Tag Archives: moving

EFO Training: Why I Hire Movers

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Chris Bortnichak was a great MC!

Chris Bortnichak was a great MC!

Written by Claire Schneider

Over the last two weeks I participated in TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®’s EFO training. What is EFO you might ask? Well, EFO stands for Essentials of Franchise Operations and is an eight day, hands-on, collaborative learning experience preparing franchisees to open and grow a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® franchise. The training session is held through STICK MEN UNIVERSITY® at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/INTERNATIONAL, Inc. During this time, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® experts teach attendees about policies, processes and tools necessary to launch successful franchises.

Chair Melanie Bergeron shares TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® history. Very inspiring!

Chair Melanie Bergeron shares TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® history. Very inspiring!

During the class I learned a lot about TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® and what it really means to be the “MoversWhoCare®”. We went over our Core Values and Chair Melanie Bergeron shared the company’s history and how we ended up where we are today. We also learned about what it takes to be a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® franchisee and what sets us apart from the rest. We had experts ranging from human resources to IT support to customer care, who all shared valuable information they have encountered over the years.

Yep, this is me monitoring our Facebook page

Yep, this is me monitoring our Facebook page

 

For those of you who don’t know, I am the social media specialist at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/INTERNATIONAL, Inc. and as the class got on its way, I realized I stuck out like a sore thumb. While their daily tasks consists of making sure moves run smoothly, whether it be dealing with operations, customer care or performing the actual moves, my day consists of sending Tweets, posting Facebook content and teaching others how to optimize their social media presence. I learned a lot from everyone in the group and found out things I never knew were issues while moving. Group discussions allowed me to learn from their real life experiences, which will make me that much better at my job.

We learned a lot from group discussions

We learned a lot from group discussions

Computer lab time!

Computer lab time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The day I found most exciting was moving day (not that any day wasn’t exciting). We were fortunate to have movers from the Lansing franchise come and show us how to properly move items in a house. No, this doesn’t just mean loading things on a truck, but rather how to make sure everything had a moving pad and stretch wrap on it to ensure they don’t get damaged during the move. They showed us how to carefully move items through typical obstacles in a house such as stairs and through a doorway. I never knew there were so many different terms for carrying an item. Once they demonstrated, it was our turn!

Our Lansing movers made it look so easy!

Our Lansing movers made it look so easy!

I learned how to pad and wrap a dresser. Here I am practicing the corners!

I learned how to pad and wrap a dresser. Here I am practicing the corners!

Tim & Don give moving a try!

Tim & Don give moving a try!

I even had a chance to move a chair, and trust me, I did not make it look as easy as they did.

Moving

Before: Desiree and I are all smiles

Moving

After: This is why I hire movers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once the eight days of training were complete, it was graduation time!

It's graduation day!

It’s graduation day!

After participating and graduating from STICK MEN UNIVERSITY®’s EFO Training, I am reassured TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is not just a moving company but truly are “Movers Who Care®”.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.

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.

Movers for Moms® 2013

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Written by Claire Schneider

It’s an exciting time at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® lately as we ramp up our Movers for Moms® program once again! We are very passionate about our Core Values and Movers for Moms® is a big part of them.

What is Movers for Moms®?Movers For Moms

Movers for Moms® is a program that was started by TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® nearly five years ago because we not only wanted to give to charity, but also be a part of the cause. Movers for Moms® is based around the communities where our franchisees are located and is focused on making life easier for less fortunate women, who are forced to stay in shelters on Mother’s Day. Our goal is to make sure their day is special as well.

“Among industrialized nations, the United States has the largest number of homeless women and children. Not since the Great Depression have so many families been without homes.”

– GreenDoors.org

More than 100 TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® locations across the country have partnered with schools to begin collecting items for mothers in need. Our TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® locations will then pick up the items and deliver them to their shelter partners just in time for Mother’s Day.

How you can help

It’s simple! All you have to do is bring your donated items to a participating TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® location near you. Typical donation items may include: soaps, hair styling products, shampoos and conditioners, pillows, blankets, slippers and basic essential items.

We will take care of the rest!

Getting kids involved 

Movers for Moms® is a great way to teach kids how important it is to give back to the communities in which we live. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® wants to thank all the schools that are participating in the program this year. We have seen tremendous growth in the past year and now have 420 schools taking part in the program, compared to 200 last year. We could not have made this program what it is today without them!

Movers for Moms

KinderCare

We especially want to thank KinderCare for their involvement with Movers for Moms® this year. KinderCare works hard to improve the lives of children in communities where we live and work. With the expertise that comes with caring for and educating hundreds of thousands of children nationally, KinderCare has a unique understanding of child development, early childhood education, parenting and teaching. They understand the needs of children, families and communities.

If KinderCare sounds like the perfect environment for your child to grow, join KinderCare for their Open House Tuesday, April 23 and let their community show you what makes this place one of a kind. Sign up the week of 4/21 and get $100 off tuition. Their Open House provides the chance to tour their center, meet the teachers, talk with other parents and engage in family-fun activities. KinderCare Learning Centers are excited to show you their nationally recognized education program as well as the child-specific focus their teachers bring to the center. To learn more or find a location near you, please visit www.kindercare.com.

Thank you KinderCare for your support in the Movers for Moms® program!

KinderCare Open House

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.

What Moves TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®

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We have been hard at work here at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® over the years. Here is an infographic showing what we have been up to and what moves us!

See What Moves Us

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Annual Meeting 2013: The Highlights

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As we continue to grow as a company, so does the attendance at our TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Annual Meeting. There were many highlights at this year’s four-day event filled with networking, education, and of course, celebration.

Scott Burrows

The first day started off with an inspiring speech by Keynote Speaker Scott Burrows. He shared his story of being a quadriplegic after a tragic car accident and how it changed his life forever. Even though he wasn’t able to take part in the activities he loved, he was determined to keep a positive outlook and decided to improve his life by focusing on his attitude and physical health.

He did a great job of tying his vision and how he worked to accomplish his goals, along with our company’s Vision 2018.

Scott Burrows

 

“When you start to believe, your mindset and grit will always be there to carry you through. If you’re looking to thrive, to beat the odds and achieve extraordinary results, don’t give up on your shared vision of where you want to be in 2018. Be willing to make adjustments along the way to get you back on course.”

 

At the end of his speech. he revealed to everyone that hard work and determination really does pay off. He stood up and explained he is now able to walk and take part in activities he loves, such as golf.

Scott Burrow

MWC2

One of the biggest announcements this year was the launch of Movers Who Care® 2, a technology system that automates the way franchises create estimates, book moves, etc. The new system was created to help us, as a company, get closer to growing as a system of one and improving the core purpose of moving people forward. At Annual Meeting, franchisees were able to sit down with the MWC2 panel and ask any questions they had about the new system. The panel also shared best practices and advice on the MWC2 conversion. Click here to view the Q & A session.

MWC2 Panel

Awards Night

This year’s awards night had a Jimmy Buffet theme. Awards were given to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of franchises strived for during 2012. And everyone did have a reason to celebrate as pointed out by Brig Sorber:

“Tonight you all have something to be proud of. With the system’s growth, we are continuing to set ourselves apart from other moving companies. At year end, we achieved 37 straight months of growth and 21 consecutive record months. Over the past three years, together, we have achieved 60% growth.”

TMAT Annual MeetingTMAT Annual MeetingTMAT Annual MeetingTMAT Annual MeetingTMAT Annual MeetingTMAT Annual Meeting

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.

Reject These Common Reasons for Keeping Clutter

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Janine Adams

Janine Adams is the founder of Peace of Mind Organizing®

Written by guest blogger Janine Adams

As a professional organizer, I often help guide clients’ decisions about whether or not to keep or part with items. For some people, letting go is really tough. When they have more stuff than they can store, it can lead to some interesting conversations about why they want to hang on to things.

There are three common reasons I hear for wanting to keep items that are no longer used or loved. these reasons don’t hold water with me. If you hear yourself saying any of these things about items you don’t use or love, I encourage you to think twice about keeping them.

 1. I paid a lot for that! You know what? You may have paid a lot, but the money’s gone. And the only way you might get any of it back is to sell the item or donate it and take a tax deduction. What’s more, there are hidden costs to keeping it: you probably beat yourself up when you see it, so there’s an emotional cost. If you trip over it, you could hurt yourself and pay a physical and monetary price. And if you pay to store it just because you paid a lot for it, things are starting to get ridiculous.

2.  I might need it some day. You’re right, you might. But then again you might not. And if you can’t find it when you need it, then keeping it doesn’t do you much good. I think we all live in fear of discarding something and then discovering that we need it. It makes us feel stupid. But realistically, what’s the worse-case scenario? You get another one. In my opinion, if you have more stuff than you can store, the actual benefit of parting with an item you don’t need now (i.e. creating space) outweighs the potential benefit of having it on hand should you ever need it.

3. It was a gift. Gifts are tough. You hate to disappoint the gift giver by getting rid of something given in love. But, again, if you have more stuff than you can store, wouldn’t the gift giver prefer that you let it go? Regift it. Donate it. Just get it into the hands of someone who will actually use or love it. It gets even more tricky when the gift giver has passed away. But that unloved and unused gift won’t bring them back. Perhaps you have a mutual friend or family member who would treasure that item. If so, pass it along. It boils down to this: Just because someone gave you something doesn’t mean you have to hold on to it forever.

When you’re trying to conquer clutter, try not to fall into the trap of these excuses for keeping stuff you really don’t need. Once you let the excess go, I bet you’ll feel liberated.

Janine Adams is a certified professional organizer based in St. Louis, Missouri, and the founder of Peace of Mind Organizing®. She helps clients create order, harmony and, yes, peace of mind, by helping them declutter and create new systems and routines. The co-creator of Declutter Happy Hour, she is a blogger for Rubbermaid and has appeared on both A&E’s Hoarders and TLC’s Hoarding: Buried Alive documentary TV series.

Our Leading Ladies

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Written by Claire Schneider

To celebrate National Women’s History Month, we want to take some time to honor Our Leading Ladies: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/INTERNATIONAL, Inc. Founder Mary Ellen Sheets and Chair Melanie Bergeron. Without their drive and passion for this company, we would not be where we are today!

Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen Sheets

In the early 1980’s, Mary Ellen’s sons, Brig and Jon, decided to start a moving company to help make some extra money. Being the supportive mother she is, Mary Ellen developed a logo and put an ad in the community newspaper. Who knew drawing a sketch on a napkin would one day be the logo for a growing international company!

Mary Ellen Sheets

Mary Ellen with the first fleet of trucks in 1991

When her sons left for college, Mary Ellen decided to continue the business while still working full-time as a data processor for the State of Michigan. After her first profitable year, Mary Ellen decided to donate her $1,000 profit to 10 different charities giving each $100. This generous act has led to the creation of one of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®’s Core Values: Give Back to the Community.

Mary Ellen received some help from another amazing lady, Grandma Helen Eberly. When Mary Ellen needed a place to keep her trucks, she turned to Grandma Eb who allowed her to park the trucks in her backyard. She not only provided a place for them, but she also helped with other business duties. At the end of the day, the movers would put their move sheets and money in a box on Grandma Eb’s back porch and she would retrieve the paperwork for Mary Ellen.

Grandma Eb

Grandma Eb has become a major part of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® history and has led to one of the company’s Core Values: The Grandma Rule.

In 1989, Mary Ellen saw the potential of her company and decided to franchise. She awarded the first location to her daughter, Melanie.

Melanie

Melanie BergeronBack in the 1980’s, Melanie was living in Atlanta and doing very well, but her mom, Mary Ellen, kept encouraging her to start a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® location. Since neither of them knew if the business would make any money, Melanie decided to have the moving company as her hobby and ran it out of her apartment.  Turns out people needed movers and her company began to grow!

Melanie's First Desk

Melanie’s first desk at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/INTERNATIONAL, Inc. was a chair pulled up to the copier.

Soon though, Melanie began to grow homesick and decided to sell the franchise and move back to Michigan to start another TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® franchise.

In 1994 Mary Ellen decided to run for the State Senate and asked Melanie if she would like to become the President of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, a position that at the time, was unpaid. She made the tough decision to quit her pharmaceutical sales job and put all her energy toward growing the family business. And she did!

Thanks to Mary Ellen, Melanie and all the hard working people who helped develop TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® from the beginning; we would not be the largest franchised moving company in North America. The company is rapidly growing and we are very much looking forward to what is yet to come! We want to give a big thanks to Our Leading Ladies for all their hard work and dedication and for making history.

 

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/INTERNATIONAL, Inc. Expansion

Rendering for TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/INTERNATIONAL, Inc. plans for expansion.

“When I look back, I can’t believe this all happened. I am in shock and so grateful. I definitely think this is the American dream. We live in a wonderful country.” – Mary Ellen Sheets

The Grandma Rule

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.