What Needs to Be Canceled When Moving

The stress that comes with long distance moving is one that many people tend to avoid. Moving to a new house is good, but having to deal with the drama of the old one is depressing.

With many people considering changing their homes, we will be giving you a list of things that you must not forget to cancel before throwing a housewarming party at your new place.

6 Things You Must Cancel Before Moving to Your New Place

There are some important things you must cancel before planning to move to a new place. They include;

• Landline 
• Cable and wifi
• House rent
• Gas and electricity
• Gym membership
• Newspaper subscription 

Phone (Landline)

When moving or relocating to a new home, canceling your landline plan is very important. Canceling your landline plans can save you as much as $20-$60 a month. And at this time of economic hardship, huge expenses like this won’t look good on your balance sheet. 

If you don’t feel like canceling your plan because of the importance of the number. You can easily call customer care services and request that your line be ported to another service as you move out of that area.

Cable & WiFi

Thanks to the rapid advancement of technology, one can access the internet and cable TV from anywhere and anytime in the world, just from their mobile device. The one issue with accessing the internet from anywhere in the world is that the further away you are from the cable or internet providers, the slower your access to the internet. 

However, swapping your old internet and cable providers for a new one whenever you relocate is a step towards enjoying your new place. With a new service provider, you are sure to continue watching some of your favorite shows and sports without having to worry about poor network.

House Rent

In some cities, rents are paid weekly, monthly, or yearly. Depending on the city, be sure to cancel your rent before moving. Telling your landlord that you are leaving his property makes it easier on both of you. It helps them make arrangements for whoever is next coming in after you. Most rental companies, especially in the US, require their tenants to give 60 days advance notice before moving out or risk being fined.

Gas & Electricity

Electricity and gas are the two utility services that must be carefully nullified when relocating. These two utilities are so essential to our daily survival that they must be canceled on the day of your relocation. 

Failure to cancel them can put you into a lot of financial trouble because the service charges measure by the day and sometimes by the hour.

Gym Membership

If you are not moving to a location not too far away, canceling your gym membership is absolutely not necessary. Things to cancel when moving are things you can’t access due to distances or things that cause you inconvenience when accessing them.

With so many gyms everywhere, finding and registering for a gym that fits you won’t be any trouble.

Daily Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions

This is one of the easiest items on the list to cancel when moving. With fast and easy access to the internet, it would be better if you switch from traditional physical newspapers to modern online newspapers. 

Remember you can easily notify your newspaper company of your new house address if you want to keep receiving your newspapers and magazines in the old ways.

Steps to Cancel Them

1. The first thing you need to do is contact your landlord and inform them that you will no longer be renewing your rent.
2. When canceling your electric and gas services, send a representative to check the final reading on the meter. This is to be sure that your final bill is correct. Also, if you made a security deposit for your gas or electricity, don’t forget to ask for a refund. 
3. Most internet providers usually request 30 days’ notice to stop charging you for services you longer use. But you can call them to make it official.
4. For your newspaper, all you need to do is call your newspaper, and it is done. Most newspapers, like the Financial Times, offer to reimburse their clients using the same payment method they used for subscribing within 14 working days after you call for the cancellation.
5. Call the front desk of your gym and ask them to cancel the subscription.

Conclusion

High Stream Moving, a reliable moving company, knows that moving to a new home can be difficult, but when done perfectly, can be satisfying. So, to avoid being hunted by bills from your old house, take adequate care when canceling all your subscriptions and utility services as you move out. Aside from the items mentioned above, here are other lists of things to cancel when moving out, water, trash, cleaning service, school, sewer, and more.

Call High Stream Moving at (800) 430-1537 to experience quality moving service!

How to Pack Crystal Stemware for Moving

Crystal stemware is luxurious and unique glassware that should be handled with care whenever you are moving. A crystal stemware has a flat base that supports the glass stem. These household items are brittle and can be tricky to pack.

Fortunately, at High Stream Moving, we offer different moving services, including secure packing of fragile household goods. Our professional packers will stuff all your valuable and fragile items using the correct padding. Moreover, we have all the necessary materials for packing crystal stemware.

Essential Tools and Supplies

Moving crystal stemware requires secure packaging – otherwise, they might crack or break. You need the appropriate materials, tools, and accessories to pack and seal these special household items.

Tools:

• Boxes
• Cardboard
• Knife or scissors
• Packing paper or newspaper
• Permanent marker pen
• Seal tape
• Wrapping material like bubble wraps

Wrapping Materials:

• Towel
• Bubble wrap
• Newspaper
• Tissue paper
• Paper rolls
• Magazine
• Sheets/pillowcases

Step-by-Step Process

Therefore, are you relocating and concerned about how to pack crystal stemware for moving? Here is the correct step-by-step process for packing your glass stemware.

Before the Move

Contact High Stream Movers! You need to request ‘packaging services’ from us before the relocation day.

Ensure to communicate the exact number of fragile items available to our High Steam Moving team. This information helps us to identify the required equipment.

Pro Tips:

• Make sure the set (s) of crystal stemware are clean before packing.
• Place all the glassware in one area for easy packing.

During the Move

Understand how to pack crystal stemware for moving. Packing the crystal stemware correctly eliminates the risk of damage.

Step 1: Gather all items together

Get the crystal stemware and place all the necessary tools on a flat surface.

Step 2: Gently wrap the crystal stemware

1. Use a wrapping material like bubble wraps to cloak the glassware.
2. Wrap the top, out, inside, base, and stem of the glass without leaving any part exposed.
3. Tuck the excess material on the base area or inside the glass to protect the glass.

Step 3: Prepare the packing box

Packing with dividers:

1. Cushion the bottom of the box with newspaper and add more padding to secure the bottom of the box.
2. Use cardboard sliders to partition the box for each glassware. (Make the sizes tight for each glass to make sure they fit precisely with minimum/no space left).
3. Gently place each glass at the partition. (Ensure to place the glasses facing up, straight, or lying on the sides for an easy moving process.

Packing without dividers:

1. Place enough newspapers to secure the bottom of the packing box. However, this depends on the size of the box.
2. Next, place enough cushion padding on the box. You can use thick layers of padding, but not up to a ¼ section of the box.
3. Place the glasses in the box closely to each other without leaving any spaces.

Step 4: Secure the top area

1. Add more padding at the top area to ensure the box is airtight.
2. Use bubble wrap, newspaper, or other wrapping materials and make sure every part is correctly tucked in.

Step 5: Sealing the Box

1. Close the box nicely by ensuring all the ends are inserted correctly, then use seal tape to close it.
2. Use a permanent marker pen to label the box for easy identification. You can label it fragile, glass, or crystal stemware.

After the Move

You are not done packing crystal stemware for moving until you load the box(es) into the moving truck(s).

1. Gently carry the boxes and load them into the truck.
2. Place the boxes on the truck’s floor to keep them from falling.
3. Secure the fragile boxes between furniture, confined areas, or cabinets to reduce movement during transportation.

Pro Tip: Avoid accidents by moving crystal stemware gently.

Moving Tips and Hacks

1. Use dish rack partitions rather than cardboards.
2. Fill any spaces left with wrapping materials.
3. Use small-medium-sized boxes for packing the crystal stemware.
4. Keep all equal-size glasses in the same box.

Packing crystal stemware in packing boxes has its advantages.

• All glasses are safe from damage.
• Make packing organized.
• Easy to identify the fragile items during a move.
• Easy to pack & unpack.

Conclusion

Packing crystal stemware for moving requires great care to avoid any damage. High Stream Moving, fortunately, is among the best relocation companies that guarantee efficient results. Our experienced packers understand how to pack crystal stemware for moving.

Additionally, our team will execute fast, safe, and correct packaging of crystal stemware. Contact us today at (800) 430-1537 to get all the above-mentioned services, plus the moving estimate and more packaging info.

How to Pack Mixtiles for Moving

Picture frames are delicate and usually get damaged if handled without care. Mixtiles, on the other hand, have revolutionized the photography industry with their easy-to-handle and versatile characteristics.

Mixtiles are fixtures used to decorate the walls without damaging the paint. Today, these particular accessories are stylish alternatives to mounting your family or pet pictures on the walls. Your family pictures and paintings often appear like real-life versions of the social media photo feeds when mounted on the wall.

Nonetheless, homeowners are usually concerned about packing mixtiles for moving.Fortunately, in this article, we’ll look at the most effective ways to move mixtiles from old walls to a new home from a professional company that specialises in long-distance moves.

Tools Required for Packing Mixtiles for Moving

• Boxes
• Soft packing paper
• Bubble wrap
• Marker pen
• Kitchen wax paper
• Scissors

Alternative Wrapping Materials:

• Parchment paper
• Paper rolls
• Plastic wraps
• Tracing paper
• Beeswax wraps
• Pillowcases
• Bedsheets

Steps-by-Step Process on How to Pack Mixtiles for Moving

Usually, there are seven steps involved when packing mixtiles for moving.

Step 1. Preparation

1. Gather all the necessary equipment to ensure a smooth packing process
2. Prepare a flat working surface and also make sure no water or dust is present on the surface. Clean the area with a dry cloth to remove any moisture or dirt.

Step 2. Unsticking

Hold the mixtile at the bottom and the top, then peel it off smoothly. Do this gently to avoid damaging the adhesive glue. Also, avoid peeling off the gum from the mixtile frame because it might damage the wall.

Mixtiles usually come off tidily if you do this process correctly. Do not touch the sticky backside of the mixtile with your hands or any other object. Touching the adhesive reduces the glue bonding when re-sticking the mixtiles.

Step 3. Protect the Mixtile Adhesive

It is necessary to maintain the mixtile adhesion because you have to re-stick your pictures and paintings.

1. Place a kitchen wax paper on the sticky side of the mixtile to maintain its adhesion.
2. Place the waxing paper on each mixtile. Do this immediately after peeling off the mixtile to avoid reducing the adhesion.

Remember: The longer you leave the back of the tape open, the more you compromise the adhesiveness of the mixtile.

Step 4. Packaging

You can pack the mixtiles in two easy-to-follow techniques.

• Pile the Mixtiles on top of each other, then wrap the entire stuck using bubble wraps.
• Wrap each mixtile individually with bubble wrap

Though, stack the mixtiles of the same dimension when using the first method. 

Step 5. Boxing

1. Place soft packing paper at the bottom of the box and use them as padding.
2. Gently stack all of them in the boxes for moving after you finish packing Mixtiles. However, use the appropriate boxes to ensure they fit tightly.
3. Add more padding at the top after the box is full.
4. Tuck the ends correctly and use seal tape to secure the box.
5. Label the box “Mixtiles or fragile.”

Step 6. Transportation

When loading the mixtiles, place the boxes in a cabinet and lock them. Alternatively, place the mixtile boxes between furniture or confined spaces to avoid unnecessary movement.

Also, do not place the box on the vehicle’s floor to avoid water damage when moving Mixtiles.

Step 7. Mounting Mixtiles Back

1. Clean the wallpaper using a dry cloth.
2. Remove the kitchen wax paper to re-stick the Mixtiles.
3. Mount the canvas board on the wall and use a spirit level or other similar tool to make sure it is straight.
4. Apply enough pressure to grip the mixtile on the wall.

Dos and Don’ts

Conclusion

Mixtiles are more delicate than you might be thinking. Any tiny scratch, bump, or tear on the frame can cause significant damage.

So, always ensure to use the correct materials and tools to avoid damaging the mixtile. Furthermore, safeguard the adhesive behind for re-sticking the mixtiles on a new wall. Add a little bee wax or mixtile glue if a mixtile does not re-stick.

Contact a professional moving company if you have trouble removing the mixtiles from the wall. High Stream Moving professionals have the expertise and the necessary tools to remove, handle, pack, and re-stick Mixtiles. They’re just a phone call away – reach us at (800) 430-1537.

How to Move a Piano?

Pianos are fragile, complex, and bulky musical instruments that require delicate handling before, during, or after moving. Otherwise, you risk damaging the frame, the keyboard, the cover, or the legs.

Tips for Moving a Piano Safely

As a homeowner, you need experienced and professional movers to help you move a piano safely because of their nature. Fortunately, this article will help you understand how to move a piano safely using the necessary tools and materials.

We at High Stream Moving Company take pride in moving pianos safely from your old residence to your new location. We have the experience and expertise you need to execute the process.

You should, however, understand a few things before you begin the moving process.

• Contact a professional piano moving company.
• Wrap the piano with pads to protect it from scratches.
• Map a route through the doorway to help in the moving process.
• Measure the piano before purchasing any wrapping material.
• Use the correct gear i.e. heavy-duty straps and a dolly.
• Close the keyboard lid and protect it.
• Always move the piano in an upright position.

Steps Involved to Move a Piano Safely

Always follow the recommended step-by-step procedure to avoid damage and scratches when moving a piano.

Step One: Hire a Team of Professional Piano Movers

Contacting a reliable piano moving company is the most integral step. Fortunately, at High Stream Moving Company, we have all the tools, team, and skills to handle delicate piano moves.

Also, research information about piano moving services to get a free quote or estimate before contacting the piano movers or even booking an appointment.

Step Two: Acquire All Moving Equipment

Here is a list of the necessary tools and utilities to move a piano safely.

• Gloves
• Tape
• Dolly
• Heavy-duty straps
• Blanket
• Plastic wraps
• Ramp
• Moving Truck
• Piano skid board
• Screwdriver

Step Three: Measure the Size of the Piano, Hallway, Doorway, and the Staircase

Start by mapping out a route of passage. Compare the piano measurements with the route.

Measuring all dimensions will help you tell if the piano fits through your home. You can also adjust the doorways if the piano does not fit through.

Step Four: Piano Moving

Step-by-step process:

Step Five: Moving the Piano Inside the New Residence

Slowly roll the piano out of the truck to avoid breaking the legs or damaging the frame. Repeat step three above and move the piano through your new home. Make sure the new position is clean before placing the piano into position. Reset the piano tunes.

Moving a Piano on Different Types of Floors

Hiring Professionals Vs. Doing It Yourself

You can either move the piano by yourself or hire professionals to help. However, moving a piano yourself has consequences (as seen above). So, hiring professionals is recommended.

Professional piano movers handle all the planning and moving processes. They have the necessary tools to secure and carry the piano compared to moving a piano yourself. In most cases, you might not have all the required tools and utilities.

At High Stream Moving Company, we have a special piano moving team that specializes in moving pianos. This cannot be compared to moving the piano with your family members or neighbors who might lack the experience and expertise.

Hiring professionals can be expensive. But did you know that moving a piano yourself can also be costly? For example, you will have to purchase a few essential tools for moving a piano (if you do not have them). Furthermore, repairing a damaged piano while moving by yourself is expensive.

The other importance of hiring a professional piano moving company is the convenience offered. Most homeowners do not have moving trucks parked at home. Hence, contacting a reliable moving company is the only logical solution. At High Stream Moving, we have several moving trucks that fit all household items, including pianos.

Remember that you should not load a piano in an ordinary car if you do not want to deal with accidents and damages.

Lastly, moving a piano yourself takes longer than moving the piano with professionals. At High Stream Moving, we guarantee efficient piano moves to your new residence.

Dos and Don’ts

There are a few things you should do and should not do as a property owner.

Conclusion

The bottom line of moving your baby grand or medium grand piano is to contact the experts. Professional movers have the necessary skills and tools to handle local and long-distance piano moves.

This guide has looked at how to move a piano safely, plus the importance of hiring professional piano movers. We at High Stream Moving, provide affordable and efficient piano moving services to homeowners today.

Contact us at (800) 430-1537 today and get an estimate or talk to our customer care agents.

How to Pack a 26-Foot Moving Truck

Moving day is often an eventful one. Weeks or even months of planning culminate in just a few hours of frantic activity. Of course, it only takes a few hours if you get it right. The more belongings you have, the more you have to pack, and the more complicated moving day will be. There are a few helpful tips on how to pack a moving truck like a pro right here in this article.

And if you decide to transport your belongings in parts, you can use storage services from our moving company.

How to Select the Right Truck

You have to take inventory and get an idea of what the ideal packing truck size is for your needs. Moving trucks from most professional firms offer a variety of sizes.

For home movers, the smallest are city cargo vans, while the largest are box trucks, about 26 feet long. This article is specifically about how to pack a 26 foot moving truck.

Even if you are inclined to only hire and pack a truck for moving by yourself, it is still wise to have professional help. They can help you make an estimate and pick the best truck size that fits.

Packing Tips that Work

For the most part, the basic rule of packing is heavy and large items go in first. The rest of the things go in after, scaled by size and weight.

Packing this way has many benefits. They include:

• It is the most efficient way to pack items and use the truck space.
• It helps to spread the mass and maintain the truck’s stability. A load moving truck needs to have the weight distribution at a low level to provide stability and safety.

Finding the Most Effective Loading Order

Here is a basic guide you can follow. Needs and applications differ, so there is a more set and specific way you must load a moving truck in a specific order. There are always going to be exceptions.

1. The biggest and heaviest objects should be placed first. Furniture often makes up the majority of this. Large appliances should be wrapped up if they are too big to place in boxes. Always place them with the right side up, so that nothing breaks.
2. Any large and heavy items, you should place them in front and low in the cargo area, over the center of gravity of the truck. Be careful to load the truck’s front with other larger items as well.
3. A packing trick that may surprise you is that fitting heavier things vertically is actually more efficient than sitting them down flat. You will use up the full cross-sectional area better with vertical placement.
4. Next to follow are all of your items in cardboard boxes. Optimize space by arranging them according to size and shape. Labels are useful, so get a bit of tape and right what is inside where. This makes unloading easy and also lets everyone know what items are fragile.
5. Light furniture like awn chairs, kids’ toys, lawn chairs, couch cushions, luggage, and dining chairs can be placed on top. Light possessions should not be placed or squeezed under heavier stuff so that they will not be crushed or damaged.
6. Always wrap fragile items that are prone to tearing and keep sharp edges as covered as possible. Try using moving blankets or plastic wrap. Glass faces like those on pictures, mirrors, and TVs must be given special attention.
7. To stop your heaviest goods from moving, use tie-downs to secure them.
8. Another packing hack is to roll up rugs and carpets into cylinders and then tie them. A rug must be rolled properly with the outside facing out.
9. Near the back of the truck, the medium-to-lightweight objects can go. This includes any moving boxes and smaller furniture pieces.
10. Where possible, pack items into their original boxes. This is the best protection designed for them. It also helps you keep track of them.
11. Labels also help, so pack collectibles, jewels, and valuables in boxes with clear labels. Important documents may also need to be packed individually.

Hiring Moving Company & DIY

Although everyone’s home is different, packing and moving is a pretty generic process at the end of the day. Appliances, furniture, and other possessions are not the same for everyone, but the same basic processes apply.

If you are a DIY kind of individual, you will probably need only a few pointers on how to best manage available space, time, and money.

However, you will definitely need more than a few people to assist you on the moving day. Helping hands is something you will need to figure out because moving professionals know how to pack a moving truck like a pro. The experienced professionals at High Stream Moving offer the best deals.

Call High Stream Moving on (800) 430-1537 to experience quality service in loading 26-foot moving truck.

Сonclusion

Do not fall into the trap of choosing a smaller loading truck because it will be cheaper. A truck that is 1 foot lower and 2 feet shorter has much less total volume than you might expect. Be aware that a smaller and cheaper packing truck might ultimately end up costing you both time and money. And refer to High Stream Moving to get the best moving service in town!

How to Choose a Moving Company

Everyone can agree that moving is stressful. You must prepare for weeks!

Before the moving day you need to ensure you notify the landlord, inform your loved ones, and change your mailing addresses, among other things. And this is just the easy part.

Next, you have to spend more weeks sorting your belongings, packing, and most importantly, choosing a reputable moving company to move belongings to our new locations. Finding a company that can help make the process seamless requires a lot of research and patience.

The first thing to look for when choosing a moving company is transparency. A transparent company will be open about everything but especially their prices. They should offer you a free quote and shouldn’t introduce other hidden fees after you pay a deposit or sign an agreement.

But that isn’t the only thing to look out for; this article discusses all the steps you should take when choosing a moving company.

Make Sure the Moving Company is Licenced

The moving industry is filled with all sorts of scammers. The only way to differentiate the legit companies from the scam ones is to check if they are appropriately licensed. 

All professional movers are adequately licensed, and they will publicly display their credentials on their websites. They will also not hesitate to produce those documents when you ask to verify them.

There are several ways to confirm the legitimacy of licenses a moving company shows you. The easiest method is searching for the company’s name or business number on the Federal Corporation database. It lists all federally incorporated and licensed companies that do business nationwide.

Thoroughly Research the Moving Company

Before entrusting all your belongings to a moving company, the least you can do is perform some background search. Researching a company before using them can save you time and money.

• Talk to your friends and family and get their opinions and recommendations. If their experience with a moving company was terrible, for example, they were late and arrogant; you might want to avoid that company. 
• You should also check their online reviews. A reputable moving company will have a solid online presence and is listed on multiple review sites like Google, Facebook, HomeStars, and Trust Pilot. The firm you pick should be highly rated across different platforms. 
• You should also stay clear of companies with a perfect score of 10/10 or 100. The reviews might be bogus, or the company is new and doesn’t have enough industry experience.

Check If the Moving Company is Insured 

While being vigilant and heedful when moving is always encouraged, the process can be hectic. Excitement and hurriedness can lead to accidents and damage or loss of properties, which is why you should always pick an insured company when moving.

All the top moving companies will provide real liability insurance for your cargo when moving.

• Discuss the insurance terms and the deadline for claiming after the insurance with the moving companies.
• Create a list of all your possessions and their value, present it to the movers and have them double-check everything before signing a contract. 
• Most movers will provide special packaging for your expensive possessions when you choose to have them insured. And to cut down on the risk of damage, they will do the packing.
• The moving company can also offers you Replacement Value Protection.

Ensure the Moving Company Have a Local Physical Address

Many companies online claim to offer moving services; it can be hard to tell which company is genuine and which isn’t. To remove any doubt, you should narrow your search to a local moving company with an address you can visit. Always ask yourself, “are there moving companies near me?”

Working with local firms will help you in many ways, including

• They can send representatives to do onsite inspections and provide a more accurate cost estimate.
• The company can easily walk you through all the requirements.
• The company will provide you with physical contracts you can sign.
• Provide peace of mind knowing you can follow up with them anytime.
• You can confirm if the storage facilities they provide meet your standards.
• You can ensure they offer all the services you require.

Interstate moving companies will have offices and storage facilities in every state they operate in. This guarantees smooth delivery of service. When making a decision, it is also vital that you go with a company that has multiple locations across different cities and countries.

Make Sure Moving Company Do Not Subcontract

If you want to save yourself from the headaches, canceled appointments, exorbitant prices, and lack of professionalism, ensure you hire a reliable moving company.

When hiring quality movers, ensure they check all these boxes:

• Have permanent Employees: Some moving companies don’t have reliable movers. They hurriedly hire unqualified people every time they receive work. Always choose movers with permanent and well-trained staff.
• Use Their Fleet: When choosing a moving company, ensure they have their own branded vehicles. You will find that after hiring them, some companies will come with a hired truck that is unbranded. The best moving companies own tractors, trailers, tracks, and their entire fleet of vehicles.
• Have  Storage Facilities: To ensure that the security of your possessions is guaranteed when a mover has to store them, confirm that they own storage facilities. Some companies might subcontract storage needs to third parties who may damage, mishandle or misplace your goods.

An example of a reliable company that has established itself in the market for 10 years is High Stream Moving.

Look at the Moving Company Track Record/Experience

The competition in the moving industry is tough. New companies are always coming up every day. Companies with bad ratings always rebrand to escape their bad rep, but they rarely step up their game. 

To save yourself from potential losses, always assess the track record of the moving coming you choose by looking at their experience. Here are some characteristics of an experienced moving company.

• Longevity -The best way to measure the experience of a company is to look at how long it has existed. Established companies will have 10+ years of experience in the moving industry.
• Offer a wide range of services – Experienced companies will offer many services associated with moving like packing and moving storage.
• Recognized – A moving company with a good track record will be recognized by industry leaders and be awarded trophies and awards over its long history.

Conclusions 

The process of choosing the best movers can be tedious and time-consuming. But how you choose a moving company will decide the kind of service you receive. Always ensure you pick the movers with the best experience and have their fleet of vehicles, permanent employees, and moving companies near you.

Call High Stream Moving on (800) 430-1537 to experience quality service from the best moving company around.

How to Fold a Mattress for Moving

During the packing stage of cross border moving, you will realise that some of your belongings do not fit neatly into the expected spaces, and moving them can be tricky. For example, mattresses are enormous and weirdly shaped, making them incredibly difficult and awkward to transport or store. So how can you make it better? Can you fold and shape a mattress? 

Yes, you can fold a mattress. However, it can be difficult if you do not know what you are doing. And although some furniture movers or moving services do the packaging for you, it is important to know how to do it yourself. This article gives you tips and tricks to help you successfully fold your mattress when moving. 

Folding a Mattress

Before we get into it, it is essential to note that it is not advisable to fold innerspring or foam mattresses thicker than 6”. Ideally, foam mattresses should be vacuum-packed and rolled up instead of folding. 

The innerspring mattress should never be folded and should be moved as it is. Folding an innerspring mattress will not only be difficult (naturally, the mattress will want to spring back to its original flat position), but even if you successfully fold it, there is a risk of damaging the spring coils and the border rod inside. 

Thinner foam and latex mattresses can be folded in half (fold it lengthwise with top and bottom touching. If in doubt, check with your movers for advice on how to package your mattress correctly. 

Note: Try not to keep the mattress folded for a long time. 

So, here is how to fold a mattress. 

What You Will Need

1. Help (A family member or a friend)
2. Tie-down straps or rope
3. Mattress bag or a plastic sheet

Process

1. With the help of your friend or family member, put the mattress in the mattress bag (or cover it with a plastic sheet). 
2. Fold the mattress in half with the top and bottom touching. One person will need to hold it in place to keep it folded.
3. Now use the tie-down straps or rope to tie the mattress into place. If you are using a rope, try to make a taut-line hitch knot. With this knot, the tension of the mattress will do the rest of the work for you. Here is a video illustrating how to make a taut-line hitch knot:

4. Now seal off the bag or plastic sheet. Ensuring that the ends of the mattress’s top and bottom are as tight as they can be, now tightly tuck in the edges of the bag to make a neat tight snug. You can use packing tape to finish this step if you like. 

How to Vacuum-Pack a Foam Mattress

If you have a foam mattress, you might need to vacuum seal it instead of folding it. However, it is advisable to check the mattress warranty and see if vacuum sealing it at home is manufacturer-advised.  Once you have confirmed, here is how to seal it:

What You Will Need

• Vacuum
• Vacuum bag
• Packing tape
• Ratchet straps or rope
• Mattress bag or plastic sheet
• scissors

Process

1. Place the mattress into a mattress bag and seal it using the packing tape.
2. Remove the valve from the vacuum bag and draw an outline of it on the mattress bag.
3. Using the scissors, cut out the outline.
4. Place the valve on the hole and tape it shut to prevent air escapes.
5. Now use the vacuum on the valve to suck out the air.
6. Now start rolling up the mattress and hold it in place using the ratchet straps or rope. You might need help to complete this step.  

Conclusion

It can be challenging to get it right when packing to move long distances. However, do not sweat it. Some moving companies offer full-service moving solutions that include taking care of your mattress packaging. Just check with our movers to see what is included in their services.

Give us a call at (800) 430-1537 to experience extraordinary service from the best moving company in town!

Change of Address Checklist: Who to Notify When You Move

A lot depends on a successful long-distance move. In addition to months of looking for a new home, acquiring boxes, packing, hiring a moving truck (or contracting professional movers), you will need to notify various people/entities of your change of address—and not just your family and friends. 

You can notify them even after the move. However, it is advisable to do it as soon as possible to avoid the hassle of service errors or missing bills.  

Are you unsure where to start and who to notify when you move? Here is a list of addresses to change when moving that will help you determine who you need to give a heads up about your change of location. 

Gas and Electricity

You will need gas and electricity in your new home. Therefore, you need to make this notification as soon as you find the new address and confirm the day you will be moving—or you risk getting into your new home without electricity or gas. 

Also, while registering your new address, remember to arrange it in such a way that service in your old place stops on the day you move. 

Water

This is the same as gas and electricity. Notify the provider that you have changed locations and will not use the utility beyond the date you move. 

Other Utilities

Even with water, gas and electricity set, other utilities could lead to frustrations if not set in your new home beforehand. These include: 

• Internet
• Cable
• Phone services
• Garbage and recycling
• Sewer services, etc

Post Office

After setting your utilities, the other top priority is to notify the United States Postal Services of your change of address. This will ensure that all mails—including mail to your old address—are forwarded to your new address. 

Plan to do it at least a week before you move so that there is no gap between when you move and when the mail forwarding service starts. You can easily update your address online here. 

Tax Agencies and Social Security Administration

It is important to notify all the necessary government agencies of your address change—you can easily do this online. For your state tax agency, check online on their site for directions on updating the changes. 

The IRS has a simple online form to notify them of the address changes. The same applies to the Social Security Administration. 

Employer

Notify your employer of the change of address so they can update your official contact information. This will ensure that your cheques, pay stubs, tax forms, and other relevant details are sent to the right place. 

Bank, Credit Card Company and Loan Providers

Check online for information on updating the changes on your bank and credit card company. While at it, do not forget to check how to send this information to your loan providers. You are moving but not running away from your responsibilities. 

Insurance providers

As a priority, contact your home/renter’s insurance providers and let them know of the changes and where to transfer the cover. If you are moving to a rental, keep in mind that some landlords need proof of the insurance cover. So ensure that the changes are taken care of beforehand. 

While at it, do not forget to update:

• health insurance, 
• dental insurance, 
• car insurance, 
• and life insurance

Memberships and Subscriptions

Update the changes on all the services you are signed up with and organisations you are involved in. These include:

• Online shopping services like Amazon and eBay.
• Magazines and subscription services
• Clubs and organisations, e.g. Costco

Family and Friends

Last but not least, let the people who care about you know that you have moved. You can send a generic email to everyone on your contact list, or if you want to be more eccentric, you can design unique change of address cards and send them to the people you care about. 

Conclusion

We at High Stream Moving know that moving can be hectic. In addition, notifying all the necessary parties of the changes can be time-consuming. But it needs to be done and in good time. This will ensure that all these parties can update the changes to avoid problems like missing mail, missing a service, etc. 

Remember, although it is tiresome to make these notifications, it is even harder to track down missing or lost items. So the above change of address checklist when moving will help you keep track of this and stay on top of your game. 

Give us a call at (800) 430-1537 to experience extraordinary service from the best moving company in town!

How Long Is a Moving Truck?

Most professional relocation service companies have a moving truck and a team of experienced packers. All these are essential factors that boost the safe transportation of household equipment. However, you should know that it is not always about the moving truck but the precise size truck.

The most important thing is to determine exactly what you will be transporting. Just household items? Or maybe you want to transport a car? Or both?

Remember that moving trucks are available in different sizes today. Thus, having the correct size moving truck comes with its advantages.

For example:

• The correct size moving truck accommodates all household items perfectly.
• It will cover the relocation distance once.

Most homeowners, however, ask one question. How long is a moving truck?

After reading this article, you will understand the correct size moving truck to get and its importance. But first, let us answer a few other significant questions property owners ask.

What Size Moving Truck Should You Get, and What Is the Importance?

It is always necessary to request the correct size moving truck for two reasons.

• A long moving truck will leave a space, and household items might fall while relocating.
• A small moving truck will not fit all household items. Thus, you need two or more small-size moving trucks to relocate.

Features to Look For in a Moving Truck

Apart from understanding the correct moving truck sizes, also consider a few factors. These include how many rooms are in your house, furniture size, and type, and the number of moving boxes required. These factors will help you determine what size moving truck to get.

Similarly, moving trucks have exceptional features that will help you determine what size moving trucks you need. Moving trucks with a loading ramp, for instance, allow efficient loading and offloading of household equipment. A moving truck with a towing ramp allows vehicle towing when moving.

Other features include:

• additional fuel tank,
• extended load capacity,
• increased space.

Understanding Moving Truck Sizes

There are different types of moving truck sizes for rental. The following are a few standard trucks available, depending on your items.

Small Load

These include household items from small apartments, studios, and dorms.

• Pick-up trucks: Pick-up trucks are smaller and ideal for transporting small loads. A standard pick-up is about 76ft and can carry approximately 2000 pounds.
• Cargo van: A standard cargo van is about 245ft and carries a load of fewer than 4000 pounds.
• Small-moving trucks: Small moving trucks have a volume of approximately 380-450ft. These trucks can carry between 3000 to 3500 pounds and are perfect for studios or 1 bedroom relocation.

Medium Load

Medium load is from a 3 or 4-roomed apartment. It requires larger moving trucks. These trucks have larger space than smaller trucks. A medium moving truck measures about 650-850ft and weighs between 3000 to 6000 pounds.

Large Load

The large load includes bulkier furniture and approximately 500 medium boxes. A few large moving trucks have containers attached at the back. These trucks can measure up to 1600ft and weigh approximately 7000 pounds.

Overview of Moving Trucks

How to Choose the Moving Truck Size

Choosing a moving truck size is not easy. Fortunately, you can follow these steps to pick the right moving truck size.

• Create an inventory of all household items
• Use the moving truck size calculator to determine which truck to request
• Contact High Stream Moving to rent a moving truck

How to Secure a Moving Truck

After choosing the precise size moving truck, contact us to get a detailed calculation and a quote. At High Stream Moving, we will rent the precise size moving truck no matter the distance covered. We have a fleet of moving trucks to facilitate efficient relocating.

What Do Movers Load First

When relocating, utilize the space available in the moving truck to fit all household items. Ensure to rent the correct size moving truck. High Steam Moving packers, fortunately, load heavy items first, then other medium-weight follow. Lastly, all other fragile items are put in the moving boxes, then packed.

How Long Does It Take Packers to Load a Moving Truck

This depends on the amount and nature of items available. Though, it takes less than six hours with our team of expert movers. At High Steam Moving, we have the necessary equipment and experience in relocating commercial and residential establishments.

Conclusion

Major moves are usually stressful. From determining a reliable company to selecting the precise size moving truck, most homeowners find it challenging. But do not worry anymore. At High Stream Moving, we can help you pick the correct size moving truck. Contact us today at (800) 430-1537 for more information and a quote.

How to Pack Jewelry for Moving

The far more challenging objects to transport aren’t always the heaviest or bulkiest. Small possessions are the easiest to lose. In the case of jewelry, this is particularly true. You won’t be able to bring all of your jewelry with you, all at the same time, if you have a significant collection. 

When you’re not cautious enough, you might discover your necklaces in a tight, interwoven ball and part of your accessories lost when you move in. Furthermore, you would rather not be inclined to consider several more belongings on you while on full-service moving. 

That’s why you should use the following moving jewelry packing recommendations for an efficient and effective local moving service.

Step 1: Take Into Account a Jewelry Roll

If you have a limited jewelry collection, these things are ideal. The jewelry roll is frequently used when traveling, but it is also useful when moving. It’s excellent for a modest to medium-sized jewelry collection, with distinct pockets and the ability to roll in on itself. You can also buy a few rolls if you need them.

Step 2: Buttons for Earrings

Having lost an earring is among the most annoying aspects of wrapping and transporting accessories. However, if you have extra buttons, you can use one for two earrings. All you have to do now is feed the earring through the button, and you’re done.

Step 3: Make Use of Pill Cases

Pill containers are ideal for discretely storing tiny objects. If you prefer or are available, you can use an egg carton. Still, the pillbox is more favorable because it’s secure and will not open accidentally during the move.

Step 4: Protect Your Armoire

If you’ve stored your prized possessions in an armoire, inspect to make sure the drawers are locked. This prevents it from opening during the transfer and spilling its contents, including your valuables, all over the place.

Step 5: Individual Items Should be Kept Safe

When packaging jewelry, make sure to pack each piece separately. Cover every bit in tissue paper before putting it into a plastic container. If you have precious jewelry that you wish to preserve against scratching, such as gold, which is quickly damaged, make sure you do this.

Step 6: Wrap it in Plastic Wrap and Secure it With a Rubber Band

Place plastic wrap over a small dish of jewels and fasten it with an elastic band if you’ve had a relatively minor collection.

Step 7: Perform Inventory Check

Before packing, make a list of everything you have, and then go over the invoice when you arrive.

Step 8: Use Notebook Spiral Binding

You can use a spiral notebook binder or a spring for this technique. After feeding your necklaces through the straws, hook the clasp to one of the spiral loops. 

Everything will be in order and easier to protect as a result. You won’t have to stress opening your jewelry box and discovering a tangle of necklaces if you follow these packing instructions.

Step 9: Items to Keep in Your Bag

Some professional local movers and interstate movers will refuse to transport valuables such as jewelry. Insurance is frequently the reason for this. Jewelry, when lost, can be costly to replace for a mover, so keep it with you whenever possible.

 Conclusion

Attention to minor details can make a massive difference when getting ready to relocate. Not only that meticulously packing your jewelry ensure that you don’t lose a priceless family heirloom, but it will also save you from mind-shattering hassles and frustration.

Give us a call at (800) 430-1537 to experience extraordinary service from the best moving company in town!

How to Pack a Synthesizer for Moving

When moving, the last thing you want is something precious like your antique acoustic piano or your digital keyboard breaking due to inadequate packaging. Musical instruments can be pretty delicate. If not carefully handled when moving, they can easily break. 

So if you are not hiring a full-service piano moving service, how do you ensure that your keyboard gets to its new home safely? Here are tips and tricks to help you package your keyboard DIY safely and avoid any accidents.

Choose the Right Packaging

Portable pianos are made for easier transportation – hence the name. However, you must pack it with great care to avoid causing damage. Consider investing in a keyboard hard case for long trips, e.g., interstate moving, or if you are using it for regular traveling gigs and moving it a lot. Otherwise, ensure to use a hard-sided soft case or, at the very least, a padded keyboard bag.

The right packaging is the first step to ensuring that you transport your instrument safely while moving.

Disassemble Your Musical Instrument

After choosing the proper packaging, the next step is to disassemble your synthesizer. The process should follow the instrument’s manufacturer’s instructions. However, it typically involves separating the keyboard from the console and separating the legs, pedals, and music stand.

There are many instructions and tutorials on how to dismantle a keyboard online.

Protect the Keys and Stay Organized

A piano’s keys are the most delicate part of the whole instrument. So while dismantling it, handle it with care as even the slightest mishap can break off the ends of the keys and cause significant damage. 

Also, remember ti stay as organized as possible. You do not want to get to your final destination and find that a part of your instrument is missing or was forgotten.

Now Pack Your Keyboard

Now that your keyboard is dismantled and ready, it is time to pack it. You need to ensure that you use enough padding to have the instrument snug fit inside the package to ensure it doesn’t slide and jack around during transport.

Note: Even with a hard case, you still need padding.

Here is a step-by-step guide:

What You Will Need

1. Package (a hard case, a soft case, or a keyboard bag)
2. Bubble wrap
3. Packing peanuts (or any packing material of your choice)
4. Packing tape
5. Scissors 

Process

1. Ensure that your case or box is the right size for your keyboard. It should have 2-3” around all dimensions of your instrument. 
2. Bubble wrap your keyboard with 2-3 layers of wrap and tape it into place using the packing tape. 
3. Place the power chord on the portable pianos and make 2 more layers of bubble wrap. 
4. Place 2-3” of packing peanut into the box or case and slide the instrument in. 
5. Now line all sides snug with the packing peanuts. 

Note: A quick test to see if the keyboard is safely packaged is to check if the package passes the shake test. If there is no movement in the package when you shake it, you are good to go.

 Conclusion

If in doubt, consort a professional (your moving company should be able to help or recommend a qualified professional). Local movers also provide full-service moving, which includes professional packaging.  It is especially crucial to talk to a professional when you are moving long-distance, e.g., to another state.

Give us a call at (800) 430-1537 to experience extraordinary service from the best moving company in town!

How to Pack Glasses for Moving Without Paper

When moving condos and houses, wrap your glasses to prevent them from chipping. It would be best to pack the glassware compactly in boxes to keep them from moving excessively.

Many people use paper to cushion their fragile items when moving. While this industry standard is affordable and easily available, it isn’t always effective. Sometimes the papers get torn, leaving the glasses exposed, or the ink could transfer to their surfaces, causing permanent damage. This article will tell you how to pack glasses for moving without paper.

What Are Some Effective Paper Alternatives?

If you’re packing glasses and don’t want to use packing paper or cannot seem to get your hands on good-quality paper, you can improvise and still pack them correctly.

How else can you pack glasses for moving without paper? Here are four alternatives to packing paper that you can easily find in any household:

Bubble Wrap

These are a great option if you want to pack glasses for moving without newspaper. This wrap works magic, especially if your glasses will have to travel over a long distance on bumpy roads. Bubble wrap provides close to maximum protection for glassware. However, these saviors are quite costly and less eco-friendly than other packing materials such as paper.

Choose a wrap with smaller bubbles for your glasses instead of larger bubbles. The former wraps around the items more effectively, protection against breakage.

Cloth Wraps – T-shirts and Socks

Another way to pack glasses and dishes when moving is by wrapping them in clothes. You can use t-shirts and socks to wrap your glasses. Try and wrap two glasses per t-shirt to save on space. Protect the small or oddly shaped glasses by placing them inside socks

The upside is that you can use whatever type of clothes you have available. The downside is that the clothes take up much space in the box.

Pillowcases, Sheets, and Towels

Most households have all these three items in abundance. When packing your glasses with pillowcases, sheets, and small towels, ensure that you provide enough padding between the items. Pillowcases are quite thin, so you can fold them so that they provide enough cushioning. On the other hand, towels are quite thick, so they provide enough cushioning for the items placed between them without needing to be folded. Unfortunately, towels take up lots of space inside the packaging.

Vertical Stacking

Stack the glasses vertically inside a compact space like a tray if you’re a minimalist. The glasses need to be packed firmly to minimize movement. While this is a simple and practical solution, it’s quite a high-risk option. It would be best if you were very careful while transporting the glasses.

Foam Plates

Do you have any remaining foam plates from the last party you held at your house? You can place these between your glasses to prevent breaking. They act as a barricade between the glasses bundled horizontally.

Foam party plates are thick and spongy and can, therefore, absorb any pressure that would otherwise break your glasses.

The Packing Process

STEP 1: Choosing the Right Container

When looking for a container to put your glasses in when moving, there are numerous options to choose from. Some of them include boxes, trays, and barrels. Ensure that what you choose is strong enough to hold the glasses.

STEP 2: Packing the Wrapped Glasses

Choose the most suitable packing solution depending on your needs. Once you’re done wrapping the glasses, place them inside your container of choice. Cushion the bottom of the container to prevent the glasses at the bottom. Pack the heavier glasses first, followed by the lighter ones.

You should also ensure that the glasses are not too squeezed in there as that could also cause them to break. If you have extra space on the sides or at the top, fill it up with bubble wrap or pieces of cloth.

STEP 3: Sealing and Labeling

Apart from boxes, it would help if you had other packing supplies such as tape. Use this to seal the topside. Once that is done, label the container describing its contents. Ensure that you indicate “FRAGILE” because glass breaks easily, and notify anyone moving it to be cautious.

STEP 4: Unpacking

Everything should get to your new home in one piece. Be extra careful when unpacking the glasses to avoid any last-minute accidents. Clean them and arrange them inside where they’re safe and easily accessible for daily use.

Conclusion

There’s so much to do before moving. Packing your household items should be the least of your concerns. Trust High Stream Moving to package your fragile glasses carefully, and you won’t come across any cracked ones after getting your new abode. They’ll always offer great professional services.

Give us a call at (800) 430-1537 to experience extraordinary service from the best moving company in town!