Sunday, January 25, 2015

Moving Checklist - 1 day until moving day


 - Packing. Aim to finish the packing today, apart from a few essentials in the kitchen and bathroom. You will feel so much better when you can see the end is finally in sight. "Don't forget to clearly mark the boxes with the room name you would like them to end up in".
 - Dismantle & Disconnect.  Unless you have arranged with the removal company, you will be expected to dismantle any self-assembly furniture that cannot be moved out in one. Take down curtains and any fixtures you are intending to take with you. Make sure you have disconnected the washer and fitted the transit brackets to secure the drum. Defrosted the fridge / freezer unless you have arranged to have these moved with the food inside, if this is the case pack the contents into bags so they can be lifted out quickly.
 - Snack box. Make up a box of refreshments for the next day, bearing in mind that your cooker may be disconnected or in the back of a removal van. Include tea, coffee, sugar etc, and the most important item of all the kettle, you will have to keep the refreshments flowing as moving house is very thirsty work. A selection of cold drinks is also a good idea. Mark on the box "kettle things" or "brewing tackle" and it will be guaranteed to be last on, first off the van.
 - Toiletries box. Make up a box in the bathroom and put in the toiletries that you aren't using. Leave this box open to put in all the other toiletries tomorrow morning after everyone has got up and cleaned their teeth, you can then seal it up.
 - Outside items.  Anything outside that you can move, try and put either inside the garage or in a dry place, there is nothing worse than putting soaking wet outside furniture into a removal van along with all your other furniture.
 - Parking. If you have difficulty parking outside your house, it could be a good idea to park your own car or cars outside so that your removal van will be able to park outside. Remember the van needs more room than its own length to manoeuvre.
 - Draw a map. Sit down and either write out some directions or draw a plan on how to get to your new address, including a contact number.
 - Mobile phone. Make sure that your mobile phone is fully charged up for tomorrow, you are probably going to need it.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

3 simple tips for packing gifts to mail:

gift mail
USPS shipped more than 15.5 billion cards, letters, and packages this Christmas. To make sure gifts arrive safely at their destination for holidays, birthdays and beyond, Todd Yergens from San Jose Movers offers three simple tips:

1. Wrap breakables in bubble wrap and opt for ‘nested boxes’

Wrapping packing paper around breakables leaves too much air space between the item and the box, allowing movement to happen during delivery. The proper way to wrap and ship valuables is:

  • Snugly wrap the item in bubble wrap and secure it with tape.
  • Set the item in a box slightly bigger than the item.
  • Ball up packing paper and fill the space around the breakable.
  • Place this box inside a slightly larger shipping box, then pack paper around the outside of the small box.

packing boxes

2. Tape all box edges to prevent water damage

When mailing clothing, fabric or paper items, the last thing you want is for moisture to get in - and that’s a definite possibility if the postal service or courier leaves the package on the stoop!
To keep rain, snow and dew out of the shipping box, make sure it’s taped properly: go down the middle, and then down the edges to seal the box. This way, moisture can’t seep inside.

3. Individually wrap cookies or treats

Whether you’re mailing someone cookies, home-baked goodies or some local treats, ensure they get to the recipient safely by:

  • Individually wrapping each item with plastic wrap to create cushioning and keep it fresh.
  • Carefully place cookies or treats in a plastic container like Tupperware.
  • Place the container inside a box, filling the empty space with balled up packing paper.
  • Seal the box carefully.

Saturday, January 3, 2015

A day in the life of a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® mover



For people seeking work where two days are never the same with a mobile office that displays ever-changing views, they need to look no further thanTWO MEN AND A TRUCK®.
Frontline roles, such as mover and driver positions, feature a fair amount of diversity and autonomy. Do you believe being a mover is “just moving furniture” and anyone could do it? Think again. Since no day is “typical”, check out a common day in the life of a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® mover.
We promote and encourage the development of professional and career skills for all team members from moving, customer service, business knowledge, and practical business skills and training. Our goal is to develop leaders. We are Movers Who Care and throughout team members’ time in our system, we want each of them to learn and develop the skills that can impact them throughout their life. So each day like the below, we are moving people forward.
6:30 a.m.
Wake up ready to take on the world with the discipline to make the most of each day. No need to get up early for a workout; your job is working out! Proudly put on your uniform, eat a quick breakfast, grab an energy drink and a gallon of water, and you’re out the door.
7:15 a.m.
Arrive at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® and take part in a quick team huddle where you are reminded of safe lifting practices and the importance of exceptional customer service.
7:30 a.m. 
Receive your assignments for the day. Check out your truck, ensuring everything is working properly, do a full truck inspection, check all customer-requested boxes are inventoried and loaded, and each piece of equipment is accounted for and in working order.
7:45 a.m.
Begin any necessary customer paperwork, take care of any loose ends before departure, then hit the road.
8:15 a.m.
TMAAT358-2258095496-OArrive at your first customer’s home, and introduce yourself while showing your charisma and competence in order to put your customer at ease. You are moving their memories after all. Complete a walkthrough, ensuring the customer you fully understand expectations and illustrating your communication skills and diligence to get the details right.
8:30 a.m.  
Begin the move by loading the truck, paying special attention to an antique table the customer’s grandmother brought over from Ireland when she moved to the states as a young woman. Continue loading items.
11:15 a.m.
Stop to answer a few questions your customer’s uneasy eight-year-old daughter has about how you are handling her American Doll and Barbie collections. Assure her they will be safely packed at the back of the truck so they will be the first thing off it at her new home.
11:45 a.m.  
Ensure everything is packed to customer’s expectations, then head to the new home.
12:00 noon  
Arrive at the customer’s new home and take a few minutes to enjoy a customer-provided lunch of sub sandwiches. These folks love to show their appreciation by feeding you! This is also an opportunity to learn more about customers, hearing feedback about the move and validating how your role is so critical to their new direction.
12:15 p.m.
Begin unloading the customer’s belongings into their new home, being sure to honor your promise about the American Girl dolls and Barbies! Smile when you give a very relieved eight-year-old her most prized possessions.
3:00 p.m.
You are nearing completion of your first move and feeling good. Everything is safely placed in its proper place to the elation of the customer. The customer cannot believe how you and your team member hustled to accomplish this move. Your customer is thrilled, pays for the move, and adds a nice tip for you and your partner!
3:30 p.m.  
You clean up your truck, put equipment back in place, and head to your second and final move of the day – a retirement-age couple downsizing into a senior community.
3:45 p.m.  
You arrive at the customer’s home, introduce yourself with a smile and eye contact, explain how the move will go, and answer any questions the customers have. These customers seem a little melancholy. You learn they are leaving the house in which they raised their children, so it’s understandable.
4:00 p.m.
You begin the move and realize your customers have purged many of their belongings and are moving minimal pieces into their new, one-bedroom apartment at the senior community.
5:30 p.m.  
The truck is loaded, and you are ready to support your customers in beginning this new chapter in their lives. While loading you find a bracelet in the couch. You give it back to Mrs. Customer and she begins to cry. The bracelet had been a 25th wedding anniversary gift, and she had lost it last year.
5:45 p.m.
You arrive at the senior community and begin to unload. The unload goes smoothly, and you chat with your customers about new traditions they will begin now that they have moved. You share a story about your grandmother’s positive experience in a similar community, and they begin to feel at ease.
7:00 p.m.
Customer’s belongings are unloaded and Mr. and Mrs. Customer are finally relaxing; in fact, they seem genuinely relieved and maybe even a little excited. Mrs. Customer tips you with a jar of home-made strawberry jam. You leave feeling proud of your ability to put people at ease while executing a safe and damage-free move. And you remember you really need to call your grandma tonight.
7:30 p.m.
You arrive back at the office, complete paperwork, clean up your truck, and prepare for tomorrow’s customers.
On the drive home you reflect on this job. It is a hard job. You have to be strong, a problem solver, a communicator, and, sometimes, a friend. It is physically and mentally tough – but so rewarding. You really feel like you are making a difference in one of the most stressful life events in which people undergo. You know if you keep up your hard work and positive attitude, you will work your way into a leadership position at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®. Until that day you will continue to give your best to the people who depend on you each day. Moving is much more than just moving stuff. It’s moving people forward, including yourself!