Tag: moving

How to Organize Your Car when Moving

Posted on by Denise Caron-Quinn

by: Julie Cheung

Moving house is a hugely stressful situation that can even lead to illness. The hassle is not just on the day of the move itself but the weeks and months building up to it too. Thankfully, being organized can make achieving the move with your own vehicle that bit easier; cutting out the stress and expense of using professional movers.

Is Your Model Suitable?

If you plan to make the move yourself, your first consideration should be the vehicle you have and whether or not it is fit for the job. A mini may well be modern and stylish but will not exactly cater well for transporting the entire contents of your home form one location to another. It is not recommended to purchase a new car purely to facilitate your house move.

Overhead Storage

Overhead carriers not only add additional space to transport items but can be a great way to move precious goods without packing them in the back with all the other bulk. You must ensure that the rack or carrier you use is suitable for your particular model – the manufacturer should be able to tell you – and you should have it properly installed by a professional mechanic if not by the manufacturers themselves.

Repeat Trips

There is no point in trying to conduct the entire move in one go if you plan to transport all of your belongings by yourself. If you can initially retain access to your old home, begin moving the most important belongings first – beds, clothing, toiletries, etc. – then make repeat trips to gradually transport over the rest. Roping in family and friends to help can be a good way to speed up the process and if you have to vacate your old property before you can complete your move, storage facilities – or kindly loved ones – can be a great option.

Pack Properly

Sealing and labeling boxes makes conducting your move much easier as you know what is being loaded into the car with each journey. This means you can transport like items within the same trips; for example, all the clothes in one journey then all the books in another. Fragile items can be placed on top to protect them and as soon as boxes arrive at your new home, they can be taken to the relevant place for unpacking; making the endeavor run much more smoothly.

Safety First

Loose items rattling around in a moving car can be very hazardous and can even become projectiles that could cause serious injuries should the vehicle come to a sudden halt. Items should be boxed, wrapped and packed tightly to reduce any risk.

When moving large or heavy items, it is best to leave the children at home. This not only keeps them safe but allows you to fold down the back seats and capitalize on space.

Have Essentials at Hand

Food, water, medical supplies and toiletries should all be at hand when you come to making the final move. If you have children, it is also a good idea to have books or toys to keep them occupied and stop them feeling bored during the trip. With all the stress of the packing and transportation of your belongings taken care of, the last thing you need is a family feud or an argument riddled journey on the way to your new home.

About the author: Julie runs her own blog http://www.financegirl.co.uk where you can read posts on saving money, making money and investing.  She loves to share her thoughts and tips on personal
finance.

GB Projects Ltd. has over 40 years experience in the design and manufacture of contract furniture. There UK based factory produces a wide range of contract furniture from bespoke office furniture to library, catering, educational, healthcare, banks and building societies.

Follow In Order to Succeed  on Facebook and on Twitter.

DIY: How to Make Packing and Unpacking a Cinch

Posted on by Denise Caron-Quinn

Professional Organizer Amber Kostelny-Cussen shares her  tips on how to make a move successful:

Moving Out

  • Declutter, downsize, edit before packing. I can’t emphasize it enough- don’t bring things you don’t use or like to your next home. It will save you packing time and energy while unpacking.
  • Return misplaced items to the room or space they belong before you pack. It can be very frustrating to unpack boxes with random things tossed in from 3 to 4 different spaces. You don’t have to organize everything perfectly before packing, just returned misplaced items to their proper homes.
  • Start early and pack one up one room at a time, starting with the rooms you use the least often. Pack as much if not all you can. Don’t bounce from room to room packing. It will get overwhelming and you won’t be able to tell how much you really have left to pack.
  • Number your boxes instead of writing a room name on them. Record the number on a notepad or a Word doc in your laptop and briefly describe what’s inside. You’re not always guaranteed to have the same number or type of rooms in your next home. For example: If you don’t buy a home with a den your den contents will be in boxes that are numbered and you can now determine where to distribute the stuff in your next home. Most likely it will be spread throughout other rooms instead of one.
  • Save money by searching on  Freecycle or Craigs List for used boxes. Many people will give away their boxes from their own move or sell you a bunch of boxes for a lot cheaper price than Uhaul or Home Depot would. And after you’ve moved in, do the same thing- pass the boxes on to the next people that are moving.

Moving In-

  • Unpacking can be very overwhelming and a daunting, exhausting task. So pace yourself. Again, tackle one room at a time. If you come across a box that doesn’t belong in that room. Don’t open it, go place it in the area that it should be and get back to it when you get to that room.
  • Be thorough. Open every box in the room you’re working in and empty the boxes. Put as much as you can away and of course, there might be some stray items left. Neatly stack them into a corner and get back to them when you’ve worked your way through the rest of rooms.
  • Break down boxes immediately. Mark off one area to collect them all if you’ll be passing them on to others, and if not, take them directly out to the garbage.
  • It’s hard to decide what artwork will fit best with your new spaces and paint colors. I suggest designating one area to collect all the artwork. Then when you’re done unpacking, visit the art gallery you’ve made as you’ve unpacked. You’ll be able to see all you have and make the best decisions of what to hang where.

Amber’s Organizing, LLC
Amber Kostelny-Cussen, Certified Professional Organizer
Home and Office Organizing in Chicago
http://www.ambersorganizing.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amber_Kostelny-Cussen

For more help on preparing for your move contact In Order to Succeed at info@inorderotsucceed.com, on Facebook and on Twitter.

DIY: Packing and Unpacking Tips for Moving

Posted on by Denise Caron-Quinn

Professional Organizer Amber Kostelny-Cussen shares her tips on how to make a move successful. Packing and unpacking tips for moving:

Moving Out–

  • Declutter, downsize, edit before packing. I can’t emphasize it enough- don’t bring things you don’t use or like to your next home. It will save you packing time and energy while unpacking.
  • Return misplaced items to the room or space they belong before you pack. It can be very frustrating to unpack boxes with random things tossed in from 3 to 4 different spaces. You don’t have to organize everything perfectly before packing, just returned misplaced items to their proper homes.
  • Start early and pack up one room at a time, starting with the rooms you use the least often. Pack as much if not all you can. Don’t bounce from room to room packing. It will get overwhelming and you won’t be able to tell how much you really have left to pack.
  • Number your boxes instead of writing a room name on them. Record the number on a notepad or a Word doc in your laptop and briefly describe what’s inside. You’re not always guaranteed to have the same number or type of rooms in your next home. For example: If you don’t buy a home with a den your den contents will be in boxes that are numbered and you can now determine where to distribute the stuff in your next home. Most likely it will be spread throughout other rooms instead of one.
  • Save money by searching on Freecycle or Craigs List for used boxes. Many people will give away their boxes from their own move or sell you a bunch of boxes for a lot cheaper price than Uhaul or Home Depot would. And after you’ve moved in, do the same thing- pass the boxes on to the next people that are moving.

Moving In-

  • Unpacking can be very overwhelming and a daunting, exhausting task. So pace yourself. Again, tackle one room at a time. If you come across a box that doesn’t belong in that room. Don’t open it, go place it in the area that it should be and get back to it when you get to that room.
  • Be thorough. Open every box in the room you’re working in and empty the boxes. Put as much as you can away and of course, there might be some stray items left. Neatly stack them into a corner and get back to them when you’ve worked your way through the rest of rooms.
  • Break down boxes immediately. Mark off one area to collect them all if you’ll be passing them on to others,  and if not, take them directly out to the garbage.
  • It’s hard to decide what artwork will fit best with your new spaces and paint colors. I suggest designating one area to collect all the artwork. Then when you’re done unpacking, visit the art gallery you’ve made as you’ve unpacked. You’ll be able to see all you have and make the best decisions of what to hang where.

Amber’s Organizing, LLC
Amber Kostelny-Cussen, Certified Professional Organizer
Home and Office Organizing in Chicago
http://www.ambersorganizing.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amber_Kostelny-Cussen

For more help on preparing for your move contact In Order to Succeed at info@inorderotsucceed.com, on Facebook and on Twitter.

How To Plan An Office Relocation

Posted on by Denise Caron-Quinn

By: Guest Blogger: Clare Moorhouse of Help Moving Office. Help Moving Office is an online resource that guides companies through the entire office relocation process. Help Moving Office offers free Office Relocation Checklists and Planning Guides to help plan a successful office move.

As companies try to reduce their overheads and prepare for the future, office relocation is proving to be an effective strategy for getting into better, cheaper and more appropriate office space. It can enable a business to consolidate, reduce excessive costs and build a stronger platform from which to grow. But planning an office relocation can be a time-consuming and challenging task, and with so much to do, it can be difficult to know what to do – let alone where to start!

Help Moving Office has put together five key steps on planning a successful office relocation:

1. Are you in a position to move office?

There are many reasons why a company might want to relocate; better facilities, bigger/smaller office space, the need for a better location or simply to reduce overheads.  Whatever the reasons, it is important to be clear about the motivation behind the relocation in order to define criteria and map out your new office requirements.

Questions to ask yourself:

  • Is an office move necessary will it prove beneficial to the business?
  • What are the lease conditions for leaving your existing property (notice period, option to break etc.)
  • How do we exit our office lease and what is the required notice period?
  • Can the business afford to relocate?

Asking these questions, and being clear about the goals/objectives of the move, is a key starting point from which you can formulate a clear and Office Relocation Project Plan.

2. Start the planning early

Many companies make the same mistake and underestimate the amount of time and effort required in planning an office relocation, and this can result in escalating costs, drop in productivity and unnecessary disruption to your staff and business. It’s never too early to start planning your office move, but best practice suggests that, depending on the size of your business, between 9-18 months in advance of your lease expiry date is recommended.

Starting the planning of your office relocation early will not only give you the best possible chance of achieving a smooth transition, but it will also enable you to make the right informed decisions and help to avoid any costly or operational mistakes that might affect your business during the move or even throughout the course of your new tenancy.

Companies moving office should always err on the side of caution and assume that everything will take longer to organize than imagined.

3. Break-down the Office Relocation into manageable bite-size chunks

An office relocation might seem like a daunting project to undertake at first, but by breaking down the process down into simple steps and tasks, it makes the entire project much easier to manage.  Help Moving Office has a range of Office Relocation Checklists  to help manage and execute your office move effectively.  It’s the easiest way to manage your office move and ensures that everything gets done on time and nothing gets forgotten.

4. Hire Professionals

Calling on the help of external professionals plays a big role in helping you achieve a successful relocation and will ensure that neither time nor money is wasted.

The expert advice needed to help with the key stages of your office move should include:

  • Tenant Rep Broker – to help find and secure the ideal office space and negotiate the best office lease terms for your business.
  • Real Estate Lawyer – to review the office lease to ensure everything is properly documented and that your commercial interests are fully protected as a tenant.
  • Office Design Company – to create a functional and inspiring workplace which increases productivity and enables your business to thrive.
  • IT & Telecom Solution Provider – to ensure your IT and phone systems are set up properly in the new office and minimize any disruption to your business throughout the move.
  • Office Moving Company – to ensure your office move day goes like clockwork with everything working and in its right place.

Getting professional help for your office relocation is the single, most important “MUST DO” for companies wishing to achieve a successful outcome.

5. Make sure you don’t forget IT!

Your IT systems and business phones are an indispensible element of the running your business, and without these working properly in your new office – your business could suffer dire consequences.   Planning your IT relocation early will get your business fully operational quickly in the new office without any IT delays or disasters.

Use the IT Relocation Checklist available at Help Moving Office for a step-by-step guide to the migration, infrastructure set up and testing of your IT systems so that disruption is kept to an absolute minimum throughout the relocation.

An office relocation is a huge undertaking for any business, but with the right planning and support you will be in a better position to plan a successful office move that your business deserves.

College Dorm Storage Ideas

Posted on by Denise Caron-Quinn

227356389_da6f0cbc58Across the country students are beginning to move into their college dorms.Whether you or your college student is returning for another year or just starting figuring out how to store things in a college dorm is a daunting task.. Read this article from Jenna Hart, a freelance writer who specializes in home decor and organization tips.

Storage Ideas For College Dorms

Moving into a college dorm room as a freshman is always exciting. But many students are not prepared for just how small their new space on campus is. With most rooms only averaging around 228 square feet, it can be tough to squeeze all of your stuff into that area, especially if you’ll be sharing the space with a room mate. Fortunately, there are all types of great storage options to look into that can help maximize your living area as well as give you some much needed storage.

Consider a Trunk: A storage trunk is a great piece to have, as it can often store everything from sweaters to jackets to blankets to even your everyday supplies. It adds a nice decorative touch, especially with so many different styles available. Best of all, it can double as seating or a coffee table, eliminating the need for extra furniture.

Maximize Closet Space: You and your room mate likely each get your own teeny tiny closet, or you may share a somewhat larger one together. One of the best ways to make sure you use your closet space is to use temporary organizers, such as baskets or hanging closet organizers. This makes it much easier to know exactly where everything is.

Use Your Wall Space: Your school may have rules about putting things on the walls, but there are a number of temporary wall adhesive based hooks which can be removed easily from the walls when you move out. These can be used as hooks alone for hanging towels and jackets, or you can use them to hang a dowel rod across the walls to hang other items from.

Raise the Bed: While some schools may restrict what type of furniture you may bring, bunk beds and loft beds can certainly help make up for a lack of square footage if you are permitted to have them. By lifting the bed up in the air, you can either fit two beds in one spot, or use the space below for other uses. If you’re absolutely stuck with beds the school provides, use dorm bed risers or concrete blocks to raise them and give you extra storage under the bed.

You don’t have to sacrifice on style or the things you bring with you on campus when it comes to storage ideas for college dorms. With a little creativity, you’ll be able to fit in to your new room easily and comfortably!


Further Reading
Jenna is a freelance writer who writes on home decor and organization tips. You may enjoy her articles on closet organizing and dorm storage ideas.
Storage Ideas For College Dorms was originally published on Ezine Articles.
Organizing Tips For Every College Dorm Room (August 2010)
Tip Day Wednesday: 4 Tips for Packing to College (August 2010)
Image via flickr by Flutterbright.

Dorm Room Storage Ideas

Posted on by Denise Caron-Quinn

227356389_da6f0cbc58Across the country students are beginning to move into their college dorms.Whether you or your college student is returning for another year or just starting college, coming up with dorm room storage ideas is a daunting task. Read this article from Jenna Hart, a freelance writer who specializes in home decor and organization tips.

Dorm Room Storage Ideas

Moving into a college dorm room as a freshman is always exciting. But many students are not prepared for just how small their new space on campus is. With most rooms only averaging around 228 square feet, it can be tough to squeeze all of your stuff into that area, especially if you’ll be sharing the space with a room mate. Fortunately, there are all types of great storage options to look into that can help maximize your living area as well as give you some much needed storage.

Consider a Trunk: A storage trunk is a great piece to have, as it can often store everything from sweaters to jackets to blankets to even your everyday supplies. It adds a nice decorative touch, especially with so many different styles available. Best of all, it can double as seating or a coffee table, eliminating the need for extra furniture.

Maximize Closet Space: You and your room mate likely each get your own teeny tiny closet, or you may share a somewhat larger one together. One of the best ways to make sure you use your closet space is to use temporary organizers, such as baskets or hanging closet organizers. This makes it much easier to know exactly where everything is.

Use Your Wall Space: Your school may have rules about putting things on the walls, but there are a number of temporary wall adhesive based hooks which can be removed easily from the walls when you move out. These can be used as hooks alone for hanging towels and jackets, or you can use them to hang a dowel rod across the walls to hang other items from.

Raise the Bed: While some schools may restrict what type of furniture you may bring, bunk beds and loft beds can certainly help make up for a lack of square footage if you are permitted to have them. By lifting the bed up in the air, you can either fit two beds in one spot, or use the space below for other uses. If you’re absolutely stuck with beds the school provides, use dorm bed risers or concrete blocks to raise them and give you extra storage under the bed.

You don’t have to sacrifice on style or the things you bring with you on campus when it comes to storage ideas for college dorms. With a little creativity, you’ll be able to fit in to your new room easily and comfortably!


Further Reading
Jenna is a freelance writer who writes on home decor and organization tips. You may enjoy her articles on closet organizing and dorm storage ideas.
Storage Ideas For College Dorms was originally published on Ezine Articles.
Organizing Tips For Every College Dorm Room (August 2010)
Tip Day Wednesday: 4 Tips for Packing to College (August 2010)
Image via flickr by Flutterbright.

Moving Services from In Order to Succeed

Posted on by Denise Caron-Quinn

Cardboard Box and Shipping PeanutsMoving is stressful! There’s the boxes to pack and then unpack, the things to get rid of, the mail and utilities to switch over and let’s not forgot the whole finding a home and or selling your current one. Just thinking about it makes us here at In Order To Succeed not want to ever move. That however is not very likely when you consider that the average American moves over a 11 times in his or her lifetime. Did you In Order to Succeed can help you move? Here is a list of some of the moving services In Order to Succeed offers as well as a moving checklist you can download.

Off-Site Coordination

CREATING A MOVE TIMELINE
We provide a customized calendar including targeted move date, vendor appointments, and recommended To-Dos.

RECOMMENDING AND SELECTING A MOVING COMPANY
We refer two to three top-notch, licensed moving companies we’ve worked with successfully, and create appointments for them to view your home.

RECOMMENDING AND SELECTING A STORAGE FACILITY
We refer two to three reputable, licensed storage facilities we’ve worked with successfully, and create appointments for you to view them.

COORDINATING WITH BUILDING SUPERVISORS
We contact building supervisors at both your old and new buildings, and reserve freight elevators, find out about parking restrictions, and arrange for cardboard and paper trash removal at your new building during the UNPACKING STAGE.

OBTAINING INSURANCE CERTIFICATES
We acquire the necessary insurance paperwork from your moving company, and present it to the building supervisors at both your old and new buildings, respectively.

ASSEMBLING A MOVE CONTACT LIST
We provide an easy-to-read, one-stop reference page including contact information for your brokers, moving company, building supervisors, insurance providers, and any additional vendors.
Any shelves, containers or materials needed to implement the customized system will be billed separately and upon your authorization.

FINAL CONFIRMATIONS
We confirm the completion of all tasks with the key players the day before your move.

On-Site Prep

HOME STAGING SERVICES
First impressions are critical, and with In Order to Succeed’s expert home staging we’ll give curb appeal to every room transforming a property into a home that buyers will aspire to live in, or a summer vacation home that renters will long to relax in. We will emphasize the best features of a house or apartment while improving or downplaying the less marketable features. We can just make recommendations, or take the stress and worry out of it by doing some or all of it for you under tight deadlines.

CONSOLIDATE
We walk through your home, grouping like items (e.g., all photographs, books, DVD’s, linen, chins).

SORT
Once items have been consolidated, we sort them according to destination: new home or second home, family member or friend, storage, sale, charity, trash, or shredder.

Pre-Pack Prep

NEW HOME VISIT
We visit your new home and familiarize ourselves with layout and space constraints, and photograph rooms. We also make an introduction to the new building manager to facilitate a stress-free move.

MOVER WALK-THROUGH
After making appointments for prospective movers to visit your home during OFF-SITE COORDINATION, we do a walk-though with them so they can assess your needs and present an estimate. We also discuss the layout of your new home, and any items requiring special handling, disassembly and reassembly, protective gear, or THIRD PARTY COORDINATION.

DESTINATION ASSIGNMENTS
Based on the floor plan of your new home, on our NEW HOME VISIT, and on the work completed during ON-SITE PREP, we assign specific destinations to all goods heading to your new home (i.e., all family portraits go to the vestibule, winter clothes go to the attic.)

CONSOLIDATION
We group items in your old home by where they’re heading in your new home, so that movers can assess quantity, and create a game plan for faster packing and unloading.

SPECIAL HANDLING
We photograph any items requiring disassembly (e.g., desks, pianos) prior to moving day, for movers’ reference during reassembly. We also take note of any items of significance you would like to locate at a moment’s notice.

Pack & Load Supervision

MOVER MANAGEMENT
We greet the movers, and, as established during MOVER WALK-THROUGH and PRE-PACK PREP, review destinations of goods, special handling, and loading strategies (i.e., the rug is the last to be packed, because it is the first to be unloaded).

BOX LABELING
We clearly mark every box with a number and its originating and destination room.

INVENTORY
Unless you’re moving over state lines or internationally, movers will not create an inventory for you. Therefore, we create an inventory as the movers pack, so that you know exactly where to find items of significance (as determined in PRE-PACK PREP) at a moment’s notice.

Unpacking & Unloading Supervision

UNPACKING
We empty boxes in their assigned rooms, as designated during the PRE-PACK PREP phase

INVENTORY
When the movers arrive at your new home, we count incoming boxes and confirm that the number matches the number of boxes packed and transported.

QUALITY CONTROL
We review the condition of boxes as they come through the door (particularly those containing fragile items), and make note of any missing or damaged boxes.

MOVER MANAGEMENT
We direct the movers to re-assemble furniture, and to place boxes in appropriate rooms, as established in the PRE-PACK PREP phase.
Please note: Neither movers nor organizers are authorized to hang art/photographs/hardware, set up electrical wiring, re-fill waterbeds, or re-assemble grandfather clocks or other specialty items.

DAMAGE CONTROL
If any items have been lost or damaged during your move, we bring it to your attention. We contact
the movers to track your items if missing. As an ADDITIONAL SERVICE, if your item is damaged we photograph it, and file insurance claims for damage or loss.

TRASH MANAGEMENT
We flatten and bundle all unpacked boxes and paper trash, having made arrangements with your building supervisor for removal during OFF-SITE COORDINATION.

Settle In

PLACEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS
You come home to a bed that’s made, toiletries in the medicine chest, clothes hung in the closet, and a kitchen ready for tomorrow’s breakfast.

FINE-TUNING
Based on your priorities, we’ll alphabetize the spice rack, categorize your music collection, or divide shoes by style and season, going above and beyond “just being out of cardboard and visible.”

PURCHASE HANDLING
Have artwork in need of frames? Been wanting to switch out plastic for non-slip friction hangers? We can recommend vendors, presents options, or simply make purchases for you.

VENDOR COORDINATION
We can recommend and schedule vendors to customize your new home to meet your needs (designers, contractors, electricians, plumbers, painters, etc.).

Additional Services

MOVER WALK-THROUGH
After making appointments for prospective movers to visit your home during OFF-SITE COORDINATION, we do a walk-though with them so they can assess your needs and present an estimate. We also discuss any items requiring special handling, disassembly and reassembly, protective gear, or THIRD PARTY COORDINATION.

STORAGE ARRANGEMENTS
If don’t have the time, or would like us to join you in visiting a prospective storage facility, we can do so. We can also rent space on your behalf.

NEW HOME VISIT
We visit your new home and familiarize ourselves with layout and space constraints, and photograph rooms. We also make an introduction to the new building manager to facilitate a stress-free move.

DONATION, SHIPPING AND SALE ARRANGEMENTS
A perfect complement to ON-SITE PREP, our off-site crew schedules donation and shipping pick-ups for your unwanted goods, and schedules visits with auction/consignment houses for items to be sold. Meanwhile, our on-site crew prepares your items to be donated, shipped, and sold (including creating a digital inventory for tax or insurance purposes).

UTILITY DISCONNECTION/RECONNECTION
We contact your telephone, electric, cable and internet providers to schedule disconnection at your current home, and reconnection at your new home.

THIRD PARTY COORDINATION
We select and coordinate third party vendors who are qualified to appraise your art and antiques, hang art/photographs/hardware, set up electrical wiring, re-fill waterbeds, or re-assemble grandfather clocks or other specialty items.

ON-SITE APPOINTMENTS
Our on-site crew meets appraisers, painters, electricians, handymen, cleaners, or utility providers at your home for you.

INSURANCE CLAIMS
If household goods have been damaged during a move, we photograph them for insurance purposes, and file insurance clams for damage or loss.

Let In Order to Succeed help you have a stress free move with move management in Minnesota Lakes, Sarasota, New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. Call now to learn more.

Further Reading
Stress Free Moving Checklist (September 2009)
Image from iStockphoto.