WhiteFence makes Moving Easier for Military Families

As you can see from Eddy's post yesterday, moving is easier when you visit the WhiteFence move center, but seeing how today is Veteran's Day, I wanted to point out how it can also help military families.

When you have to move as often as some people in the military, it is good to know that there is a site that can make it a smooth transition. The move center can help you get mover quotes, auto shipping quotes, change your address, packing supplies and more.

You can also use WhiteFence to shop and compare plans and services to easily set up your electricity, home phone, Internet, natural gas and TV service in minutes. You can even set up other essential home services like maid service, lawncare, newspaper deliver and more.

Making the Move Easier

Moving locations is rough. We all know it. While I'm not often prone to exaggerated complaining, I personally find moving to be completely and thoroughly soul-crushing. OK, so maybe that's just a little over the top.

Part of my disdain for the moving process comes from college, where I moved apartments every single summer. My wife and I also moved twice in our first few years of marriage, bringing the grand total to 6 moves in 6 years. We had sworn off moving for quite awhile until just last month, when we bought our first home. Early in the process, we decided that we were going to try hiring movers instead of doing everything on our own or with the help of friends that would forever scorn us for making them lift boxes full of my video games.

This was my first time to experience the help of a moving company, and I don't think I can ever go back. While moving will never be easy, hiring some professionals to carry my junk around really made a huge difference. It made me wonder why people ever try to move on their own, so I thought I'd make a little poll and find out how many readers out there have used movers.

Got any moving horror/triumph stories? Feel free to share. For moving help, be sure to check out the WhiteFence move center.

How to Move Your House Plants

Are you getting ready to move to a new home but not sure what to do with your prized petunias? Well don't fret, it's not that difficult to pack up your house plants and move them to your new digs.

Below are a few tips to move your plants to their new home with ease.

• Start the plant moving process about 2-3 weeks prior to your move.
• If you're moving across state lines, check with the local U.S. Department of Agriculture to see if your types of plants are allowed into the new state.
• Make sure all your plants are in non-breakable plastic pots.
• If you're using a moving company, ask if they will move plants. Some moving companies won't.
• Rid your plants of any bugs, mildew and disease.
• Prune large plants to make them easier to transport.
• Avoid extreme temperatures when moving your plants. Lack of air or extreme heat can kill them.
• Wrap large plants with sheets to avoid the branches from breaking.
• Pack your plants in boxes to make them easier to load. Poke holes in the boxes so your plants can breath.
• If your move lasts longer than three days, make sure to let your plants have a little water and sun light.
• Upon arrival, unpack your plants as soon as possible.

Help on Using Movers

While the season for moving during the summer is winding to a close, it is still going strong as people relocate all around the country. As anyone that's moved before knows, packing everything you own into piles of boxes is a trying ordeal and sometimes ends up being much more stressful than you first imagined.

WTOP News recently posted a feature about the moving season and how to prepare for movers. Apparently, "an estimated 40 million Americans move each year, with August being high season". The tips provided in the article about using movers cover the entire moving process, from planning and organizing to the actual day of the move. Some of the tips include things like packing a couple of weeks worth of dishes and clothes to reduce stress as well as getting snacks and drinks ready for the movers on the big day.

If you're moving this month or thinking about moving in the near future, these tips on movers are a must-read. To find out more, head over to WTOP News.

Cleaning to Sell

Now that the moving season is underway, many homeowners are getting ready to become home buyers and home sellers. While the prospect of relocating and finding a new place to live can be exciting and adventurous, it can often times be stressful to being the process of moving.

To help start the move and the selling process, US News has posted a great list of cleaning tips for people looking to sell their home and help get it "market-ready". Some of the tips include:

• Wash windows inside and out. Use a drop of liquid dish soap per two gallons of water and a good squeegee. Dry the window with crumpled newspaper. You'll get the best results if you wash windows on a cloudy, not sunny day, because sunlight dries the glass quickly, causing it to streak.
• Odors can get trapped in drapes and window treatments; if washable take them down and wash in water heated to at least 130 degrees.
• Box up all nonessential items to eliminate clutter. Even junior's toys can be an eyesore. Keep only the most used toys in a container that can be stored in the closed.

A list like this is a great resource for new sellers and old alike. To read these tips and more, head on over to US News.

Moving Along Frugally

17 Tips for Moving on a Budget

Perhaps you're tired of living in the same apartment complex or you have a hankerin' for the suburbs — either way it's moving time.

I know what it's like to move and after you're done with putting down deposits and pay first and last months rent, you're pretty much tapped out money wise, but there's still that moving part you haven't addressed. Bellow are some helpful tips to moving on a budget.

• Bundle Your Home Entertainment Services — Bundling your home entertainment services saves you money and gives you one conveniently low monthly bill.


• Mover Quotes — Get at least three different quotes from moving companies to get the best low price.


• Boxes — Ask friend, co-workers and anyone you can for free boxes. For the adventurous visit dumpsters behind large grocery stores.


• Packing Tape — Borrow a tape dispenser instead of buying your own.


• Packing Breakables — Use clothes, towels and newspaper to wrap breakable items instead of buying bubble wrap or packing peanuts. If you insist on having bubble wrap or packing peanuts, ask the receptionist at your job to save them for you when she receives company packages. Same goes for shredded company paper.


• Newspaper — If you decide to use newspaper to wrap breakable items then take the free newspapers you can find around town, or ask friends and coworkers to save theirs for you. You can even ask your local coffee shop to hang on to their daily papers for you.


• Minimize Items to Move — Go through all your items like clothes, knick knacks, etc. and throw out or give away things you know you don't want anymore. This will lessen what you have to move, thus making your move less expensive.


• Garage Sale — Sale items before you move to make extra moving money.


• Hire Your Friends — Instead of getting movers, hire your friends. At the end of the day buying pizza and beer to pay your friends will be less expensive than hiring movers.


• Move During Off Season — If at all possible don't move during peak season, which is mid-May to mid-September. Movers are usually looking for work in January and February, so you can get a better rate.


• Pack Your Own Items — Don't hire someone to pack your household. Do it yourself and invite your friends to help.


• Tax Deductions — Did you know you can deduct allowable moving expenses? Remember to keep all receipts!


• Child and Pet Care — Ask friends or family to watch your children or pets the day of the move.


• Sleeping Arrangements — If you need to stay overnight during your move, it is better to stay with family or friends rather than getting a motel room.


• Food — For long distance moves where you will need to eat on the road, pack food to eat instead of eating out or get coupons for places to eat along your route.


• Use Containers — You don't need boxes for everything. If you have storage bins or even suitcases use them to pack items.


• Pick Up Trucks & Vans — Ask friends who have truck and vans to borrow them for your move instead of renting a moving truck.

Beware of the Big Bad Moving Broker

With the advent of the internet there have been more opportunities to take advantage of consumers. People use brokers for everything from finances to our energy needs, so why not use a broker for other events in our lives? Well, one of the newest scams being utilized is moving brokers.

According to the recent Census Bureau, 39.8 million people in the United States moved within the previous in 2006. This means that a huge portion of the population had the same needs. Knowing this, would-be criminals have developed a way to monetize the industry by using the internet to prey on people's desire to save time and money.

Traditionally, moving brokers help the consumer to shop the local competition to find the best rate for the customer's move. However, recently some moving brokers have been devising methods to take advantage of that customer. Some work directly with a moving company. The mover will provide a bid lower than industry standard, so the customer uses his company for the move. The furniture is loaded, but before arriving at the new location the mover requests additional money from the customer for the move and holds hostage all property until this is made. Customers find that they can no longer contact their broker, and are forced to pay for their own belongings.

Crooked brokers also utilize another scam to dupe consumers. They require a customer to submit a down payment to lock in a price. When thinking of the cost of a state-to-state move, the cost savings can be extraordinary, which is why a consumer is apt to buy into an extremely reasonable rate. Those moving interstate are also more likely to plan weeks or even months in advance, so by the time they contact the broker again, they are nowhere to be found—phones are disconnected and websites are no longer available. When dealing with an internet-based company that is individually run, there is no way of knowing their location and who to look for when problems arise.

Now here's the good news! There are many reputable moving companies and methods to get a good qualified moving lead from an internet-based company.

• A consumer should use a reputable lead source. Check for credibility. Are they a member of the BBB (Better Business Bureau)?
• Are you able to get the estimate/quote in writing?
• Is the company you chose licensed? This can be checked online with the Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
• Do not pay up front for a price guarantee. Most reputable companies will not require a payment until the day of the move.
• Shop around. Make sure to contact an aggregate that will get several estimates.
• Be honest. Moving companies are allowed to charge more than the estimated price if the consumer was not honest about what actually needed to be moved. By law they are not required to itemize the extra expense or weigh the additional items.

With a few simple, extra steps we can protect ourselves from moving scams.

Gentle Giant Offers Moving Tips and Free Packing Seminar

Gentle Giant Moving Company, a residential mover in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Virginia, recently announced the return of its "Pack Like the Pros" summer season packing seminar on July 21, 2007. The company also published an updated advisory on common packing pitfalls and offered tips for anyone planning to pack their own belongings for an upcoming residential move.

The free "Pack Like the Pros" seminar will be held on Saturday, July 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at the Gentle Giant headquarters in Somerville, Massachusetts. A complimentary sampling of professional packing materials will be provided to each guest at the seminar, where experts will demonstrate hands-on packing techniques, offer tips, and provide advice on preventing damage during a move.

"We want to share important information that many people may not know about safe and effective packing," said Larry O'Toole President and founder of Gentle Giant Moving Company. "Based on years of experience with common moving challenges as well as the knowledge we have regarding how to pack newer electronics and high-tech equipment, we feel that we have the ability to help people, whether they move with us or not. Our goal is to improve the process of moving for everyone by reducing packing stress."

According to Gentle Giant's Quality Control Director Ayanna McKinnon, "Customers are often surprised when we show them how to pack certain items or tell them which items are most susceptible to damage while moving." McKinnon offers the following advice on preparing for a move:

• Wrap mattresses and box springs, and never drag them. "Many people end up with dirty or ripped mattresses because they leave them unprotected, or they drag them on the floor and they become snagged," said McKinnon. She urges everyone to carefully wrap mattresses and box springs in special plastic bags. "If you use a mover, make sure they use a new mattress bag because bed bugs are a potential problem you want to avoid."
• Move flat panel televisions in their original packages or have a crate professionally made. "It's important to know what you're doing with plasmas and LCD TVs," McKinnon said. "Plasma TVs should never be laid flat, and LCDs have problems with changing altitude over long drives." She also advises against turning on any TV right away. "They should to return to room temperature or they will be more susceptible to internal damage."
• Pack plates and dishes vertically, and wrap them individually. "A dish that is hit on its edge is much less likely to break than one that lands flat," explained McKinnon. "And if they're not separately wrapped they rattle during transit, and that could cause them to crack."
• Pay special attention to keepsakes or special items related to personal hobbies. "Think about moving those things yourself, or simply point out those special boxes to your movers. Items like those are impossible to replace because their monetary value doesn't compare with their personal value."
• Pack lamp shades separately from lamps. "Lamp shades can all go into one box, separated and cushioned with paper, but watch out for silk shades," she said. "Silk has a 'memory,' so any indentation caused by the pressure of wrapping material can cause a permanent mark."

For more information on the free seminar and how to get more moving tips from Gentle Giant, check out the press release Gentle Giant Moving Company Helps Consumers 'Pack Like the Pros' with Live Summer Packing Seminar.

Kiplinger.com Offers Tips for a Smooth Move

The popular personal finance site Kiplinger.com recently featured an article about how to have a smooth moving experience. Written by contributing editor Erin Burt, the article features tips and tricks she recently implemented in her own move.

Here are some highlights:

Don't forget yourself.
When weighing your options, remember to factor in the cost of getting yourself and your family to your destination. Estimate gas expenses for your moving truck or car, as well as any food stops and hotel stays. If you hire a transportation company and plan to fly to your new city, calculate the cost of plane tickets and shipping your car, and arrange for a place to stay while you wait for your stuff to arrive. See 25 Best Travel Sites for tips on finding a good deal on your airfare and accommodations.

Sell your stuff.
If you don't have a lot of things or you aren't attached to what you've got, be pragmatic. Don't pay $6,000 to move $1,000 worth of stuff. And even if you plan to keep your belongings, hold a virtual garage sale for the few things you don't want anymore. While cleaning out my closets, I found some household and baby items to sell on Craigslist, and my husband sold a stack of old textbooks on Amazon.com. We've made about $250 by downsizing—money that is helping to offset the cost of our moving truck. (Learn more about where and how to sell your stuff online.)

To read all of Burt's moving advice, check out the article How to Have a Smooth Move.

For more moving tips, see the WhiteFence Moving FAQ or Moving Tips archive.

Apartments.com: Majority of Renters Recycle

Do you live in a green apartment community? A recent Apartments.com survey indicates more than sixty-three percent of survey respondents who live in an apartment community recycle regularly. In comparison, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that 32 percent of the entire U.S. population participates in recycling programs.

Of the renters who do recycle, fifty percent live in an apartment community that offers a recycling program for residents. Property managers and apartment owners support environmental issues in numerous ways as survey respondents indicate the following eco-friendly products and services are provided by management companies: recycling bins and receptacles (34 percent), energy efficient lighting (10 pecent), water saving showers and fixtures (10 percent ) and insulation in windows and doors (8 percent).

Environmentally friendly communities are in high demand as twenty-six percent of renters state they would pay more in rent to live in a building that makes efforts to conserve and recycle. When asked to choose between identical apartments with the same monthly rent, one being eco-friendly and the other not, more than sixty-four percent of renters would choose the "green" apartment.

A significant number of survey respondents indicate that they personally make conservation efforts regardless of the presence of a formal recycling program within their rental community. Fifty-nine percent of survey respondents recycle plastic, fifty-seven percent indicate that they use energy efficient light bulbs, fifty-six percent recycle paper, aluminum and glass and forty-six percent use a timer to set their heating/air conditioning to run only while someone is home.

For more information on the survey, check out the Apartments.com press release.