prepping-your-fridge

Seven Steps for Prepping Your Fridge for an Out-of-State Move

If you’re moving out of state to a house or apartment that doesn’t already have a refrigerator, you’ll probably want to bring this appliance with you. While transporting a refrigerator is somewhat laborious, it can save you thousands of dollars on the purchase of a new one. To prepare your refrigerator for an out-of-state move, follow these seven tips.

1. Cut Back on Purchasing Refrigerated or Frozen Foods

In the months and weeks leading up to your moving date, cut back on purchasing refrigerated and frozen foods. The fewer foods stored in your refrigerator, the easier it will be to move. Even if your moving date is several months from now, you can choose foods that don’t require refrigeration or freezing to make moving easier.

2. Remove Remaining Items and Disconnect

When your moving date is just a few days away, go ahead and remove the remaining items from your refrigerator and disconnect the water line and power. You don’t have to throw your food away necessarily. Depending on the distance of your move, you may be able to use a portable cooler to transport your refrigerated and frozen foods safely. If you’re moving long distance, either dipose of uneaten food or give it away to friends, family or neighbors. Cheap Movers Seattle, provider of long distance moving services, says trying to transport food out-of-state gets expensive and movers won’t take your perishables.

3. Clean Inside and Remove Shelves

With all food removed from your refrigerator, you can give it a thorough cleaning. Some people are hesitant to use store-bought cleaning products inside their refrigerator, believing it will poison their food. A safe and effective alternative, however, is vinegar. All She Cooks says you can clean the inside of your refrigerator by spraying and scrubbing it down with white vinegar.

4. Defrost

It’s recommended that you defrost your refrigerator so that it doesn’t leak water. While some people use hairdryers or heat guns to defrost their refrigerator, room temperature air is just as effective. Simply open the doors of your refrigerator, with the unit unplugged, and place some towels at the bottom to collect condensation.

5. Secure Doors

It’s a good idea to secure the doors of your refrigerator before attempting to move it. Wrapping your refrigerator with tie-down straps or bungee cords will secure the doors, preventing them from opening during your move. You can even tuck the power and water lines into the straps to secure them as well.

6. Keep It Upright

The golden rule of moving a refrigerator is to keep it upright. According to wikiHow, tilting a refrigerator on its side can cause the compressor oil or coolant to leak. But if you happen to transport your refrigerator on its side, allow it to stand upright for at least 24 hours before plugging it in to reduce the risk of damage. This will allow the oil to settle back into the compressor, thus protecting against internal damage.

7. Get a Dolly

Also known as hand truck or box cart, a dolly is an essential tool for moving a refrigerator. According to DoItYourself.com, refrigerators older than 15 years weigh up to 250 pounds — and that’s without any food or beverages. Rather than risking back injury, use a dolly to move your refrigerator out of your current home and into your new home.

Don’t wait until your moving date to prepare your refrigerator. Follow these tips to get your fridge ready now.

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pack-electronics

How to Pack Electronics for Moving – Pro Movers’ Guide

While the 21st century has made it so that we can do almost anything using one electronic device or another, there is one big drawback; most electronic devices are fragile. There is no time better time to see just how fragile when you are packing up those devices for a move. Nothing is more annoying or heartbreaking than getting to your new home and realizing that your iPad has been cracked and broken. The same goes for your HD TV and computer. Here are some tips you can take to make sure everything arrives safe and sound.

1. Follow manufacturer instructions

When you have an expensive or fragile electronic, the company that made it has likely come up with a way to pack it to keep it as safe as possible. Always keep the packaging and instructions. This will tell you how you should wrap up and pack electronics when you are getting ready to move.

2. Keep an eye on the temperature

When you are packing up the moving van, car, or a storage bin, make sure you are keeping an eye on the temperature. Too cold or too hot, temperatures are going to cause electronic devices real damage. If you are moving in the dead of winter or middle of the summer, keep that in mind. Pack up electronics last to make sure you’re ready to move out, so they aren’t sitting in the elements too long.

3. Use packing tape

This tip might seem like a no-brainer, but there are people out there who don’t realize the importance of using the right kind of tape. Packing tape is stronger and will keep whatever box you seal your electronic device in, inside the box. You don’t want these things spilling out in transit and bouncing around the moving van or your car. Packing tape was built specifically so that whatever you are moving is kept safe and sound.

4. Color code the cords

If you have a ton of different electronic devices, you can save yourself some time and effort by putting colored stickers somewhere on your device and somewhere on the cords. There are two uses for this approach. The first is that you will be able to know exactly what cord goes to what when you are unpacking. This will speed up the unpacking and set up process from the beginning. The second benefit of using this color coding system is that you will be able to tell quickly and easily if there is a cord missing. This is a checklist that can be used if you think something has been left behind.

5. Wrap in cloth and linen

Padding is always a positive. Make sure you aren’t just throwing electronic devices into a big empty box. Wrap things up and make sure they are secure.

Follow these instructions to get your electronics safely to your new destination. For assistance packing in California, call Cheap Movers Santa Clarita (http://www.cheapmoverssantaclarita.com/)!

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piano

Five Steps to Safely Transport Your Piano Across the Country

A piano is a study in juxtaposition. It’s a giant, hulking piece of furniture that can weigh several hundred pounds, yet it is an instrument full of delicate pieces that require the greatest of care when handling. Moving your piano across the country is an endeavor that takes planning, a tight strategy, and courage. These five tips will help you safely get your beautiful instrument from one point to the next.

1. Get Help

Moving your piano across the country is not a task you can undertake on your own. This requires you to either avail yourself of the goodwill of your friends, or hire a moving company, like these San Diego long distance movers, to do the heavy lifting. Whichever route you choose, be sure you repay the hard work of your helpers. Friends always appreciate a good meal and wine, while movers love the generosity of a healthy tip.

2. Take Measurements

Before you undertake the move, measure every angle of your piano. You will need to know the exact dimensions of the instrument as well as the measurements of any doors or windows through which the piano will pass. Do not forget to include the extra bulk that packaging will add to the final measurements. Measuring ahead of time will help you avoid any unexpected problems that could end up costing a lot of time and money.

3. Arrange For Special Equipment

When moving an object as heavy as a piano, you will need a few special tools to help you. At a minimum, you will need a piano dolly, ramp and at least three people. If the move is more complicated, such as when the piano is above stairs and too large to go down the stairs easily, you may need a block and tackle system to lower it out of a window.

4. Wrap It Up

Your piano is in for a bumpy journey when you move it across the country. You need to secure your instrument so that it arrives at its destination in the same condition it left. To do this, remove any moving parts, and wrap them separately. Protect all exposed strings and hammers with a thick piece of cardboard. Complete the packing by wrapping moving blankets around the exposed parts. This will prevent the piano’s finish from becoming damaged.

5. Go Slowly

Moving is a time of unending flurried activity, but it is important to slow down when it comes to your piano. If you try to rush the process, you may end up with a damaged or broken instrument. Slow and steady is best practice when it comes to moving your piano across the country.

Following these golden rules will help you move your piano safely from one end of the country to the other. That is one less thing to worry about during a very stressful time.

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relocate-HQ

Top Five Reasons Businesses Relocate HQ to a Different State

Many large companies and even international conglomerates have announced in recent years that they are moving their headquarters to a new location. Some, such as Burger King, have moved to a new country. Others, including GE, have relocated to a new state. This move can be an expensive and stressful endeavor, but the upside associated with making such a huge transition is often substantial for the company as well for its employees. In fact, many companies that have relocated headquarters have been able to take advantage of a combination of significant benefits.

1. Reduce Taxes

The United States is known to have one of the less attractive tax environments for businesses, because of a high corporate tax rate. While some companies are moving out of the United States to reduce taxes in this way, others are moving to a new state for the same reason. States tax corporate income differently, and some states and cities also offer credits and other financial incentives for businesses. For example, Indiana, West Virginia and Kentucky are some of the states that offer corporate tax breaks when companies relocate into their states.

2. Save Money

Taxes are only one expense that can change when a company relocates its headquarters. Utilities, logistics, real estate and more are all major expenses for most companies. Some areas have much higher expenses than others, and moving headquarters even a few hundred miles away can save a company a substantial amount of money in some cases.

3. Strategic Growth

Companies that need more capital to grow strategically may take advantage of financial savings related to a relocation to fund their growth plans. In addition to this aspect of strategic growth, keep in mind that corporate image may be impacted by where the company is located. This is also critical to the company’s overall growth in years to come.

4. Access to a Larger Pool of Skilled Labor

When a company relocates to a new area, Great Guys Moving (greatguyslongdistancemovers.com) points out, it may have access to a larger pool of talented, trained and educated individuals. Also, when the company is located in a desirable area with a great climate and low crime rate, it may be easier for the company to retain top talent. When a larger pool of talent is available, the company may be able to pay lower wages in some cases.

5. Address Logistical Challenges

Shipping costs can cost a small fortune for some companies. The location of the company will impact the types of shipping services available and their cost. It can also impact how long it takes for finished goods to reach the marketplace. These logistical factors can affect cash flow as well as customer satisfaction with the goods.

Each state has its pros and cons for businesses. In some areas, however, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. In these states, corporate growth is substantial, and this can benefit residents in the state as well as the overall state economy. Remember that many companies that decide to relocate do so because of an overwhelming combination of benefits.

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