Written by Katie Peterson

With so much to worry about, choosing the right school is a tough decision for many prospective college students. Typically, students make their college decision based on their impressions of the campus, quality of the academics, proximity to home, and the school’s size. As important as these are to take into account, there is one very important aspect that is frequently overlooked. When committing to a school it is also important to keep in mind the town you will be living in; after all, you won’t be sitting in your dorm room four years straight! Most colleges and universities have a strong impact on the surrounding community, so before you commit to your place of higher education, here are a few things you might want to keep in mind.

School spirit and community pride associated with your school will be at an all-time high. No matter where you go to college, the city you are located in will be beaming with pride for every home football game and sporting event. The people who live in your college town have been living there much longer than you and will have some intense support for your school’s team, so make sure the hype is something you will enjoy, there will be plenty!

In addition to sporting events, you’re going to want fun things to do on the weekends! Exploring the town surrounding your potential campus is a smart way to learn all the cool hangouts and nightlife before making your school decision. Check out the restaurants and movie theaters; find out what people do for fun when they aren’t studying!

Even if you aren’t worried about off-campus fun, you’ll need to find a place for all of your errands! A grocery store, bank, or even a mall could make your list of essential places. Be sure your college town offers these necessities or has options on campus for you. This will make your life much easier when it comes time to restocking your fridge, wallet, or closet.

Finding transportation off-campus could factor into your decision-making process. In large cities you will either need to spend some cash on cab-fare or be comfortable with public transportation. On the other end of the spectrum, if you are looking at a college surrounded by countryside you might need to think about bringing a car to college in order to leave campus.

Another very important thing to consider is the area surrounding the university you choose, because it could very well be where you apply for jobs after you graduate. With this in mind, your college town should be somewhere you could see yourself living after your degree is finished, at least for a little while. Thinking about job opportunities after college may seem like it’s a while away, but it will creep up faster than you think. You’ll want to be ready to take on all the opportunities you possibly can when it does.

College is an amazing opportunity to call a city “home” for a few years. As important as your college decision is, keep in mind that life on campus will not be your whole life. Use the change of scenery to branch out and try new things in a different setting! Be prepared for everything your new home has to offer, and if your college town is one that you love as much as your college itself, then you can be sure you’re in for a great experience.

Katie Peterson is a junior at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich. majoring in Business and Communication. What advice do you have for moving into a college town? We’d like to hear!

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Written by Jessy Howe

When the Christmas season comes to an end and it is time to store your decorations away until next year, frustrations tend to arise. Taking time to organize and properly store your holiday decorations will make the years to come that much easier! We’re sharing our expert packing tips on how to best store your holiday items to make this year hassle-free.

Gather supplies

Before you begin packing up your holiday items, be sure they are organized and that you have proper storage! This ensures everything will be easy to pack and nothing will be damaged throughout the year. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® has a variety of boxes tailored to your packing and storage needs!

Ornaments

When it comes to putting away Christmas ornaments, we rarely save the containers we purchased them in. The TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® dish pack box provides a safer alternative than wrapping them in tissue paper and putting them in a bag with minimal protection. Dish pack boxes come with dividers which can easily be adjusted depending on the desired space needed for each item, making it the perfect home for your breakable items. I would recommend using acid-free tissue paper when wrapping to avoid any chemicals damaging your ornaments.

Lights

Avoid getting your lights tangled up! Remove the flaps from a cardboard box and neatly wrap your lights around them. This is a simple trick that keeps your lights in good condition and at the same time, allows for them to take up less storage space!

Wreaths

I have a soft spot for wreaths and am someone who feels it is necessary to hang one for every season and holiday. However, storing these prove to be a difficult task. By utilizing moving boxes, you can easily store multiple wreaths and avoid any damage between uses, especially the Christmas wreaths which are covered in fragile Christmas bulbs.

Label boxes

Even if you do not have many boxes to store, labeling them will save you time when it comes to setting up next year. It helps to label the items you’ve packed away in each box or at least by category (ex., kitchen décor). You might also consider labeling boxes based on the order you plan to unpack them.

Gift wrapping supplies

Creating a wrapping station is a great way to organize and store your supplies! I assembled a dish pack box to organize my ribbon, bows, bags, tissue paper, and more. It is incredibly helpful to have all items in one place when you are rushing to wrap your gifts! The best part about the dish pack box is by adjusting the dividers, you can accommodate all of your needs, including long tubes of wrapping paper.

Linen storage

We frequently worry about our breakable items, but let’s not forget our linens! Store holiday bed linens, dish towels, the tree skirt, and table runners in a dry place where they will not get damaged by moisture. Keep your items fresh and repel moths by popping in a few dryer sheets.

Hire moving muscle

From packing up and moving boxes to the attic, to rearranging your furniture once the décor is down, our professionally trained movers are happy to help with your holiday storage needs. Give us a call today to schedule your internal home move!

We hope these holiday storage tips help during your holiday décor packing! If you have any tips, we’d love to hear them! Leave us a comment or share with us on Facebook and they could be featured in an upcoming blog post!

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.

You have signed the lease or the mortgage papers, and you have the keys to your new home in hand. Now all that is left is packing up your precious belongings and moving them across town or across country.

While part of the moving process can actually be fun — maybe you could channel your inner Tom Haverford and power-trip on your friends who are helping in exchange for pizza and beer — it can also be a stressful experience. You’re probably pretty good by now at packing dishes, clothes and DVDs, but you might be unsure how to transport your school of guppies from point A to B. With this in mind, the following list offers tips on how to pack three of the most challenging items.

Aquariums

Fish tanks and their finned residents are among the trickier items to move. A lot of times fish don’t survive a move, for two reasons: They get jostled around in the tank and because it’s difficult to regulate the water temperature on a moving van. To make sure the tank and fish make it safe and sound, move your fish into some sort of holding container and then drain most of the water from the aquarium . If the tank contains live plants, put them and a bit of the aquarium water into a Ziploc bag. Take the fish and plants with you in your vehicle and, if you have the room, the mostly drained tank. In addition, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® cannot move living things so it is best to transport them in your own vehicle causing less stress on your pet.

Musical instruments

Any brass or woodwind instruments should be completely taken apart and placed in a hard case. If you don’t have one handy, then wrap each individual piece in a few layers of bubble wrap and place them in a box filled with plenty of towels and packing peanuts.

Stringed instruments like violins, cellos and guitars also need lots of TLC during packing; start by loosening the strings and, if the instrument has tuning keys, making sure the keys are parallel with the headstock. Place the instrument in its hard case and add some crumpled clean paper to the inside to prevent it from moving around. If you don’t have a hard case, carefully wrap your stringed instrument in plastic — a large clean garbage bag will do the trick. Then put the wrapped instrument into a box that is large enough to hold several inches of packing peanuts on all sides. Mark which side should be up on the outside of the box and advise the movers as to what’s inside.

Potted plants

Even the sturdiest looking philodendron can have a hard time during a move. A few weeks before your friends and/or the moving crew show up to help you pack, replant anything in ceramic pots to plastic planters — this will help make them easier to lift. You also want to prevent your houseplants from getting too hot or too cold, which means they might not be a good candidate for a ride in the back of a moving van. Take what you have room for in the back of your car and place the planters in larger boxes to keep them steady and prevent them from tipping. Once again, as TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® does not move living things, it is important to make the space necessary in your own vehicle.

Alison Stanton has been a freelance writer for the past 14 years. Based in the Phoenix, Arizona area, Alison enjoys writing about a wide variety of topics, but especially loves meeting interesting people and telling their stories.

Moving is a major life event and it can be an overwhelming process. Even the most organized people can get thrown a curve ball mid-moving process. Unfortunately, no matter how prepared you seem to be, there are always a few packing items that you may have forgotten that would have come in handy. Here are a few ideas from Leaf Filter that will make packing, moving, and unpacking an easier process for you and your family.

1. Bubble wrap and plastic sheeting

Bubble wrap is not only important for packing smaller items in boxes, but it will be important for packing up larger items and protecting them in the moving truck. Bubble wrap and plastic sheeting are two of the best tools at your disposal when it comes to safely moving your furniture and protecting delicate wood pieces. If you are looking to protect your large upholstered or leather sofas, plastic wrap or a specifically designed plastic sofa cover should be used.

2. Plastic baggies

Plastic baggies are one item that you will definitely want to keep nearby when you are moving. Whether you are setting up new furniture, or reassembling existing furniture, you will have some leftover nuts and bolts that you will want to keep track of. Additionally, you may have a lot of cables and wires to TVs, stereos, DVD players, etc. that you’ll want to keep handy for your new place.  Label these small bags and conceal them in larger bags so you can keep them all in one place.

3. Cleaning supplies

During your move, you’ll most likely want to “clean as you go.” You’ll never know just what you’ll find in your new home or rental! And, you’ll most likely find a lot of dust and the dirt behind your furniture during your move! Keep some cleaner, Windex, paper towels, and old rags to help with any messes you may encounter. Wiping down things as you go will save you the stress of doing a full-fledged cleaning session later on.

4. Food and drinks

If you have enlisted your friend’s and family’s support on moving day, don’t forget to feed them! When you are super busy and focused it easy to forget to eat. However, it is important that you supply water and snacks in order to keep your team in tip-top shape, keeping your moving team hydrated and their energy up for the long day ahead.

5. Permanent markers and color coded stickers

It will be helpful to organize and label all of your items beforehand, but sometimes that isn’t always possible. Even on moving day, there will be some inevitable pieces that haven’t been labeled yet. That’s why it is important to have a few extra markers for labeling boxes and baggies.

If you want to be super specific, make your process even easier by using a color-coded labeling system. For example, you may label everything in the kitchen with a red sticker, while living-room décor is labeled with a blue sticker. If you don’t have an organization system in place, you’ll spend your whole day answering the question, “Where does this go?”

6. Extension cords

When setting up the new TV, DVD player, computer, and sound system, power outlets will rarely be placed conveniently, or you may run out of outlets for all of your gadgets. It’s important to have a few extra extension cords and power strips handy in order to be able to set up your electronics the day of your move.

7. Wall patching kit

Even if you are extra careful, accidents happen. You may be moving a piece of furniture and end up with a hole in your wall. Or, perhaps there are existing holes in your new home or apartment that you would like to get filled before you unpack all of your belongings. Purchasing a wall patch kit before move-in will help you quickly attack any holes in your walls before you start unpacking your belongings.

8. Tool-kit

Having a tool kit by your side during your move will help you avoid any headaches, like searching for a screwdriver. Fill your tool kit with the essentials like a tape measure, screwdrivers, nails, and a level. Having a tape measure will come in handy as you try to navigate through doorways and tight spaces, while a screwdriver will help you take any furniture apart in order to get it into your home. A level will be important when you are hanging pictures and decorations. Additionally, extra screws will be helpful when you are putting your furniture back together.

9. Moving checklist

Remember, being organized, making a list, and checking it twice, is the best way to not overlook any moving essentials you may need. A moving checklist will make moving day easier, for both you and your team!

10. Let TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® help

Hire TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States, to make moving day a breeze for you! As leaders and packers in the moving industry, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®’s expert moving teams will get you there with their signature customer service. Contact them today to see how they can help with your next move!

Written by Hannah Conlin

So, you’ve just said, “I do.” You’re ready to head into a lifetime of happy, wedded bliss with your spouse, and begin making memories you’ll cherish forever. However, before you begin planning your first family vacation, you need to move into your new home. For many this is the first hurdle in the relationship, and can be a difficult, stressful time.

Moving in with your spouse for the first time is a thrilling yet nerve-wracking experience. Being a newlywed is supposed to be one of the happiest times of your life. Before you find yourself drifting out of the honeymoon state, consider doing the following to make your move as seamless and stress-free as possible:

◾Out with the old and in with the new. Before move day, take an inventory of everything the two of you have, and make a list of things you want to keep and what you can get rid of. Chances are you will have duplicates of some items, and taking inventory will prevent you from moving unwanted duplicates. In addition to avoiding duplicates, an inventory exercise prevents you from moving into a cluttered new home.

◾If you are packing your own stuff, organize and re-organize. Pack your boxes with similar items from the same room. If you have small hardware from furniture or decorative pieces, put them in zip lock bags and label them. Baggies keep the small, easy to lose items kept together in one place. Also, labeling and color coding your boxes will make the move much smoother. Moving as newlyweds is an exciting time, you don’t want to cause unneeded frustration with your spouse because you can’t find certain items.

◾If you are moving to a new area, consider renting before buying. By renting, you are not committing to anything right away, and it allows you and your spouse to get to know the area, ensuring you will like your new town before becoming a permanent resident. Keep in mind, if you’re moving from an apartment, or condensing into one apartment with your spouse, our move crews are familiar with apartment complex rules and regulations, such as parking arrangements and service elevators in high rise buildings. Let us do the heavy lifting up and down those pesky flights of stairs or through those narrow hallways.

◾If you are ordering household items, because no one bought you that Keurig or Pottery Barn duvet set you had on your registry, have these items shipped to your new home several days after you move in. This will avoid moving the items twice if they arrive before your move day and will save you from chaos if they are sent to your new home on the day of the move.

◾Have a decor in mind so you can get on top of your interior decorating right after you move in. However, don’t get too stuck on a design. Be open to ideas and be willing to work with your partner to make each room decorated with a blend of both styles. Remember, the key to a happy marriage is compromise!

◾Most importantly, leave the actual moving to the professionals. Hire a moving company. Not only will this save you the heartache of finding your new china piece dining set in a shattered mess because it wasn’t packed properly, but it will save you from a heated argument with your spouse over who packed that box. This is a busy period in your life, let us help make your move a fun transition in your new lives together. Look for companies seen frequently within your community. This will illustrate the company is a credible organization with a strong reputation.

Now go, begin this next chapter of your life. Enjoy your new, clutter-free, perfectly decorated, and professionally moved new home.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest 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.