Uncategorized – TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®

January 17, 2022 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

Wrapping up the holiday season with these four useful packing tips

Unfortunately, all good things in life must come to an end at some point – even something as enjoyable as the holiday season.

While many of us have spent the better part of the last month taking in the spirit of the holidays by visiting with family and decorating our homes in a festive way, there comes a time when your holiday-themed decorations, furniture, dishes, and whatever else helps you celebrate the season must be packed up and put away. Many of you have probably already began this process, but for those who haven’t – we totally get it.

Packing away the holiday season can be exhausting, especially as you dive headfirst back into the swing of everyday life. However, we’ve got a few tips and tricks to alleviate some of the headache and help you get everything put away efficiently and safely.

Build a Post-Holiday Packing Plan

We say this about any type of packing job, but it’s always a good idea to visualize and plan out what you want to be packed away and where you want to go before you begin. The best way to handle packing is by slowly chipping away at the process so you can take it in stride and not get overwhelmed.

Figure out which rooms of your house you’d like to get packed up first and go room-by-room as you decide which items will be going into storage, and which items are lucky enough to remain out for the rest of the winter season.

Use Reliable Packing Supplies

This cannot be stressed enough: there is nothing more important the safety of your personal belongings, and the best way to keep them in one piece is with professional packing supplies. Above all, we’d recommend quality moving boxes, as they are built to hold your belongings safely while being stored away in an attic, basement, or garage. Packing paper for dishes and ornaments is a good choice, too.

Need packing supplies? Give us a call! We offer a full line of packing supplies to fit any need.

Pack Efficiently

Although it may seem like an obvious statement, an extra level of care and efficiency should be practiced when packing away holiday items due to them generally being more fragile than ordinary home belongings.

Using the professional packing supplies mentioned above can go a long way in helping to keep important items like ornaments, special Christmas lights and table decorations, or holiday dishes safe until next year. It will also make the process of unpacking them when the next holiday season rolls around easier, too.

Moving Furniture Back Into Storage

If you displayed extra furniture for more seating during the holidays, that means you’ll need to get it back into the basement, attic, or other storage at some point. Or you might need an extra hand with rearranging it in your home, too.

Regardless of the type of furniture you have – don’t move more than you can handle. If you have too much or something too heavy to move, give us a call – our movers can come to your home and move whatever you need! This includes moving items around within your home or to a storage facility.

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.

January 10, 2022 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

Use these 7 helpful tips if you have a winter move coming up

The calendar has now turned to the year 2022, and we’re right in the middle of the winter months – which for many of us can mean cold, snowy days.

While it may not be blustery for everyone (and we’re jealous of those who don’t have to experience this!), winter weather still remains in many parts of the country and even during this time, the show goes on for TWO MEN AND A TRUCK and moving. Thankfully, we’ve been doing this long enough that we’ve learned a thing or two about moving during these dark winter days – no matter what the temperature might be.

If during these next few months you find yourself moving, check out some of our best winter moving tips below to ensure you’re ready to tackle moving day in perhaps less than ideal conditions.

Watch Your Step

Seems obvious, right? Well, it’s still worth repeating, because safety always comes first! Be careful when moving around outside on sidewalks and driveways if ice is forming, or if the ground is slick from precipitation. Using the proper footwear or laying down salt ahead of time can help you get extra grip.

Dress Warm

Another one on the “obvious” category, but you know how the old saying goes: it’s always easier to remove layers than it is to keep adding them. Weather can be unpredictable at times during the winter season, so come prepared with enough clothes to keep you comfortable and warm and adjust as the day goes on.

Prepare For Early Darkness

If people were to rank their least favorite parts about the winter months, you’d have to imagine “getting dark early” would rank pretty high on the list. This comes into play during moves, too. Time and the sunset should be factored into when the move is scheduled, but it’s also smart to be prepared with accessible lighting should the sun go down before the job is completed.

Pay Attention to The Weather Conditions

Like we said above: wintertime weather can be unpredictable. Still, you want to do your best to monitor the forecast leading up to moving day so you can at least have an idea of what you might be experiencing on moving day.

Protect Those Floors

If you hire professional movers, they will provide floor runners to help keep the floors in your home protected, but there are also some steps you can take as well. Have old towels or sheets handy to lay down in areas where you want to stop snow, salt, and other messes from the outside getting tracked inside. Also, be sure to remind everyone to wipe their shoes when possible.

Hydrate

This may not be at the front of everyone’s mind when it’s cold out, but hydration is always crucial for those participating in moving day. Heavy lifting is strenuous and demanding regardless of the weather, and you want to stay hydrated to keep yourself feeling as best as possible for moving day.

Hire professional movers

Instead of using all of these tips above for your own moving process, it might just be easier to hire professionals like us to get the job done right. We’re trained, equipped, and ready to handle the winter elements to get your move completed safely and efficiently.

To get a jump on your next move and to create your own moving checklist to stay organized, click here!

December 20, 2021 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

Movers Who Blog: 2021 Year in Review

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK truck in front of home

The holidays are here, the snow is falling (for some!), and 2021 is coming to a quick close. As we end the year, we enjoy reflecting back on some of the biggest highlights from the past 12 months.

In 2021, it was another outstanding year for the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK brand as we continued to offer our industry-leading moving services to customers from coast to coast and beyond. As we expanded our newer services like junk removal and other specialty moving services, we were able to help even more customers with their moving, packing, storage, and junk removal needs than ever before.

We also kept up with our mission of giving back to the community through a variety of different programs and charitable moves while continuing to live out each of our company core values.. As we adjust to some of the new changes in the world, we’re still the same business that is dedicated to eliminating moving stress and making a difference for our customers since the mid-1980s.

With that being said, we thought we’d look back at the top blog posts from the year.

Enjoy!

1. What TWO MEN AND A TRUCK can’t move during junk removals

“You’ve probably seen us talking about it on our websites, our blog, our social channels … just about everywhere, but if you still need a reminder: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK now offers junk removal!”

2. Moving yourself vs. hiring professionals: The differences between the two and how each cost is different

“Cost is usually the deciding factor in how people go about home moving, whether they’re planning to hire a professional moving company like TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, or try and complete the move themselves. The common misconception thrown around in the world of home moving is that doing it yourself is a “cheaper” option than hiring professionals. On the surface, this might seem like the case, but once it is broken down, you’ll see moving on your own can add up price-wise.”

3. What our moving teams are unable to transport during your next home or business move

“An area we like to often remind our customers about – one which normally gets overlooked – is what moving companies can’t move. It’s important to know this information because it will save you the time and hassle of arranging a new plan last-second if you find out a certain item mentioned below cannot be transported by our team.”

4. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK services that don’t require moving trucks

“Known as our Carry Crew moving option, we offer customers assistance with loading and unloading for those who want to avoid doing any moving and lifting. With this service, customers would rent their own truck or container, then call one of our teams to load it all up or unload it as needed. This saves you the trouble of doing it yourself and provides you with the peace of mind in knowing your items were handled by professionals. It’s a win-win!”

5. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchises gear up for “Busiest Move Weekend” 2021

“There’s a lot of excitement and energy around Busiest Move Weekend for TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, as it truly reflects the brand’s strength and how hard our teams are working in their communities,” said TWO MEN AND A TRUCK President Randy Shacka. “We embrace this as a brand and look forward to serving a record number of customers during what may be one of the most stressful times in their lives.”

6. Top 5 money-saving tips for your next home move

“The most important factor when it comes to saving money during the moving process is time. Local moves are generally charged by the hour, so anything you can do to cut down on the time your movers are there will save you money in the long run.”

7. Important details to know when moving during the busy moving season

“Preparation when it comes to moving will significantly decrease the stress involved with it, and it can be a stressful time if it’s not done right. This sounds easier said than done, but thankfully for you, we’ve pinpointed some areas where you can start this preparation.”

8. Utilizing a storage unit? Here are five items you’ll want to avoid packing into your storage unit

“Finding a storage unit to fit your needs can be a challenge – here are some helpful tips for those who are interested in storage – but it’s also important to know the items you can’t put into storage. All storage facilities have their own guidelines and regulations for the facility, so it’s important to work with them before purchasing storage space to determine what can and cannot go into your storage unit.”

9. What you should consider before moving into a rental property

“Like any type of moving, apartment and condo moving brings its own unique set of challenges and to-do lists, but unlike home moving, you aren’t dealing with mortgages or other house-related issues. Instead, you take on things like renter’s insurance, deposits, and leases.”

10. Create a moving checklist to keep you on track during the moving process

“A moving checklist is the best way to take your move in stride and chip away at the process piece by piece as you work toward moving day. From figuring out your plan of action to determining how you will go about packing, and everything else in between – a moving checklist is a good way to track your progress and give you an idea of how things are going.”

November 15, 2021December 6, 2021 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK supports local veterans and service members through annual Movers for Military program

Last Thursday was Veteran’s Day, a time to recognize the incredible sacrifices made by the brave men and women veterans of this wonderful country.

This means a lot to us here at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, as we have a number of veterans working within our brand at every level of the company. From movers and drivers all the way up to franchisees and Home Office team members, we’re proud of our strong veteran presence and strive to look for opportunities to help veterans adjust to life after their time in the military.

Another way we honor veterans is through one of our own giving campaigns, Movers for Military®. This program was designed for our franchises to work within their communities to collect and deliver essential care items to veterans in need. Local TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchises will partner with organizations and businesses in their area to set up collection sites where the public can drop off the needed items, and our teams deliver them to veteran’s shelters in the area.

“Any time we can help or assist veteran or service members, it is a good thing,” said Jeff Walker, a veteran and franchisee at our TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Colorado Springs location. “It is a small way to serve our country.”

See more: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK San Diego partners with Veteran’s Village to help end veteran homelessness

Movers for Military is a natural fit for our brand and aligns with our mission of giving back in the community, and with so many veterans working at our franchises, it’s a great way for them to connect with the community.

“Both myself and Franchisee Alan Oversmith come from military families, so we are both very passionate about this campaign,” said Charlene Bush, marketing manager for all four TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Southeast Michigan and Boston locations. “In addition, we have several veterans that now work at each of our locations as movers or drivers. This campaign is a great way to both honor them and show our appreciation for their service to our country.”

This campaign is a great opportunity for members of our frontline staff to get out in the community and partner with them to make a difference. The break from the normal day-to-day job is welcomed by our movers and drivers, and they love helping out and making life a little better for our nation’s veterans.

“Our movers and drivers love helping with the different campaigns we run, so I get a ton of support from both management and our frontline staff,” Bush said. “I was very pleased with each campaign and the amount of donations we were able to deliver.

November 1, 2021November 22, 2021 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

These overlooked moving essentials will keep your moving process on track and stress-free

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK mover greeting a customer

Packing, address changes, hiring professional movers, protecting your belongings – these are just some of the main things people think about when they start considering a home move, and deservedly so.

Each are extremely important pieces in the puzzle of moving from one home to the next, and all require your full focus and attention as you begin the process. However, what about the other parts of the moving process you aren’t thinking of? We like to call these “overlooked moving essentials”, and while they might not appear important on the surface, they are simple thoughts and ideas that will come in handy on moving day to help keep the stress levels down.

We always tell our customers – and really anyone who will listen – that organization is the most important factor in the moving process and paying attention to these overlooked moving essentials is a huge piece of staying organized.

Follow along and get ready for moving day!

Moving checklist

The most organized thing you can do leading up to a move is creating a moving checklist. We believe this is one of the most important pieces to a successful move and encourage all of our customers to make one. It’s an organized plan of how you’re going to attack the move, starting from about a month out and leading right up to moving day.

If you’re asking yourself how you’re supposed to come up with a moving checklist, don’t worry – we’ve made one for you.

Batteries and chargers

There’s no deny technology runs the world and plays a big role in our day-to-day life. That’s why chargers and batteries are extremely important on moving day – so you can stay connected where needed!

Your cable/internet might not be in immediately at your new home, so keeping those phones, tablets, chargers, remotes, clocks, and everything in between charge is crucial.

Plastic bags

Simple, right? Plastic bags are a cheap, easy, and versatile tool to have on moving day and they make carrying around loose items which didn’t get packed away easy. Keep a stash handy and be ready if needed.

Cleaning supplies

It’s not much of a secret that the moving process can be a little messy. This makes having cleaning supplies readily available an important part of moving so that if a mess happens, you’re able to clean it up right away.

Clorox wipes, toilet cleaner, laundry soap, cleaning spray, and more are all good ideas to have purchased prior to moving day.

Tool kit

In a perfect world, you can move into your new home with zero issues. But that is a perfect world, and this is the real one.

Having a tool kit handy as you start transitioning into your new home will be extremely handy for making any quick fixes that are needed around the house.

October 11, 2021January 10, 2022 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

2021 Halloween Boxtume Tutorial : iPod

At TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, we love box costumes, or “boxtumes” as we call them. With Halloween quickly approaching, you might be looking for a quick and easy DIY costume for your kids – we’ve got you covered! Follow along these steps to create an iPod boxtume.

What you’ll need:

One TWO MEN AND A TRUCK medium-size box
Red and grey paint
White poster or white construction paper
Duct tape
Glue

Step 1: Grab your TWO MEN AND A TRUCK box and cut the bottom and top pieces off to help close the box.

Step 2: Paint the box red (or any color you want your iPod to be!).

Step 3: Cut out a square from the white poster to create the screen. Then, cut out a circle to create the menu/volume options on your iPod.

Step 4: Draw an apple on the square (or print one you find online) with the grey paint and then draw the pause, volume, and menu buttons on the circle with the grey paint as well. Once all the paint is dry, glue the square above the circle on the red box.

Step 5: To make easy straps for the costume, fold the duct tape in half long ways (so there is no sticky side) and make the tape as long as you want your desired straps to be.

Step 6: Paint the straps red (or whatever color you chose for your box) and once they’re dry, glue them at the front and back of the box.

Complete this costume by wearing a red long sleeve shirt that matches the iPod. Once all the paint and glue is dry, you’ll have a fun and creative costume ready for trick-or-treating and Halloween festivities!

September 27, 2021 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

Company core value “THE GRANDMA RULE” helps shape the mindset of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK teams

Many companies have a set of “core values” they talk about, where they might include them in mission statements or put them on a plaque somewhere around the building.

We have these at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK as well, but here, they are more than just a list of ideas to promote – they are a literal way of life for each team member with the company, from top to bottom. These core values are highlighted by one that stands out above the rest, and that is THE GRANDMA RULE®.

THE GRANDMA RULE means to treat everyone the way you would want your grandma to be treated. It is such simple, yet effective idea, and it resonates with everyone who hears it. Whether it’s our movers and drivers on a move helping a customer, a move consultant on the phone booking a move, or a marketing manager out in community: keeping THE GRANDMA RULE top of mind encourages us to treat everyone with care, compassion, and respect.

“I believe THE GRANDMA RULE is such an important core value because it truly represents the culture of this company,” said Lauren Trost, a former marketing and sales manager for the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Chicago locations who now works at our Home Office location. “TWO MEN AND A TRUCK employees not only practice this core value while at work – it is deeply engrained in their everyday life. Before I started working at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, the Lansing franchise actually moved my grandma. I witnessed a wonderful display of compassion and strength. For several weeks after her move, my grandma could not stop talking about how impressed she was with the two young men who moved her.”

If you’ve followed our company at all or heard of THE GRANDMA RULE, you might have heard of Grandma Eb. The mother of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Founder Mary Ellen Sheets, she served as the inspiration for this core value due in large part to becoming a key figure in our brand’s inception.

She offered her home, backyard, garage, and whatever else was needed in the very early days of the company in Lansing, Mich., to help support and grow TWO MEN AND A TRUCK. Her support helped our company build its base, and THE GRANDMA RULE is a fitting tribute to her contributions.

Across all TWO MEN AND A TRUCK locations, you’ll find signs about THE GRANDMA RULE and hear our team members talk about what it means to them. At the same time, it helps put our customers at ease knowing it’s something we make a priority.

“THE GRANDMA RULE, to me, exemplifies everything we want and expect out of our employees and ourselves,” said Brian Stern, a TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® multi-unit franchisee with locations in New Jersey and Maine. “The idea is to treat each and every one of our customers as if they were our grandmothers. If we do that, every customer will be treated with respect, patience, and empathy during difficult moving situations.”

Taking it even further, it’s a great reminder to our seniors that they’ll be in great care if they decide to move with us. Nearly 52% of all moves we complete are for people over the age of 50, and these can generally be tough moves due to the emotional factors involved of people parting ways with a home that has meant so much throughout their lives.

Our teams are specifically trained on how to handle senior moves and understand the importance of making sure they are able to communicate with the customer and provide the highest levels of care in order to make them feel at ease as they complete their moves.

“Often times, a senior move involves downsizing from a long-term home, and it can be a complicated and emotional experience,” said Alexa Lanier, a multi-unit marketing director for the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton locations. “Our customer service representatives and in-home consultants work with the customers to account for the destination of all items, which can involve multiple stops or storage. Our movers then take the time to make sure every item gets to where it needs to go.”

It may seem like a small piece in big puzzle, but THE GRANDMA RULE is who we are at TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, and we work each day to live up to this core value!

If you or someone that you know is looking to complete an upcoming senior move, be sure to contact your local TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchise and see why we are known as the “Movers Who Care®”!

August 23, 2021September 13, 2021 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

Safety tips to keep in mind when you own a home

-Written by Christina Baker

Moving into a new home gives you and your family a chance for new beginnings. You may be feeling a mix of emotions such as excitement and stress – after all, a new home means more responsibility. There are many different safety precautions that must be taken before you move, and we’re here to help break a few of them down for you!

Use this checklist to ensure proper safety precautions are taken before you move into your new space!

Smoke alarms and detectors

Make sure your home has enough smoke detectors throughout the entire house. Then, make sure each detector has batteries and test them to be sure they work properly. Keep some backup batteries just in case! It’s also a good idea to put carbon monoxide detectors on each level of the home.

Electrical

The best safety tip to live by for the electrical in your home is if it doesn’t look quite right, check it out. If you’re unfamiliar with electrical work, call an electrician to double check that everything is how it should be. Since frayed wires and cords can easily start fires, it’s best to make this a priority for your new home.

Water and pipes

In case of an emergency such as a broken pipe or flooding, it’s best to know exactly where you can shut off the water to your house. You should also have the pipes of the house inspected to make sure they’re fully equipped to work properly without any leaks or breaks.

Home protection system

A home protection system may not be needed by everyone, but it’s a great investment for those who would like a little more peace of mind. Since home burglaries are unfortunately quite common, finding good home security will help to keep the chances of someone breaking in lower.

It’s also crucial to double check the locks on all doors in your house, including the garage.

Have an emergency plan

Have a discussion with your family on exactly what you will all do incase of an emergency. This can include plans for a fire, flood, etc.

If everyone has an idea of what they need to do and where they need to be in case any of these events take place, your family will feel slightly more at ease and in control.

Miscellaneous emergency items

Several stocked first-aid kits around the house
Keep all the emergency phone numbers somewhere safe and visible in the house
Use this comprehensive guide from the American Red Cross to create an effective emergency kit

Once you’ve taken the proper safety measures, you’re ready to make your new house a home!

August 16, 2021September 7, 2021 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

Six tips for sending your kids back to school

-Written by Christina Baker

Some kids are excited about back-to-school time, while others may dread it. Either way, you want your kids to start of the year with their best foot forward. Use these tips to ensure your child has a positive start to their new school year!

Get your kids back into a routine

A week before school starts, try your best to get your family back into a “school routine”. Make sure they’re ready for the early bedtimes and early mornings that are essential for school time. Be sure your alarms are set!

Talk to them about what classes they’re looking forward to

Asking your kids about their favorite subjects will help them to get a little more excited to be back in the classroom. If they don’t have a favorite class, encourage them enter their new school year with an open mindset and willingness to learn about new subjects.

Introduce them to their teachers

Many schools allow you to go meet the teachers and pick up textbooks a couple days before school starts. Use this opportunity to introduce your children to the teachers so they may feel more comfortable with them before school even starts.

Let them pick out fun school supplies

Even if they’re not looking forward to school, more often than not, kids enjoy picking out their new school supplies every year. If your budget allows it, encourage them to pick out their favorite folders, notebooks, and pens. This will give your kids a sense of creative control over their supplies!

Encourage them to join a team/club

If your kids are having an especially hard time looking forward to the new school year, joining a club that interests them or playing a sport they enjoy could help make the adjustment easier. These activities will allow them to make new friends and even discover interests that they may not have known they had!

Keep up with open communication

Keep up with honest discussions between yourself and your children about the day they had at school. If they had a bad day, try and come up with a solution together on how to make the next one better.

The summer to fall transition can be a tricky one, but these tips can help to relieve some of the stress off of both you and your children.

July 26, 2021 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK services that don’t require moving trucks

Often times when people think of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, they y think of our white moving trucks driving around town with the iconic logo that has become a staple in so many communities.

While this type of home moving is what we’ve been known for over the last 35 years, we’re so much more than that. We offer a wide variety of specialty moving services to help any moving need and often times, our moving trucks aren’t even necessary.

You can hire the expertise of our professionally trained movers to help with whatever you need so you don’t have to worry about doing the heavy lifting yourself!

Load and Unloading

Known as our Carry Crew moving option, we offer customers assistance with loading and unloading for those who want to avoid doing any moving and lifting.

With this service, customers would rent their own truck or container, then call one of our teams to load it all up or unload it as needed. This saves you the trouble of doing it yourself and provides you with the peace of mind in knowing your items were handled by professionals. It’s a win-win!

Furniture Rearranging

We’ve all been there before: you’re looking around the house (or maybe even an office) and you want your furniture or other items rearranged. Then, you realize how much work this would be, and you put it off even longer.

With our furniture rearranging services, you can get anything moved around your home or business quickly and efficiently. Our movers will move as little or as much as you’d like so you don’t have to. This option is great for those undergoing home renovations, staging a home to sell, hosting a large gathering (safely, of course), or who just want something in a different spot.

Packing and Unpacking

This may not be a service involving any heavy lifting, but it’s equally as important and useful. Our teams can take care of the packing up of your belongings so you can focus on something else.

Given that we are professionals, we can efficiently pack as much items as you’d like us to. We can even provide the packing supplies and moving boxes!

Delivery Services

Ok, so technically this does involve a moving truck, but it’s still worth mentioning. If you have found yourself in a situation where you’ve ordered a large item – say a new appliance or piece of furniture – and you have no idea how you’ll get it home, we have you covered!

We can schedule the pickup and delivery of large items like this and get it to you safe and secure, even moving it into your home and placed exactly where you want it.

For more information on how TWO MEN AND A TRUCK can help you with all of your moving needs, visit our website to find the franchise closest to you!