Moving will always be stressful and moving when you have kids just makes the stress worse.  Whether you are moving because of your job or because of a personal situation, there are many things you have to plan for.  Relocation not only involves you, but your family as well.  You want what’s best for you kids and one of the most important things is education.

If you have children, one of the things you want to do before you move is to look up school districts in the surrounding area.  If your child can get a better education, isn’t that worth the extra ten minutes you might have to drive to work?

It is important to research the neighborhood and schools you might be moving into.  You might be lost as to where to begin, but like everything nowadays, the internet can provide you with a stepping stone.  There are a lot of great websites to help you.  Some address the general area while others delve into each individual school.  Greatschool.org is a fantastic site to start your search.  It has a comprehensive collection of every school in the U.S.  Select the state you want to move to, type in a zip code, and the site will show you all the schools in the vicinity, from pre-school all the way to high school.  They include private institutions as well.  Click on a school and the page will tell you the general rating, demographics, teacher-student ratio, and test scores.  You can even read reviews submitted by people in the district.  The federal database has all of these statistics as well.

Then, if you want more information, you can go to schooldigger.com.  Not only do they provide school statistics, but they also provide information on the neighborhood. Everything is displayed clearly in charts spanning back over 5 years for comparison.

After doing all this research, consider the environment you want your child in.  Do you want something with more diversity or less?  Do you want a low student-teacher ratio?  Would a private school be more appropriate or would a public school?  Are the test scores important?

Once you’ve figure out which school best fit, think about visiting if possible.  That way you can observe the setting your child will be learning in.  You will also have the opportunity to ask questions about extra-curricular activities and other after school programs. Some key things to do are to notice:

• Whether the teachers seem to be well-versed in their topic or not.
• How do the treat the children?
• How are the facilities?
• Ask about what classes are offered.
• How are they treating you as a parent?
• What is their disciplinary code?

Finding the right school on top of moving can be taxing.  No matter the situation you only want what is best for your child.  The internet is a valuable research tool you should implement. Securing the fact that your child will be able to get the best education means one less thing to worry about.  With that out of the way, you can concentrate on moving itself.

Planning to move or moved already to your new home. We know that designing your new home is an exciting process. You have an opportunity to start fresh and coordinate each room according to your personal style. Since there are so many options to choose from, you may not know where to begin. It is best to start with a general idea of what you want your home to look like. Remember to have fun with the whole experience and not to stress! Below are some tips on how to get started.

1.      Find Inspiration

Before you start to design your home, you should look at the styles of other homes. This will help you decide which design elements you would like to incorporate in your own home. You can find style ideas and color options in magazines, catalogs, blogs and websites. Keep in mind that you do not have to limit yourself to what others have done. You can be creative and come up with your own ideas!

2.      Choose Design Elements

• After you have looked at and researched different design elements, you will start to develop your sense of style. You may have an eclectic style in which your design choices derive from a variety of styles. On the other hand, you may want your home to have historic charm with traditional elements. However, you may move in the opposite direction with a modern style home.
• When you have decided on style, you can choose what type of finishes you want to have in your home. Do you want carpet, tile or hardwood floors? What types of cabinets and light fixtures do you like? You can also select which paint colors you would like to use. You may want to go with bold colors to liven up your space. In contrast, you may want to use warm or neutral colors.

3.      Add Detail

Once you have selected all of the finishes for your home, you can choose what type of furniture, artwork and accent pieces you want to include. Most likely, the furniture from your old home will be placed into the new one. At the same time, there may be some pieces that do not quite work in your new space. It is important that your furniture comfortably fits in your space and does not look cluttered. Moreover, your accent pieces should coordinate with the furniture.

4.      Do not “over personalize”

Although your home is yours now, it may not be yours forever. If you plan on selling your home in the future, it is important to consider how you personalize it. Design elements such as paint colors and furniture pieces are easy to change. However, custom permanent fixtures are not as easy to change. These are important factors that affect the sale of a home.

We live in a technological world where internet has become as vital as food and drinking water! There are countless places that offer Wi-Fi service that enables people to use the internet. If you are in the process of moving or you have just moved into a new place with no home internet access, there are alternate options. Here are some great public Wi-Fi Hotspots.

1.      Coffee Shops

Several coffee shops offer free Wi-Fi with purchase. Starbucks is one of the popular chain coffee shops known for having free Wi-Fi. Simply get yourself a cup of coffee and a snack, find the perfect table to sit at and surf away!

2.      Libraries

The library is probably one of the best places to go for the use of Wi-Fi. There are so many resources at your disposal besides free internet connection. Also, if you do not have your own Wi-Fi enabled device, you can use one of the computers there. All you need is a library card (which is also free)!

3.      Parks

Some parks have free Wi-Fi in certain areas that are not password enabled. You can find a nice bench to sit on and take in the nature around you! You can use access the web on your laptop, tablet or iPad in a peaceful environment.

4.      Schools/Universities

There are numerous computer labs and designated rooms for study in schools and universities with unlimited Wi-Fi. However, the Wi-Fi is usually password protected, so you would have to seek the help of an administrator at the school.

 
5.      Bookstores

A bookstore is also a great place to take advantage of free Wi-Fi because of the amenities that are available. There are varieties of books and magazines that you can read while you are there.

6.      Hotels

Although you may not be staying at a hotel, you can still use the free Wi-Fi. There are some hotels that offer Wi-Fi service in public areas as well as guest rooms. Check with hotel personnel for their policies.

7.      Fast Food Restaurants

Many fast food restaurants have free unlocked Wi-Fi service. You can eat a meal and browse the net at the same time!

8.      Fitness Centers

Most fitness centers provide amenities such as free Wi-Fi service in addition to their standard services. However, they are usually exclusive to the members of the facility.

9.      Shopping Malls

There are shopping malls that have free Wi-Fi. Locate a sitting area or a food court in the mall to use your Wi-Fi enabled device.

10.  Internet Cafes

These are actual cafes that are dedicated to providing others with internet service. Like regular cafes, they provide food and beverages, but have an added bonus! Internet cafes actually have computers available for use for a fee. They usually charge on a time based rate.

“Packing your bedroom” is the easy the part of moving. Dissembling and lifting a heavy bed or dresser is much harder, trust the expert movers at High Touch Moving. However, packing can be difficult if you do not know how to do it properly. By following these few steps, you will do a successful job of packing.

1.      Get all of the right packing supplies

You will need sturdy cartons with closeable flaps in different sizes to place your belongings in for safe transport. In addition, you will need packing paper to secure your items in the cartons. You will also need packing tape to seal the boxes and felt-tip markers to label them.

2.      Properly pack your things

• Throwing all of your clothes in a pile in a box is not the proper way to pack your clothes. Although this method may seem quick and easy, you will be left with severely wrinkled clothing (and a headache). It’s better to fold your clothing and neatly place them in a box layered at the bottom with packing paper. Another quicker way to pack your clothing is by actually taking the hanging clothes from your closet and hanging them in a sturdy carton (about 2 feet tall). Or you can try a third solution and use both methods!

• Blankets, sheets, towels and pillowcases should also be folded and neatly placed in the box. It is ideal to place clean packing paper in the bottom of the box beforehand.
• If you have any picture frames or small electronics in your room that need to be packed, it is best to pack them individually. When packing books, they should be individually wrapped in clean paper and placed in the book with the spine down. Then, fill the extra spaces with crumbled paper to avoid the contents of the box form shifting during the move. Now, you are all set!

When packing items for a move, the objective is to ensure the protection of your belongings while they are being transported to your new home. Here are a few steps on how to pack your items securely for the big move:

1.      Collect your supplies

When preparing to pack up your family room, you will need secure boxes, packing tape, packing paper, tissue paper, paper pads and felt tip markers.

2.      Pack it all up

• If you have any mirrors, artwork or photos framed in glass, they need to be individually wrapped in packing paper. They must be placed in a carton specifically made for holding mirrors and glass.
• When packing lamps, you have to remove the lamp shade from the lamp stand and package each separately. First, use tissue paper to cushion the bottom of the box then place the lamp shade upside down in the box. You can use crumbled tissue paper to fill the open spaces on the sides of the lamp shade to prevent shifting. Now, you can prepare another box for the lamp stand. Use crumbled packing paper to put at the bottom of the box as support for the lamp stand. Then, carefully wrap the lamp stand in packing paper and place it standing up in the box.
• When packing electronics, it is best to repack them in the original packaging if you did not discard of it. If do not have the original packaging, there is another way to pack them. You will need the paper pads to wrap your electronics such as a DVD player or a video game console. Packing your television is a bit different. You will need thin foam wrap to protect the screen of it and a television carton to hold it standing. You can ask your movers for the thin foam wrap and a moving box specifically for televisions if you cannot find them at the store.
• After everything is packaged and sealed in boxes, you need to label the boxes with a felt tip marker. It is important to label them, so the movers know what they contain. For the boxes with delicate items, label them “FRAGILE” on all four sides and indicate where the top of the box is with large arrows.

You are now in the final stages of your moving process, where the days till you move out are inching forward. On the one hand, it seems as if you have been planning this move forever and the day will never come! On the other hand, it feels like your moving date is quickly approaching and you do not have enough time to prepare. Here are a few ways to prepare in advance for the big day:

1.      Pack, pack, pack!

Do not procrastinate and wait until the last minute to pack! That will result in unnecessary stress and a massive headache. It is best to start packing as soon as possible to avoid such panic. Even if you are weeks away from your moving date, you can start to pack the things that you do not use daily. As you pack your things, you should keep record of all of the items that were placed in boxes. You can create a checklist in your notepad or phone, so you can easily carry it around or simply download or print our checklist from www.hightouchmoving.com. Although most of your belongings will be packed in boxes, there are some items that you will carry personally such as important documents. You should also make note of these items so you do not forget them on the day of the move.

2.      Finalize delivery details

You should contact your hired moving company to confirm all of the details of your move. You need to make sure that they have the correct date and time of your move and the address of your new place. Even if you have hired a highly professional and reliable moving company, mishaps can occur, so it is best to be certain.

3.      Utility/Subscription Cancellation

Arrange for the disconnection of utilities with your service provider or transfer your service to your new place. Also, if you receive regular subscriptions of newspapers or magazines, you should cancel the subscription. You should inform your Credit Card Company and bank of your address change as well. All of these things contain your personal information, so you need to ensure that they will be delivered to you at your appropriate address.

4.      “Last minute” details

If you have any items that you will not be taking with you due to lack of space or use, now is the time to store or get rid of them. Make arrangements with a storage company to rent a storage unit for the belongings that you want but cannot take with you. For the items that you have but do not want, you can sell them through a reliable website that allows the sale of goods or a classic garage sale.

Here are more tips and information on moving read more

Moving scams can be a nightmare!  Getting stuck with a moving company that has no concept of customer service, overcharges, damages or loses goods (just to name a few failures) is probably not at the top of your list for things you’d like to experience.  It’s annoying, at best, to deal with a moving company that doesn’t give you the bottom line when you acquire their services.  We entrust our worldly possessions with our moving company’s when we need to relocate and if we don’t make the right decision about movers, we may never see our valuables again.  There are a few simple rules to follow when making a decision about which moving company to hire.

Always remember to thoroughly research the moving company you are considering in order to get an accurate idea of what type of business practices you are entertaining.  You can check online to be sure that they have all of the necessary licenses and permits required for moving.  Make sure your moving company is registered with the FMCSA, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, if you are crossing state lines for your move, as well as checking to make sure your moving company displays its U.S. DOT number and MC (Motor Carrier) on their website or in their advertisements.  Another thing to remember is to study your “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” and the “Ready to Move” brochures, both of which must be made available by law by your moving company.  If they are not readily available, the business is probably not the best choice.  Don’t forget to check the BBB and protectyourmove.gov to ensure that your moving company is a legitimate accredited business.  Another helpful hint is to check for the ProMover logo to see if your company qualifies as a “professional” moving company.  It’s also good to brush up on some moving terminology.

Remember to get it in writing!  It is quite important to obtain an estimate in writing; all movers are required to do this by law.  The BBB states that, “No legitimate mover will offer to give you a firm estimate on-line or over the phone.”  This statement should be taken seriously; you could end up being bullied into paying a lot extra on moving day if you don’t demand to get your estimate in writing.  It is against the law for the movers to charge anything over ten percent over their non-binding estimate, which is their educated guess on the price of your move.  Words are cheap when spoken, but worth scores written down.  Similarly to my next point; write down the conditions of your goods before they are loaded and moved onto the truck, as well as the condition of your goods after they are loaded into your new location.  You can’t tell the movers they damaged your goods without any proof, this is why the customer always signs a completed Bill of Landing, which is a receipt for the secure transportation of your goods.

Don’t let a scam happen to you!  If the price seems too good to be true, it is most likely a scam and will end up costing you more in the long run anyway.  You should also check other reviews of the company to hear some other people’s experiences with them.  Following these few simple tips will definitely help you decide on a reliable, trustworthy and professional moving company.

Packing Supplies

Packing Supplies: Let us Pack for You

Of all the things you have to do to prepare for your move, finding the right supplies is one of the most important.  Buying the right size boxes for all of your valuables ahead of time is a smart move, along with figuring out how to pack something that cannot fit in a box, like a piano or large piece of artwork for instance.   High Touch Moving Company saves you a lot of time and effort looking for moving supplies and they also happen to be a green moving company.

High Touch Moving can provide you with cardboard boxes for moving with the expectation that they will be recycled after the move is completed.  High Touch Moving also offers non-cardboard box options; reusable packing containers can be used instead of cardboard boxes so as to be even more environmentally conscious.  High Touch Moving offers cardboard boxes in a variety of shapes and sizes including all-purpose boxes, wardrobe boxes, book boxes, china boxes, picture and mirror boxes, lamp boxes, mattress boxes, even book boxes.  These boxes are all brand new and made specifically for moving and storage.  Other boxes may not be sturdy enough to hold and secure your valuables for your move.  List of boxes and sizes

• All-Purpose Boxes are great for packing miscellaneous items like linens, books, CD’s, photo albums, and any other mildly heavy items.  Remember that as the box gets bigger, the items in the box should get lighter.  We have a range of all-purpose moving boxes:

1.5 cubic moving box

This should be used for small heavier items; photo albums, CD’s, utensils, books and other mildly heavy items should go in this box, the smallest moving box.

3 cubic foot moving box

Double corrugated cardboard, medium sized moving box

4.5 cubic foot moving box

Double corrugated cardboard, large size moving box

6 cubic foot moving box

The largest double corrugated all-purpose moving box, best used for lighter objects.

Quick Tip:

Small box for small stuff, large box for large stuff    (Correct)

Small box for light stuff, heavy box for heavy stuff  (Incorrect)

-otherwise the boxes will be more difficult to move

Wardrobe Boxes are specifically designed boxes for packing clothing.  These boxes have a metal bar along the top of the box ideal for hanging clothes on the hanger

24″ x 21″ x 48″ wardrobe box

China Boxes are made of double corrugated cardboard for extra strength and durability, as well as for minimal damage to your fragile items.  They are the best for packing dishware, glasses, and anything else breakable.

28″ x 18″ x 18″ china box

You may also be interested in Dish Packing Inserts which are cardboard inserts that go between the items in your box as an extra precaution against breaks.  They are modifiable to fit to your specific fragile items.

You will also need some kind of cushioning to wrap your fragile items.  Use Bubble Wrap or Newspaper (if you’re worried about the ink from the newspaper bleeding onto your goods, try white, unprinted newspaper called Packing Paper)  Tissue Paper is also used as an alternative wrapping source because it is softer than newspaper and will not scratch even the most extremely delicate items.

Fragile Labels are going to be a tremendous help for labeling your boxes.   They are big and noticeable which is exactly what you want when dealing with very delicate valuables.  These come twelve per package.

Picture and Mirror Boxes are long thin boxes for framed pictures and mirrors.

40″ x 32″ x 4″ picture/mirror box

We also offer a four piece box that is adjustable to conform to fit most frames.

Other than boxes for the items that are easily packed away, High Touch Moving Company also offers markers for labeling, tape for closing the boxes, post-it’s for color coding boxes, bubble wrap for wrapping fragile items and they also offer a furniture moving service, a piano moving service, and a fine art moving service.  Some of these items are extremely delicate and require special care in order to transport them so as not to inflict damage on the item.  High Touch Moving has specially trained and qualified licensed, bonded, and insured movers to move your antiques, instruments, and furniture.  Don’t forget:

Bubble Wrap: comes in 12” x 174’ roll

Packing Tape: comes 2” x 60’

(The best way to tape your moving box is across the middle of the box then along two edges, so that when you are finished it will look like a big H on the top and bottom.  This reinforces your moving box.  Never forget to tape the bottom of your moving box!)

Tape Dispenser

Markers: remember to LABEL, LABEL, LABEL!

Mattress Bag: For extra protection after New York’s bed bug scare, you can never be too careful.

Here’s a little allegory about the dangers of not using new moving boxes:

In my younger days of working as a cashier in a health food market in Queens NY I remember the people that would come in and ask if we had any extra empty produce boxes that hadn’t been broken down yet.  This question requires an explanation, so when asked what for, they’d respond that they were moving out of their apartment and they didn’t want to buy boxes.  Now as someone on the inside at the market, I knew that the boxes were in no condition to hold light loads, much less heavy loads.  They were wet, used, and holding on by a thread to not break apart into pieces from just sitting on the floor.  Alas, the people would take them anyway.  One time a customer came back over the next few days with a complaint, not about something they bought in the store, but about our boxes breaking once they were packed and spilling her valuables onto the floor.  Unfortunately, there was absolutely nothing I could do for these individuals but listen to the complaints and think to myself, they should have probably bought new moving boxes in the first place.  Now I think those people definitely didn’t use one of the professional movers who would have advised against the shady boxes for packing and encouraged those individuals to purchase moving boxes.

Avoid Moving day Pitfalls

There are ample ways to make your moving day disastrous; however, there are just as many tricks to make your moving day triumphant.  Something that many people don’t realize is that the process of moving is not inherently hectic, it only becomes frenzied when certain steps of the moving process are improperly executed.

The first thing our movers will mention is preparation over procrastination; if there is ever a time not to procrastinate, this is it.  The longer you wait to start the planning and the packing, the more stressful moving day will become because packing will most likely be somewhat unorganized and rushed, or you may not have the right packing materials, and you may simply run out of time and end up having to pay extra for the movers to work longer than expected.  You should also buy more boxes than you think you need; it’s almost inevitable that you will need more boxes than you bargained on.  An aphorism to live by: it’s always better to have too much, than not enough.

Start early by making a list of your responsibilities as someone moving, like remembering to pick up a change of address form, making a master inventory list of the items in each room and the type of packing those items require, and making a list of people to notify of your move.  No one wants to be left on moving day still having to call the cable, internet, phone, and whatever other providers to cancel the utilities.  Also, try to schedule the movers as early as possible on moving day.  This way you will have plenty of sunlight and not feel rushed to move because the day is going by too quickly. Get a moving check list from High Touch Moving.

This may be the most important rule, LABEL, LABEL, and LABEL!  You really must label all of your boxes with what’s inside them, what room they belong in, and whether or not they are fragile.  Moving day could be a shattered day if you don’t properly label the china box and accidentally treat it as if it were filled with pots and pans.  On moving day, the new house could turn into a confusing traffic jam for the movers if each room and box are not labeled accordingly.  Each room in the new location should be labeled as well; this way if the box and room are labeled the movers will know exactly where to place each box and they won’t have to perpetually ask you where each load belongs.

Double check everything before you leave the old location.  You may be a bit stretched on moving day, running back and forth between the movers, and you simply don’t want to forget anything.  Once all the items are in the truck, but before you hand the keys over to your old landlord, do one last walk through.  Check everything to make sure there is nothing that you’ve somehow forgotten.

Moving Questions

Most people are not experts on moving.  Moving and packing can be quite a difficult and confusing time in our lives.  Unlike the average civilian, high touch movers are experts on moving.  Many questions may arise that were never pondered before, besides the most candid question: Where am I going to move?  High Touch Moving Company is more than aptly prepared and willing to answer any of your moving or packing questions.  There are many different types of moves; business moving, residential moving, college moving, all of these types of moves have specific requirements for their specific needs.  For example, when moving into a college dorm some electric appliances are not allowed in the rooms, or when relocating a business it may be best to organize a gradual move in order to maximize productivity throughout the course of your companies move.  The moving professionals at High Touch Moving Company handle all types of moves from college dorms to apartments to business relocation to homes; so, it would be fair to say that they, rather regularly, receive all sorts of moving questions.  Here are some moving questions that one might assume come up fairly commonly.

When should I start packing?  Truthfully, you can really never start packing early enough when you’re planning for a move.  Besides the early hassles of the new location, you’ve also got to focus on getting the old location packed up and ready to move.  It’s generally said to start packing about six to eight weeks before your planned moving day.  The earlier you start to pack the less stressful the move will be, guaranteed.  There is nothing more overwhelming than realizing that moving day is tomorrow and your still standing in a fully unpacked apartment or office (I know that first hand).

How do I choose a Mover?  I would suggest word of mouth, with proper research, just to make sure your recommender wasn’t just easily satisfied.  Some great ways to research a moving company is to check on the Better Business Bureau website, on which High Touch Moving received a top rating for accreditation.  Also be sure to read plenty of reviews and testimonials from other customers in order to get a sense of the history of the moving company.  Make sure the company is licensed and insured and find out the company credentials, which should be clearly listed on the moving company’s website.

When should I hire the movers?  The answer to this question is the same as the first question; you can never hire the movers early enough.  The more advanced notice you give the moving company, the better.

How will I be charged?  There are a number of different elements of service your moving company may charge you for, like the capacity of the move, how far away you’re moving, how many movers you will need to move you, how many of your belongings require specialized packing (like pianos or fine art), and whether or not you will use the moving company’s packing service.  If there are ever any doubts as to how much moving will cost, don’t hesitate to call High Touch Moving Company to discuss both binding and non-binding estimates for your move.

As the person moving, what am I accountable for?  As the relocated, you are responsible for being present at the time of the move, at the time of packing, and at the time of delivery so that you can witness the handling of your items and sign the inventory list stating that your belongings were handled with care and made it to their destination point unharmed.