I hate being average but I guess it’s true.  North Americans are noted as being particularly mobile.  On average we move about every five years.  And I just added up the number of houses or apartments that I’ve lived in during my whole life and divided my age by that number, and got 5.8 years per house.

To make myself feel better I decided to count from the very first house that I had control over once I moved out of my parents’ home.  I bought one, just down the street from them, and as it turns out, I like that math better.  I’ve lived in each of my homes for 9 years—nearly double the average.

Counting from our very first house that my parents built by hand over the course of two years (2-story concrete block home with a full poured-concrete basement, and massive attic) to where I live now, I’ve moved quite a lot.

Oddly enough, I have never left anything behind.  Not a stuffed toy; not a bicycle; not a single thing.  Am I lucky, organized, or just oblivious?  Maybe I just have a knack for the whole moving-thing…

Organizing for moving-day takes a significant amount of preparation.  You can start weeks in advance.  It’s very likely you already know the address where you’re going to be when you’re done.

However…

Even in this modern age where almost everything is done by e-mail, you still need to make a trip to the post office and fill out a change of address form.  Why?  Because the government still mails you things like refund checks and other fun stuff from governmental organizations.  Your last employer will want to send you some tax slips, as will your insurance company, your mortgage people, and your bank.  You want to receive those items.

Speaking of which, in many states it is actually illegal not to tell the DMV your new address within a very few days.  Don’t stop there!  Tell Medicaid where you’re going.  Speak to your family physician, if you’re moving out of town, and sign an authorization for him or her to forward your medical records when you have selected a new physician in the new town.

Wait!  There’s more…  Your veterinarian has records for your pets.  Your pharmacist has records of your prescriptions.  Do you have an optometrist who handles your contact lens refills?  Don’t forget the school records for your kids!

Don’t forget to cancel your newspaper delivery.  Drop by your Dry Cleaners and see if there is anything you forgot to pick up.  Drop by the shoes store to pick up those favorite sandals that are being repaired.  No wonder you need to plan weeks in advance…

So you’re moving to Pierre?

It’s sad that you’re leaving us here in Austin, Texas, but don’t worry.  M&M Moving can get you anywhere you need to go!

“Where is Pierre?” your friend asks.

“It’s in Dakota,” you reply.

“North or South?” she asks.

“It’s the state capital,” you reply evasively.  You decide to take a wild stab at it.  “I think it’s south.”

It’s also perfectly okay if you don’t remember your new address.  After all, you don’t live there yet.  But people are going to want to know, so take it from me and write it down somewhere.  Grab an online template for creating business cards (Avery has a good one) and print some up, on plain paper, or, if you’re extra classy, go purchase some nice laser-cut forms and make actual cards you can hand out.

Catching up with you

Remember that change of address form you filed?  Let’s say you’ve now been in your new house for three months and a letter arrives from the public library reminding you that the Anne Rice novel about vampires that you signed out is now four months overdue and they’d like their $15.75 in fees or you can pay $28 and keep the book…  Which (still not unpacked) box is it in?  Hmmm.

Let’s avoid that shall we?  Call the library and ask what books your family has out, so you can find them and return them.  Call your local book club friends so they don’t wonder why you never come to meetings anymore.  Cancel your gym membership so they don’t bill you for another year where you’re not going to go either.

Friendly Neighbors

Mrs. Jones from across the street is so nice.  It’s no wonder you trust her with the spare key for your house—but it is time to retrieve it because the new owners haven’t made friends with her yet and might not agree that the she’s the best choice.

But while you’re out and about, stop by Mike’s place and get your hedge trimmer back.  He’s had it since last autumn, and you’re going to need it in your new Topiary paradise.

And, come to think of it, you still have Don’s four winter tires stored in your garage.  You’d better tell him to come pick them up.  And you must remember to take the remote control for the garage door out of your car.

Is that it?

Nope.  Maybe you didn’t like Mrs. Jones’ either.  Did you hide a key under a rock in the garden?  Did you bury some emergency money in an old cigar box in the backyard?  Are there some family treasures hidden away in the attic that you’ve completely forgotten about?  Has your bicycle been hanging in the rafters of the garage for so long that you forgot that it’s there?

And don’t forget, before you wander off to your new home, that you have to drop off the keys.  That includes the keys for the garage, or the tool shed, or the cabaña by the pool.  Did you empty out the floor safe in the bedroom?  Don’t forget to leave them a note with the current combination!

You still have to pack it up

One thing I found really useful for moving is those clear plastic bins with colored lids.  I use red lids for bedrooms, green for living rooms, blue for dining room, clear for the kitchen, black for the basement (or garage), and yellow for my office-stuff.  It makes it so much easier to get everything to its proper place so you don’t end up moving things over and over again.

The red lids are even marked Master, Boy and Girl so that they can go directly in the correct bedroom.  Don’t stop there of course.

By putting a strip of masking tape on the lid you can write anything you want.  If it is linens, say so; if it’s toys for the kids, it can be a lifesaver if they’re bored while you’re getting settled in.  Knowing where the pet food is can be a lifesaver, too.

Essentials

Keep one box aside with must-have items for when you arrive at the new house.  Take it with you, not on the truck, in case you don’t arrive simultaneously.

What goes in it?  The coffee and coffee machine so you can get it brewing right away.  Have refreshments for the kids—because that is your responsibility as an adult.  Toilet paper!  I don’t know why but people take the toilet paper when they leave…how cheap do you have to be to take the toilet paper?

Have some rudiments so that you can prepare some sort of food.  A pot or two; some canned soup; a loaf of bread; peanut butter & jam; some plastic dishes and cups.

Bringing a flashlight or two can make a whole lot of sense if the new home has no ceiling fixtures.  Knowing that, you might want to bring a table lamp along with you.

The Takeaway

Just remember, anything you can do to make your life easier and simplify the task is the right thing to do.  Your buyers might love you for not disconnecting the cable TV service, or leaving the telephone working but good feelings shouldn’t cost $100 per month.  When you activate your new service at the new address, arrange to cancel your existing service on the day of your move.  It’s just good sense.

Don’t forget the bathroom!  People always seem to forget the medicine cabinet.  If they do remember that, they still forget the toilet brush and plunger that are stuffed behind and out of sight.

They also forget the most recently used dishes that are still in the dishwasher!  Not to mention the roasting pan in the bottom drawer of the oven.

One last thing…  Now that you’re in your new place, you can no longer vote.  When you change addresses your previous voter registration is no longer valid.  And that is true even if you stayed within the same state.  Once you register you will receive a notice telling you where your new polling station is.

We would be more than happy to advise you on any details about your move.  If you would like a fast, free online quote for your move (home or office) drop by our website here and get everything you need to know!

Come and Talk to us

It’ll be a great move!

Moving into a new home where the dining room and living room aren’t separated with a wall can create decorating problems for many people.

Since there’s no separation between the two areas, you must decorate both of the areas somewhat similar to maintain a balanced, uniform atmosphere.

Thankfully you can create an attractive, well-decorated environment in your living room/dining room combo by following some basic rules.

Keep Furniture Similar

One of the things you need to remember when decorating this area is to keep the furniture a similar color and style. This isn’t a concern in homes where the dining room and living room are separated, as they are essentially new areas.

Since the two rooms are combined, though, they need to follow a similar style and color palette to create a balanced atmosphere. For instance, if your dining room features cherry-red furniture, then you’ll want to choose a similar color for your living room furniture.

It doesn’t have to necessarily be the exact same color, but it should be somewhat similar.

Uniform Color Palette

When decorating a dining room and living room combo, you must carefully choose your colors. Your ultimate goal should be to create a color palette that naturally flows from the dining room to the living room.

From the naked eye, a guest or stranger shouldn’t be able to tell where the dining room ends and where the living room starts, so keep this in mind when you are choosing decorations and furnishings for this area of your home.

Since most homeowners tend to use neutral colors in their dining rooms, you’ll likely have to base your living room furnishings around such a color. The bottom line is that you simply can’t have bright and bold colors in your living room while neutral colors are being used in the dining room.

When these areas are essentially combined into one, they must follow the same color palette; otherwise, it will create a clashing style that does your home no justice.

Pay Attention To The Floor

It’s easy to overlook the floor when you are busy decorating your living room and dining room combo area. After all, it’s not easily seen, so how much of a difference can it make?

The fact is that a large dining room rug placed on the floor will affect all of the surrounding area, including the nearby living room. If you are using a dining room rug, make sure it flows with the color palette and general style of your living room.

Our team of moving professionals specialize in making your move as easy and stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move.  Get a free online moving quote today.

When packing, always pack first in last out. What I mean is; if you think you are going to require an item quickly during or after the move, place it last in a box or container so it is on top and readily available as you open the container. Likewise, items on the bottom are those that won’t be needed right away.

Always pack by room. Place several boxes and packing materials in each room and label the box by the room in which it belongs. In the case of personal rooms, such as children’s rooms include their name on the box.

If there are several of the same types of rooms such as offices, mark them specifically as well. And don’t forget to mark boxes for storage rooms and garages!

Bubble wrap all delicate items before placing them in a box. You should also bubble wrap all electronic items to prevent and lessen damage to the item due to shock or impact.

Try not to mix rooms in the same box. It is much easier to unpack a room when all the items and boxes for that room are located right there.

Try to move delicate and fragile items yourself. Whenever possible, move the fragile boxes and items prior to the big moving day. When that is not possible, place these items in your car.

Moving day will be a rush and to minimize the confusion that day, it’s best if fragile items are not part of the rush.

Place comfort and hygiene items in their own small box, tooth brush and paste etc. for easy access.

Also be certain to have one small bag with paper plates, cups and disposable utensils for dinner and lunch the day of the move.

Have any packing tips of your own you’d like to share? If so, please leave them in the comments below.

Our team of moving professionals specialize in making your move as easy and stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move.  Get a free online moving quote today.

Read more home moving tips here.

Moving is often viewed as laborious chore. While it certain requires some physical labor, it offers some surprising benefits as well. To learn more about the obvious and not-so-obvious benefits of moving, keep reading.

Exercise

To say moving is a “good exercise” would be an understatement. Moving heavy boxes on and off the truck burns calories while building muscle.

According to the health and fitness website FitDay.com, a 35-year-old male will burn approximately 311 calories per hour when moving furniture. Considering that most moves take several hours, if not longer, the exercise benefits of this activity are clear. Just remember to follow safe lifting practices (e.g. lift with your legs, not your back) to avoid injury.

Blank Palette

After moving into a new home, you’ll have a blank palette on which to decorate. The interior décor possibilities of a new home are endless, as you’ll have complete control over the colors, styles, designs and other elements.

Feel free to play around with different décor styles to see what works and what doesn’t. After all, this is one of the many benefits of moving into a new home.

If you’re struggling to find a color palette suitable for new home, pick up some paint swathes from your local home improvement store and tack them to the wall.

This will give you a better idea of how different colors will look. Once you’ve found the ‘perfect’ color, return to the store to purchase the paint.

Get Rid of Extra Furniture

Have some old furniture or other household items taking up space in your home? There’s no better time than now to get rid of it.

Instead of bringing it to your new home, you can go ahead and either sell or trash it. Moving offers the perfect opportunity to do a little a spring cleaning, even if it’s not spring.

Note: many charity organizations, such as Goodwill, will gladly accept used furniture. You won’t receive cash for your donation, but they may give you a tax-deductible receipt.

Start Fresh

Of course, moving also gives you and your family the opportunity to start fresh. You’ll have a new home, neighborhood, and possibly even a new city (depending on where you move). Take full advantage of this fresh start by putting your best foot forward, starting with your home.

Our team of moving professionals specialize in making your move as easy and stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move.  Get a free online moving quote today.

Read more home moving tips here.

Stephen “Steve” Adler, former chief of staff to Democratic State Senator Eliot Shapleigh, defeated Austin City Councilman Mike Martinez in a heated runoff this week.

According to the local KCAN Austin news affiliate, unofficial election results reveal Adler received 67.05% of votes, whereas his opponent Mike Martinez received just 32.95% of votes.

When the results were announced, Martinez called Adler to congratulate him on the victory, even promising the newly elected mayor that he’ll be Adler’s “biggest supporter.”

Given this dialog between the two politicians, I think it’s safe to say there’s no bad blood remaining.

This was a monumental mayoral race for several reasons, one of which is the fact that it’s Austin’s first ever election under its new 10-ONE system.

The 10-ONE system aims to restructure the City Council, expanding it from six elected officials to 10 singe-member districts. So even though Austin will hold elections to choose its mayor, individual districts within the city will be represented by separate politicians.

The majority of Austin’s 885,000 plus residents support this new format, but there are some who believe it will take away from the mayor’s power.

The Texas Tribune, which was founded by Adler, reports that Steve Adler is Austin’s first millionaire mayor, reporting over $1 million in campaign contributions as he pursued the mayoral seat.

“This election does not deliver the new way forward. This election only gives us the opportunity to deliver the new way forward. There is much work to do to deliver the new way forward — and we are ready to begin today,” said Austin’s new mayor shortly after announcing his win.

“The Austin we celebrate is one where everybody is good enough and nobody is too good. We celebrate a city where it doesn’t make any difference what your last name is. Whether as a young musician, or a tech entrepreneur, a dishwasher, an executive, an academic or a longtime resident on a fixed income, we deserve and expect to find opportunity in Austin.”

About Stephen “Steve” Adler

Born in Washington, D.C. in 1956, Steve Adler moved to Austin when he was 22 years old to attend the University of Texas. He graduated with honors from UT’s law school, later becoming an eminent domain attorney. Adler took a job as the chief of staff for Senator Elliot Shapleigh in 1996, while also founding the Texas Tribune newspaper.

Our team of moving professionals specialize in making your move as easy and stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move.  Get a free online moving quote today.

Whether you are planning to sell your house and move or you just want to spruce up your living space, painting the walls in a bathroom is a simple yet highly effective way to instantly update the decor with a fresh new look.

Having new color flowing through the atmosphere will create a more relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere, which is exactly how a bathroom should feel.

However, the humid environment inside a bathroom creates an added level of difficulty when it comes to painting. To ensure your paint stays on, homeowners must follow some basic precautions.

If you are thinking about painting your bathroom, read below for some key tips to help you achieve a professional-looking job.

Choosing Paint For a Bathroom

The single most important step in painting a bathroom is to choose the right type of paint. As previously stated, bathrooms tend to develop a high amount of moisture vapor.

When you take a hot shower or bath, some of the steam rises into the air where it can stay for hours before dissipating. These constantly high levels of humidity can take a toll on certain types of paint, causing it to run, sweat or develop other noticeable imperfections.

So, what types of paint are known to handle the stress of a high-humid bathroom? Most semi-gloss, high-gloss and even satin paints are excellent choices that will naturally repel water.

Their shiny surface acts as a natural water repellent, making them suitable for bathrooms and other humid areas. With that said, there are still some flat paints which work okay in bathrooms as well.

If you are dead set on using a flat paint, read the label to determine whether or not it’s suitable for humid environments.

Prepping a Bathroom

Before you begin to paint your bathroom walls, you’ll first need to prep it. Due to the high moisture vapor in a bathrooms, mildew and soap scum are almost guaranteed to develop.

Even if you don’t see any patches of mildew, there could be small amounts lingering on the walls. And trying to paint over it will result in a messy, unprofessional appearance that won’t last as long.

This is why it’s important to thoroughly clean your walls before painting them.

To clean mildew and soap scum from your bathroom walls, spray them down with a solution of half bleach and half water.

After spraying, scrub the walls immediately using a basic kitchen scrubber. Bleach is sure to kill any mildew that’s lingering on your bathroom walls.

Let the walls dry completely before attempting to paint them.

Our team of moving professionals specialize in making your move as easy and stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move.  Get a free online moving quote today.

Ever notice how your mood instantly changes when you step into a bold, brightly colored room? The right color palette will have an uplifting effect on your mood, creating a more energetic atmosphere.

On the other hand, a dark color palette may have the opposite effect by bringing you down. This principle is known as color psychology, and it’s used by interior decorators, designers and homeowners to create the perfect interior.

Red

Red is arguably one of the most intense and vibrant colors you can use in a room or home. It’s known to increase energy levels, offer greater visibility, and create a passionate environment.

The only downside that some people run into when painting their interior walls red is trying to find matching furniture for it. If you intend on painting your walls red, you should first check to see whether or not your furniture will match.

Black

On the opposite end of the color spectrum is black. When used correctly, black offers a calm and relaxing atmosphere that’s perfect for living rooms or bedrooms.

The key to using a black color palette is to contrast it with brighter colors through accent walls, trim, furniture and decorative accessories. Simply painting all of the walls in a room black and using similar black furniture will offer nothing in terms of aesthetics.

However, you can achieve an attractive atmosphere by complimenting the black paint with bright contrasting colors.

White

White is a color of balance and purity. Painting an interior room or area of your home white will open it up while creating a balanced, relaxing mood.

Some families and homeowners prefer to leave their walls white because of its easy-to-match appearance. While this may work on occasion, it’s usually best to choose a more vibrant color.

White is known more as a “base color” and less as a primary room color.

Yellow

Another color that shouldn’t be overlooked is yellow. With its strikingly bright tone, yellow has a powerful impact on the mood. It creates a natural energetic atmosphere that captures and reflects sunlight, making it the perfect choice for dining rooms and living rooms.

You can also use yellow paint to create the sense of a larger atmosphere. If you are faced with the task of decorating a relatively small room, try using yellow on the walls to open it up.

Yellow creates the optical illusion of a larger area by reflecting and bouncing light around.

Our team of moving professionals specialize in making your move as easy and stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move.  Get a free online moving quote today.

Decorating traditional square and rectangular-shaped rooms is usually a breeze. You can line your bed up against the center of your main wall and place accents along the side of it; however, not all rooms are constructed in this ideal shape.

Some rooms have box-shaped windows built into them, while others may actually be shaped triangular. In any case, it’s important to spend a little more time and effort in decorating your room if it’s shaped oddly.

Utilizing Furniture

Some people simply give up when it comes to adding furniture to an oddly-shaped room. The bottom line is that you should be doing the opposite and using more instead. Don’t go placing your furniture up against the walls like you would in a normal-shaped room, but instead use it to emphasize the unusual shapes and features.

For instance, if there’s a small box-shaped area constructed where a window it, try adding a day bed. The bright light coming in through the window will enhance your day bed, making it the perfect location to relax for a nap or to read a book.

You’ll also need to be a little more creative in choosing a location for your bed. Try to identify the largest wall and see if there’s a suitable location for it there. You may have to move around some furniture, but your ultimate goal is to create a balanced look with your bed in a functional location that’s easy to access.

Accent Walls

I’m a huge fan of using accent walls in bedrooms, especially when they’re oddly-shaped. If there’s a wall that stands out from the rest of your room, don’t try to hide it; use it to your advantage by painting it a different color than the rest.

There’s just something naturally fun and exciting about using an accent wall in a room. When done right, the mix of colors is sure to bring a vibrant new breath of life to the surrounding decor.

Keep It Open

When I say “keep it open,” I’m referring to how the room looks and feels. There are a couple of ways to accomplish this, one of which is by using a greater amount of lighting.

When there’s more lighting in a room, the area will naturally feel more open. Also, if you avoid black, gray and other day colors, you will create a more open environment in your room.

Our team of moving professionals specialize in making your move as easy and stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move.  Get a free online moving quote today.

Want to know the secret to a painless, stress-free move? It’s organization! Tossing all of your boxes and belongings in the truck without any clear plan of attack is a recipe for disaster.

Sure, they may arrive unscathed at your new residence, but it’s a guessing game trying to determine the location of your items. So, how do you stay organized during a move?

Label Your Boxes

I know this probably sounds like common sense, but you would be surprised at how easy it is to overlook something as simple as labeling, especially when you’re busy doing last-minute packing.

However, labeling your boxes will make a world of difference during a move, guiding movers to the appropriate room/area in your new residence.

Use a dark-ink (preferably black) marker to label the outside of your boxes once they are filled, taped up, and ready for loading. If the box contains fine china, simply write “Dining Room” on the outside, or if it contains office equipment, write “Office;” you get the idea.

Alternatively, you can use a color-coded system by placing a variety of colored stickers on your boxes, such as red for the dining room, blue for the bedroom, green for the bathroom, etc.

Create a Schedule

Another helpful organization tip is to make a moving-day schedule. You don’t have to follow it minute-by-minute, but it will give you a rough idea of your time constraints.

Having a schedule on hand will help you make the best use of your available time, which subsequently eases the stress of moving.

A typical moving-day schedule may begin with picking up the moving van (or waiting for the movers to arrive), loading the truck, driving to the new residence, unloading, and then unpacking.

It’s safe to assume that some unforeseen events will occur during your move, such as disassembling large furniture, so don’t worry if you are unable to follow your schedule exactly as planned.

Set Aside Important Documents

Create a separate box (or several boxes) containing all of your important documents like tax forms, health insurance, birth certificate, medical records, school records, etc.

Instead of loading these boxes on the moving van, you can personally transport them to your new residence in your own vehicle. This eliminates the possibility of them becoming lost.

These are just a few tips to help you stay organized during a move.

Our team of moving professionals specialize in making your move as easy and stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move.  Get a free online moving quote today.

Read more home moving tips here.

Due to their large size and awkward shape, bookcases are one of the more difficult items to move. Thankfully, you can still bring it with you to your new home. Just follow the steps outlined below for packing and moving an oversized bookcase.

Remove The Books

You should never attempt to move a bookcase without unloading the books (and any other items) first. Regardless of its size, carrying a loaded bookcase is just asking for trouble. If you happen to tilt it just slightly in either direction, the books will go flying off the shelves.

Emptying the shelves ahead of time will prevent such disaster, giving you the peace of mind knowing that your items are safe and secure.

Remove the books from the shelves, placing them inside heavy-duty cardboard boxes with a reinforced bottom. Don’t underestimate the weight of books, as a full box can cause the bottom to give way. If a box feels too heavy, remove some of the books and fill the remaining space with light items like pillows, blankets, etc.

Remove The Shelves

If your bookcase has removable shelves, it’s recommended that you remove them before hauling it off to the moving truck. Granted, not all bookcases have removable shelves, some of them are permanent, so this doesn’t apply to every situation.

If the shelves can detach from the bookcase, though, go ahead and take them off and pack them inside a box. You should also wrap your shelves with bubble-wrap to avoid damage when packing them in boxes.

Moving The Bookcase

Hopefully, you have another set of hands available to help you move the bookcase. Even with all of the books and shelves removed, moving a bookcase is still a difficult task for a single person.

With you at one end and another person at the other, carefully lift the bookcase and place it in a secure location on the back of the moving truck. Toss a moving blanket or old comforter over it to prevent scratching and you’re good to go!

Warning About Lifting

Avoid bending your back when lifting an oversized bookcase (or any furnishing for that matter). Most people instinctively bend their back to lift objects, which subsequently places stress on their vertebrae.

The right way to lift is by bending your knees and lowering your entire body down so it’s parallel to the floor. This places the stress on your legs instead of your knees; thus, reducing the risk of back problems later on.

Our team of moving professionals specialize in making your move as easy and stress-free as possible and we would love to help with your next move.  Get a free online moving quote today.

Read more home moving tips here.