Boston Movers Blog

You may be moving, and you are trying to decide if the new city and you will get along? Or perhaps you have moved to a new city, and now you are trying to figure out how to get to know it. Whether you are contemplating a move or have already made one, get to know the city and make your transition easier. Here are some tips for investigating cities.

Read about it

One of the simplest ways to get to know a city without visiting is to subscribe to local publications before you move . Many cities have homegrown magazines that highlight local happenings and give a sense of the community. If you are moving to a smaller town, look for a regional publication. Many of these are available online.

You could also subscribe to local newspapers and business journals and learn about the local politics or business. Also sign up for online newsletters. Look for specialty sites, such as blogs about cool restaurants, hip neighborhoods and the social scene.

Find Deals

Another way to discover what residents enjoy is to sign up for a discount service in the city. Groupon, LivingSocial and Scoutmob alert you to local deals that are valuable to residents. And, you can use these deals when you visit!

Visit

The best way to check out a city is to go there. If this is a local move or if you are moving across the country, If you are seriously considering relocating, spend more than a short vacation checking out the place. If possible, take a week and go hang out. Spend half day in each neighborhood that you are thinking about moving to. Walk around, eat at local restaurants and get a feel for the area. If you find a neighborhood you really like, visit it at  various times of day.
 
One you move, get involved

Once you move, get involved in local activities. Join a local club. Find clubs organized around books, wine, running, or whatever intrigues you. Become a member and pay attention to the types of events being hosted.
You might sign up to volunteer with groups who perform projects you are passionate about. Volunteering will help you network and make friends, which could lead to job opportunities or to finding folks to hang out with.
Have fun test-driving your new city! Pretty soon, you’ll be an expert.

Original article – Moving Today

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

Relocation can be a difficult and stressful time for everyone involved. Between packing, finding hotels, finding a new home, selling your old home and navigating in your new city there are many stressors that can occur during the process.

We have experience with clients who are moving locally to companies who are moving numbers employees overseas. No move is too big or too small.

What we can do, at Marathon Moving, is make the process less stressful, perhaps enjoyable. We offer customized moving solutions to individuals, corporations, and referral customers. Whether you are one person looking to relocate to a new territory, or a large company relocating their entire headquarters to Boston, we can help you.

Let us remove stress one step further.  We have developed relationships and partnerships with area businesses to help you with your local move. We would be happy to refer to you a realtor from within our network, or mortgage consultants or cleaning companies. Or, of course, all three.

Moving Companies in Boston

Whether you are moving due to your job, or simply because you want to, it would be wise to consider hiring a moving company to ensure that all goes well and your possessions arrive safely.   However, there are some details that only you can address. Here are some helpful tips on how to manage the details while you getting ready to move.

Start by making a list of everything that has to be done, and keep it handy for instant reference. Be sure the moving company knows the dates involved so that they can schedule their trucks and employees for loading up and transporting your household goods.

If you have more than one vehicle, ask about auto transport services, because this could save you money on gasoline depending on how far the move is.

If you have dogs or cats, plan ahead for how your pets will be transported. They could simply ride in the car, but if your company is flying you and your family to your new home, then you will need to make arrangements for your pets. Airlines have requirements on what type of crates are approved, so contact them and find out what you need before the move.

Decide if you want to pack boxes yourself, having the movers simply load the boxes onto the truck.  If you want the movers to do all of the packing, be sure to specify this before getting a estimate. Call the moving company to get quotes.

Don't forget to notify all of the utility companies of the date you need them to turn off services. Also, be sure the address change forms have been filed out and given to the post office an the trash pick-up has been cancelled. Moving companies are not responsible for addressing these issues.

If you owe property taxes, you will need to notify the tax assessor’s office that you are moving and make and address change with them. Even if your house is still on the market, it is up to you to make sure all government agencies are away of your new address. When your house goes through closing, you will be released from the involved tax burdens, but until then you are still liable for paying property taxes, even if you are moving.

If there is a chance that you will need storage for some of your possessions, be sure to ask the moving company if they have long or short term storage. You should get estimates on these facilities at the same time that you set up arrangements with your mover, so you have a budget firmly in place with no last minute surprises.  

Moving Companies in Boston

We know that moving into a new home and relocating your family can be a very stressful time. Marathon Moving Company wants your move to go as smoothly as possible. If you have decided to pack your own belongings, we would like to offer the following packing tips to help ensure the safe arrival of all your possessions.

6-8 WEEKS PRIOR TO YOUR MOVE

• Clean out basement, attic, garage, and closets.
• Determine items to keep, discard, donate, or sell.
• Make arrangements for a tag sale for approximately 1 month prior to your move (this will allow time to donate or discard unsold items).
• Contact moving companies to obtain quotes for your move.

• Send furniture, drapes, and carpets for cleaning or repair.
• Research moving companies you are considering with the Massachusetts DTE (licensing board for MA moving companies), through company provided references, and the BBB.
• Do not be afraid to request proofs of insurance from companies you are considering.  Hiring an uninsured mover can leave you with unpaid damage claims, or you can be found liable for property damage and or personal injury claims.
• Select a moving company and confirm your moving date.
• Order packing supplies and arrange for their delivery or pick up.
• Secure elevators, loading docks, or parking permits if necessary.

• Begin packing seldom used items such as china, holiday decorations and basement or attic storage areas.
• File a change of address form with Post Office.
• Contact charities to arrange pickup of items to be donated.
• Notify utility companies and arrange for transfer of services.
• Notify all banks, insurance companies, brokerage houses, service providers and creditors of address change.

• Begin packing all but essential items.
• Finalize closing times with real estate attorney or mortgage company.
• Organize all bills, stocks, insurance policies and bank account statements.
• Make special arrangements for children and pets on moving day.
• If not moving locally, obtain all medical, dental and veterinarian records.

Those who plan early and educate continually throughout the relocation process enjoy the smoothest and most cost effective experience.   We are proud to offer “continuing education” on the moving process and the Boston area via our Facebook page and the Marathon Moving blog “RSS Feed”.  The feedback is universally positive regarding the valued lessons learned that we regularly provide you on Facebook and within our weekly blog.   
 
Moving you and your family’s household goods both safely and economically need not be a daunting task, however it is something you need to stay on top of from the moment you decide to relocate.  We’ll send you answers to frequently asked questions, money saving tips on moving supplies, insights into Boston area living, and much more.  We like to think of ourselves as more than just Boston’s most professional moving service, we like to think of ourselves as a friendly neighbor.

To sign up, please visit our Facebook page and click the “Like” button.  Also, navigate to our blog page and click the “Grab the marathon RSS Feed” link at the top of the page.  You’ll get the week’s lesson on Boston moving sent to you in real time.  
 
Regarding this week’s continuing education……class dismissed.