Featured Move Planning Articles

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New Home Safety

Published on Jun 25, 2013

This month McGuire Moving & Storage has been taking St. Louis movers step by step through the moving process with safety specifically in mind. June is National Safety Month and McGuire Moving & Storage wants to help our St. Louis movers keep safe.  We have discussed reducing stress to avoid accidents, packing safety, and move day safety.  This week we will cover your new home safety.
You have arrived! You have much to do to settle into your new space and call it home. Your St. Louis movers have carefully placed your belongings and you are ready to live here. Time to make your new home safe for you and your family.  You will want to look after a few things as soon as you arrive to ensure a safe space.

 

  • Look over the home and property for anything that could potentially be unsafe. Things like nails on the ground, frayed wires, uneven pavements or even trees hanging over the home or utility wires.
  • Check all of your fire alarms to make sure they are in good working order. Replace batteries if necessary. Have every member of your household hear a test example of the alarms so that they are familiar with and will recognize the sound as the fire alarm.
  • Develop a fire escape plan for every member of your family. You will want to do this before sleeping there on the very first night. You want your family very familiar with where to go and what to do in the event of a fire. Each member of your household should be aware of two ways to escape a fire.
  • Have a carbon monoxide detector.
  • Make sure all of the home doors and windows lock and the locks work. Consider changing the door locks as an extra home security measure. If the home doesn’t have a security system, you may want to look into that.
  • Introduce yourself to your new neighbors. Neighbors look after one another. Make sure you exchange phone numbers in case of emergencies.

We found a fabulous Home Safety Checklist on Real Simple and invite you to check it out for many other safety tips. It is especially good to read through if you are moving into your very first home and not used to thinking about the many home safety considerations. We’re glad you found us here during National Safety Month. We hope you’ll stop back time and time again for all our Move news. We here at McGuire Moving & Storage wish our St. Louis movers a happy, healthy, and safe future in their new homes.

Moving Day Safety

Published on Jun 21, 2013

We here at McGuire Moving & Storage have been focusing on National Safety Month this June by providing our movers in St. Louis with tips and ideas for keeping safe through the move process.  The first week we shared our ideas for keeping your stress levels down during the move process to avoid accidents. The second week we discussed move packing safety. This week our movers in St. Louis will find safety tips for actual move day.
So you are all packed up and getting ready for your St. Louis movers to arrive and transport your belongings to your new home.  It is a very exciting time with many mixed emotions involved. It would be easy to forget something. McGuire Moving & Storage can help!

  • First you want to make arrangements for your pets and small children. It is all too easy for them to get hurt or even lost out an open door. Arrange for a baby sitter or pet sitter who can focus solely on their safety. You will be very busy and having a sitter ensures that someone is constantly looking after and caring for your pets and children while you tend to the details of moving. Pack a bag containing all their needs and leave it with the sitter.
  • Put together a bag or two of your personal travel items and keep it clearly away from everything that will be loaded onto the moving van.  Take all high valuable items with you such as jewelry, coins, important papers etc.  A first aid kit is a must and should be easily accessible at all times. Consider packing a roll of toilet paper for both ends of your move, plenty of water and healthy snacks.
  • Inspect the entire area for hazards that would potentially cause an accident. Inspect the floors for loose items and cords. Check all doorways and walkways outside the home for obstructions. Look for low hanging branches that could get in the way of your moving team.
  • Dress properly and use sunscreen and bug repellant.  Wear sturdy shoes and check the weather ahead of time to dress appropriately.
  • Always have your cell phones on hand both for communicating with your movers and your care givers as well as for an emergency.

Movers in St. Louis can find a library filled with more great moving safety tips to help cover all the bases on our move resources page. Be sure to check back with McGuire Moving & Storage next week. We will give our movers in St. Louis safety tips for arriving in your new homes.  Safe Moving!

Move Packing Safety

Published on Jun 14, 2013

Welcome back for our second installment of move safety tips in honor of National Safety Month. Last week we discussed keeping your stress low to avoid accidents during the move process. McGuire Moving & Storage hopes we got our movers in St. Louis thinking about their well-being during the move process. This week we turn our attention to packing safety.

When packing up your belongings prior to your move, you want to consider your safety, your family’s safety and the safety of your items. McGuire Moving & Storage would like to offer a simple check list for helping movers in St. Louis with this.

1. Proper packing equipment-Strong sturdy boxes are a must to avoid accidents involving items falling out the bottom.  You also want to avoid boxes that may collapse at the sides while carrying them which may cause you to lose your footing. McGuire Moving & Storage can provide you with high quality boxes, supplies and moving kits to ensure you have the best material for packing up your goods. Call us for more information or to order.
2. Check your environment for hazards-Before moving boxes, check to make sure the floor and surrounding area is clear of anything you could trip or slip on such as cords, toys, wet slippery spots, etc.
3. Box weight– Consider that you may have to carry boxes up and down stairs. You should be able to lift your box without strain while remaining sturdy and strong on your feet. To avoid injury, do not over-pack with too much weight. You know your strength. Don’t overdo it!
4. Healthy lifting-Avoid strain on your back; do not bend over to lift a box.  Instead, squat balancing your upper body weight over your hips and lift using your leg strength keeping your back straight as you stand. Also have a dolly with straps for moving and stacking your boxes. Also be sure to wear good strong sturdy footwear to support you and give you proper footing.
5. Family safety-Keep small children and pets safely away from the packing area. You don’t want tape cutters falling into the wrong hands or a stack of boxes that look like a fun place to climb and explore.
6. Protect your belongings-You want your items to have the best chance of arriving at your new home intact. Please visit Packing Help on our Moving Resources page for the best ideas and tips for packing up every room in the house.  Of course, McGuire Moving & Storage is available to help movers in St. Louis with any part of packing. We can pack everything for you or just certain items of high value. We will meticulously wrap your belongings with the utmost care to ensure maximum protection.

Pack safely and be safe! Our next installment will feature safety on move day. We hope you’ll come back for more move safety tips.  Movers in St. Louis can trust McGuire Moving & Storage to provide a safe move.

National Safety Month, Lower Stress=Lower Chance for Moving Accidents

Published on Jun 8, 2013

June is National Safety Month. There are many areas of our lives that can be looked at to ensure our safety.   At McGuire Moving & Storage, we would like to share tips and ideas for keeping our St. Louis movers thinking about the safety of their families and possessions as they prepare to move and throughout the move process.

We know that St. Louis movers have countless details on their minds when preparing for their big St. Louis move day. Most experts agree that more accidents happen under stress. It is also a known fact that moving is one of the top stressful life changes that a person can go through. So most important in keeping safe during your move process is keeping your stress level as low as possible.  That is why we are dedicating our first installment of Safety Month to lowering your stress throughout your move process.

The best way to lower your stress during a move is by hiring a local reputable St. Louis mover to handle all of your packing and shipping. We wrote about how to ensure you are choosing the right St. Louis mover in our blog this past May. We invite you to go back and read those tips. McGuire Moving & Storage is dedicated to delivering your stress-free move. We supply all the proper safety equipment and employ the safest moving industry practices to get your belongings to your new home – safe and secure. You can ease your mind and rest assured that your move will be in safe hands when you trust McGuire Moving & Storage for your moving and packing service.

Once you take care of choosing the right St. Louis mover to handle your stress free move, it’s time to think about your personal needs through the process. What can you do to help lower your stress and therefore lower your chance for accident or injury during your move process?

Create a move plan to reduce your stress.  If you create a move plan, and follow your plan closely each step of the way, you may be surprised at how much it simplifies tasks, avoids last minute crisis, and reduces the stress of juggling multiple tasks and “to-dos” in your head. Simply write out what needs to be done week by week through your move process. You will be organized and efficient and ready for each task as it comes up helping you to feel centered and calm.

In addition, we found some great tips here at Reduce Moving Stress. We hope you’ll check it out.

You know yourself better than anyone though, so perhaps you can make a list of your own techniques for keeping you calm during your move process. What works for you when you are under stress?  Make a list. Put it where you can see it and then make a commitment to give yourself the time needed to implement your stress reducing activities. It may make all the difference in keeping your move process safe for you and your family.

Remember, during one of the most stressful times of your life, you can handle that stress with the support of a professional St. Louis mover and implement simple tips and ideas that will help you remain calm and centered through the process. Keep safe during your move process. Lower your chance of accidents while packing and moving. Be proactive by managing your stress level. Keep this in mind from the moment you decide to move.

In the next few weeks we will further reflect on St. Louis mover safety during National Safety Month so check back for more tips and ideas for your safe St. Louis move.

Stay tuned and keep safe!
McGuire Moving & Storage, we deliver your stress-free move!

Moving Fraud Protection

Published on May 29, 2013

Earlier this month, we shared the importance of choosing a ProMover when choosing your St. Louis moving company. McGuire Moving & Storage is a ProMover with the credentials that help you to know that you have found the St. Louis moving company that will provide an honest stress-free move.

Another fabulous resource for ensuring that you are making the right choice and going with reputable movers is the Moving Fraud Protection Checklist provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.  We encourage our St. Louis movers to visit the site to gather valuable information to assist you in your choice for an honest and professional St. Louis moving company.

Reading up on customer testimonials is another way to research your St. Louis moving company.  McGuire Moving & Storage invites you to read what our customers have to say about our expert move service. You want to choose a mover that others would choose time and time again because they have proven their professional capabilities to them through actual experience.

As National Moving Month comes to a close, we at McGuire Moving & Storage wish you all the best in making the right choice for your St. Louis moving company. We would be happy to add you to our long list of satisfied customers.

Move Planning Guide-to help you move with ease

Published on May 21, 2013

It is National Move month and we at McGuire Moving & Storage know that we’re coming into our busiest St. Louis move season. If you know you are moving in the near future, chances are it will be during this busy move season. As your trusted St. Louis moving company, McGuire Moving & Storage would like to share some planning tips to help you prepare for your upcoming St. Louis move.

There is much to organize before a household relocation. McGuire Moving & Storage, your St. Louis moving company, is pleased to offer our Move Planner on our Resources page to get you started and keep you going with confidence and peace of mind.  The Move Planning Guide breaks down your St. Louis move process over the months and weeks leading up to your move- all the way up to your actual move day so you don’t have to feel overwhelmed with all the details all at once. You can rest knowing you thought of everything.  Our plain and simple moving plan includes everything from how and when to contact your St. Louis moving company, packing up, lightening your move load of unwanted items, changing your prescriptions and address and much much more.

McGuire Moving & Storage is the St. Louis moving company that cares about our St. Louis move customers. Let us help take the stress out of your St. Louis move. We will be there for you every step of the way….all the way to your new front door.

 

May is National Moving Month!

Published on May 8, 2013

May is National Moving Month. This month kicks off the busiest moving season of the year. McGuire Moving & Storage is committed to providing a smooth move for our movers in St. Louis.

It can be overwhelming and time consuming for movers in St. Louis when weeding through the lists of St. Louis moving companies in order to choose the right mover. How do you know that you are selecting a trustworthy St. Louis mover? There are imposter moving companies out there who are in business only to cheat you out of your money and a quality service experience. It is all too easy for these con artists to put up what appears to be a professional website and capture your attention and business.

McGuire Moving & Storage is proud to be a certified ProMover. The ProMover program was designed in 2009 by AMSA (American Moving & Storage Association) to protect moving consumers from fraudulent moving companies. As a ProMover, McGuire Moving & Storage takes the stress out of choosing a trusted and legitimate St. Louis moving company.

Under ProMover’s requirements “members who apply for ProMover status are screened for any felony convictions of the company’s owners, officers or majority stockholders regarding matters over which the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the Surface Transportation Board (STB) or any state consumer protection agency has jurisdiction; verification of company ownership with the appropriate state corporation commission; a review of each applicant’s website for improper advertising, and a “satisfactory” or better rating by the Better Business Bureau.  Each new applicant must also complete a signatory agreement attesting it will comply with FMCSA and STB regulations and uphold the AMSA Code of Ethics.”

As National Moving Month kicked off, the US Transportation Secretary and other officials urged consumers to Always Choose a ProMover. Read about the recommendations made by these officials and AMSA at a Houston news conference on May 1, 2013 in this article.

Movers in St. Louis need peace of mind when making the right choice for their St. Louis move. We at McGuire Moving & Storage can offer that peace of mind as a proud certified ProMover. Get started with Mordue today and we’ll provide your trusted stress-free move!  Good luck this moving season!

Moving With Your Pets

Published on May 2, 2013

May is National Pet Month. McGuire Moving & Storage would like to take this opportunity to provide our St. Louis movers with information on how to safely move your beloved pets with as little stress to them as possible.

Pets are members of the family and they too will feel the effects of moving to a new location. There is much to consider in preparing your pets for a move, transporting them and then getting them settled in their new space.

Pets cannot be moved on a moving van. The best way to transport your pets is to keep them with you as you travel to your new home. Easy when moving across town, but can be difficult if moving to a new state or internationally. If it is impossible to keep your pets with you while traveling to your new home, Mordue can help our St. Louis movers by providing the names of companies that specialize in moving your pets.

If you decide that you will move your pets yourself, you will want to consider their health, comfort, physical needs and the proper equipment needed to move them safely. Petswelcome.com is a fabulous resource for all the things you should consider in planning to move your pets whether they are dogs, cats, birds, fish, horses etc. On this site, St. Louis movers can also find useful information such as finding pet friendly lodging if your move requires an overnight stay along the way, information about flying with you pets on commercial airlines, help with locating a vet in your new location and countless other informative tips.

We here at McGuire Moving & Storage wish our St. Louis movers and their furry, feathered and scaled pets a happy and safe move!

Donate Books to Lighten Your Moving Load

Published on Apr 26, 2013

This month, we shared ideas for lowering your move costs by lightening your load before moving by taking only what you will need and want in your new home. We also shared resources with St Louis movers for holding a yard sale and for recycling household items to also help lower move costs.

As National Recycling month draws to a close, we here at McGuire Moving & Storage would like to get our St Louis movers thinking about donating their used books. Most of us accumulate piles of books over years and years in our homes. When it comes time to move, we realize there are just too many and they are very heavy.  A large (and heavy) book collection can add significant cost to a long distance move — so donating books can save you money and simplify the settling process at your new home.

If you are considering book donations, there are organizations such as charities, schools and libraries that would benefit from taking heavy books off the hands of our St Louis movers and putting them into the hands of people from all over the world. DonationTown.org is an organization available to help you find homes for your books. This is a fabulous resource for donating books as well as many other household items. They will match you up with a local organization that will pick up your donation right from your home.

Donate your books! It’s simple and rewarding. You will lighten up your St Louis moving load, save in moving costs, and feel great about putting your books in the hands of those who will love them. At McGuire Moving & Storage, we like to help make your move as smooth and easy as possible.
Earth Day April 22, 2013

Published on Apr 19, 2013

With Earth Day coming up on April 22, we at McGuire Moving & Storage would like to get our movers in St Louis thinking about what to do with your outdoor potted plants and houseplants before you move.

As a general rule, we do not move plants as the inconsistent temperatures, inadequate light and lack of water on a moving van can prove lethal to the plants. So what to do with your houseplants?

If you will be driving your own vehicle to your new home, you could consider transporting your plants yourself. You can personally tend to their needs and keep a close watch during transportation.  However, be aware that there may be federal regulations when crossing state or country lines with living plants. You need to check ahead to see what regulations there are for the state or country you are moving to. You can contact your new state’s Department of Natural Resources with your questions about moving your plants across a state or country border. Once you have that information, you can begin planning to transport your plants.

There are many great tips for our movers in St Louis to help with transporting your houseplants at About.com-Moving.

If transporting plants is not an option for our movers in St Louis, consider gifting them to friends and family to ensure they go to a good home. It’s the next best thing to taking them with you.

Earth Day is also a great reminder for gardeners to begin dreaming about what you can grow in and around your new home. Consider subscribing to local nurseries email newsletters in what will be your new community before you move. You can get to know the companies that serve your area and begin dreaming about gardening inside and outside of your new home.

As a Bekins agent, we here at McGuire Moving & Storage like to reduce waste, conserve resources and remind our movers in St Louis to do the same. Read up about our move recycling tips on our last blog post-April is National Recycling Month

Happy Earth Day from all of us here at McGuire Moving & Storage
April is National Recycling Month!

Published on Apr 14, 2013

In our last blog we talked about holding a yard sale to rid yourself of items you won’t need or want in your new home once you move. This lowers the cost of your move which will be based in part on the weight of your load. We also mentioned donating your potentially heavy dry food goods to a local food pantry. But what do you do with all the things that are not worth resale that you just need to get rid of before your St Louis move?

Did you know that nearly everything in your home, garage and garden can be recycled? You would be surprised. Instead of ordering and possibly paying for a bulk trash pickup adding to our already over-crowed landfills, why not recycle as much as you can before your move? Again, this helps in lowering the weight of your move by not bringing along more than you will use or need.

When looking at spaces in your home to pack up and prepare for your St Louis move, especially places such as garden sheds, garages and basements, we often find many items that are not in good enough condition to sell or donate. Think twice before you throw it curbside for trash pick-up. An excellent resource for finding just the right recycling center for your specific items is Earth911.com.

At Earth911 you can find “local recycle solutions” for recycling:

  •  Automotive
  •   Batteries
  •   Construction materials
  •   Electronics
  •   Garden supplies and equipment
  •   Glass
  •   Hazardous materials
  •   Household items
  •   Metal
  •   Paint
  •   Paper
  •  Plastic

You simply fill in your town name and state and the items/items you are looking to get rid of and the site connects you to an organization that will take it. Some things like scrap metal may even earn you a little cash and leave you with very little trash.

Another great source on the web for those who will be downsizing when they move is Downsizing the Home, Lessons Learned. This source is filled with great articles and resources for downsizing and recycling.

Enjoy National Recycling month as you pack up to move and remember at McGuire Moving & Storage we are here to provide exceptional St Louis move service and ready to deliver a stress-free move.

Yard sale to cut down the cost of moving

Published on Apr 9, 2013

Moving this spring? You might consider holding a yard sale in preparation for your move. Did you know that your St Louis moving costs will in part be determined by the weight of your belongings? Moving is an excellent time to discern what you want to take with you.

As you sort through and pack up your belongings, you will certainly come up against many items you have outgrown in one way or another.  Consider these questions when deciding what is worth taking along:

  •  Do I have a use for this item in my new home and in this new stage of my life?
  •  Will this fit in my new space?
  •  Have I used this item in the last 2 years?

If you answer No, why pay to move these items? Yard sales can be fun and earn you cash toward your St Louis moving expenses or new items that you will use and enjoy in your new home. There are many resources on the web for organizing and advertising your yard sale including this great article on TLC-10 Tips for Managing a Moving Sale.

Another great way to lighten up your St Louis moving freight is by donating your dry food goods. You will save money while helping your local food bank.

From all of us here at McGuire Moving & Storage,
Happy St Louis Moving!
It’s Tax Time! Can you deduct your moving expenses?

Published on Apr 2, 2013

Did you know that certain moving expenses are tax deductible?

As a St Louis mover, your non-reimbursed moving expenses might be deductible on your tax return if your move is related directly to your work. In addition, if you donate clothes or household items prior to your move, those donations may be deductible as well. Make sure you ask your tax adviser about these possible deductions.

Whether you moved in the past couple of years or are planning a move this year, accurate and organized record keeping is a must to ensure that you receive all of your eligible moving deductions.

Time to prepare!  If you are just beginning your move process and you think your expenses may be deductible, begin a file for collecting all of your moving receipts, cancelled checks, credit card statements, bills and a mileage log. Come tax time, you’ll have everything you need in one place. McGuire Moving & Storage always provides our St Louis movers with the proper receipts and itemized bills for your records.

Spring is in the air!  That means the start of the move season, and tax time.
Are you ready for April 15th? Make the most of your move and don’t miss out on one cent of your deductions. The IRS has all the information you need to decide if and what you can deduct. You can find the answers here at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p521.pdf.  Also check in with your accountant to discuss any special circumstances surrounding your work or military move and what other records you may need for filing your move deductions.

And if this spring is moving season for you, as one the most time-tested St Louis movers, McGuire Moving & Storage is ready to help with your moving needs.

McGuire Moving & Storage wishes our St Louis movers a Happy Spring!