Category Archives: Uncategorized

4 Simple Tips to Get Your House Sold

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Guest blog by Lisa Kirchhoff 

Lisa Kirchhoff

The real estate market has been a tough one in many areas of the country, but even so, there will always be people out there looking to buy a home. Whether it’s a young couple searching for their first starter home, a family in need of a bigger home, or an older couple hoping to downsize to something smaller, homes of all sizes and styles will always be in demand. So how do you set your home apart from the many others on the market? It’s simple when you follow a few tips:

1.       Clean. It may sound like an obvious task before putting your home on the market, but cleaning should also include everything from surface dirt on places you might normally miss (light switches, door frames, ceiling fans, to name a few) to tossing old toys, knickknacks, paper, and general clutter. If you have items you want to clear out buy may not be ready to get rid of for good, rent a small trailer, storage space or Pod unit to store it. Moving out an extra end table, floor lamp or large toys will visually unclutter a room so potential buyers can focus on the unique features of the home- not your stuff. Use moving blankets and furniture covers to protect items in storage until you’re moved into your new home.

2.       Stage. If you’ve seen the home staging shows on the popular home and garden cable TV channels, you know the right changes can make a huge difference in the appearance of your home. But don’t be scared off by thinking the job is just too big. Every little thing counts: remove personal photos and mementos, add a vase of fresh flowers to a few rooms, place extra lights in rooms that feel dark, tone down bright paint colors or add a layer of neutral beige to white walls.

3.       Start outside. First impressions count. When prospective buyers walk up to the front door, they’ll take notice of things you may not always recognize:  peeling paint, weedy flowerbeds, dead shrubs, a broken mailbox. They may believe that if the outside has not been kept up, the owners have not kept up repairs on the inside, and house tour will begin with a negative slant. Keep your front steps clean and the lawn mowed, add a potted plant or two, touch up paint on the front door, add a fresh new mailbox and house numbers, and keep weeds out of your landscaping.

4.       Be flexible. Having your home on the market can be an exhausting experience, but staying flexible with showings can be the difference between a sale and prospective buyers finding something else instead because your house was not available for a showing. Keep your home as clean as possible at all times so you can be ready if a realtor calls to ask for an immediate showing. It can be difficult with small kids, but keep a few empty laundry baskets or large plastic boxes handy so you can quickly toss in toys and other clutter from countertops and shuttle them to your vehicle before the relator and prospective buyers arrive. Keep a box of disposable cleaning wipes in each bathroom and in the kitchen so you can quickly wipe down surfaces in an instant. Also before they arrive, open blinds and curtains to create as much natural light as possible.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lisa Kirchhoff is a writer and blogger for USCargoControl.com , an e-commerce company that specializes in moving supplies for both professional and DIY movers.

East Coast Franchise Opportunities Now Available!

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East Coast Franchise Opportunities Now Available!

From the Capitol to the coast, we want to move people forward in life with people like you who possess business acumen and a dedication to making things just right for our customers. We have opened 28 new marketing areas throughout the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia region.

Hottest new open cities include:

Richmond, Va.
Roanoke, Va.
Baltimore, Md.
Frederick, Md.
Washington, D.C.
D.C. metro markets

If you are interested in learning more about owning a franchise in these areas please reach out to our Franchise Development team by completing our Contact Me form.

Creative Tips for Storing Holiday Decorations

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Written by Nick Howison and Brad Hillard

The holidays are in full swing, but they end as quickly as they come. The bittersweet combination of decorating, time with in-laws and shopping is an emotional roller coaster; especially when the season comes to a halt. If it seems like a good idea to simply throw all of your holiday decorations in a box in the attic, this post is for you.  The results of a hasty holiday tear-down can be disastrous and make decorating for the next year even more complicated. Take the edge off by using the following tips to efficiently pack and store your holiday decorations:

  1. Rally the Troops: In my house, everyone is determined to “deck the halls”, but when it comes to taking it down, nobody wants to help. Every year I earn their help by taking them out to a dinner and a movie-of-choice after the decorations are down.
  2. Label your Boxes: Writing “fragile ornaments” and “singing-Santa clause”  on their respective boxes helps organize the entire decorating process from start to finish. It’s helpful when assigning tasks to family members. It allows me to ask, “Can you bring down the hand-carved reindeer set from the attic? It’s in box labeled ‘Xmas Living Room’.”
  3. Choose Wisely: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® has a variety of boxes tailored to your packing needs.  Some unique ones include a dish pack box with an insert for your Christmas tree ornaments. These boxes are big and hold a variety of items so you can use them year-round. Click here to see a few options available to you.
  4. Recycle: Did your gift come with bubble wrap or protective foam? Reuse these perfectly good packing materials in the place of the old, mostly-popped, bubble wrap in your decoration boxes.
  5. Christmas Creativity: Pack smaller ornaments and decorations into an empty egg carton (leftover from the plethora of consumed eggnog). This provides a protective shell for the ornaments and the cartons can be stacked inside a larger box.
  6. Light bulb!: Wrap your lights around pieces of cardboard.  This is a great way to keep the lights from tangling which in turn  protects them from annual damage. Once they are wrapped, place the cardboard pieces in a labeled box for next year.

No matter which method you choose to pack up your holiday decorations, the blog team at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® strives to move you forward no matter the task and we are always available to help with any packing challenge. Share your holiday packing tips with us in the comments!

We hope you enjoy the time spent with your families and wish you a happy holiday season!

10 Things You Must Know About Winter Moving

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Winter is just around the corner and although the season brings harsh weather, families throughout the country will move into new homes. Our friends in colder climates know what exactly they are up against: ice, snow, slick roads, and frigid temperatures … all of which increase the risk for personal injury and damage to valuables during a move.

If you plan to hire movers or are moving by yourself this winter (I applaud your bravery), read the following tips to stay safe during your winter move day:

1)     Avoid slip hazards by shoveling driveways and walkways before your truck arrives 

2)     Stay warm in the cold by dressing in layers; you can always remove layers if you begin to overheat.

3)      Leave the heat and electricity on in your home until you are completely moved out; consider leaving your door open during the move to balance the temperatures. Constantly walking back and forth from a warm house to a cold driveway can cause fatigue.

4)      Cover your floors with old sheets to avoid tracking mud and snow into your home 

5)      Place towels by the front door to wipe away snow from the dolly wheels as you come in and out of your home

5)      Consider purchasing extra moving pads to protect all of your belongings from the elements

6)      Ensure your moving pads remain dry at all times

7)      Have a shovel and salt on the truck so you can easily clear the loading area of ice and snow

8)      Be extremely cautious when driving and watch out for black ice 

9)      Keep towels in the truck so you can clean and dry the moving ramp while loading and unloading

10)   Carry any plants in the cab of the truck not in the back where they can be affected by cold temperatures

If you would like more information on moving during the winter, shoot us an email at moverswhoblog@twomen.com. If you have winter moving tips of your own please share them in the comments! 

Protect the Environment During Your Move

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Written by Lindsay Nowak

Have you heard of the gypsy moth? No? Me either until I was tasked with communicating it to the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® system on how to stay gypsy moth-free during moves.

These little creatures continue to cause problems throughout the United States which affects the way moving companies transport customers’ items across state lines.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, these bugs are one of the most destructive pests of trees and shrubs to ever be introduced in the United States. Since 1970, gypsy moths have defoliated more than 75 million acres in the U.S.

While not every state has been designated as a host state to the gypsy moth, it is important to be aware of the rules and regulations. Transporting the gypsy moth during a move could devastate trees and shrubs of an uninfected area, making it hard for families to enjoy communities and natural surroundings.

Franchises within states affected by the moths are required to comply with federal law for ensuring infected items are not taken into uninfected regions. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® requires a checklist be filled out by customers for checking off items that are moth-free and safe to transport into uninfected areas. This checklist goes with the customers’ goods when being transported.

Customers are required to inspect outdoor household items, such as grills and lawn furniture for gypsy moth egg masses before being transported.

For more information on the gypsy moth and how to avoid these pests when moving, visit http://www.hungrypests.com/YourMoveGypsyMothFree/. I recommend taking a look at the quarantine map as well as the tips to prevent the spreading of gypsy moths when moving. 

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®’s Movers for Military collection celebrates Veterans

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By Dawn Kroeger

Veterans. When I hear the word “veteran”, many words come to mind such as sacrifice, honor, hero, freedom.  Like many others, I don’t first think of words like homeless, jobless, poor or hungry. But all of those words – the words that come to mind and those that don’t – are a reality for many veterans.

According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, one third of our nation’s homeless are veterans. Additionally, the NCHV estimates roughly 1.5 million other veterans are at risk of homelessness due to poverty, lack of support networks and poor living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing.

Much work is being done to combat this crisis for veterans and their families from bills introduced to the Senate and House of Representatives to national and local organizations working on preventing homelessness while serving current homeless.

This year TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/INTERNATIONAL, Inc. introduced a new initiative being rolled out in 36 TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® locations called Movers for Military. The goal of this program is to partner with local agencies serving homeless veterans to provide much needed essentials such as towels, bedding, clothing and toiletries. In an effort to educate children about the needs of veterans and provide an opportunity for service, Movers for Military also engages local schools to join in the collection.

With the support of more than 60 media partners, as Veteran’s Day approaches, Movers for Military has been successful in year one by collecting more than 15,000 items for local agencies and increasing awareness of the needs of homeless veterans.

Check out some of these great clips and photos highlighting the Movers for Military program for our local veterans in need:

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Living Better in San Diego radio interview

Miami television station website article

K92.3 FM Orlando website

 

5 Ways to Make Moving Memorable for Children

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Written by Shelby Reno

Leaving the familiar can be tough on the psyche for anyone, but for a child it can be traumatic. The only bedroom they’ve ever known might be what they are letting go, so identifying ways to ensure your child’s experience is a positive one is easier than you might expect.

Our movers are encouraged to meet the child at his or her level. Once a kid feels comfortable with the people who are hired to move the entire contents of his life, the anxiety is diffused and the child is more apt to join in the adventure. We recently saw this in action at a franchise in Atlanta, Ga. After engaging the six-year-old boy of a couple who was moving for the first time in that child’s brief history, he wanted to help the moving team, so the movers made him an honorary supervisor, outfitting him with an official armband. The boy’s parents were so touched that they sent a heartfelt letter to the office and thanked the moving team for making an indelible impression on the youngster. Giving them a part to play can make all the difference to our precious little ones.

Here are five key thoughts to consider if you’re moving with small ones:

1) Harness the good in change, and frame the move as a grand adventure. Plan a fun event after the move is complete. Make a favorite meal or buy a new piece of furniture you know they’ll love, like a bean bag, canopy netting for the bed, an inexpensive tent for the new room or a wall decal of their favorite cartoon character.

2) Remove the unknown by planning ahead. Keep the move a daily topic, especially as the move nears. You’ll pick up on anxiety triggers allowing you to head off potential issues.

3) Pack special toys and lovies in a carry-on that never leaves the child’s side. Keeping their favorite things close is a sure-fire way to curry comfort and reduce anxiety.

4) Make introductions to strangers on move day. Our movers care about pets and kids, and there are countless stories of our teams going above and beyond for our clients’ loved ones. While moving can be stress-filled, professional movers know they are hired to minimize this to any degree they’re able.

5) Take advantage of opportunities to be inclusive with your children. Many kids just want to have place in the process. There are opportunities abound that give them a role while keeping them out of the fray. Ensure their special tasks are safe but rewarding.

If you and your chosen movers handle your children’s experience with TLC, your move will be memorable for all the right reasons.

We Are Moving People Forward at the Franchise Expo in Anaheim this Weekend

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Are you ready to move people forward with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®?

Face it. Moving isn’t easy and is typically full of emotions that elevate stress levels. Our job at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is to reduce stress, making the move go as smoothly as possible regardless of the situation. We do this with a system of great franchisees committed to strong core values which are centered on stellar customer service. And while our franchisees are working on the business with a focus on accountability, we provide them the tools to build an effective and efficient team and operation.  Our success has resulted in 34 consecutive months of growth, with 29 consecutive months of double-digit growth.  The last 18 months of growth have been at record setting levels!

And we want you to consider being part of this.

Visit us at booth #616 to learn about our 26% growth in three years, our significant investment in system technology, and our favorite: The Grandma Rule®. We will run hourly drawings for models of our eye-catching trucks, and during the last hour of the show each day, you can have your picture taken with Truckie, our famous mascot.

Revisiting Our Core Purpose

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Written by Randy Shacka, president of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/INTERNATIONAL, Inc.

Why?

What does a simple three letter word like why really mean? Why does it matter? Although simple by most accounts asking yourself “why” in business should be the cornerstone for your business’s existence.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® recently relooked at this question in hopes of refreshing our core purpose.  Why do we do what we do? Why is TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® in business?  Several years back our organization asked this question and came up with our original core purpose: “To be a role model in our industry”.  This was fitting at the time. When you think moving, movers or the moving industry, it doesn’t necessarily conger up warm and fuzzy thoughts.  Unfortunately, our industry is rife with unlicensed groups trying to take advantage of others.  So back then, to be a role model was definitely something to shoot for in helping to overcome this perception. Over the past several months, we have relooked at our brand, our vision and our purpose.  It was evident our purpose was missing the human element of what we do.

We looked at what our frontline staff does every day. We looked at the community outreach that is so important to us and the locations that give back as part of their daily efforts. We looked at our customers and what they say about our service (yes even when things don’t go as planned) and finally we looked at where we want to take this brand.  We realize each and every day that we have an opportunity to make someone’s day and get them through a potentially tough situation. Let’s face it, moving is not easy and is typically full of emotions that elevate our stress levels.  Our job at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is to pull up each day to someone’s driveway or business and put a smile on their face, reduce this stress and make the move go as smoothly as possible, no matter what the customer’s situation.

But our brand is much more than just customer service.  The growth we have experienced and the positive service metrics we receive are a testament to that. This reflects our old purpose and through the early years of taking care of customers one move at a time, we lived up to that purpose. As we have evolved and grown and where our company is today, it is much more than just the customer experience. It is also the experience within our organization, the passion of our employees, the sheer number of people whom may have started as a mover or customer service representative that are now business owners as franchisees. At last count I believe close to 30% of our system followed this path.

This is energizing and really shapes the passion that exists under this brand!

Through a purpose exercise it hit us smack dab between the eyes. We wake up every day truly to move people forward. Whether it’s our customers, communities, employees or the general public; our driving passion is to leverage our brand to help people progress and this will continue to fuel our drive to grow and continue to build a sustainable brand for future generations to come.

10 Renovations to Consider for Your New Home

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Guest post by Erin Devine

After the selling, buying, and moving processes are over, you can sometimes find yourself living in a new house that feels a bit foreign. Renovation projects provide you with the perfect opportunity to make the most of your creative skills while transforming your house into a home. Here are 10 popular renovation projects you can undertake to add some personality and style to your new stomping grounds:

Install Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring gives your home a distinctive mark of elegance and sophistication. You can install tongue-and-groove style planks that slide together. Visit one of the large hardware stores near you and get a lesson from an expert. Not to mention that hardwood flooring is an investment that increases the value of your home if you have to move again in the future.

Accentuate the Kitchen

Remove the knobs and pulls from the drawers and cabinets in the kitchen. Find pewter or antique finishes in restoration hardware stores. Shiny ceramic knobs are available in many colors. Backsplash tiles can also take any kitchen from drab to beautiful, and most colors and styles come in mosaic mesh mount for easy installation.

Install Medallions on the Ceiling

Unless your new home has plaster moldings, you can replicate the elegant look with plastic. They are lightweight and easy to install, and they give your home a distinctive and aristocratic look.

Replace Kitchen Faucet

Style and function are important to you in the kitchen, and the right faucet can make a big difference in both. A faucet that has a high arch lets you put large pots under it so you can scrub them easily. A graceful shape complements your kitchen area as well.

Upgrade the Mudroom

Laminate flooring is, by design, perfect for the rooms of the house that are subjected to more dirt and water than others. By prepping the floor and following other recommended procedures, laminate flooring makes a beautiful floor, and it is less expensive than hardwood. You can also install it yourself with little hassle. Join an installation class at your local hardware store.

Install Stepping Stones to Your Door

Find some round or square stones at your local store, or buy a bag of quick-setting concrete mix. Use your old cake pans or your child’s plastic toys as forms, and paint them when they are dry.

Upgrade Your Showerheads

Replace an old showerhead with a large, luxurious one. Find one that conserves water but still creates a wide spray. Or, you may want to purchase a showerhead that features a pulsing massage.

Replace Switch Plates

Armed with only a screwdriver, you can remove the old plates and install new ones. You can choose the same color for all plates or adapt your choice to match each room.

Spruce Up Your Bathrooms

Older homes often have a small mirror in the bathroom. However, you can easily update your bathroom by replacing it with a mirror that covers the entire wall, making the bathroom appear larger than it actually is. You also may want to purchase a vanity so that you have something to store your make-up, medications, and toiletries in.

Buy a Bucket of Paint

Nothing improves the overall appearance of a home more than fresh paint. Start with the room that needs it the most. If there’s a room without windows, you may want to choose a light color to instantly brighten the space.

There are many renovation possibilities for your new home, and all it takes is a little bit of dedication and some elbow grease to make a new house truly feel like home.

 

Erin Devine blogs for Floor & Décor Outlets, a factory direct flooring company specializing in hardwood and tile floors. She also maintains her own interior design and home renovation blog, DIY Home & Floor.