6 Tips for Moving to a Smaller House from our Sunnyvale Movers

If you’re moving to a smaller house, there are some details to consider before the day of your move. Use these tips from our professional Sunnyvale Movers to prepare.

Recently with the popularity of tiny homes, it seems everyone is choosing to downsize. If you’re feeling like you have too much space in your home, it could be time to move to a smaller space. Whether your kid’s moved out for college or you’ve reached an age where a large home is too troublesome to clean, moving to a smaller home could be a great opportunity to get rid of all that stuff cluttering up your garage and start fresh.

Prepare Your Mind For The Move

The first, and arguably most difficult task to take care of while downsizing, is to change your mindset. You will be transitioning from ample space to just enough for your belongings and simple living. This move will be eye-opening in terms of how many “essential” belongings you own and how you spread out in your space. This transition could be more difficult if it’s a financial decision, too, so give yourself plenty of time to sift through your priorities and belongings and get your mindset right for this big change into a smaller home.

Start Purging The Obvious Stuff

We’ll bet you already have a running list of things you can’t wait to get rid of. Heck, that old dresser and nightstand set could be the reason you decided to downsize in the first place. Start your downsizing adventure by donating all the obvious stuff first. Toss the old silverware set from your wedding that you never really liked, and finally say goodbye to that “family heirloom” lamp that your great-grandma didn’t even like. Donate with abandon, this is your time! Just make sure everyone in the household is on the same page when you toss things that technically belong to the whole family.

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Call Up Your Family

While you’re in that purging momentum, don’t forget to call up your extended family or adult kids to see what they want before you toss it. You might be surprised what they eagerly request. Your daughter might have fond memories of the old trunk that sat as a makeshift coffee table, or your aunt could want her coasters back--whatever! Don’t forget to make those calls .

Set Limits With Sentimental Belongings

This is the time to finally get rid of all that pack rat junk you’ve been holding onto simply because you had the space in your home and your heart to keep it. Go through your someday projects and hand-me-down clothes and say goodbye. If you’re the sentimental type, then make sure you set a limit to the amount of sentimental belongings you bring with you. When you have a limit, you will be more discerning about what’s actually important to remember. N certain circumstances, maybe pictures of something will suffice. Maybe you have a lot of memories in a certain T-shirt but it’s time to throw it away. Look for photos of yourself in the shirt so you know you will have a memory of it.

Take Advantage Of The Numbers 

Get the floorplan blueprints  of your new home as soon as possible so you can use the measurements to inform how much stuff you can actually take. This is difficult to gauge by your eyes alone--which should be no surprise if you’ve tried to eyeball the size of a sofa in a furniture store only to bring it home and see it’s way too big. All your furniture will look just the right size in your big home, but it might be way too big for your new living spaces. This is where the measurements come in. Rely on the numbers to determine what can stay and what needs to be donated.

Get Professional Movers to Help

Downsizing can often be more work than moving into a home that’s the same size. While your load for the moving truck will be much lighter, all the preparation could leave you exhausted. On moving day, sit back and look at all your hard work, and let the professional movers take care of those final steps. Hiring professional movers will prevent injury on your part and also save you time. If you’re planning to move this winter, call our professional Sunnyvale Movers today for a free quote.

6 Tips For Moving During The Winter

Moving during the winter has its perks. For one, you’re not moving during the high season, so professional moving rates are likely to be more reasonable. However, there are some obstacles that come with moving during the winter. The most obvious is weather. If you’re moving to or from a location with significant rain or snow, the roads are more dangerous and there could be delays. Delays may not be an option if you are moving for a job or for some other reason that has hard deadlines. If you plan to move anytime between November and March, make things easier on yourself with these 6 tips for moving in the winter.

1.Pay Attention to the Weather Forecast

The weather during the winter is extremely unpredictable. One day it could be clear and sunny, the next there could be a blizzard blowing past your front door. This back and forth can cause dangerous driving conditions like strong winds and black ice.

To avoid this, pay close attention to the 10-day forecast. If a storm is coming on the day of your move, call your Sunnyvale movers and ask if you can reschedule. Since this is the slow season for moving, movers are much more likely to negotiate with you. They don’t want to take the risk in extreme weather either, so it’s a valid concern this will probably be easy to change.

2.Take Proper Safety Precautions Around Your House

Rain and snow, if left overnight, can produce black ice and other dangers in your driveway and around your house. Before the movers arrive, take precautions to shovel snow, scrape away ice and clear pathways of other dangers. The last thing you want to deal with during a move is a trip to the E.R.

3.Provide Warmth and Shelter for Your Movers

If possible, create shade structures or clear places for shelter in case the weather picks up while the movers are packing the truck. If it suddenly starts dumping outside, understand that you may have to take a break and be flexible with hourly rates. Talk to your Sunnyvale professional movers about plans for rescheduling or other fees if the weather should interfere with the move. If you all decide to keep moving forward, provide plenty of shelter, warm beverages or even breaks inside if necessary. A move isn’t worth getting sick over.

4.Protect Your Belongings From Weather

Rain and snow can do serious damage to your belongings. If anything gets wet before being loaded on the truck, mold or mildew can form quickly (especially here in the Bay Area). Make sure your professional movers double wrap your belongings and use extra moving blankets when necessary. Be extra careful with electronics and anything that could potentially get damaged from precipitation and leaks.

5. Prepare Your Care For Winter Travel

Planning on driving with the truck? Take your car in to be serviced before the move. Make sure you have proper tires, chains, and all the machinery and fluids are ready to go. Knowing your car is ready for extreme weather will keep your mind at ease and your family safe when the weather and roads become unpredictable.

6.Be Flexible

Traveling in the winter can take much longer than traveling in warmer times of the year. If possible, budget more time than you think you will need to make the move. You never know when a random storm could delay your trip. The most important thing to consider when moving during the winter is safety.


Planning on moving this winter? Call Moving Forward Sunnyvale Professional Movers for your free quote.

The Pros and Cons of Renting a Portable Storage Unit

Should you rent a portable storage unit or hire a Sunnyvale professional moving company? 

The question is out: should you rent a portable storage unit or hire a professional moving company? Honestly, it all boils down to your needs, which might sound surprising coming from a Sunnyvale professional moving company. There are pros and cons to both depending on the nature of your move. (Some people have chosen our Sunnyvale professional moving company for one move and rented a portable storage unit for another). 

Whether you’re moving from a three-story home across the country or from one apartment to another in the same neighborhood, these are a few pros and cons to help you make an informed decision that makes sense for your move. 

Pros and Cons Of Renting a Portable Storage Unit

The Pros:

Renting a portable storage unit is notably cheaper than hiring a professional moving company to move your belongings for you. If you’re on a budget, this might be the more appropriate option for you. 

Portable storage units are convenient. A truck drops it off and then picks it up after it’s ready to be delivered to your new home. Once the unit is completely unloaded, they will pick it up and that’s that. 

Portable moving containers are great for storing your belongings during the move, especially if you’re moving out of a rental and have a lot of cleaning to do to earn back that deposit.  

Rental a portable storage unit allows for more flexibility in your move. Maybe you’re moving for a job with a TBD start date, but you want to get a headstart on packing. Whatever the circumstance, a portable storage unit can sit for weeks while a professional moving company is unable to do so. 

The Cons

While portable storage units include a lock, they can still be vandalized or broken into. If this should happen, the rental company is not liable for anything stolen or damaged.
  
Portable moving storage units are cheaper than a professional moving company because you have to do the work yourself (or bribe a few of your friends with pizza to help with the heavy lifting.)

If you’re deciding between renting a storage unit or a moving truck, you will find that the storage unit is more expensive upfront. However, moving truck rentals often have additional fees, so it’s best to decide which rental is best depending on the distance of your move.  

If you are a senior citizen or have physical limitations, then choosing a portable moving container will be more of a hassle than a help. 

If you want to place your portable storage unit on the street, you may need to contact your local government and get a parking permit. Check with your local government or HOA to see if there are any regulations against keeping it in front of your house.  Sunnyvale Movers

Final Thoughts

Renting a portable storage unit makes sense if you’re on a budget, need a flexible moving time, or you’re strong enough and willing to do the move on your own. If you need to move in a rush, you have bulky or valuable items (grand pianos, dining room tables, antique furniture), or you do not have the physical capabilities to move on your own, we suggest hiring our professional Sunnyvale movers instead. 

Researching Sunnyvale Professional Moving Companies? Contact us today for a free quote!  (415) 518-6433

What Not To Do When Hiring Professional Movers

What Not To Do When Hiring Professional Palo Alto Movers

If you have decided to hire a professional Palo Alto moving company instead of moving yourself, then you are probably wondering how to find the perfect professional moving company for your needs. While you can do a quick search online to find local Palo Alto movers and long-distance movers, finding the right professional moving company will take a little more digging. As you begin your search, here are a few things you do NOT want to do when hiring professional movers.

Forget to Collect Multiple Quotes:

You should be collecting quotes or estimates from each moving company you consider. This way, you can compare prices as well as what is included in each quote. On the surface the overall price may be similar among all candidates. But some may not include additional fees that would reflect your specific needs.

Not Asking Questions:

There are a lot of moving parts associated with a move, and it is up to you to make sure your professional moving team has all the information they need to do their job properly. This requires good communication, or asking the right questions. Reliable movers will provide you with all the documentation and information you need to get answers. If you ever feel like you don’t know where to start with questions, or that the moving company is avoiding questions or being vague, find a different moving company.

Selecting A Professional Moving Company By Price Alone:

As with anything, the least expensive option is typically not the best value. Make sure you consider more than the price when hiring your professional movers. Some moving companies will entice movers with a low cost upfront, but the issue is this price is much lower than competitors. This is a red flag, and usually means they do a poor job or that nice low price is stripped of additional fees that will inevitably be added later.

Not Asking Movers To Perform a Walk-Through:

Before you agree to hire professional movers, be sure they perform a formal walk-through. This helps them understand how much space they will be working with, whether there are any tight doorways or stairwells, and if there are any additional areas that will need packed (i.e. shed, basement, attic, garage, etc.). This will also help them determine the overall weight of your load. If you have lots of bulk furniture or antiques, then these details might factor into the overall quote. You would rather have these additional fees upfront than budget for a lower estimate and end up paying more later. To help the process along, prepare a moving inventory list so they can check through the list as they walk through your home. 

Searching for quotes from professional Palo Alto Movers? Call Moving Forward today for a free quote! (415) 518-6433

Helpful Tips for Decluttering Before Your Next Move

Moving your belongings from one location to another is an enormous responsibility. It can be difficult to know where to begin with all the careful planning, organizing, and packing of your items. This task can look to be overwhelming due to the amount of stuff you have in your home. Your high-trained Palo Alto moving company have gathered some useful tips for you to help you declutter, ease the stress, and be ready for your upcoming move. 

Sort Items into Categories 

Moving to a new home is a great time to sort through all of your items and discard anything that is not useful or no longer holds some purpose for you. Moving items to your new home that you no longer use or need make no sense. To begin this process, simply sort the items in each room and divide into three categories: toss, donate, and keep.  

Have a Sale 

When sorting through all your belongings, if many of them are still in good condition, consider having a sale or possibly sell them online at sites such as Craigslist or eBay. In addition to decluttering your home, this is a way to earn some extra money to put towards moving expenses.  

Develop a Plan 

Sorting through all your belongings takes time. Set aside specific times where you can go through each room. Do not try to accomplish this large task in one or two days. Having the ability to relax without rushing through the sorting process allows you to reduce stress and make packing your belongings go much easier.
  
Assign Task

If you have friends or family nearby, ask for their support during the moving process. Having assistance from other people with organizing and packing allows you to get more accomplished in less time, and is also is also a clever way to have an objective view on items you are having difficulty parting with. 

Carefully Label

While you are going through and packing all your items, take the time to carefully label each container or box that you fill and make a quick note of the contents inside. This is an ideal way to see a breakdown of your items and help you stay organized. 
Before your next big move, contact your trusted Palo Alto moving company to learn more useful tips and tricks to help your moving experience go smoothly.

Top Reasons Why You Should Not Hire Non-Professional Movers

Sunnyvale Movers 

People have found new ways of outsourcing their packing and moving needs with sites such as Craigslist and mobile apps like Dolly. For pennies on the dollar, you can hire a resourceful individual or even your neighbor to help you move to a new location with just a couple of click of a button.  

 

While this new approach may be convenient, it comes with its share of problems when compared to traditional moving practices. In the long run, many of these issues may impact you and your family.  
 
You should not hire non-professional movers due to the following reasons:  
 
Do Not Have the Proper Equipment

 

 There a numerous variable to consider the complex process of moving. For example, are there stairs or another structure that might be difficult to maneuver? Will a moving truck be too large for your street or will another alternative be needed? Professional Sunnyvale movers are prepared to handle every situation and will not let these troubles interfere with your move. 

 

  
They Lack Oversight 

  

The Federal Motor Carrier Administration placed regulations on all professional moving services to provide customers with a copy of their consumer rights and responsibilities. This resourceful guide summarizes everything you must know, such as how to lodge a complaint or important contact information. Non-professional movers do not cover this irreplaceable form of protection, in the event, something does go wrong, you will be on your own.  
 
Non-Professionals Do Not Provide Protection 

 

 Professional movers offer some sort of protection, unlike non-professionals. While it is not identical to standard insurance, a similar level of protection is provided for your possessions. A few different forms of valuation are usually offered by the best professional Sunnyvale movers, such as full value or minimal protection. However, protections such as these are not provided by non-licensed movers, leaving the cost to replace or repair damaged items solely on the homeowner.  

 

 
Do Not Provide Planning or Support 

 

Most moves not only require various pieces of equipment, but some can be quite complex, logistically speaking. While moving to a different town may not be as complicated as moving to another state, considerations must still be made for such things as possible lodging, times, and dates for the whole moving process. Also, how much gas will be needed to travel as well as other vital considerations that must be made. Professional moving companies understand the distinctions between any size move, ensuring the correct planning and support is put in place to make your move successful. 

Factors to Consider When Deciding on A Moving Date

Moving day matters for many reasons. It’s important to learn what should and can influence your moving day decision. The following factors should be taken into consideration when deciding on a moving date:

Moving Budget:

Your moving budget and the date you choose to move is directly related. Some days are slightly more expensive, such as when the Palo Alto moving company are busiest. Busy periods include holidays, weekends, summer months, and the beginning/ending of the month. Winter is the best time to move if you want to avoid paying more. 

Your Needs:

Aside from your budget, your needs are the most important factor to consider when deciding on a moving date. Will you be starting a new job, or will your children be starting at a new school? Do you prefer to wait to move after your child finishes the school year? 

Moving Company Availability:

Most reliable moving companies have more work, of course, meaning you should schedule 2 to 3 weeks prior to ensure they will be available when you need them. Do not wait until the last minute to hire your trustworthy Palo Alto movers company. 

Once you know the date your rental contract is finished, begin planning what date works best for you and your moving company.

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