visit http://www.cardsshoppe.com/wording/wording-moving-announcements-and-house.htm for ideas.

Here a few companies that do moving announcements - traditional paper announcements and e-announcements.

www.celebrate-moving.com

Thousands of custom printed moving announcements and change of address notices available online-including many hard-to-find designs. On the Web since 1998.

www.einvite.com
Personalized Invitations and Announcements, Wedding Invitations, Cards, Stationery

www.storkavenue.com
Wide Selection of Moving Announcements and photo Moving announcements

www.vistaprint.com
Address Labels, Moving Announcements. Budget-friendly, customizable.

www.evite.com - free moving announcements via e-cards

Don't forget to update your linked in, facebook, myspace, and other social networking sites with your new information. While you are in there, check your privacy settings!

Not sure if you should use a traditional moving announcement or an e-announcement?

Pros and Cons of Traditional Moving Announcements
Traditional moving announcements is a physical announcement, printed on paper, to friends and family that lists your new address and phone number so you can stay in touch. Usually, moving announcements have a fun theme or might even be a photo card, which is often why they end up on recipients’ refrigerators or tacked onto bulletin boards. This also gives easy access should the recipient need to quickly find your new address. These moving announcements also act as keepsakes for the sender and can even be framed, especially if this move is important, such as buying your first house.

The cons are: easy to accidentally throw away or misplace a moving announcement before your information is added to the address book; cost of postage to mail them; cost of the moving announcements themselves and if you are "green" most announcements are not on recycled paper!

Pros & Cons of E-Announcements
With e-announcements it is easy to pull a large amount of email addresses and send out your info to your friends and family where they can store the information as long as they need it. There is no need to purchase stamps, return address labels or even mailing labels. It is convenient and fast.

Cons.... your email out end up in a spam filter and never read or if it does make it past the spam filter, it is easy to delete. Therefore, referencing back to the e-moving announcement can be challenging for less organized recipients.

In addition, not everyone has email, such as grandparents, so you would have to send them a physical moving announcement, write them a letter or rely on someone else to update them.

Time-Saving Tips for Your Move - Packing & Preparing for Your Move

2011-02-04T11:21:00.000-08:00

Make a moving schedule
Starting 60 days before your move, use a week-by-week checklist to keep the process on track. The tasks to accomplish further from moving day might seem trivial now, but staying on schedule will help you avoid last minute headaches. Time will be at a premium on the days right before your move, so be diligent in checking off these tasks.
Make a moving checklist
Create a realistic moving budget
Organize for the move

Hire a quality moving company
Resist the temptation to hire a company who offers you a too-good-to-be-true rate. An unreliable mover will cost you time and money in the long run if you have to replace any lost belongings. Check out the company's credentials with the AMSA, Better Business Bureau, Angie's List, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Don't rely your friend's brother's sister's uncle's cousin's friend who has a truck and knows "some guys".

See the blog on finding a reputable company
Keep your move on track by following your move schedule
Get tips for planning, packing and moving

Pare down your possessions
If an item isn't enhancing your life or won't be necessary in your new environment, don't waste time packing it. Consider donating items to a local charity such as unread books, unused clothes, unused household goods. Get rid of unfinished projects and half-empty cleaning products

Pack like a pro.
Come up with a packing system so all of your boxes end up in the right rooms when they get to your new home. One option is to buy a box of magic markers or colored labels to create a "color code" system for your movers -- red-labeled boxes for the living room, blue for the kitchen, etc. On moving day, draw a floor plan of your home with each room labeled and hang it somewhere the movers can easily see it. Review Packing Guide (http://siracusamoving.com/packingguide.html) & Packing Tips

Don't have time to pack, most moving companies offer packing services as well as appliance hook-ups.

Packing: Preparation
we recommend you start with professional materials, including:

Tissue paper
Packing paper (plain newsprint)
2" packing tape
Masking tape
A utility knife
Scissors
Permanent markers
Professional quality boxes

Don't pack everything! Don't throw everyday essentials in with your other belongings, only to have to dig through boxes later searching for your ID or your medications. Instead, pack a "last-to-go" box with all of the necessities -- toiletries, snacks, important documents and the like -- and keep it with you rather than on the moving truck

Make the house move-out ready
Most movers won't disconnect anything that's hard-wired into your house, so unplug appliances and lighting fixtures if you're taking them with you. Make sure all paths are clear from your house to the moving truck. You can also help out your movers and speed up the process by knowing the ground rules for what they will and won't move -- movers won't touch flammable items, perishable foods or plants.

Remember to stay on schedule, don't get behind! You'll have a much easier time with your move if you follow your schedule and do a little each day rather than waiting until the deadline and becoming over whelmed.

Avoid Internet Moving Scams

2011-02-04T11:03:00.000-08:00

When searching for an inexpensive moving company on the Internet, consider investigating the companies or your belongings could be at risk.

Most of the US moving and storage companies are decent, hard working professionals, but there are those who will use the internet to prey on people during what is notoriously a stressful time, the dreaded household move.

First, verify their operating license. If they are a reputable company, they will proudly display their US Transportation license and Motor Carrier number on the company website and marketing materials. Verify the Motor Carrier number at www.protectyourmove.gov.

Second, remember anyone can create a website. Don't let a flashy website be the only reason you choose a mover. Do a little research, make sure their street address is valid. Check the physical (not mailing) address on google or anywho.com

Thirdly, check references. Look for the BBB seal, see if they are a local chamber member, Angie's List, and check for AMSA logo. Google the companies name to see if there are any negative feedback. Go to youtube.com and type in the company's name.

Once you find a few companies that you feel are legitimate, get at least three written in-home or virtual estimates. Remember: if you receive an estimate that seems too good to be true, it probably is.

1. Avoid companies that require large deposits or down payments. Professional movers generally do not require a deposit, so avoid those that do. Most reputable companies require payment upon delivery.

2. Avoid Internet brokers. People who enter their contact information on websites that promise to find movers often find themselves inundated with aggressive scam artists.

3. Be sure to tell the mover about all your furniture, attic space, secondary storage, etc. to obtain a true estimate. Avoid the extra charges that can come from inadequate information for your move.

Note:
To find an AMSA mover, visit AMSA's consumer website, www.moving.org.

Finally, enjoy the move process. Realizing it is a stressful time, with the right mover it can actually be painless!

Scam Alert: Identity Thief in Public Photocopier, Leased Copy Machines - AARP Bulletin

2010-11-05T07:48:00.000-07:00

Scam Alert: Identity Thief in Public Photocopier, Leased Copy Machines - AARP Bulletin