Category: <span>Moving Tips</span>

It seems that packing and unpacking may be the most tedious job in the entire relocation process. And not only that, unpacking can actually take much more time than packing. Just imagine standing in your home, thinking where to put this and that, then changing your mind and doing it all over again. After all, everything’s different. But, there are particular issues that arise when you’re trying to unpack your basement. Here’s how to do it with ease!

Make a plan for unpacking

The main thing you should do even before packing is to make a plan for unpacking. Making a plan is one of the most important ways of reducing stress during a move. Naturally, you will have already seen your new home. Now try to envision where everything should go. Then, put your plan to paper. Before you unpack your basement, you should at least decide what you will put there.

When you make that decision, measure the items that you want to put in your basement. This goes especially for any furniture that you want to put in there. Label each box as specifically as possible. That way, it will be much easier to later unpack your basement. You or whoever is helping you move will be able to put the boxes in their appropriate areas. Make sure not to simply stack things without any order. This leads to clutter, and that is not something you want, not even in your basement.

Before you unpack your basement, inspect it

Many people forget that the basement is actually quite prone to all sorts of damage. That is why it is important to do a thorough inspection before moving in. Check to see whether there are any cracks in the walls and whether there is any water damage. The biggest sign of water damage is mold. However, it can also present itself as slight moisture on some parts of the wall. You want to fix any possible damage before you unpack your basement. Otherwise, you may later find your things damaged, as well. 

That is why home inspections are vital before you buy a house. A good home inspector can tell you whether your basement needs work and what type of work is needed. If you can, invest in a good home inspection, because it will pay off later. In any case, whenever you move, you should always do extensive research to prevent possible problems later. For instance, you’ve decided to move to Las Vegas. And that is all fine and dandy, but always make sure to get well informed before relocating to LV, in any way possible. Do research on available homes, on the market, as well as on the best moving companies and home inspectors. That is the only way to be sure that you’ve found the best home for you and that the move will be smooth and easy.

What to store in the basement?

Before you unpack your basement, it’s essential to know what you can and can’t put in there. In general, the basement is a great place to store, for instance, kitchen supplies that you don’t use often. Let’s face it, there are many pots and pans that you use once a year or maybe even twice. There’s no point in such things taking up space in the house, then. This also goes for holiday decorations (since you only use them once a year). You can also put suitcases and duffel bags there. Gardening tools, as well as sports equipment should also be safe there. 

What not to store in your basement?

There are a few things you should really never put in your basement. This includes any delicate fabrics, since they can be damaged by moths, various insects or even mice. Wood and upholstered furniture should also be kept in a climate-controlled area. Wood can get warped faced with moisture present in the basement unless it has a proper finish. And even then, you will need to check on it and recoat it from time to time. 

Also, never put important documents in the basement. This includes medical records, birth certificates, passports, etc. If you don’t have anywhere else to put them, put them in a plastic bin and on the top shelf. Do not put it on the ground. The same applies for any valuable items/artwork that you own. Look at it this way – if your fragile possessions are important enough to pack them in a special way, you probably shouldn’t store them in the basement. Some of the other things that you should not put in your basement include food, flammable items and electronics. 

Buy uniform-sized plastic bins

As we all know, basements are the ultimate storage rooms. However, there are many problems that can arise. For instance, basements flood more often than not. And that is why it is not the best idea to keep things in cardboard boxes there. Cardboard boxes are highly susceptible to water, which can ruin whatever it is that you’re storing. It is best to buy plenty of plastic bins for storage. But, don’t buy different sizes. Decide on the size that will be most useful to you and buy the amount that you need. When you buy boxes of the same size, you can stack them nicely on shelves, or even on top of each other. 

Buy/make shelves

First, measure the basement so you’ll know whether you can put them there. Then, after you’ve measured, you can either build shelves on your own or buy them. The size of your shelves should also correlate to the size of the plastic bins you’ve bought/intend to buy. There’s no point in making/buying too small shelves only to realize you can’t put your bins on it when you unpack your basement. 

Also, if you’re buying or making wooden shelves, make sure they have protective coating. As it was mentioned, basements can easily flood. And, as you know, wood can rot, crack or become warped in prolonged contact with water or moisture. It is precisely because of that that you should invest into some protective coating for your wooden shelves. There are various sealers for wood and even water-resistant finishes that you can use. Otherwise, your shelves might get damaged and all your work will be for naught. 

Imagine buying a car or going to a new Chinese restaurant. What would be the first thing you do? Check the online reviews, right? Of course! Luckily, we live in the 21st century where getting information about different kinds of products, services or companies is possible and very easy.  All we have to do is check a company’s website or some online forums and the information is right there, available for everybody to see. However, how do you know when some information or an online review is true or not? There are some ways of finding that out, do not worry. This is especially important if you are looking for some information about something important, like moving companies. So, if you are interested in how to spot a fake moving review online, keep on reading. If you do not take heed, you may be looking at reviews for a Sacramento junk removal company because a careless mover damaged all your furniture!

A Moving Review Which is Too Positive

No company is perfect, remember that. Accidents happen, and sometimes it is not about what went wrong, but how the people from the moving company dealt with that situation. Always keep that in mind. So, if you go to a company’s website, and all you can see are the words of praise, something is wrong. Furthermore, clear signs of a fake moving review are words that are overly positive and complimentary. In the end, the most important thing is that a moving company can satisfy its customers’ needs and that the belongings are transferred safely and on time. If you see those words in the comments section, you are in the right place. Otherwise, keep on searching.

A Moving Review Which is Too Negative

And now, the complete opposite. Moving reviews which are overly negative. Many people do not pay enough attention to these negative moving reviews when trying to find storage or a moving company. They usually occur when some dishonest moving companies try to block or hinder the competition. And they do that to ruin their reputation by posting negative comments onto their websites or forums and blogs. The best way to recognize a fake moving review online is by paying attention to the language. If the language is offensive and derogative, it is probably fake.

Pay Attention to the Language

One thing is for sure, the language used while writing the reviews is extremely important. If you are, for example, looking for the best cross-country moving companies, you have to read a lot of comments and decide which company suits your needs the most. So, if you find yourself reading moving reviews written in academic language, you probably stumbled upon fake testimonials. Let us be honest, everyday people use everyday language, not academic one. That is where your focus should be. Always look for moving reviews written in simple language which describe a specific event that occurred while moving or which show content or discontent. Moreover, regular people should not sound like they have a degree in marketing, so if it looks like they do, you are probably reading a fake moving review.

Watch For Very Descriptive Reviews

So, if you were moving all out of sudden, the whole process would go very quickly. That is why people usually do not have time to remember all the details of the relocation process and the names of the movers who helped them. Nobody has time to remember personal names and every single detail. If you come across language that is very descriptive and full of unnecessary details, you are probably reading a fake moving review. For example, which of the two following sentences sounds more natural to you?

• Michel and Anthony were extremely friendly and careful when transferring my belongings from the basement into their big orange moving truck; or
• The guys were careful with my belongings, everything went great.

It goes without saying that the second statement sounds more natural, while the first one obviously looks like an overly descriptive online review, thus, a fake one. If you notice that somebody is trying too hard to make something sound great, it is probably a fraud. So, even though you are in a hurry, and you need to find a moving company as soon as possible, do not be fooled by overly descriptive and positive reviews.

Things Are Just Too General

Another thing to pay attention to are moving reviews which are just too general. Most fake moving reviews have that in common. Those are reviews and comments which are very general and broad, and which offer no specific details about the move. And how could they when the relocation process never happened anyway? So, while reading the comments section and trying to spot a fake moving review, ignore the ‘great’, ‘amazing’ and ‘wow’ comments. What you need to focus on are the specific details that show that the move actually happened. Things like date and time, problems and solutions, and so on. Actual details and substantial information are of great importance when trying to look for an honest moving review and thus stay away from a fake moving review.

There are a lot of things that you need to worry about when moving. You need to think about packing your stuff, setting up new utilities, the mountains of paperwork… The list can just go on and on! However, do not worry! Even though this may seem like an impossible task, it’s not hard to do. Finding a good moving company and planning your move in advance can not only speed up the process but also reduce stress during a move. However, for a first-time mover, it may be frightening to meet with phrases that pop up so often during this process that might not mean much to you. Learning them is a big part of a job and, today, we are here to help you with that. In this article, we talk about the differences between a binding and a non-binding moving estimate.

What is a moving estimate?

The first thing you might be curious about is what even a moving estimate is. Of course, the term might seem pretty obvious. It is a number the movers will give you when talking about the cost of your move. But what will an estimate include? How do you work it out with a moving company? At what time during the moving process does the estimate happen?

Well, first, the moving estimate should happen before you settle on a moving company. A representative should visit your home and take a look at your items. If they insist to do this over the phone, you should beware. It is one of the red flags of working with bad movers. Think about it – how can anyone decide how much to charge you based solely on a phone call.

The estimate, however, can include many things:

• Depending on the length of your move, the estimator might be looking at the weight of your items or their size.
• They might be checking the distance you are traveling as well as similar smaller services.
• Finally, a moving estimate can also include additional costs that make the move difficult – stairs, elevators, tricky driveways, etc.
• Sometimes, movers might also be charging per mover per hour.

You can read all of this in a document that the estimator will give you. Make sure you carefully look over it and see everything that is included – it can tell you a lot about the moving company. However, the most important thing to check is whether it is a binding or a non-binding moving estimate.

What is a non-binding moving estimate?

A non-binding moving estimate is a written estimate of the moving costs. It tells you what the estimator thinks your items will weigh and how much they will charge you. The first thing to realize about a non-binding moving estimate is what the name itself implies – this number can change over time. If you add extra stuff to your move, or if the moving condition somehow changes, then the movers can change their prices. However, they will usually give you a number that they will not surpass if nothing changes.

However, this is not a bid or a legal document. Because of this, the moving company cannot charge you for making it. Nevertheless, you should request the estimate in writing. The piece of paper needs to have your items written down. The services that your moving company offers to you need to be on it as well. The prices of these services need to be on separate forms called service order and the bill of lading. Remember not to sign these until the amounts the movers will charge for each form are there.

This estimate should be attached to your bill of lading – and the company needs a copy of it as well. A thing to keep in mind is that they will be able to refuse to move you if they think you are moving more items than the estimate notes. When it comes to any additional services, your movers need your permission for them before providing them – even when moving to another country. You will have an hour to decide upon service and make a deal about its costs.

What about binding moving estimates?

On the other hand, we have a binding moving estimate. Unlike the non-binding one, the movers may charge you when making a binding estimate. This is because after you get it, the company will not be able to charge you more, even when you are sending goods overseas, if your package exceeds the estimated weight.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association has made a list of rules about binding moving estimates in order to make long-distance moves easier for everyone. First, the estimate needs to list what you are moving as well as what services the company will give you. If you have extra services – like flight charges, for example – then the company needs to bill you after the move, separately. They cannot do it when charging you while delivering your items. This is also the time they will charge you for the move – and you agreed to it by signing the estimate.

There are a couple of similarities between the estimates, though. First, the movers need to attach a copy of the estimate to the bill of lading. You will also get your own copy of the moving estimate, and it needs to clearly state that it is a binding one. Again, the movers can refuse to move your items if they believe you have more than you showed them. However, once they load up their truck, they agree to the estimate – and will charge you what it says on the document.