Category Archives: McGuire News

Moving Plan for Movers in St Louis

It is May, National Moving Month. The month that begins the busiest relocation season of the year. If you are one of the millions in the United States about to move this summer, you need a move plan. Some people are naturals at managing a huge pile of tasks. For them organizing a move does not feel like an overwhelming challenge, but most of us could use a bit of help with the planning especially movers in St Louis who are moving for the very first time.

McGuire Moving & Storage makes it our business to assist movers in St Louis with their move plan. There are so many things to consider. The mountain of tasks can seem overwhelming and add to stress levels if you don’t have a plan. Where do you begin?

Luckily there is a methodical way to go about spreading tasks out over weeks and even months so you can comfortably deal with each consideration along the way. We like to help you think of the things that need to be done and then help you with the timing of the tasks so that on moving day, you feel calm and ready to make your move. As a Prime Arpin Agent, we encourage you to check out this handy Arpin Moving Planner. It is a fabulous guide through the move process using a timeline leading up to your St Louis move. You can print the plan out and begin checking things off and taking notes. You will soon discover just how manageable the whole move can be.

Of course if you have any questions or concerns about any part of your move process, we are here to help and will guide you as best we can. We can lend our knowledge and experience to take the stress out of your move. As our movers in St Louis work through all the move preparations and then the actual relocation, the McGuire Moving & Storage team wish you a pleasant and relaxing experience every step of the way.

St Louis Moving Company Celebrates National Moving Month with the Facts

It is here again! May is National Moving Month. May begins the busiest moving season of the year.  It is time to get serious about your choice for a St Louis moving company. National Moving Month serves to inform and protect consumers as they embark on their search. You need to take your time and get the facts about the companies you are considering.

Today it is all too easy for a supposed mover to seem reputable on a pretty website filled with hype and false claims. Do not take any company’s website at face value until you do your fact checking. We here at McGuire Moving & Storage encourage you to check out several sources for information about making the right and secure choice for your St Louis moving company.

AMSA (American Moving & Storage Association) have teamed up this month with the BBB (Better Business Bureau) in honor of National Moving Month to bring you this article-AMSA and BBB Offer Tips for Safe, Secure Move.  We encourage you to take a moment to read the article to help you choose a reputable St Louis moving company.

McGuire Moving & Storage respect and value the work that both AMSA and BBB have carried out to protect consumers searching for a moving company. We are proud to be a BBB accredited business as well as an AMSA ProMover. Our customers enjoy real peace of mind when they trust their choice in us.

Another great resource to check out this May is one we share time and again-the US Department of Transportation’s Protect Your Move website. There are countless tips and articles on how to avoid moving fraud.

Celebrate National Moving Month with the facts about your St Louis moving company.  You won’t get far on fraud. You will go a long way on facts. McGuire Moving & Storage wishes you a successful and secure move!

 

Stress Free St Louis Moving with Pets

This week is National Pet week. As your resourceful St Louis moving company, we here at McGuire Moving & Storage are always looking for ideas and tips for our St Louis movers.  National Pet Week obviously gets us thinking about your pets and how to keep them calm and safe through your St Louis move.

In April we shared a reminder for providing new proper identification for your pet that reflects your new address. Please go back and check out that article for resources to help you with that. This week we want to focus on a stress-free move for your pets. We all know that moving can be one of the most stressful life changes.  As your trusted St Louis moving company, we set out to take away as much of your stress as possible. We realize that your pets will also experience some stress surrounding your move. They will begin to sense the changes as they watch the packing process and see things being moved around or taken away. Naturally we want your pets to have a stress-free move as well.

Check out these resources we found for helping your family pet with the move transition all while keeping them safe:

ASPCA-Moving with Your Pet-ASPCA Director of Anti-Cruelty Behavior Research Dr. Katherine Miller discusses ways to make the transition as safe and easy as possible.

Pet Finder-Pets on the Move-Considerations and proper preparation tips to ensure that your move will go more smoothly for your pets.

Pets Welcome Moving With Pets-Extensive list of tips and considerations for the actual transport and travel arrangements for your pet on the move.

We believe that with the proper planning, trusted resources and the support of a competent trusted St Louis moving company, moving does not have to be overwhelming for any members of your family, including the furry ones. That is why at McGuire Moving & Storage, we are committed to connecting you with the best planning practices and moving tips. Good luck moving your pet to your new home!

 

St Louis Movers-ID Pets Before You Move

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the third week in April is National Pet ID week. This prompted us here at McGuire Moving & Storage to remind our St Louis movers to have your pet identification updated immediately upon arrival. It is a good idea to prepare at least a collar tag before you get there so you can place the updated tag on your pet when you arrive in your new home.

For St Louis movers traveling a long distance with your pet, it is also a good idea to get a temporary tag that you place alongside the regular tag on the collar with the location of the places you plan to stop and stay along the way. This is a good idea for regular traveling as well.

You can visit American Humane Society for tips on Identification Tags and Microchips. You will need to pick up your pets veterinary records shortly before you move. This would be a good time to bring up pet identification options with your veterinarian. Also, do not forget to research ahead to find a new veterinarian so that you are prepared with that contact upon arrival. You can call ahead, introduce yourself and ask questions about your pet moving to the new environment.

Moving can be a bit disorienting or stressful for your pet. They may respond to the move by running and hiding somewhere outside in the new unknown environment. Please protect your furry family friend with proper pet identification. Check back next week for tips for St Louis movers on helping your pet have a stress-free move. At McGuire Moving & Storage, we are all about your stress-free move. That goes for your pets too!

Movers in St Louis Connecting with Libraries

Recent movers in St Louis might appreciate knowing that April 13-19, 2014 is recognized this year as National Library Week.  National Library Week is sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) since 1958. According to the ALA, “It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. All types of libraries – school, public, academic and special – participate.”

McGuire Moving & Storage would like to inspire our recent movers in St Louis to visit their local libraries within their new communities. This year’s theme is “Lives change @ your library®.”  We couldn’t agree more. Libraries are hubs for community members sharing a love of books and knowledge. What a great way for movers in St Louis to make new connections within their community. Libraries hold many events for children and adults alike. Events such as book groups, story time for children, informative topic evenings, etc.  Obviously your local library is the perfect place to enrich your love for reading but also may be the perfect place to make new friends and get involved.

To find the library nearest you and obtain more information on National Library Week, we encourage you to visit @ Your Library; The Campaign for America’s Libraries.  Once the boxes are unpacked and you have created all your new perfect spaces in your new home, why not curl up with a good book-a true housewarming gift.

McGuire Moving & Storage wishes our movers in St Louis a joyful National Library Week. We hope you find your new library soon!

Potential Tax Deductions for St Louis Movers

Here we are again. April 15 is right around the corner. Many have already filed their taxes but for those St Louis movers who have not, McGuire Moving & Storage wants to remind you to look closely at your moving expenses if your move took place in 2013. Please be sure to go to the IRS section for Moving Expenses to see if any of your moving expenses qualify for deductions.

There may be other home owner deductions for St Louis movers to consider as well. If you are preparing to move, you may have completed home improvements to ready the home for sale. Some of these improvements may be tax deductible. Or perhaps you made major improvements in your home over the course of time you lived there. Whether you moved recently, or are moving soon or thinking about moving, you will want to be sure to save all necessary receipts for home improvements that may be deductible on your tax return. Go to this IRS section on Tax Information for Homeowners for more information about what a home owner can deduct. Also covered in this section are all specifics concerning mortgage interest credit, real estate taxes and mortgage insurance premiums. And of course, check with your tax professional before making any tax decisions.

St Louis movers who just moved into a new home should consider preparing a file folder for storing records of any home improvements made to the new home now and in the future. The organization of these documents will save much time and money later when it comes time to selling.

McGuire Moving & Storage wishes St Louis movers a stress-free tax time!

Volunteer Opportunities for Recent St Louis Movers

National Volunteer Week is coming right up. This year it falls on April 6-13, 2014. McGuire Moving & Storage is happy to take this timely opportunity to encourage our recent St Louis movers to deepen their connection to their new communities through volunteering.

We have been in the St Louis moving business since 1935. We know the importance of understanding the needs of the community that we live and work in. Reaching out to volunteer rewards us with pride for our community while strengthening our roots in the community.

We have offered articles in the past sharing ideas for feeling at home once you move to a new place. We would like to honor National Volunteer Week by encouraging our recent St Louis movers to consider reaching out by lending a hand in their new community. Through volunteering you will make wonderful connections with new friends. You will learn more about your community and the needs there. There is probably no better way to feel at home in a new place then to begin to invest your time, energy and heart into that place.

You may already have a favorite organization that you volunteer for. If so, a great place to start would be to look into whether that organization has a branch or presence in your community. Religious affiliations are another way to find connections to volunteer opportunities. Also, local hospitals, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, animal shelters and schools might be places to start your search, but there are many organizations out there waiting to be found.

We found a fabulous resource on-line for connecting with volunteer opportunities. At http://www.volunteermatch.org/ you can search based on what you care about and the city you live in, and they will match you up with a non-profit organization that could use your help.

Just another simple and meaningful way for St Louis movers to plant roots and feel at home in their new communities. McGuire Moving & Storage wishes you happiness wherever you move.

St Louis Movers Welcome Spring!

It has finally arrived, if only by date, but winter is in fact fading away and most places in the country this year can say, “Good Riddance!” Major cities nearly everywhere dealt with more snow than usual and colder than average temperatures. And according to most long range forecasts, winter is not finished with the US just yet with below normal temperatures forecasted next week and the possibility for another major snow event for the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

One thing is clear, winter is losing, so face the bright future and begin thinking about your spring plans. Many St Louis movers will be choosing to list their homes on the market to take advantage of the busiest upcoming home selling season. Are you ready? We are. At McGuire Moving & Storage, we stand by our St Louis movers ready to handle local, long distance and international movers.

Perhaps you are getting ready to list your house. Here is our short list of reminders for things to do outdoors now that the weather is breaking, to prepare your home for the market.

  • Spring yard clean up-time to remove the dead debris of winter. Clean out your garden beds, add fresh mulch and some ornamental annuals to cheer everything up.
  • House washing-renting or hiring a power washer to make your home sparkle and look its best
  • Paint your front door with a fresh coat and maybe even the shutters and porch trim etc.
  • Purchase a new doormat-any little touch to present a clear and welcoming space is helpful.
  • Clean your outdoor light fixtures so that the glass shines and the light glows beautifully
  • Look for any winter damage to trees and shrubs and remove what is unsightly
  • Place a pot of flowers by your front door
  • Clean up any outdoor furniture to make your patios and decks look their best
  • Give lampposts a fresh coat of spray paint
  • Consider any driveway repair or a fresh asphalt coat if needed.
  • And….do not forget to do that final walk around your yard. Stand back on the street and look at the overall appearance of you home. What did you miss? Take a photo for a different perspective.

Of course your realtor will also give you all kinds of tips too and be most helpful in deciding what you need to do. There are so many little inexpensive things you can do to make your house look like the perfect home to a buyer. Good Luck St Louis movers! And when it is time to get moving, McGuire Moving & Storage is here to help!

 

Choosing a Trusted St Louis Moving Company

We sure are glad you stopped by to read our article this week. March 2-8, 2014 is National Consumer Protection Week. McGuire Moving & Storage is the St Louis moving company dedicated to getting the word out about St Louis moving fraud. We are in the beginning preparation stages for the busiest moving season of the year. We know many of you are beginning to search for the St Louis moving company you can trust to deliver your move.

National Consumer Protection Week is a campaign designed to inform consumers of their rights and to help them make better informed decisions.  They offer resources and partners to bring you information about all types of fraud and scams. We live in a world where it is absolutely imperative that we stay on top of the newest ways scam artists try to cheat us. You need to protect our family, identity, home, business, privacy, banking and the list goes on. It seems every day, there is a new way to scam us. Help yourself and recognize the warning signals. Do your own research rather than trusting all that something or someone tells you. We encourage to visit National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) for information, materials, a list of partners and more to become informed and protect yourself from fraud.

Obviously as a St Louis Moving Company, McGuire Moving & Storage is concerned with moving fraud. It happens all the time. We do not want it to happen to you. We see it nationwide in the news more and more frequently. Luckily it is quite simple to protect yourself when you have the right information. You will then be able to choose a St Louis moving company you can trust.  We highly recommend that before choosing your St Louis moving company that you visit Protect Your Move. This resource put out by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in partnership with the moving industry, law enforcement and consumer groups, aims to provide consumers with information to protect themselves from moving fraud. The website it packed with things to know and do to ensure a safe and protected move.

McGuire Moving & Storage wishes you the best of luck in choosing a trusted St Louis Moving Company. Protect yourself with the facts and your rights and you will be moving in the right direction.

Creature Comforts for St Louis Movers

McGuire Moving & Storage has been taking this winter month of February to bring our St Louis movers ideas for finding connections that will help them feel more at home in the new community they anticipate moving to.  We enjoy helping our customers to be proactive with this by providing ideas and resources.

Read our earlier posts this month if you missed them. We are sure that you will find some of the information useful. It is a time for getting excited about moving and anticipating what it will be like where you go. St Louis movers have shared with us the things that helped make them feel at home when they moved. You will find some of these ideas in the posts from the last 2 weeks.  Here are a few more ideas from our St Louis movers:

  • Fitness-check your local community for where you can enjoy your favorite classes and work-outs. Classes are a great way to meet new community members while staying fit. Perhaps you want to sign up now to ensure your spot once you move.
  • Museums and art galleries-connecting with the history and culture aids in feeling more invested in where you live
  • Music and theater venues-for those of you who enjoy the performing arts, check out what is going on. Perhaps you would even like to purchase tickets to an event in the future providing you with a new community activity to look forward to.
  • Dog friendly places-for our dog loving St Louis movers, you might want to look into fun places to take your furry friend and meet other dog lovers and their dogs.  Dogs are a great way to break into conversation and meet new people.
  • Cafes and coffee shops-Who doesn’t want to find these ahead of time? Perfect places for learning more about where you live and striking up conversations.

The ideas are endless and you are sure to find gobs of good stuff in your research so we suggest you keep a file on all these possible new haunts and set the intention of visiting soon after you move.

We hope we have inspired St Louis movers to think and dream about where they are going. When you move to a new place, finding your creature comforts in research you do ahead of time can create a sense of belonging there.  Check back here in the future. McGuire Moving & Storage likes all things moving and has much to share to help out our St Louis movers before, during and after their moves.