Boston Movers Blog

You are faced with the decision to move. Making the decision itself can be stressful, especially if you have children. Making the decision itself does not alleviate the stress, unfortunately. As disruptive and stressful as moving can be for parents, the experience can be even more difficult for kids. Kids do not usually take part in the decision to move and they may not understand it.

During the moving process, kids can need some time and special attention. Here are some tips to make the move less stressful for the kids.

Discussing the Move With Kids

No matter what the circumstances, the most important way to prepare kids to move is to talk about it.

Try to give them as much information about the move as soon as possible. Answer questions completely and truthfully, and be receptive to both positive and negative reactions. Even if the move means an improvement in family life, kids don't always understand that and may be focused on the frightening aspects of the change.

Involving kids in planning for the move as much as possible makes them feel like participants in the house-hunting process or the search for a new school. This can make the change feel less like it's being forced on them.

If you're moving locally, try to take your kids to visit the new house (or see it being built) if possible. Explore the new neighborhood.

For interstate moves or international moves, provide as much information as you can about the new home, the new city and state or country. Use the Internet to learn about the community. Learn where kids can participate in favorite activities. See if a relative, friend, or even a real estate agent can take pictures of the new house and new school for your child.

Kids Health

Are you getting ready to move? Use this opportunity to purge your home of things you don’t need and don’t use. The cost of moving is high, why pay to move those items you just don’t need? Most experts agree that moving is stressful. Relieve some of that stress by eliminating belongings.

Don’t know where to start or how to begin? Just ask, we have a list of organizing and clean out companies that we rely on. But the best way to start is to just make a pile of things that you really don't need or use. Why spend the time, money, and energy moving unnecessary belongings to your new home. If you haven't used it (or worn it) for a year or more, sell it, get rid of it, or give it away; you will never use it.

Salvation army and Big Brothers Big Sisters will come and pick up your gently used belongings, or you can drop them at any drop box. Looking for more stress relieving moving tips? Contact Marathon Moving.

Self packing certainly can save you money over a full-service move, but not if it is at the expense of your valuable, sentimental or special possessions. You can put no price on the loss of those items. Often self-packers and movers will regret irreparable damage to photos, LP collections, artwork, breakables, books and DVD’s.

Often these items are irreplaceable, if not in monetary value, certainly in sentimental value and importance. Breakable items and items of sentimental value need to be given special attention during packing up and during the actual move.

Pack photo albums, CD’s, LP’s and DVD’s vertically, not flat, for the best protection. Gravity and heat work together and warp electronic media and stick photos together.  Books should also be packed standing upright as well, with the books bindings facing outward. This gives the best care to the book’s bindings.
 
When Marathon Moving packs these types of items for you, we  pack and transport treasured items in center position. Boxes in center position are surrounded on all sides and benefit from protective insulation. For moving and packing tips, watch our videos. For help with your move, contact Marathon Moving.

I was hesitant to use a moving service, but I had such a great experience with Marathon Movers that I would definitely use them again in a heartbeat. The movers were extremely polite, friendly, and efficient. Kudos to the whole team!

- Camilla Reteki

You may have heard this about movers, some companies under bid and then hope to find a reason during the move to bump up the cost. Marathon won’t do this, they’ll give you the correct price up front. They’ve moved me twice into and out of storage and each time they did an excellent job. I have a very heavy and larger armoire and the previous company I used, Gentle Giant, brought a crane because it was too big to go up the stairs. I had a window taken out and they dangled it in to my bedroom.

When we moved out of that house to storage, Marathon had a crane scheduled to do the same. But on my move day, the foreman took a look at the situation, canceled the crane (saving me a bunch of money), had his guys dissemble the armoire and took it down the steps. On delivery from storage to my new house, he reassembled it in the new bedroom. I’m not sure many movers would have done that as it reduced their final bill a little.

They are excellent.

- Kevin G. Flannery

In Massachusetts we have seen quite a few new families who are first time home buyers moving from apartments to new homes. A “moving out of your apartment checklist” can help reduce stress and leave the guesswork behind.

Three months before your move:

• Be sure to read your lease through to find out how much advance notice is required by your land lord.
• See what needs to be done to get your security deposit returned.
• As dictated by the terms of your lease, give formal notice of your move.
• Find a recommended moving company.

• Fill out a change of address form with the post office.
• Notifying utility companies that you are either canceling existing service, or transferring service to your new address.
• Get moving boxes and packing supplies and start packing items you don’t use very often, such as books or knickknacks if you are packing yourself.
• Send your landlord or community management your new contact information.

• Remove any pictures you hung on the wall and fill in any holes left behind, if required in your lease.
• Let your credit cards and banks know your new address as well as your human resources department.
• Be sure you have left no belongings in the communal areas of your apartment building.

The week of your move:

• Thoroughly clean you apartment. It might be easier to schedule a cleaning service to handle this for you.
• Schedule a walkthrough of your apartment with your landlord or apartment manager.
• Find out when you are going to get your security deposit back. Be sure to write down the date so you can be on the lookout and follow up if necessary.
• Be sure to return keys and access cards to your landlord or apartment manager.

In all of our moves around the Boston area, we compiled a some moving tips, but overtime we have learned from our customers that there are two tips in particular that seemed to make their moving experience much easier. We would like everyone who is moving to know what our customers have learned.
 
Start early. In fact it is never too early to begin packing for your move. As soon as you know that you are moving, you should start organizing and thinking about the move. Moving is a very time consuming process and there are a lot of rooms to pack. If you are not a seasoned mover, most likely you will be surprised at how much time it takes to organize for your move.

Begin packing items you rarely use, like your china cabinet, seasonal clothes or formal living room.

Create “Open First” boxes and pack some suitcases. A big challenge in moving is trying to find what you need in your new home. Solve this by packing a suitcase for each person in your family with the necessary items for about 3 days. Keep these suitcases handy for when you arrive. Also, create an "open first" box for each room. Label these boxes in a different color, so they are easily found among the other boxes. These moving boxes may include items like soap, dish soap, coffee maker and coffee, toilet paper, towels, silverware, and some snacks.  These boxes will make the first overnight in your new home much easier.

For help with your move, or for more tips on moving contact Marathon Moving.

Moving is a stressful time for many people, and one way to reduce that stress is to ensure that you have hired a reputable and professional moving company. Unfortunately there are a number of illegitimate entities out there posing as legitimate movers. Here are some ways to avoid those scams.

Don’t forget that anyone can have a website, so don’t be fooled just because the moving company seems to look legitimate on-line. Actually look for a physical address and take a minute to verify that address on Google maps to be sure that the business and the address exists.

Check on the moving companies operating license. You can check them out with the Better Business Bureau or Angie’s list.

Also, references are very important.

The American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA) screens moving companies in order to take the guess work out of finding a professional mover. Those moving companies that display the AMSA logo have passed the 7-point screening program and have sworn to uphold a code of ethics.

It is smart to use companies that display the BBB logo, however, some display them w/out authorization. Be sure to verify that the company is authorized to display the BBB logo as well as the AMSA logo.

Most important, get at least 3 written in-home estimates. There are online moving cost calculators, but the only written estimates that count are provided by professional movers in person who visit your home. If someone offers to do an estimate over the phone, be wary, you may be getting scammed.

Avoid moving companies that require large deposits or down payments, or that ask you to pay before you move. In fact, movers are not allowed to require large deposits or pay before move.
 
Click “Moving Company” if you would like more information on your local or interstate move from Marathon Movers.

Moving is hard, but relocating with families is very tough. When you are moving kids to a new neighborhood, it doesn’t matter if it is a local move or an interstate move. But there are definitely ways to make it easier on the kids. You know what they say – if the kids are happy, Mom’s happy and if Mom’s happy then Dad’s happy. And we definitely want happy parents and kids.

Focusing on the kids’ needs is an important part of making this transition smooth. The relocation industry, says that six in ten transferees have dependent children. So here are some things to think about if you are relocating with children.

1. Kids should be involved - As soon as you know you are moving, you should tell your kids. They need as much time as possible. Make it a fun, exciting event, and focus on all the positives, like a new bedroom.
2. Let them know they can still be in touch with their friends - With today’s digital world, it is much easier to stay in touch than before. Help them get email addresses.
3. Let them house hunt with you – They can feel involved and you get to understand what their concerns are. If it is not possible, show them pictures of the new neighborhood and house.
4. Research the sporting and recreation –Let them know that they can continue in their same activities, but also, after they move, this will give them a direct route to friends.
5. Try and move during the school year or before the school year ends - So many families believe that the beginning of the summer is the best time to move, but this ends up being the worst time. They get to their new neighborhood and have no friends for 10 weeks. If they can move during a school year, they have no choice but to make friends fast, and they spend less time missing their old friends.
6. Take them round the schools too - Organize a tour of their new school so that the kids can get excited. They won’t have to imagine the unknown.
7. Stay positive - Because you are moving, you will have many stressful days, decisions, and more to do. But try and remember this as a positive move for your whole family.

Boston Movers

Your move should be seamless, and you transition smooth, for everyone in your family, even your pets. Pets need special attention and consideration when moving. For a stress free move for your pets, you need to do some preplanning. The following information outlines the points to consider when relocating with your pet.

Before you move you should check with the City Clerk's office in your new community for local pet ordinances. "Leash Laws" are common, licensing may be necessary, and the number of pets per household may be limited.

Be sure to get your pets health records from your veterinarian. This will let your new vet take better care of your pet. During the move, any pet that can wear a collar should wear one.

Movers, buses and trains are not permitted to move pets. So you can either hire a pet transport company, or you can do it yourself. If your pet needs special handling, you should consider having a professional pet service move your pet and take care of everything for you. At Marathon Moving, we can recommend a reputable service.

Remember that your pet is going to need time to get used to your new house. Using your pet's favorite food bowl, bedding and toys will help your pet start to feel at home. Ask your former vet for references, and once you are settled, locate a veterinarian.

Moving Companies in Boston