TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®

June 6, 2022June 27, 2022 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

Top 6 “How-To” moving tips to prepare for your next move

Make no mistake about it: moving isn’t easy! What is easy is when you seek the help of professional movers like us at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, which can lift the difficulty and stress out of home moving and make your life a little easier.

To help you even more, we’ve developed a quick guide of “how-to” moving tips to answer some of the bigger questions you might have about moving your home and hiring professional movers.

How To Pack My Belongings

Packing is critical for a successful move and doing it the correct way will make your life significantly easier. Begin the packing process a few weeks before your move so you can slowly chip away at each room in your home. By taking your time and tackling one area at a time, you can avoid getting overwhelmed with all that needs to get done. While packing each box, be sure to label everything accurately so your move team knows where to place each box in your new home. For more packing tips, click here.

How To Stay Organized With A Move

Much like packing, organization goes a long way in eliminating stress, too. The best way to keep yourself organized is by utilizing a moving checklist. If you’re wondering where to find a moving checklist, no worries: we’ve got you covered here.

How To Get Ready For Moving Day

First and foremost, make sure you have a day of the move bag ready with anything you might need like toiletries, chargers, extra clothing, and snacks. Since most of your belongings will be packed away, you’ll want this to avoid having to dig through moving boxes.

Be prepared for the movers’ arrival by placing all packed items in a central location such as by the front door or in the garage. This will create a clear path for the movers to go from your home to the truck and back, and will significantly cut down on the time of your move if they can easily grab boxes or other items to load into the truck.

How To Save Money On A Home Move

Everyone wants to save a little money, right? The best way to save yourself some extra cash on moving day is by being prepared, organized, and ready. Like we mentioned above – having all of your items packed up and in a centralized location will cut down on the time movers have to spend navigating around your home to load up the moving truck. Similarly, if you disassemble all beds and furniture before they arrive, it will save them even more time – which will save you money in the long run.

How To Figure Out The Cost Of A Move

Simply put, the best way to figure out the potential cost of hiring professional movers is by reaching out to the company you’re planning on moving with and getting a free moving quote. Be sure to stay honest with the company about how much you’re moving so they can provide you with the most accurate moving assessment. Some companies may opt to do an in-home or virtual estimate where they walk through your home to gauge the size of your move. This option provides an even more accurate estimate for the team.

How To Pick The Right Moving Company

Start by doing your homework on reputable moving companies in your area. Checking out their websites and reading customer reviews are a great start. Once you’ve narrowed it down, you can compare quotes with companies you’ve reached out to, along with checking the companies are licensed and insured before booking your move. There are plenty of sketchy moving operations out there, so be sure to do your homework and find a reputable, legitimate moving company you can trust!

For more moving tips and ideas, visit our website or our blog and find many more helpful resources to guide you on moving day! If you’d like more information on moving in general, check out our downloadable e-Book on Amazon.

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.

May 31, 2022May 27, 2022 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

What to look for when selecting a moving company for your next move

Mobile phone on TWO MEN AND A TRUCK website

The idea of moving may sound great: you’re selling your old home, you’re packing up your belongings and movers are helping you with getting them to your new home … a fresh start!

As great as this all sounds, it’s much easier said than done, and there’s quite a bit more that goes into it. Hiring movers might seem as easy as hoping online and paying like you would any other service, but it’s a little more detailed than that. There are plenty of factors which can go into the decision of hiring professional movers and selecting the best moving company for you.

From figuring out moving dates to how much you want moved, how much you want packed, how many movers and trucks it will take for your move, and more – it’s important to have a detailed plan ready and in place before hiring the movers.

Below, we’ve asked a few frontline team members about what customers should be asking and looking into before selecting a moving company.

Take a look!

May 23, 2022 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

Doing your research and reading customer testimonials show transparency and credibility when hiring a moving company

May is National Moving Month so as you can imagine, things continue to ramp up within the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK family as we help even more customers move this summer!

Moving can be stressful, but when you hire TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, it doesn’t have to be. With professionally trained movers who are background checked and drug screened, equipped with top- of-the-line moving trucks and equipment to ensure your move is a success, it doesn’t get any easier than that. The safety of your belongings is our top priority and our moving teams are trained to handle the most fragile or bulky items you may have.

We’ve moved more than 9 million customers since our days of just two men and a pickup truck driving around the Lansing, Michigan area, and we have no plans of slowing down any time soon.

Still, we understand moving can be daunting task, and hiring professional movers can seem a bit scary, too. There are many questions you might have as you try to figure out your price range, selling and/or purchasing a home , packing up your belongings, and more – so the last thing you want is movers you can’t trust.

We can tell you all about our services and commitment to our customers, but sometimes it’s best to hear it directly from the customers themselves.

Take a look below at what they had to say about using TWO MEN AND A TRUCK!

Norman Wedderburn

Jason Fuller

Karen Franke

May 16, 2022 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

Avoid these 5 items when preparing to store items in a storage unit

If you have a move on the horizon or are in the process of relocation, one service which can really lessen the burden is storage for extra belongings.

In the midst of these situations, you’re often just looking for a place to put things – regardless of what they are. Having them out of the way will create more space, which in turn will eliminate some of the stress you might be feeling. However, finding a storage unit isn’t as easy as it sounds, and there are many things to consider when packing and getting ready to put our items into a unit.

Storage facilities all have their own set of regulations and guidelines specific to their business, but there are also many things which cannot be put into storage, and it’s important to know what these are. We’ll go over a few of them below!

Combustible or flammable items

You’re probably reading this first one and thinking “obviously”, but it’s still worth mentioning. Anything which is combustible or flammable shouldn’t be kept in a storage unit, as it puts both your belongings and the rest of the storage facility in danger should it catch fire.

Firearms or ammunition

This area can get a bit tricky. With firearms, some storage facilities may allow it, but it’s best to check with them before hand so you don’t run into any issues.

As for ammunition – this is generally never allowed in storage, mostly for the same reasons mentioned above with combustible or flammable items. It can be a hazard.

Unregistered vehicles

Vehicle storage is extremely popular, but vehicles must be up to date on their registration and meet the necessary guidelines for storage in your particular state. Some states classify unregistered vehicles as an abandoned vehicle.

Medical supplies

Be sure to take extra caution and ask your storage unit about their rules with medical supplies. Some medical equipment contains radioactive material, which isn’t legally allowed to be kept in storage.

Also – you don’t want to find yourself needing something related to medical supplies when it’s packed away in a storage unit somewhere.

Soaps and scented candles

While it initially might seem like a big deal when you see this, it actually can be. These types of materials often attract mice or rats, which can become a huge problem for your storage until. Anything giving off a smell like perfume or lotion should be stored with caution.

These are all very important things to keep in mind as you find the best storage solution for you. If you’re in the process of looking for storage, select TWO MEN AND A TRUCK locations offer storage options! Click here to learn more.

May 9, 2022 Movers Who Blog Moving, Organizing

Top 7 things to keep in mind during the busy moving season

May is national moving month and as you might imagine, it’s a busy time for TWO MEN AND A TRUCK!

Our franchises all across the country are ready to move customers during the summer months as more and more houses are listed and selling quickly. According to MovingLabor.com, 80% of all moves in the United States happen between the months of April and September. That’s a lot of moving!

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise teams are built, trucks and professional moving equipment ready, and even more services are offered now to meet all moving needs from our customers. If you have a move coming up this summer, it’s never too early to start thinking and planning ahead!

It’s no secret that planning, proper packing, and organization will go a long way in helping to eliminate the stress involved with home moving. It’s much easier said than done but with the right mindset and a little expert advice, you can get yourself mentally ready for the big day.

Use our expert moving tips

We’ve moved now for more than 35 years! If you’re looking for some of the best moving tips available, try using a few from the moving professionals themselves – our frontline team members. You can see their best tips, here.

Proper packing

It can’t be stressed enough how important packing is to a successful move. If you pack correctly and give yourself time to chip away at it, the moving process will be that much easier.

Use this in-depth packing guide to show you the proper away to tackle packing for your move, and learn what packing supplies you’ll need to keep your belongings safe and protected throughout the entire process.

Money saving tips

Who doesn’t want to save a little money? This important information and helpful tips will help you save on your next home move.

Know what movers can and can’t move

While we do our best to accommodate all of your moving needs, there are some items moving companies can’t move. It’s important to know what these items are so you don’t find yourself scrambling on moving day. We’ve put together a list, here.

Build a moving checklist

Another major factor in a successful moving day is utilizing a moving checklist. Don’t worry about creating one on your own – we’ve built one for you.

If you’re looking for an even more in-depth moving checklist available on your phone, try movetrac – our free, online moving resource.

Specialty moving services

Not every moving need is for a home or business move – sometimes you just need something moved around your home, a truck unloaded, junk removal, or more. Thankfully, we can help you there, too! TWO MEN AND A TRUCK offers a variety of specialty moving services for those who just need some help with the heavy lifting. Learn more, here.

Moving with kids and pets

You might not think of it, but kids and pets can also become a big part of the moving process as you work to keep them happy and involved. We’ve put together helpful tips for moving with pets and moving with kids.

May 2, 2022 Movers Who Blog Moving

What your TWO MEN AND A TRUCK movers can’t transport during your next move

Just like that, it’s officially moving season – and TWO MEN AND A TRUCK moving teams nationwide are geared up and ready to go!

This is our busiest time of the year as more and more people list their homes to sell during the spring and summer months! The process can be tricky for some, however, and moving often comes with endless stress as you pack up your belongings, go through the process of buying a new home or selling your old home, switch over bills and utilities, hire a moving company (hopefully us), and determine a moving date. Wow, that’s a lot.

Organization and planning can go a long way in eliminating some of this stress for you. Another area that’s important to keep in mind is learning what moving companies can’t move for you. This is vital information to know as you prepare ahead of time what belongings you might need to transport in your own vehicle.

So, what can’t we move? Let’s review.

Prescription drugs or medicines

This is to prevent any situation where a customer would need this in an emergency and it’s loaded onto one of our trucks. Always pack these items with you and prepare to transport in your own vehicle to your new home.

Machine or gas engine items

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK moving teams cannot transport anything in the moving trucks that contain gasoline. If you have items such as a tractor, lawn mower, grill, smoker, or moped you’d need loaded onto the truck, be sure the gasoline is completely emptied out of the tank prior to moving day. It’s best to consult with your moving company to ensure these items can get transported, too.

Animals and plants

A good rule of thumb here is anything that’s alive cannot be moved, mostly for safety reasons. It’s not safe for plants or animals to be in the back of the truck, so it’s best to arrange a different method of transportation to your new home.

Flammable items

It’s federal law that antifreeze, ammunition, propane, car batteries, paint, household cleaners, and weed killers are not to be transported on a moving truck. Please take the time to organize and box up these items, and plan to transport them on your own.

Sentimental items

We do not move cash, jewelry, insurance papers, birth certificates, or any other sentimental items when completing a move. This prevents anything of this nature from getting misplaced or damaged, and saves you the stress of worrying about getting these items to your new home.

For more information on what items your franchise location can and cannot move, contact your local TWO MEN AND TRUCK location and they’ll be happy to assist you with any questions.

April 25, 2022 Movers Who Blog Moving, Tips and Tricks

Five money-saving tips to save you some cash during your next move

One of the biggest concerns we hear when people inquire about hiring professional movers is the cost.

Cost is determined by a variety of factors when hiring movers: how much you’re moving, drive time, total hours or distance of the move, how many movers or trucks are needed, and more. However, there are a few simple things you can do to help save yourself money on your next move!

We’ve listed a few of our best money saving tips so you can keep a little extra cash in your pocket and save on the final bill!

Honesty

No, this isn’t just a life motto you should live by (although it’s not a bad idea to always be honest). What we mean by “honesty” is being forthright with how much you are planning to move from one home to the next. Including as much details as possible on big furniture pieces, number of boxes, etc., will only help you in the long run.

If the moving team arrives and there’s more than you led on, it’s going to take more time, effort, and space in the truck, which will drive up the cost of your move.

Pack with a purpose

Proper packing goes a long way when it comes to home moving. Not only is it critical in protecting your items during the entire move, but it can also save you money. If your items are not packed properly prior to the movers arrival, they’ll need to do pack items up themselves or what for you to finish packing, which takes additional time that’s added onto your final bill.

If you need assistance with packing, you can hire our moving teams to arrive prior to moving day and pack for you. Or, we offer a full line of moving boxes and packing supplies to help you get the job done right. For helpful packing tips, click here.

Disassemble furniture and beds prior to moving day

This isn’t a requirement when hiring professional movers, but it is something manageable you can do on your own and it will cut down on moving time. If furniture pieces are broken down and disassembled prior to your moving team’s arrival, they can quickly load it onto the moving truck and focus their attention elsewhere. Just be sure you keep all pieces and small parts together so they’re easy to find at your new place!

Organize!

Organization is another major key component for a successful home move. Organizing boxes, bins, and other items that need to be moved into one central moving area (think garage or front door) will save significant time, as movers can create a streamlined path from this area to the truck and not worry about navigating around your entire home.

Stay prepared

As a reminder: stay prepared and ready for anything on your move day. Planning ahead of time with your move will allow you to have a game plan so you know what to expect, helping to eliminate the possibility of needing to make last-minute changes. If you need help with planning, try using our movetrac app to get organized leading up to and through moving day!

For more helpful moving tips to get you ready for moving day, click here. If you are looking to complete an upcoming home move, visit our website to learn how TWO MEN AND A TRUCK can help you move forward today.

April 18, 2022 Movers Who Blog Moving, Tips and Tricks

Top 5 things to consider before moving into a rental

Movers carrying box up truck ramp in front of apartment

As we continue to make our way through the spring and into summer, the busy moving season continues to ramp up as more homes get listed to buy or rent.

Many rental property leases expire in the spring or summer months which can be an exciting time as you look for a new place, but it does come with a unique set of challenges and things to remember.

You aren’t dealing with mortgages and home repairs, but you are dealing with landlords, renter’s insurance, deposits, and leasing agreements.

Thankfully for you, we’re experts in rental property moving and have been moving people in and out of them for more than three decades. We‘ve put some of our best tips together to help you prepare for your next rental property move!

Do your research

Regardless of where you plan to move, the first step should always be determining what you want in your next living quarters and how long you’d like to live in your next rental..

Be sure you’re comfortable with the area you’re choosing to move to, the price of your rental property, and the amenities that do or don’t come with it. Generally, it’s a good idea to tour a rental property and ask all of your questions prior to signing a lease, too.

What are you paying for?

You want to know where your money is going, right? With leases, there are usually a list of fees required at signing, including security deposits, a month’s rent in advance, or paying for additional appliances you’ve requested. Sit down with the leasing office and ensure you have a clear understanding of what you need to pay for before signing anything.

Ask questions

On that same note, don’t be afraid to ask the leasing office questions about anything that comes up as you prepare to sign your lease. Have them review your entire leasewith you and explain anything that stands out clearly so you have a solid understanding of what you’re locked into.

Set up utilities before moving in

After you have signed a lease and determined your moving date, be sure to contact the utility companies you’ll need to pay for to get setup in advance of your moving date so everything is ready when you move in.

Purchase renter’s insurance

This is an absolute must when renting. Whether there’s a break in, a flood, or a fire, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’re covered should anything happen.

Complete a move in checklist

Once move in day arrives and you start moving belongings into your new home, the landlord will provide you with some type of move in checklist to assess the current state of your rental property. Be sure to go around and examine everything to check for any damages or things missing and write them down so you aren’t charge for it at a later date.

April 11, 2022 Movers Who Blog Organizing

Cut down on last minute moving tasks by utilizing a moving checklist

You might have heard by now, but we’d like to think of ourselves as the “experts” when it comes to everything home moving.

Throughout our nearly 40 years of moving homes and businesses, we’ve seen what works – and what doesn’t work – since we began moving back in the 1980s. Throughout that time, we’ve come up with a few tips and tricks to make the moving process a bit easier on everyone.

While people tend to ask what our best tips are, there can be numerous answers to this question. One thing we always point to: a moving checklist.

Moving checklists are essential to organization with a home move, and organization goes a long way in ensuring you stay on track with your tasks, while helping to ease some of the pressure that comes with moving day. With a moving checklist, you’ll have the ability to track your progress in real time and get an idea of where you are in the moving process to get a better idea of what still needs to be done before the big day.

As moving day approaches, we recommend beginning at about a month out and slowly chipping away at the process so you don’t get overwhelmed. From buying and closing on a new home to packing up your belongings, hiring professional movers, changing the address on your utilities and bills, and much more – there’s a lot to be done, and a moving checklist helps you keep everything in order.

We’ve built our own moving checklist for you to get started with based on things we’ve seen over the years. We would also recommend taking a look at movetrac, a free moving resource we created for those who want a comprehensive app with resources and checklists all with the click of a button.

One month before your move

Contact, schedule, and hire a mover as soon as you know you are planning to complete a home move to ensure you get the moving day you want.
Begin the cleaning of various areas of your home – closets, attics, garage, etc.
Begin changing your local address where necessary in areas like mailing, insurance, school records, and so on.
Purchase moving boxes and packing supplies to help get things rolling on your move – local TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise locations offer a wide-variety of moving and packing supplies to fit all of your moving needs.

1-2 weeks before moving day

Start canceling anything that is tied to what will soon be your past home address – Internet, cable, newspapers, or any labor services you receive around your home.
Call all of your local utility companies and be sure they know the exact day to stop charging your old home address for services.
Start the packing process and go room by room so you don’t overwhelm yourself. Be sure to properly label and organize boxes so you know where everything is on moving day.

The week of moving day

Finish up any last-minute cleaning around your home and ensure everything is set for when you officially move out.
Continue working on packing all of your belongings, working to have all belongings packed and ready to go before moving day arrives. For items you no longer need, donate them to a charitable cause or sell them, if possible.
Make transportation plans for the day of the move so you know how you’re getting to the new place. If you have kids or pets, develop a plan that fits their needs, too, and figure out where they will be while the move is taking place.

The day before moving day

Get in contact with your moving company to double-check that everything is set in stone for the ensuing moving day. If you’re moving with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, we will send a pre-move email solidifying all important details of your move.
Ensure all breakable items have been removed from dresser drawers and packed away.
Take out some cash to hold you over during the moving process. This might come in handy if you need to get some pizza or snacks during the day!
Complete any final cleanings of your home and appliances.

Moving day

Pack an essentials bag for items you can access immediately when arriving at your new home. This can include anything from chargers to toothbrushes, quick snacks, etc.
Make sure there is a clear moving path inside and outside of your home for movers to navigate.
Be sure you are at the home when the professional movers arrive so that you are accessible should they have any questions or concerns.
Once the movers have loaded everything onto the moving truck, do one final walkthrough of the home and make sure nothing was left behind. Last but not least – go say goodbye to your neighbors!

If you want more information on moving checklists, click here. If you are interested in hiring TWO MEN AND A TRUCK for your next home move, click here!

April 4, 2022 Movers Who Blog Tips and Tricks, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

These 5 items cannot be transported with TWO MEN AND A TRUCK’s junk removal service

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Junk Container in Driveway

If you haven’t heard by now (and we hope you have), then listen up: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK now offers junk removal!

Your favorite home and business moving brand has expanded its service options to help you with junk removal, too. Utilizing our professionally trained movers and specialized junk removal equipment, we’ll now help you properly dispose of old items and junk you no longer need around your home or business.

With spring cleaning here and summer quickly approaching, this is the perfect time for a junk removal service to help with whatever you have going on. For those completing home renovations, decluttering, getting a home ready to sell, cleaning out the garage, or just removing stuff from the basement to clear out of the way – we’ll save you the trouble of lifting these heavy items as you work to get rid of them.

However, there are a few things we are unable to handle, and it’s important to know what these are prior to our team showing up.

Items that cannot be taken with the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® junk removal service:

Hazardous materials, liquid-based items, wet paint, oil, chemicals, household cleaners, HAZMAT materials, flammable items, gasoline, propane, mercury-based materials, oil filters, and batteries
Asbestos
Sealed tanks/drums
Medical waste
Household trash or garbage

Items that may be restricted (please check with your local government, state regulations, or disposal facility):

Electronics that are considered e-waste, including CRT televisions
Appliances with liquids associated with them (considered hazardous materials), AC units, refrigerators, freezers, and dehumidifiers
Appliances not emptied
Yard waste such as trees, brush, grass, sod, mulch, and other vegetative waste can be hauled with guidelines. Most disposal facilities recycle this material so it shouldn’t be mixed with other junk material. Dirt, sod, or mulch may have capacity limitations due to weight.
Tires are usually not accepted at disposal facilities and considered hazmat, however, you could reach out to a local tire recycle or business to see if they would take them.
Heavy or dense material such as roofing shingles, concrete, asphalt, dirt, brick, or miscellaneous debris

Please note: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK’s junk removal service is available at select franchise locations. Click here to search for the franchise closest to you and see if junk removal is being offered.

WO 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.