12 Stress Free Moving Tips

Let Strong Hands, LLC., help you! Here are our top 8 stress free moving hacks and packing tips that everyone appreciates!! We will guide you how to pack efficiently, save space, and make sure fragile items make it through the move! Our tips will make it easier on everyone than they have ever been. We have organizing tips that will help for moving without the hassle.

Moving your home can be exciting and incredibly stressful within the same breathes. Whether leaving college, moving out of your parents into your our apartment, or moving your family home from somewhere you had been since your children had been born to a place starting completely fresh. Strong Hands, LLC., is available to give all of our expertise tips and careful hands to help you get to where you want to be. Maybe you are relocating for a new job, upsizing or downsizing, all of our clients want their move to be as easy and painless as possible which is why they chose to hire us.

Most of our moving tips are essential to having a successful stress-free move that will not cost clients their sanity.

1. We always suggest that our clients declutter first. Before we start packing, we ask clients to go through their possessions and get rid of anything they no longer have use for and that they do not want to take with them. Doing this, there will be less to unpack later and will take up less space later on in the new place. What point is there dragging baggage with you just to get rid of it or donate it later? Get rid of it or give it away even make a little extra money of it if possible before moving.
2. START EARLY we always recommend to start early because better now than ever, right? Packing always takes longer than expected so begin early as possible! This will prevent chaos come moving day. Start with the things you do not use often then move onto to the things you do use daily packing them last.
3. Cleaning is always suggested! You want to start fresh? So make sure all of the things that you are choosing to take with you are clean by dusting all of your ornaments, washing any dirty clothes – you will have enough to do in the new place, trust us you will not want to be washing piles of laundry as well. If you are moving out of rented housing you will also have to clean it before leaving if you want to get your security deposit back. When you get into your new place, give it a good scrub, hire our sister company the Clean Team by calling 607-220-3578. Even if it looks clean, give yourself the peace of mind of knowing for sure that the place has been taken care of professionally without wasting your energy.
4. Hire us Strong Hands, LLC., for packing assistance for a low cost. We will not only leave you feeling relieved from our experienced applied packing but excited! Never buy cardboard boxes when we can provide them for a low rate. Also we will use any boxes, baskets and bags clients already have lying around to pack their clothes in suitcases because if you have it utilize it!! We show clients how to roll their clothing instead of folding them and fitting more in. Another thought clients do not need to buy bubble wrap – we provide it within the low cost and can wrap breakable items such as plates, glasses etc., in clothes, towels, tea towels, blankets and, if they have a bag of plastic bags we will utilize them as padding between items. It’s also a awesome idea to put toiletries in carrier bags in case they leak.
5. PACKING EFFICIENTLY our team puts lighter items in big boxes and heavier items in smaller boxes, otherwise the box might not be able to hold the weight of the items and fall apart when you pick it up. If clients have a mixture of both heavy and light items in a box, we keep the heavier items at the bottom so they don’t crush everything else. Boxes are marked exteriorly which room the items came from (e.g., kitchen, bathroom, etc.) and made note of a few of the items inside. This prevents any rummaging through ten boxes just marked vaguely. We always write FRAGILE on any boxes with breakables in them.
6. ALWAYS DO THIS pack an overnight bag full of things that are needed to be able to find easily on moving day. The bag should include the following any toiletries, phone chargers, some bottles of water, toilet paper, any important medication, cleaning supplies, bed linen, nightclothes and a change of clothes for the next day. It will be a long, busy, tiring, and possibly hectic day, being able to grab these things without running through loads of boxes will help a lot greatly!
7. Keep all important paperwork and documents safe yet accessible (e.g., birth certificates, passports, wills, house deeds and insurance papers) together in one box or file so that you know where to locate them. Clients should also scan them to make digital copies in case anything happens to them during the move (e.g., fire, burglary). We would strongly not like to see clients lose their hard copies at any time so it’s sensible to back them up). We recommend clients changing their address with everywhere that has it, get their mail forwarded to their new address for the first few months in case there’s anywhere you’ve forgotten to give it to. We also suggest that clients not forget to update their driving license with their new address, too.

The Right Way To Move Glass During A Move!

It is important when moving such fragile items – like glass – that require Strong Hands, LLC., expertise to remember glass is NOT fun to clean up and nine times out of ten broken shards of glass ends up everywhere creating a safety hazard for everyone. To protect your glass and yourself by saving yourself the chaos of broken or shattered glass, contact us – we are more than happy to help at a low cost!

Strong Hands, LLC., ensure to account for all our client’s glass pieces first before anything else. Besides countertop this typically includes mirrors, glass shelves, and glass picture frames that we gather, efficiently wrap, and placed by the door out of the way. To keep clients glass protected and safe, the first thing our team does is wrap the items with moving blankets. Preferably, depending on how big the fragile item is we like to double wrap the item with two moving blankets using flexible rubber bands for the blankets to stay in place. After this step is completed, we bubble wrap and tape them full circle around the items to ensure that the items are secured. Sometimes we like to place the wrapped items into collapsible boxes that are thirty percent bigger than the fragile items. Once our team has safely packed our client’s glass, we make sure all glass pieces are labelled properly large and visibly on both sides of the boxes. For any flat pieces of glass, we always make sure we label them “flat” and “do not lay flat” because a flat piece of glass should always be carried and stored on its edges.

After our client’s items are properly labeled, they are gently and safely transferred directly to our moving truck and secured between heavier items that are clear away from any hard surface items that could potentially slide and/or shift damaging the glass during the move. Did you know that it is easier and safer to remove the glass from a countertop table before moving it? Yes – most glass is quite easy to remove from tables that is if you know what you are doing in the case of Strong Hands, LLC., doing it of course we know what we are doing!

The most difficult part of removing the glass from a table is if it is secured by screws but that is pretty much it. Strong Hands, LLC., always unscrews the glass and pack it separately regardless because that it how careful our team is when handling our client’s precious belongings.

When you know what to do it is always important to know exactly what NOT to do just as well.

Strong Hands, LLC., knows both ends when it comes to moving glass which is why out clients rely on us day in and day out to rise to the occasion and perform at a five star rating compacity.

We NEVER lay glass items such as tabletops flat because let think about it together when glass tabletops are laid flat they are likely to shatter and/or crack due to the glass molecular structure. Glass is strongest around it’s edges and most ideal to only be set down upright.

Keep in mind is that glass should NEVER be stacked especially after being wrapped. Dirt and grime love to take advantage when glass is stacked. This is where the anonymous scratches appears because the dirt and grime get trapped between the two glass pieces. Also, glass is hard to separate this way!

It makes common sense to NEVER store anything heavy on glass, right? This does not need explanatory – glass is fragile and most should know it cannot hold up much weight and if too much pressure the glass can break, shatter, or crack.

Pack mirrors in specially padded cartons

Strong Hands, LLC., use special flat boxes and/or glass carton sized unique for your mirror when purchasing boxes. Having all the proper boxes in-hand makes the process easier. We prepare by lining outer edges with crushed paper to create a padded bed in which your item can rest and can be moved without breaking.

Before we place clients mirror in the box, we make sure to wrap it in padded paper and/or sheets of bubble wrap to create a plentiful outside layered barrier. We then tape this wrapping tightly that you mirror is being placed in.

Once your mirror is in the box, we fill all gaps with crumpled paper. It is not normally recommended, however sometimes depending on the circumstances and item we are able to pack more than one mirror in a single box. This typical will only happen if the client chooses to consolidate items in this manner, efficient padding between the client’s items to prevent rubbing or shifting is provided.

Heavy mirrors, stone or table tops:

We generally pack heavy glass and stone into specially wooden crates to provide an extra layer of protection.

At Strong Hands, LLC., when packing and unpacking we can help you pack and unpack all your items for you.

Contact us at (607) 342-6761.

Purging for A Move!

Have you ever thought that when it comes time to purge before moving that there would also come at least 5 extraordinary revelations. Literally, “baggage” is an understatement when we hold onto materialistic stuff that might even be sentimental to us but really in actuality we can take it with us when we go. Rather than taking a ton of accumulated stuff that you truly have just held onto just because make decisions and step forwards with the truth that you are not going to somehow cram it away when you relocate. Not even just that thought perhaps you will realize you do not want to bring the baggage and cancel that small storage unit you almost invested in for another one of those just because thoughts. All told Strong Hands, LLC., works with clients to come up with a plan on down sizing then collaborates with our sister company the Clean Team even sometimes to help get clients organized and back to basics. Strong Hands, LLC., does all of the manual moving labor for our clients. For instance, we have clients decide, “What am I even packing this for” and chuck plenty of things that they completely instantly changed their mind on because half of the items they thought they want and/or needs to transfer over with them to their new space was not worth the baggage. Many times what happens is that clients encounter a few surprises when embarking on moving from one place to the next and as a newer moving company we enjoy hearing all about their experience through Google and Yelp reviews they write for us.

Strong Hands, LLC., suggest that moving often offers the perfect motivation for clients to get rid of things and prioritize what really matters. For instance, book worms, the feeling of getting rid of book that you have collected forever is what seems heart wrenching but perhaps the next book worm you donate your books to take advantage of the kindness and it becomes a continuous thing getting passed onto the next person after the next. Now how relieving is that? Think about it this way, when our clients hire us to put their things into a cardboard box and transfer it sometimes unpacking as well clients are telling us that they value these things enough to take it with them to their new place. Fine, that is absolutely great, however not a lot of stuff is actually worth hauling if you were to do it yourself instead of hiring a professional, experienced, and careful moving company. We are not discouraging clients to throw away everything they might have invested in and found valuable however we do suggest it is considerably a good idea to think about what they find at most valuable and useful to their household. Let us think more into this purging thing.

Purging for some can feel like therapy. In the sense that you can focus on more that you love. Whoa! we are not “anti-stuff” as mentioned before we are more anti-stuff-you-do not-care-about. Clients should find and sort through their belongings and pack item that bring fire up joy and junk the rest therefor they do not get in the way of what truly brings them joy such as their pet, family, exercising, outdoors, etc., whatever might bring one joy. For instance, getting rid of some coffee mugs. It is common for coffee mugs to be one of our kitchen most collected and stored away items. Pick a few out that you enjoy the most and donate the rest especially if they are chipped or discolored. That is it gone bye to the bye now you can feel fancy! I know this approach might seem a bit wasteful for some more because they end up buying the same exact thing if not comparable again but this action is actually an incentive to not replace the things you have tossed months later.

Let’s talk about thrown out intentionally and mistakenly family heirlooms… Now this is a very sticky and sensitive subject we only give suggestion briefly on being hired for the job. All honesty we always tell our clients that there is risk in throwing out something that they cannot replace. For instance, a sweater that their great grand parent might have sewed together for them as a child or brought to America from their home country. Something such as this cannot be replaced like a social security card that might be a pain to do all the paper work and wait for it to come in the mail weeks later but eventually it is replaced. We remind our clients that all of the purging that happens during moving is completely up to them and that we are only here to do for them what they are at most comfortable and satisfied with in the end. We also remind clients that if they are cleaning out storage area such as a spare closet if they throw something away they regret to not fret because life will go on. Yes, they will miss the item(s) but they will most definitely find other ways to be happy.

Strong Hands, LLC., is here to support all clients reach their fullest protentional when it comes to purging during a move. It is okay to make “junk it” your default when stuck. It is also okay to say to yourself that you are just not ready to get rid of certain items. Purging can be reckless and give many a thrill of letting go and starting over. However for others purging can be too much all at once. We would like to be the balance in your purging while moving experience. To bring us on board give us a call today by call (607) 342-6761!

Money Saving Hacks For Your Next Move!

Plan extensively for your move by coming up with a comprehensive plan that does not only skip of stress by last-minute thinking when it comes to your move but you will also save you money or at least allow you to be able to stretch it. No matter how good your memory is – right it down! We are always bound to forget a thing or two. Unless you put what is in your head on paper you are likely to forget it. Prepare a checklist of essential task and post it somewhere you look everyday very often also write it in your planner. Get a tax break for giving by collecting a bunch of your could care less about items and donating them to a qualified local charity. Packing for a more is not avoidable you need boxes. Go to your local department stores that will give you boxes for free, heck even the wine shop! Take initiative by post a listing that you are in need of study boxes and I’m sure you more likely than not will get a lot of feedback. Think outside the box as well for instance re-purposing wicker and wire baskets can be used for small light-weight household items. Preventing leaks with cleaning supplies and toiletries by cling wrap only the top of item then tapes off with masking tape. After getting into the moving truck this is something to be made assure that was done. Do not overlook when packing leak-prone liquids, remove the cap set it aside for later in a labelled zip-lock bag, and cover the cap with cling wrap then tape off with masking tape. Doing this will allow for you to not have a mess to clean up later and supplies to use instead of having to spend the money to replace. Wind all cords and label them so that there is no confusion when it comes to get everything set back up in your new space. Nobody likes cord chaos so on packing day, wrap and tie together cords for similar devices, then label them to make it easier on yourself. Give your back a break while transporting your books by packing your library in rolling bins and/or suitcases. Books are a heavy burden to lug when taking for a lift however it is absolutely possible if done safely and strategically. Pack a bag for your must haves filling the bag with things such as toilet paper, tooth brush/paste, deodorant, hair brush and spray bottle, electronic essentials and other items for comforting. The first night in your home you should rest. The bag should be kept close away from all boxes and suitcases while traveling so that if there are any delays while on the move you are prepared. Labeling is huge when packing with boxes you should have a label scheme so that you know what room they go in. The labels should be big and clear labelled on the sides of the boxes not only top because more than likely they are going to be stacked onto the truck. Forget the classic way of packing of packing similar items together pack items by room not by type to save time. Then use color stickies to stick outside the boxes with written key that links each color to the designated room. By doing this you can quickly places boxes in the designated rooms without any confusion. Beautiful, but fragile plates are often the first to break when during a move when not wrapped properly or at all. Instead of stacking plate on top of each of other organize them vertically (e.g., music records) separating eating plate with newspaper or fabric. This prevents cracking and shattering or any other type of damage when there is any bumping going on. This way the plates to be cushioned when in transition, unloading, and/or unpacking. Garbage bags for your clothes works excellently for transporting your wardrobe on move day. Slip the bags over the hanged clothing such as dresses, suits, shirts, etc., then reused the garbage bags later on or re-purpose them. Also with doing this make sure you get rid of all your outdated clothing. If you cannot part ways with certain outfits vacuum seal them and store them away as a safe-saving solution. Sit down and write out all of your expenses because it expensive moving there are fees such as storage and rental truck cost. Some people moving can find that they can include some of their expenses that came along with moving to be tax deductions. If you avidly, accurately, and confidently document your moving expenses as you incur them, more than likely you will get tax deductions. Food for thought do not bring all of your food with you. Try and finish up with it before moving then donate the rest. That way you will have consumed what you could and not have wasted what was left in the fridge, pantry, and cabinets. Update your mailing address right away a few weeks before moving so that you can avoid missing any bill later on having to pay late fees.

The list goes on folks… Strong Hands, LLC., offers to take care of all of this for our clients at a low cost and most take us up on our services so that nothing is forgotten about because of how thorough our team is when doing our job. For more information on our top moving hacks give us a call at (607) 342-6761!

Long-Distance Moving Travel Guide

Moving across the country is hard, and if doing it yourself, there are a whole other list of things to consider. But if you plan ahead with Strong Hands, LLC., you’ll be set. We are more than willing to move your belongings long-distance for clients however some prefer just the low cost services we offer such as packing clients homes up and packing their rented truck. So, let’s be realistic here there are something you need to know when driving a moving truck. Clients need to make sure they choose the right truck for their needs and route they plan on taking. Moving trucks need to be loaded with the heaviest and largest items last. Familiarizing yourself with the truck is a must that include safety procedures of your truck. Whether clients are moving short-distance or long-distance it requires time, patience, organization and planning all things Strong Hands, LLC., can help with when booked. Once clients have found their home and finalized all the paper work it is an intelligent idea to start packing and planning the move!

The first thing clients should consider is how they get from place to place. Will they be hiring Strong Hands, LLC., or driving a moving truck long-distance themselves? While it could be so that the clients decided to drive to their far away destination independently, Strong Hands, LLC., will still walk clients through everything they need to know and consider beforehand. Here is where clients patience comes in, driving in high volume traffic and/or rush hour a 26 foot truck. But before you freak yourself out take a deep breath everything will work fine. Driving a moving truck you have to be confident and understand that driving a large truck is more similar to driving a car than most think.

Clients have to be over the age of 18 with a valid driver’s license and know the rules of the road. Clients ask, “Will I need a commercial driver’s license?” the answer is in most cast no you do not. Now after you determine your eligibility it’s time to go find you a truck that fits! Something clients need to consider include the following: which company you want to rent from, what size of commercial truck you need, cost to return the truck, cost of fuel/miles per gallon, additional fees that are required, customer service level, and any additional services offered. An important thing to think about is not only what size of moving truck clients can afford within their budget but what one is the right fit truck for their safety. For instance, here is a few things that could go wrong, if the truck you pick is too small for your load it will weigh too much and more than likely not be able to be packed properly. If the truck is too large your belongings will shift around while travelling and potentially get severely damaged. Strong Hands, LLC., refrains from instances like this because of our integrity policy. However, Strong Hands, LLC., suggest clients switch truck out and still seek our services because we enjoy helping make packing easier on clients. There are some important things clients should do before starting their new journey. Determining their route is definitely the first one. Google Maps is incredible, right? Google Maps and even GPS does help us get from point A to point B however sometimes we loose service going through dead zones. While traveling anywhere we should have a hard copy map in hands. Quiet frankly, it would be a could idea to highlight your route on an extra hard copy of your map that way you will know exactly where you are going. Estimating timing is awesome because sometimes it gives us an exact estimate of how long it will take to get from point A to B. Most importantly pick your rest stop and gas breaks before clients start their trip. By doing this, it gives travelers mile marks to aim for using the bathroom, grabbing food, etc., scheduling this makes it more enjoyable and barrable to tolerate long distance travel. Also, when estimating this into the travel time it helps everyone stay on a tangible schedule while taking adequate time to rest and re-cooperate. Let’s face it, when traveling long distance in a large truck clients will not want to risk opening up the back just to get the things they wish they would have packed in an overnight bag. So, prepare a large suitcase for everybody to share with all the essentials you will need such as tooth paste/tooth brushes, extra toilet paper, spare clothing, and any medication that might be needed. Doing this is highly underrated because having an accessible bag throughout your travel is really nice and convenient. Next, whenever traveling we should carry a first aid kit. Go to the pharmacy grab one and keep it close in case of any emergencies. Are we done yet? Almost! Lastly, we need to go over some safety tips for driving a large commercial truck. They rules of the road pretty much apply to any vehicle however moving trucks are larger and heavier therefor they require heightened attention to safe safe while traveling. Here are important MUST things to keep in mind:

• Speed: It’s tempting to drive fast so you can get to your destination faster. However, when driving a large and heavy commercial moving truck your speed could be deadly because the more heavy something is in motion the longer it takes to slow down. Drive at a safe, consistent speed. When you need to slow down, make sure you are lengths apart from those traveling around you because it will take a lot longer than a car for truck to come to a complete stop.
• Passing: When driving resist the urge to pass. Stay in the furthest right lane and only pass on the left when absolutely necessary. Just like when driving a car, do not ever pass on a hill or a curved road.
• Turning: As you may already have thought of turning a large truck needs more space than usual therefore give yourself extra room to maneuver around so you do not tip the truck.
• Parking: When parking the moving truck, find parking spots that are specifically for larger vehicles. If that’s not an option, park in an open area and avoid parking next to other cars. Give yourself space to get in and out of the spot and try not to block other cars in.
• Brakes: Check them before starting your travel journey. Unless absolutely necessary, do not slam on breaks when driving a moving truck. Moving trucks are heavy and require more time to slow down. Give yourself plenty of space between cars before braking. In addition to checking your brakes be sure to take breaks when you need it never allow yourself to drive drowsy or under the influence. It is better to take breaks than get into a tragic accident.

Now, when it comes to traveling… There are a lot zones and weather paths clients will go through potentially. Clients will need to prepare their rental truck for any weather they may encounter. It is strongly suggested to make sure the windshield wiped fluid is full, the windshield wipers are intact, and the tires are sturdy. Also, just for the heck of it especially during the colder months bring an excellent ice scraper, a couple warm insulated blankets, coat, and boots in case a snow storm comes blowing in or you loose heat inside the moto vehicle.

Driving long distance is hard work but as long as you prepare properly it will be a breeze. Doing it this way will allow clients to save time, stress, and from safety issues occurring on their journey to their new dream home. For Strong Hands, LLC., professional guidance and help give us a call at (607) 342-6761!

How To: Prepare Specialty Mattresses

Now, if you have not had a chance to read our post on “How To: Move Mattresses” we advise you to read that post before this one only in the regards that the same rules do not apply with every type of mattress. Specialty mattresses such as sleep number bed and tempurpedic mattresses need clearly defined care. Tempurpedic have to be completely flat 100% of the time even though it can be moved vertically in short distance instances.

Sleep number beds also need specific a careful thought such as possibly having to disconnect the electronics or hiring a specialist to come before Strong Hands, LLC., unless we get specific permission to disconnect for the client to do it.

Assembling your Sleep Number 360®Smart Bed Compatible Flexfit™ Adjustable Base – YouTube

Not hiring professional movers to move your valuable furniture will most definitely save you money, but the thing we suggest clients remember is that they cannot or should it be said as should not attempt to complete this task entirely on their own. Strong Hands, LLC., have reliable careful hands and have no problem getting right to work. Instead, taking the chances give us a call today to book your specialty move by giving us a call at (607) 342-6761.

How To: Move A Mattress

There is something about having a perfect cozy, comfy, mattress that you can fall asleep and stay asleep in or even just longue in for a few minutes. The last thing clients what is their mattress to be damaged that is why they call Strong Hands, LLC. for assistance. With that in mind, we outline for our clients the best practices that we follow when moving mattresses.

First and foremost we take care of the most important part of moving a mattress which is bagging it up with thick plastic bags can we purchase at moving supply stores if our clients did not save the original bag their mattress came in. The plastic bags we use protects against dirty and/or any other damage that is possible when moving delicate furniture such as a luxury mattress.

Strong Hands, LLC., finds it extremely important to make sure we keep all of our clients belongings clean and fully protected. If clients prefer for their mattresses to travel in a thicker bag such as a carrier that more than likely has handles on each ends we can carry their mattress in a sling just fine without any issues. However, we suggest that carriers are more beneficial if not having professional movers assist. We as careful professional movers that have experience do not necessarily need a tool that high technique. Next, our team rotates, flips, and or angles clients mattresses to go through the door because if a mattress is bended it could possible ruin it by causing lumps. No matter how narrow or short a clients stairwell is we figure out a way to get the task done without ruining their mattress as that is an hard no in our book. If there is an issue to where we cannot get the clients mattress out safely we often times suggest another way such as renting a crane. It is worth renting a crane rather than ruining your lovely bed that most have worked hard to afford and enjoy. Something some movers and/or clients trying to move their bed on their own forget or does not even come to mind is light-fixtures and/or sprinkler heads. After this entire process is complete next up is picking a spot in our truck or any truck in that matter to place the clients mattress. It is important that their mattress is placed in a spot that is protected by water (e.g., water/snow). The mattress also need to be able to fit flat and upright against a wall of the truck or up strictly against a truck load (e.g., farthest away from the door in the back). Strong Hands, LLC., lays down either cardboard and/or blankets before our clients mattress touches the truck their mattress is being transported in. The mattress is first placed upright on the protective gears and secured to either a box spring and/or but not limited to some cardboard sheets, or a solid wall or boxes. If need be we can use straps such as bungee cords although we strongly try not too because yes they may help however the bungee cord hooks can come loose ripping the fabric of the mattress ultimately damaging it.

As you have read above, this is tedious and stressful work for a person without moving experience, we suggest calling a professional such as us Strong Hands, LLC., do not leave clients high and dry or sadly disappointed we leave them highly satisficed and will get the job done without any hiccups, bumps, or bruises. Give us a call today to book your mattress move at (607) 242-6761!

Moving with Pets

Meow this, ruff ruff that, or maybe it is the talking bird, the curious rabbit, or how about the unbothered reptile whichever animal that may have the last noise on the big moving day. The reality of it is – pets are apart of the family. So, when it comes time to moving, pet owners need to make it of priority to create a pet-friendly home.

Strong Hands, LLC., help clients travel through their pets mind so when it comes time to move the majority of their worries in regards to their pets are at least settled.

Maybe you got a new job offer, a chance to grow your family, and/or closer or farther away from the city. It is important to be mindful or why you want to move to make sure you are making a feasible decision. Whether your new home is more pet-friendly, has larger square footage, or just what you want. The motivation behind your decision matters more than most realize when purchasing a new home.

A few things to know when deciding on what house to buy with pets. For instance, if you have a dog it is a good idea to consider hard wood flooring, ranch style home, running on the stairs, a fenced in back yard, a built in mudroom, surrounding side walks with pedestrian crossings, and lastly nearby park, trails, and outdoor green wide open spaces.

Another instance, if you have cats you should consider hard wood flooring, high ceilings, low-traffic area, large windows, screened in porch and or a sun room, lastly a large bathroom to where you can store a small litter box.

When considering these basic common things shopping for homes it is also of important to think about room that clients can declutter and make more or less accessible for their pets to lounge in. By donating or throwing away items you do need when moving you are clearing your home from unnecessary clutter making healthy lifestyle choices that will ultimately benefit everyone in the long-run.

Moving is stressful enough for us human for animals it is an experience that is not easily processed. Losing their favorite lounging and hiding spots for instance it is a change that they cannot understand like us. We know what is happening when moving pets on the other hand do not comprehend.

Somethings to consider is gathering veterinary records, refilling nay medications need be, finding a new vet technician, etc., and much more. If clients are going to board their pets making the proper arrangement for that to happen.

Here is something pro-active to do in effort to managing your pets stress is generate a solid list of the things you can do for them during the moving process. In case one strategy does not work you can try another.

Your list can simply consist of getting your pet comfortable in their crate (e.g., practicing going in and out of the crate), not feeding your pet before travel by hydrating them because the last thing you would want is you pet to have an upset stomach ending in them vomiting, screening pet-friendly places, setting up a nice quiet area where you pet can become comfortable with the new home, pet-proofing your new home before letting your pets roam free, and lastly paying close attention to your pets body language to monitor for signs of stress and/or illness.

Strong Hands, LLC., might not have all the answers however we can step in and be apart of your moving experience and guide clients on how to keep their pets cared for and happy at a low cost so that clients can focus solely on their big move instead of getting distracted by their anxiety worrying over the little things. For more information give us a call at (607) 342-6761.

Moving with Kids

Children Are Not A Distraction from more Important Work, Children Are The most Important Work 😊

Have you ever tried moving with kids? It’s difficult. Whether it’s long distance or the house down the street; if friends or nobody in that matter is available to have you move, moving with kids can become stressful quick. If If you have a baby or toddler, or other small children you’ll have to become creative to move while entertaining them and keeping your sanity. Take it from a professional moving company whose moving experience goes a long way our clients use our ideas and tips to make their life while moving a little less crazy.

Moving can be a huge undertaking especially if your adding children into it because family and/or friend are not available and you cannot afford the help of a sitter. This can feel like an impossible challenge to get through without hiring Strong Hands, LLC. for a low cost.

Strong Hands, LLC., understands moving day from a child’s perspective which looks like parents spending hours wrap, pack, and label their belongings, only to watch them again unpack, unwrap, and store things, in a new home, it is very boring for them. Let’s talk about the amount of anxiety for some that moving brings such as a new start and new adventure in a new living environment say your kids were reluctant to wanting to the move. How about kids seeing their mother having a meltdown from the normal stress of moving turned into a complete nightmare.

Luckily, with a little creativity and mindfulness, parent can plan accordingly for moving day to make moving into a fun/friendly event. With low-cost activities keeping your kids busy while we focus on the move will not be of a problem.

There are plenty of great games for children that even focus on learning. For instance, when moving I am sure there is so extra bubble wrap hanging around let your children play with some as children love bubble wrap. They will entertain themselves until every last bubble is popped. This serves as a distraction only for when your children are in the same room with you, we kind of have to be strategic here! When children are playing with bubble wrap to ensure safety there should always be an adult close by in case of anything happening.

Another instance, if age appropriate let them help pack. Even young children can pack items such as toys, stuffed animals, books of theirs, and clothing. Listen, it might no be as neat and efficient as we would like but if works to help your children feel apart of the change so be it. Let them organize their toys! A good idea we have seen is parents do is a mini “movie theater” by arranging blankets and pillows on the floor, yummy snacks, drinks, and a portable DVD player with a variety of age appropriate movies to pick from to watch.

We hope our few sanity savers we spoke about here have helped put into perspective for those that have no other choice but to have their children present during a move. For more sanity saving tips and our extraordinary moving services to help support your family on the big move day please give us a call at (607) 342-6761.

Creating Essential Boxes

Fill boxes with things you will need until your kitchen is unpacked and officially set up. First things first, is labeling because everyone needs to know what is in which box including the movers. Label it clearly, so the movers you hire know not to put it into the truck that is going to storage or worst yet to the donation center and/or the dump. In fact, pack the boxes yourself with one of the crew member you have hired that way two eyes have set eyes onto the items you have packed then place it in an area (e.g., car truck) so it does not get mixed up with other boxes. Hopefully doing this will make your move a tad less stressful knowing that you know where to pull your basic necessities out of quick and fast when you need it the most.

Supplies for Cooking

• Saucepan: This adaptive cookware can boil water, heat up soup, or even cook pasta for a quick meal.
• Frying pan: A frying pan can make scrambled eggs, sear meat, or sauté vegetables. If you like cooking eggs, consider a nonstick pan or cast iron skillet.
• Knives: Pack one sharp versatile knife and one paring knife (wrap them in a towel and keep them in a safe box). Trust me, that’s it for what you need.
• Cutting board: A cutting board can be used for what it is initially used for and a serving platter in other words dual uses.
• Large bowl: A large metal or plastic bowl can be used to make salads, beat eggs, or wash greens. You will not have to worry about the bowl being fragile because it is not glass.
• Tongs: Tongs can toss things such as pasta, flip meat, or stir things around in a frying pan. Plus, if you want to fire up the grill there you go your are fully prepared.
• Rubber spatula: A good rubber spatula can stir things such as scrambled eggs and scrape things when mixing or cooking.
• Foil: Baking pans are bulky, foil can also serve as a lid when cooking.
• Resealable plastic bags: Pack a few in each size for leftover food or ingredients. Thank me now! The usefulness of having baggies around is surprising for new clients.
• Oil, salt, and pepper: These three essentials are irreplaceable in even the most simple cooking.

Silverware Supplies

• Don’t forget a set of plates, bowls, knives, forks, and spoons for each person because you will need things to eat with.
• Paper and Plastic- Believe it or not… paper and plastic goods can be re-used. No matter the theme of them if there is extra after a party or gathering save them! You will find they make your worries in life a bit less especially while you are getting settled. Some plastic goods can actually be very durable and lightweight.

Drinking Supplies

• Wine and/or bottle opener: If you are a wine love or enjoy cracking a fresh cold beer keep a wine and/or bottle opener within reach.
• Glasses: Always pick the lightweight and strong (cold/heat non-sensitive) that way they can be used interchangeably without a problem or safety concern. To add- plastic and paper cups can be useful as well but make sure to keep a permanent marker hanging around because you will want to maximize the use of each cup.
• Coffee or morning essentials: You’ll be content if you have the proper tea and/or coffee mug in the morning to drink your beverage out of and not have to worry. Forget settle up anything fancy you have pack actual coffee and/or tea and throw in your favorite mug to remind you of the goodness of the decision you have made for a better future!

Examples:

Box 1: Paper Towels, Sponges, All-Purpose Cleaner, Gloves, and Shower curtain

Box 2: Toilet Paper, Medicines, Bandages, Cups, Paper Plates, Cutlery, Toothpaste, Soap, Shampoo, Sheets, Towels, Air Beds, and Pet Essentials (e.g., food/litter etc.,)

Hopefully these tips will help better you moving experience by allowing you to have some peace of mind and if not Strong Hands, LLC., does all of this for our clients at a low cost. For more information give us a call at (607) 342-6761.

Protect Carpets While Moving

If you have not checked out “How To Protect Your Flooring” we highly suggest in doing so. Here is our second way of protecting flooring however a different type known as carpet. As you can imagine the whole idea of this information is to give more tips of how to protect flooring your right but we will take our applied knowledge to the next level here because we all can agree protecting your carpet is just as important as protecting your other types of floor (e.g., hard wood floors, tile, etc.,). There are many different material to use to cover your carpets for to strictly serve as protection so that absolutely no damage happens. Our worst nightmare is having damaged and stained perfectly taken care of carpet that was either put in or was left to us by previous owner who took very well care of them. Well there are strategies and techniques to damage-free carpeting in which not most clients who come to us nearing move in day would not have thought of to have used themselves. A material we use is using old clean rugs or even sometimes blankets donated to our company to use as temporary protection on clients move-in day. We use the strategize by placing this type of material at exit points to keep any water and/or dirty from getting on the rugs or below the material to the carpets. This strategy provides a barrier against damage (e.g., dents, scratches, stains, etc.,). We always remind clients using area rugs and blankets they decide to get rid of for moving purpose more than likely will totally get damaged during the process so only chose protectors that they do not mind letting go forever. Another material to consider is floor runner which act as an excellent protector and that will defend the floors and carpets in your home like a night in shiny armor. Most floor runners are made underneath to be anti-slip to keep them from shifting causing people who use them for many different reasons to slip and get hurt. Floor runners are a great option to use in particularly for staircases to prevent those from slipping while going up and down the stairs. Unfortunately, floor runner are pricey so you might want to find other material to use interchangeably. Plastic film might a bit cheaper however it is not recyclable. It serves as an a non-slip in between carpeting and traffic of feet in your home. Again, the downside of self-adhesive plastics film is that it has to be purchases yet another expense most would prefer to avoid. Strong Hands, LLC., like to use clean recycled cardboard as it is recyclable and cost little to nothing sometimes nothing at all. Cardboard can be used versatilely to protect hardwood flooring, laminate, carpet, tile and so on in your home. Flattened thick cardboard acts as extra protection that not only us but most clients prefer to keep not only us safe but our environment as well. Under normal circumstance and indented use, cardboard typically seals the deal for the win! In other words, if you already have the cardboard from packing then use it. Strong Hands, LLC., are the good movers and even if we are not doing all the work we are here offering all our tips. However, it is in customers best interest to hire the extra low cost help after hiring us the careful movers clients always realize how much work they were going to take on themselves and how their move could have costed them more. It is common that some clients do not realize up front all of the potential difficulties and actual cost that come into play making the picture a whole lot more troubling than just having our expert movers help. Our unique professionalism and knowledge speaks volumes in the work we physically do for our clients. For more details and information give us a call at 607-342-6761.

Protecting Walls While Moving

When it comes moving day, your biggest thoughts are likely to be about how to keep your belongings or both the house your moving out of and the house your moving into getting damaged. This is because, furniture is heavy and anything heavy easily can be hard to move let alone prevent from nicking from bumping into causing damage to a house you just sold and/or bought.

Strong Hands, LLC., has good new that clients can prepare prior to move in day preventing damaged worried happening. Taking such precautious will reduce the likely hood of anything that will cost you a great amount of money in repairs.

The best way to get a head start is consulting with Strong Hands, LLC., and preparing how to prevent your walls during your move together. While you may plan on tackling this job all on your own our professionals know the in’s and out’s of this area the most of how to keep your carpet clean of dirt, tears, and spill, and to prevent the walls just as much from dents and scratches by using carboard or other materials to prevent damage.

Strong Hands, LLC., makes it easy and simple by showing up in the proper attire with nothing that would rub up against fragile items and damage them. We are experienced at wrapping items that clients need moved out and into their new place with proper materials (e.g., plastic, shrink wrap, padding, soft fabric, etc.,) to avoid anything damaging clients walls. Hiring us avoids any extra money being spent later. It is our top priority to make sure out clients belonging get moved safely.

When it comes to your up coming move call us and let us work with you to get you moved out of your home and into your new one. We have professional’s that are knowledgeable on these kind of things and ready to help at a low cost. We have the solution to protect your walls and that solution is simply picking up your phone giving us a quick call at 607-342-6761.