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While packing up conventional items such as clothing and dinnerware may be pretty straightforward, wine bottles require special care when you prepare them for the moving truck. Here are some tips to make sure that Chardonnay or Merlot reaches their destination as rich and robust as when they first left.

Packaging the bottles carefully is of course a must. Fortunately, there are specialty boxes made just for wines. These have special bottle-shaped inserts and are designed to protect the ends of your bottles, and will make packing the bottles a breeze. If you don’t have access to this sort of item, you’ll want to cushion every interior side of the box to prevent breakage or shifting; this can be done with bubble wrap, bunched-up cloth, or wadded up paper.

Note that the best way to pack a bottle of red or white wine is cork-downwards or on the side. This allows the cork to remain wet while preventing the wine’s oxidation, helping to keep the flavor from degrading. Meanwhile, carbonated beverages such as sparkling wines should be kept upright. It is recommended you avoid sending any bottles that have already been opened, lest they open and spill their contents everywhere.

Place the bottles into the box spaced apart from one another to prevent potential impact, then fill the spaces left with more packing materials. Make sure to mark your box with THIS SIDE UP to help prevent any tipping or spoiling of the wines.

When you arrive at your destination, let the wines sit unopened for at least a week, as bottle shock may result from being jostled around which can in turn negatively affect your wine’s flavor. Let the wine settle untouched, after which you can celebrate your move with a raised glass!

Moving boxes of personal possessions is one thing: they typically stack easily, you can make them as light or as heavy as you want, and carried individually they are usually easy enough for a single person to load one at a time onto a truck. But when your cargo is appliances, this can create challenges that can throw off your whole move if not ready in advance.

Firstly, make sure before any moving takes place that both the gas and electricity to any appliances has been shut off, to keep things safe. If you’re not comfortable disconnecting a gas appliance, feel free to ask your moving team for assistance.

Any loose items that are part of the appliance like burner grates or oven racks should be removed or secured tightly. If appliances like the dishwasher are bolted in, carefully disconnect the item and put any bolts or screws into a labeled plastic bag so as not to misplace anything. This would be a good time to remove any connected plumbing fixtures as well.

For added protection, wrap a moving blanket or bubble wrap around the appliance and secure it with packing tape. Have a dolly handy to roll the appliance out of the area, and avoid scraping the floor or nearby cabinets when loading it up. Slowly roll it out of the area to the designated moving truck spot. And remember: if this task is too challenging for you, your moving team is ready to help you out!

Sometimes a little extra space is needed in a home: we may have collected too many items over the years, or you may decide it’s time to open up a room for a new purpose. In times like those, you have to wonder just what to do with your extra inventory, and you decide self-storage is a promising plan. But just what do you need to do to store your additional items yourself?

You’ll want to inventory just how much you plan on putting away in advance, both to give yourself an idea of how much space it’ll end up taking up elsewhere, as well as to help you keep track of the items once they’re put away.

When you’ve determined just what you’ll be packing up, you’ll be better equipped to plan on storage boxes and bins. Keep like items together, to help reduce hunting should you need those items in the future, and label all boxes with the inventory you add to them. Keep items that you may have to go back to soon in the front.

Plan on just where in your home you’ll be storing these items. There are a lot of potential places available such as an attic or another room, but also keep in mind if you’ll want access to those areas for other purposes in the future; using another room may not be a good idea unless you don’t mind maneuvering around those boxes. An attic can be handy, provided whatever you’re packing isn’t too heavy or challenging to carry up and down stairs.

If you find yourself with more inventory than you have space in your home to store it, you may want to consider renting a storage unit elsewhere.

Your home is going on the market and you want to make the best impression possible for potential buyers who may be interested in purchasing it from you. So how do you add to its appeal in order to attract newcomers? One of the best ways is to create an air of brightness and comfort for anyone hoping to make it their own home, to give it that open, inviting feel.

The first and often best way to brighten up a home when trying to sell is to open all the windows, curtains and blinds. This is especially important if the room is small or has dark paint colors, as the openness of the outside adds to the perceived size of the rooms themselves. It also helps to reduce unwanted echo in a smaller or non-carpeted room. Likewise, should the weather permit and there aren’t bugs around, you can open doors to the house as well.

Turn on lights around the house, especially in rooms without a window or skylight available or on darker days when showing the home. While natural light is preferable to showing a room’s natural beauty, when this isn’t an option you want to ensure your rooms can still have a homey, warm feel. Aim for softer lights and avoid lights that shine in viewers’ eyes, as too much of a good thing can also be a deterrent.

If you’re staging a home, try to include mirrors around the house. This gives the rooms a bigger feel while also reflecting the light already inside, brightening the environment even further. And if the room is small or dark, consider adding some bright, pale color to the room using rugs, art or furniture.

While packing up loose shirts and pants may be a relatively easy activity, there are certain items of clothing that aren’t as cut and dry. Clothing that requires hangars, shoes, hats and other items may require special care so as to keep them protected and in good condition for the long journey ahead.

For many hanging items of clothing such as dresses or suits, there are tall packing boxes that come with a hanging bar attachment. As long as the box remains right-side-up on the trip, your clothing can hang as easily as when tucked away in the closet. Some of these boxes are also tall enough to place additional items in the bottom such as shoe boxes, blankets and more, to maximize the box’s use. There are even some models with fun graphics on the sides such as spaceships, complete with removable portholes to allow children to use the boxes for play when your move is done.

If you have hangars themselves that need packing, consider wrapping their hooks in plastic or paper to prevent them from hooking on any nearby fabrics or otherwise impacting goods inside the box.
For shoes, you can wad paper or plastic material inside them to help them keep their shape; this is especially useful for loose shoes without a protective box. For shoeboxes themselves, a helpful lifehack is to take a photo of the shoes inside the box, print a couple of small 2-inch pictures of them, and put them on the outside of the box. This helps you know the box’s contents without having to open it up.

Hats should avoid having weight placed upon them. Consider giving them their own dedicated box, and try fitting the crown of one into the other to both keep their shape and minimize packing space.

Moving your entire home or office can be pretty daunting in its own right, and while some people may wish to keep the process as environmentally clean as possible, it can feel like the whole experience doesn’t leave much room for the luxury of staying green. Fortunately, there are five easy ways of moving while remaining environmentally friendly, and they’re easier than you may think!

1. One option is to use boxes made with recycled materials, or boxes that can be easily reused. Either one of these choices will help reduce the impact of your move on the planet once you’ve unloaded everything at your end destination. Recycled moving boxes that can be collapsed are great for reducing landfill mass. If you need do need something more robust and go with plastic bins, consider using them for long-term storage after the move is complete and pick ones that fit inside each other when unused to maximize space.
2. Maximizing just how many boxes and how much packing material you will need with early planning can help save the planet and save you money.
3. When choosing your packing materials, consider using cloth and other fabrics as cushioning rather than disposable packaging material like styrofoam peanuts or other plastics.
4. Planning your trip in advance will help you maximize how many drives the move may take as well as optimize the fastest, most fuel efficient route.
5. If you aren’t planning on conducting the move yourself, find a skilled moving team with experience minimizing their environmental impact. Green moving teams may have options such as hybrid or biodiesel fuel trucks, they may use biodegradable materials for boxing and packaging your cargo, might recycle their materials after the move, and more. In the pursuit of staying environmentally conscious, always feel welcome to ask!

Like any business, relocating your restaurant can be a daunting task ahead. And with so many moving parts, so many ticking clocks once items like food get packed up, it can be even more challenging than the average business move. But if planned right, this move can be a quick, easy and potentially successful one for your eatery!

Firstly, you’ll want to take a detailed inventory of the contents of your restaurant; while time consuming, it will help ensure nothing gets lost in the hustle and bustle. Take note of all utensils, dinnerware, kitchen tools, appliances, glassware and so forth, and once packed up share the list with your movers to help keep everyone on the same page.

Before leaving your current location, make sure all the utilities such as gas, water and electricity are ready at your destination. This will prevent a prolonged break in your business so that once unpacked you and your staff will be ready to hit the ground running. Also, make sure what your sanitation options are, what days trash gets picked up, and any additional services your business requires from where you’ll be going.

Equally important, confirm cold storage is up and running so that any perishables packed will have adequate refrigeration and freezing ready to go, preventing heat exposure and subsequent loss of inventory.

Finally, research your end location in advance to prepare: are there restrictions such as no outdoor drinking if you serve liquor? Do you have neighbors that will be impacted by any noise your restaurant will produce? Does the city have specific ordinances that may affect your business?

Addressing these factors in advance will help your relocation go smoothly. Best of luck to your restaurant!

When it comes to moving to America’s finest city, San Diego has a lot going for it to make the experience a breeze, such as easy-to-navigate streets and excellent weather. But even with its sunny skies and mild climate, there are ways to prepare to make the trip even smoother.

One thing to keep in mind is the size of your destination compared to where you are coming from: living space in San Diego is at a premium, so homes sometimes may not be as large as ones in other more rural or open states like Texas. You’ll want to consider how much will fit into your new home versus your previous one, and you may want to reach out to local storage facilities to confirm availability of units should you find yourself with more than you can unpack.

Moving trucks rarely have issues traversing San Diego freeways and streets, and while it has its share of hills, these aren’t as common as in locations such as San Francisco. The main travel challenges to expect are: intensely high traffic if coming in from the North through the Los Angeles region on I-5, and long, steep mountain passes if coming in from the East on I-8. There will also be checkpoints when entering California from out of state, so expect a potential delay if your moving truck needs to be checked.

One thing to help reduce your packing load is to store away cold-weather gear and items, these only get used if you’re planning on a mountain excursion. San Diego boasts some of the best weather in the country year-round, so enjoy your new home!

An employee relocation can be a challenge for both the employer and the employee in question. There are plenty of unexpected hurdles one can expect in such a situation, so here’s what you’ll both need to know when the time comes.

Firstly, make sure the employee is aware of what your company’s policies are on a move. This includes what the company will and won’t pay for in a relocation, as well as any restrictions on particular items, people, and even distance. This information should be documented and provided to both parties, to avoid misunderstandings and help the transition go smoothly.

There may be preferred moving companies that an enterprise has a particular business relationship with, and this should be conveyed to the employee. This relationship can be based on knowledge of the moving location, experience handling business-related moves, easily-accessed points of contact, or even potential company discounts in moving services.

Relocation services extend beyond the simple act of moving. There are often other expenses involved in transitioning to a new home, where cost of living differences in destination can be a factor, and these should be taken into account. Additionally, helping an employee by having information about the end point on hand can be extremely helpful, such as data on local schools, healthcare facilities, even entertainment and dining options, especially when it’s a family move.

A timetable can be an excellent resource for both employee and the company, to help offset any lost time from the move and build a framework of when everything should take place, from the move plan to the packing time and transport schedule, to buffer time needed for unpacking and adjusting to the new home once the employee’s goods have arrived. This can make the relocation smooth and far less challenging for everyone.

In these challenging times, moving can have some surprise challenges that no generation previously had to contend with. This can of course lead to some questions that average citizens like yourself may have about safety, protocols and more when it comes to transporting your goods. Here are some points to consider helping ensure the health and well-being of everyone, while ensuring your move continues smoothly and efficiently.

Firstly, consider waiting if your moving date is flexible. While vaccines are becoming more available as time goes on, the CDC affirms there is still the potential risk for exposure the more one interacts with others or ventures outside. If you are considering rescheduling or cancelling your move for safety reasons, check with your company to make sure what their cancellation options are, if necessary.

If you are still planning on your move, confirm if there are lockdown orders at your destination. Are there restrictions on when people can be outside? If so, this may affect your mover’s schedule.

Many businesses have been negatively impacted due to Covid-19. While the moving industry hasn’t been as affected as much as others, you may still want to confirm they are still available to handle your planned move in the future.

Keep things distant when available: ask for remote quoting and interact with the team’s business side via phone or facetime, when possible.

Some local governments may have limitations on how many people can be in a single place at one time. This might affect the size of a moving team for larger-scale moves, so coordinate how this might affect your plans with your moving company.

Additionally, see if your movers have specific safety guidelines in place and make sure they’re adhered to. Following these recommendations can help your move remain flawless and safe!